"Xiao Bai? Are you calling a dog?"
Bai Shuo cursed creatively in her mind but maintained a perfectly natural smile. "Sure, it sounds friendly enough."
"Xiao Bai, here—this little thing is for you." Mu Fan casually extended the pig token toward Bai Shuo with easy generosity.
She reached out automatically, then froze mid-air, her face stiffening with sudden panic.
Oh no! This cursed thing glows when I touch it! If this guy realizes the pig token is actually a treasure, he'll definitely figure out I took advantage of the chaos last night to steal it...
"What's wrong? Don't you like it?"
"No, of course not! This pig—this pig is absolutely adorable~~" Bai Shuo awkwardly poked at it with just her fingertips, as if it might burn her. "It looks really heavy though, just set it down somewhere. I'll take it later when we..."
Before she could finish spinning her excuse, Mu Fan tossed the pig token toward her in a casual arc.
"Ahhh!" Reflexively catching it, Bai Shuo panicked and nearly flung it away like a hot coal—only to suddenly realize the token wasn't glowing at all.
Not even the faintest spark.
Bai Shuo stared in blank confusion, turning the token over and over in her hands, examining it from every angle. "It... it's not..."
A flicker of something—surprise? knowledge?—flashed through Mu Fan's eyes before vanishing like smoke. "It's not what?"
"I mean, it's not heavy at all!" Switching gears with desperate smoothness, she quickly tucked the token deep into her robe, grabbed a wild fruit, took an enthusiastic bite, and handed another to Mu Fan. "Thanks for your generosity, Brother Mu! By the way, where exactly are you from? Do you know where this place is? How did you end up getting kidnapped and dragged here?"
Mu Fan glanced at the offered fruit, hesitated, then eventually accepted it, twirling the round thing absently in his hand. "I'm from the borderlands. I was traveling to the capital to sell medicinal herbs for my family when, yesterday afternoon, I passed by Mu Xiao Mountain. Bandits ambushed me on the road and dragged me here."
"Robbing people multiple times a day—how impressively diligent!" Bai Shuo muttered under her breath with grudging admiration. "Brother Mu, we're definitely in the same miserable boat. I was captured yesterday too. I've heard of Mu Xiao Mountain before—it's supposed to be near Wei City, just a barren hill with nothing special. Strange though..." She frowned, confusion knitting her brows. "Last night, I saw this bandit hideout. It isn't even that large, with maybe a hundred outlaws at most. Wei City is prosperous and heavily guarded by imperial troops—how could they not wipe out such a small den of thieves?"
Puzzled, Bai Shuo wandered to the cave entrance and froze at the sight that greeted her.
Towering ancient trees stretched upward like pillars supporting heaven itself, their canopies so dense they nearly blotted out the sky. The entire mountain teemed with vibrant life—singing birds, rustling leaves, the distant gurgle of water. This was no barren hill.
In the darkness of night and the chaos of fleeing for her life, she hadn't noticed properly. The Mu Xiao Mountain she'd glimpsed from the official road yesterday was just a desolate stretch—a few pathetic mounds and some withered trees that looked half-dead. But this place... this was like stepping into another world entirely.
"Yesterday, I—I..." Bai Shuo pointed outside with a trembling finger, stammering. "The Mu Xiao Mountain I saw from the road wasn't anything like this!"
"Really?" Mu Fan's expression shifted to convincing shock as he immediately stood to join her at the entrance. "I'm from the remote borderlands and have never traveled to the capital before, so I didn't pay much attention yesterday to the surroundings. Xiao Bai, maybe you misremembered in all the confusion? How could something so bizarre happen?"
"I definitely didn't misremember..." Bai Shuo gazed up at the sky, where the blazing sun managed to cast only scattered spots of light through the impossibly dense canopy, like gold coins dropped on a forest floor.
"Last night, when I was trying to escape, I realized this place is impossible to leave. There's definitely something deeply strange going on here..." Her face paled with genuine fear, skin taking on an almost translucent quality. "Brother Mu, I—I'm scared..."
Bai Shuo trembled visibly, tugging anxiously at the clothes tied around Mu Fan's waist like a lifeline. Noticing her terrified expression—the widened eyes, the shallow breathing—Mu Fan's eyes narrowed slightly in calculation. But his voice remained gentle and reassuring. "Don't be afraid. There are no such things as demons and spirits in this world—just stories to frighten children. The bandits who captured us yesterday were just ordinary men. Since they live here without any apparent fear, they must know the proper way out of these mountains."
