"Skree..."
A piercing eagle cry rang through the mountains. Racing south beneath the clouds, Niao Niao scanned the wilderness for dozens of miles around, searching for clues.
Behind Niao Niao, the Empress sped through the mountains with her Horse Spear, occasionally stopping to survey her surroundings before continuing the pursuit.
Two Martial Saints fleeing at night, in the rain-under normal circumstances, once they escaped, finding their trail again was impossible.
After pursuing them dozens of miles south, the Empress had lost every lead. Fortunately, Niao Niao was with her.
High in the sky, Niao Niao had an expansive view and night vision far beyond any ordinary person's. Niao Niao also kept calling along the way to attract Ye Jingtang's attention. As long as he was within ten or twenty miles, he would certainly notice.
Neither woman nor bird knew how far they had pursued. After they entered Chengtian Prefecture's jurisdiction, Niao Niao finally discovered something.
After two eagle cries, a tiny point of light appeared over a broad river several miles to one side.
The Empress narrowed her eyes. A small ferryboat floated on the river, with a figure standing at its bow, waving a Fire Starter in circles at Niao Niao overhead. Upon spotting it, Niao Niao immediately swooped over.
Knowing Ye Jingtang must be there, the Empress felt half the great stone weighing on her heart fall away. She immediately changed direction, broke through the drizzle to reach the river, then skimmed across its green waves toward the ferry.
On the ferryboat, Xue Baijin held her lapel closed with her left hand and waved the Fire Starter beneath the cabin eaves with her right. Seeing a dark figure approaching swiftly with a Long Spear, wariness immediately appeared in her eyes.
But Xue Baijin had fought the Empress before.