By the time Xing Yan and Qiong Rong returned to the wilderness where Ju Ying had taken shelter, Zong Yueru soon arrived as well, hurrying along with the princess's guard.
Now, at Xing Yan's direction, Zong Yueru and her guards formed ring after ring around the princess, each holding a saber or sword, their eyes wide and watchful. Xing Yan himself patrolled the dark wilderness farther out with Qiong Rong and Xueyi, occasionally flying into the air on his sword to keep a vigilant eye on the slightest stir in the wilds.
Despite all their vigilance, no troops from the Prefect came charging at them during their patrol. It seemed Bai Shijun had lost his nerve and did not dare come after them for the moment.
Yet as Xing Yan crept tensely through the knee-deep wild grass, he happened to glance back and discovered that only Xueyi was still following him. That little girl Qiong Rong had long since vanished!
Finding Qiong Rong missing gave Xing Yan no small fright. But when he hurried back, burning with anxiety as he searched for her, he found her perched atop a bare tree, crouching like a frog, her cheeks puffed out as she blew hard toward the south.
Seeing Qiong Rong's cheeks swollen into perfect round balls, Xing Yan had no idea what she was doing and hastily asked:
"Qiong Rong, what are you doing? This tree is so tall-be careful you don't fall!"
Hearing his question, the little girl, who had been completely absorbed in her task, turned back with a giggle. Her eyes curved into two crescent moons as she answered earnestly:
"Big Brother, I'm making wind! I want to fan the fire higher so it burns that whole place down."
Xing Yan could not help laughing at those innocent