"Sir."
Qing Dai could not help asking, "How long will it take us to get there?"
Lu Changfeng opened his eyes and made a quick estimate. "At Lingbo's speed, from Chang'an to Dongting, about... two hours."
Qing Dai clicked her tongue in amazement.
Two hours to get from Chang'an to Dongting? That was over two thousand li!
She instinctively hugged Mo Li tighter and glanced at Snow Robe perched on her shoulder-these two little creatures strutted around the Snow Listening Tower as though they owned the place, but on Lingbo's back, they were remarkably well behaved.
Two hours later.
Lingbo descended through the clouds.
Below lay an unbroken expanse of rolling, lush green woodland, with no sign of human habitation.
In the distance, a winding river was faintly visible, its ripples glittering in the sunlight.
Lu Changfeng surveyed the surroundings and chose a secluded patch of dense forest.
"There."
Lingbo swooped down and landed steadily in a forest clearing.
Lu Changfeng swung down and gently patted Lingbo's neck. The golden Flood Dragon gave a low croon, rapidly shrank, and turned back into a slender golden band that wound around his wrist.
Qing Dai landed with Mo Li in her arms and looked around.
All was quiet, save for the rustle of wind through the leaves.
She took a signal flare from inside her robe and was about to launch it to summon the Inner Guard agents concealed throughout Jiangnan-
Suddenly, a clamor of battle cries came from the distance.
Qing Dai's hand paused, and she listened intently.
The sounds came from the direction of the river, mingled faintly with shouts, screams, and... strange, excited laughter.
"Catch her!"
A young man's voice rang out, brimming with arrogance. "Hurry! She went that way! I want to see just how her legs grow-hahahaha!"