By the time Shen Fei entered the City Lord's Mansion, the sun had already drifted west, stretching the shadows along the courtyard walls.
The traces of last night's battle had not yet been completely cleared away. Rubble and broken timber lay piled at the foot of the walls, and several servants crouched beside the steps, sweeping small stone chips into heaps.
He crossed the Front Courtyard, went around the Main Hall, and headed toward the Back Courtyard.
The open space in the Back Courtyard was quieter than the Front Courtyard. An old Chinese locust tree stood in its center, its dense branches and leaves casting a broad patch of shade in the evening light.
Xiao Ning'er stood beneath the old Chinese locust tree, looking down at several sheets of inscription talisman paper in her hands.
She had changed into a pale blue-green fighting outfit, with bands securing her cuffs, a short sword and a small cloth pouch hanging at her waist. Her hair was tied in a ponytail, giving her a crisp, practical look.
Hearing footsteps, she looked up and saw Shen Fei. She smiled, lowered the talisman paper in her hands, and took two steps toward him. "Finished already?"
Shen Fei stopped in front of her. "Of course. I was only tying up loose ends. It didn't take much time."
He paused, then continued, "I thought about it on my way here. The beast tide has just receded, and the Dark Guild was driven back this time too. They won't be coming again anytime soon. What matters most now is improving our strength. I want to venture into the Dark Forest."
Xiao Ning'er considered his words, then said, "The Dark Forest is crawling with demon beasts. It's dangerous, but it really is a good place to improve our strength.