"Brother Mu, you're absolutely right!" Bai Shuo clapped her hands as realization dawned like sunrise, fear evaporating. "If we follow those bandits, we can definitely leave this place. Let's hurry back toward their hideout. Those greedy outlaws—judging by their robbing frequency, they'll probably go down the mountain to ambush more travelers today."
"Alright then." Mu Fan responded with crisp efficiency, untying the makeshift clothes from his waist and pulling them on properly. "Do you remember the way back to the hideout from here?"
"Though it was pitch dark and the path was incredibly confusing, I carved marks on the trees when I fled last night." Spotting a nearby tree with a distinctive crescent moon shape she'd scratched with a sharp stone, Bai Shuo rushed forward eagerly and pointed. "Look, here's one! See?"
"Let's go then."
"Mm." Eager to put her plan into action, Bai Shuo strode ahead confidently while Mu Fan followed at a more leisurely pace several steps behind.
With a subtle movement of his palm—so slight it could have been imagination—a streak of silver energy darted from his fingers into the depths of the forest like a phantom arrow.
The silver demonic energy wove through the woods with purpose until it found a pack of wolves resting in shadowy undergrowth. The energy infiltrated their eyes with invisible tendrils. Instantly, the wolves' gazes gleamed with unnatural silver light as they surged as one toward Bai Shuo and Mu Fan's location, startling countless birds into panicked flight with their sudden movement.
At the Mu Family Stronghold's dusty training grounds, Zhang Chao paced anxiously back and forth, wearing a groove in the packed earth. He suddenly noticed the distant commotion—birds scattering into the sky in frightened clouds, their cries echoing off the mountains. His expression hardened into grim determination.
Wu Yong came running from the direction of the stronghold's main gate, panting heavily, sweat streaming down his face. "Big Brother! Did you see that? There's movement in the mountains—something big!"
"No need to tell me what I already know. It must be those two troublesome brats." Zhang Chao's jaw clenched. "Gather all the men immediately—this time, we're bringing them back for certain. No more failures."
"Yes, Big Brother!"
Meanwhile, outside Mu Xiao Mountain's perimeter, Chong Zhao led the way on a magnificent warhorse with Fu Ling riding elegantly beside him. Behind them marched a formidable military troop of well-equipped guards, their armor gleaming—numbering no fewer than five hundred strong soldiers.
"Miss Fu Ling, is this the place?" Chong Zhao pointed at Mu Xiao Mountain ahead, raising his riding whip.
"Indeed it is." Fu Ling's voice carried practiced weakness. "Though it was far too dark that night, and I was barely conscious from my wounds, I vaguely recall seeing a young woman being dragged into these mountains by a group of rough bandits. It must have been your beloved sister."
Chong Zhao's eyes darkened with potent worry and righteous anger. "How dare those scum lay hands on A-Shuo! I'll tear this entire mountain apart stone by stone and slaughter those filthy criminals! Miss Fu Ling, you're still recovering from your injuries. Let me have someone escort you safely back to the city to avoid any harm when the fighting starts."
Fu Ling's gaze flickered with barely concealed calculation. "Very well, Young Master. But you should be cautious of one particular thing when entering the mountains..."
"What is it?" Chong Zhao leaned closer as Fu Ling began coughing weakly, her body swaying. "Miss Fu Ling, are you alri—"
Suddenly, Fu Ling turned with viper speed and exhaled a wisp of crimson smoke directly into Chong Zhao's unsuspecting face. The supernatural mist swiftly seeped into his eyes like living poison. His clear, intelligent gaze gradually dulled into vacant confusion, consciousness clouding.
"The mountains are treacherous and filled with hidden dangers," Fu Ling's voice turned eerily monotone, devoid of warmth. "Perhaps I should accompany Young Master after all, despite my injuries. The stronghold's hidden gate is notoriously difficult to find—why not divide your men into fifteen separate groups to search more efficiently? What do you think?"
Her eyes bored into Chong Zhao's glazed stare with hypnotic intensity.
"Very... well..." Chong Zhao murmured slowly, words sluggish as honey, before turning mechanically to address his assembled troops. "By this order—advance into the mountains! Split into fifteen search parties!"
"Yes, Young Master!" None of the common guards noticed anything remotely amiss with Chong Zhao's demeanor or strange command. They dispersed into the mountains with disciplined military precision, fanning out in predetermined patterns, leaving behind only the elite personal guards he'd brought directly from the capital.
