Chen Shi'an had no time to admire the scenery in the valley. After leaving the cave, he darted into the woods on the other side and found a secluded spot to hide.
About a quarter of an hour later, a small figure sprang out of the distant undergrowth. It was Mo Wuyang.
He went straight to Chen Shi'an's hiding place and said quietly, "It's a little too early. Wait a while longer. Once it gets dark, I'll take you to find Fu Qianfan."
Chen Shi'an nodded, sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and began cultivating the Great Evolution Saintly Art.
Soon, the sun set, and the sky gradually darkened.
Mo Wuyang, who had taken a nap, sensed something and raised his head. He leaped onto Chen Shi'an's shoulder. "All right, it's about time. Let's move."
When Mo Wuyang saw Chen Shi'an open his eyes, he jumped straight down from his shoulder and slowly headed toward the center of the valley.
Chen Shi'an hurried to his feet and cautiously followed.
With the protection of the miasma and guards posted at the passage, security inside the valley was lax-or rather, there was no security at all.
Oil lamps glowed in almost every house built against the mountainside. Voices and laughter, some loud and some soft, drifted from the houses from time to time.
Following Mo Wuyang, Chen Shi'an avoided these houses as much as possible and crept silently toward the center of the valley.
Their progress was slow, but it was safe, and no one noticed them.
At the center of the valley stood a rise. The buildings atop it were clearly much larger and taller than the others in the valley. This was Fu Qianfan's residence.
Security here was noticeably tighter. Four men stood guard with sabers outside the courtyard