Niao Niao led the way, with Ye Jingtang close behind, racing through the wilderness along the riverbank.
Beyond the town, rolling mountains and sheer cliffs lined both banks. By this late hour, no boats remained on the river, and the villages hidden among the mountains had long since extinguished their lights.
Ye Jingtang headed upstream along the river. After running some three or four miles, he turned into the dense woods and arrived at Maple Grove.
Winter was almost upon them, and the maple branches had already shed all their leaves. A layer of snow covered the ground, with fallen maple leaves beneath it that rustled softly underfoot.
Ye Jingtang left almost no trace in the snow as he followed Niao Niao through the woods. After only a brief search, he spotted a sword in a shadowy part of the grove.
The snow-white Acacia Sword stood planted all alone in the dim woods, beside a mound of snow. From a distance, it looked just like the grave of a swordsman...
"Chirp?!"
Niao Niao shuddered at the sight, clearly frightened.
The grave-like mound also sent a violent tremor through Ye Jingtang's heart, leaving his mind blank for a moment.
"Fairy Lu?!"
Swish...
Ye Jingtang raced across the snow, sliding the rest of the way to the mound beside the sword. He pressed his hands against it, then leaned close to listen. Only after detecting a faint heartbeat inside did he breathe again and hurriedly begin digging with his hands.
Scrape, scrape-
After only two or three scoops, the front of a white dress emerged from the snow.
Ye Jingtang reached out to feel it. The fabric was burning hot, and the heart beneath it pounded like a drum inside her chest. He could even see the cloth trembling faintly. It was