Several purple-clad shadows swiftly followed the departing guards like hunting panthers, vanishing into the dense forest in mere heartbeats.
"Let's proceed, Young Master Chong." Fu Ling's lips curved into a cold, satisfied smile. She patted Chong Zhao's horse affectionately on the head, then leisurely led their remaining group into the mountains toward inevitable bloodshed.
Meanwhile, in the distant imperial capital, at the imposing Prime Minister's residence...
The delicate teacup in Chong Tai's hand crashed heavily to the polished floor, shattering into a dozen pieces as he erupted in apoplectic fury. "What did you just say? That wretched, disobedient brat transferred the entire Chong family guard force from Wei City? Without my authorization?"
The estate steward trembled like a leaf in a storm, not daring to lift his bowed head even slightly. "The estate servants reported that the Young Master took the Prime Minister's private official seal from your study. They didn't dare disobey a direct order bearing your seal, Your Excellency."
"Preposterous! Outrageous!" Chong Tai surged to his feet, sleeves sweeping dramatically. "Go—go yourself immediately to Wei City and drag that unfilial beast back here by his ears!"
"But Your Excellency..." The steward hesitated, voice quavering. "The Young Master went to search for Miss Bai Shuo. If he returns without finding her, it would prove extremely difficult to explain the situation to General Bai and his household..."
Chong Tai's expression stiffened as reality crashed through his anger. He released a long, weary sigh that seemed to age him ten years. "One crisis after another, causing such spectacular trouble! Fine. I'll write an official letter. Go to Wei City and have Magistrate Zhao provide assistance. Bring both of them back safely—is that clear?"
"Yes, Your Excellency." As the steward turned to depart with obvious relief, Chong Tai's voice stopped him.
"Remember this—keep this entire matter absolutely discreet. If word gets out to society circles, our Chong and Bai families will become the laughingstock of the entire capital for generations!"
"Understood completely, Your Excellency!"
"By the way, where are you actually from, Brother Bai?"
Under towering ancient trees that seemed to predate human memory, bathed in lazy golden sunlight filtering through leaves like liquid honey, Mu Fan and Bai Shuo walked through the enchanted forest. The atmosphere held an almost otherworldly tranquility—too peaceful, perhaps, for a place supposedly harboring dangerous bandits.
"Me? My humble home's in a tiny village near Wei City. Times are desperately tough, so my father sent me south to find honest work and earn some silver for the family." Bai Shuo casually swung a slender twig in her hand, spinning her fabricated tale with practiced ease.
"Is that so?" Mu Fan's lips curved faintly in what might have been amusement, his pace remaining leisurely and unhurried.
Bai Shuo didn't quite catch his murmured words. Turning back, she saw the youth smiling at her with disarming gentleness. "Since this is your first time traveling away from home, I suppose you've never visited Mu Xiao Mountain before yesterday?"
Bai Shuo rubbed her arms as if suddenly cold. "This creepy place? I wouldn't come here even if someone paid me handsomely and provided an escort."
"Then when you were captured and brought into the mountains yesterday..." Mu Fan's tone shifted subtly, acquiring an edge of genuine curiosity. "Did you encounter anything... unusual? Anything strange?"
"Strange?" Bai Shuo halted mid-step, turning to stare intently at Mu Fan, who now stood with his lips slightly pursed and arms crossed casually, as if waiting patiently for her answer with particular interest.
"There was definitely something strange!"
Mu Fan's brow twitched involuntarily as he stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Oh? What was it?"
"You!" Bai Shuo grinned mischievously, eyes dancing. "Yesterday I was knocked unconscious and dragged into the mountains against my will. When I woke up confused in that woodshed, there you were—completely mysterious. Later, while running from bandits in absolute panic, I knocked myself out again on a tree branch—and when I regained consciousness, there you were again, right beside me! Tell me honestly, doesn't that make you a profoundly strange thing?"
Mu Fan stood speechless, his mouth twitching with mingled exasperation and reluctant amusement.
Seeing his discomfited expression—the slight flush on his cheeks, the way his eyes didn't quite know where to look—Bai Shuo chuckled warmly and patted his shoulder in friendly camaraderie. "Alright, alright, I'll stop teasing you. Didn't encounter anything supernatural in the mountains themselves, but outside these woods? Now that's an entirely different story."
Walking backward so she could face him while talking, her expression grew righteously indignant. "Yesterday I found this donkey wandering in the countryside. Fed it premium food and fresh water, treated it with genuine kindness, hoping it would carry me south on my journey. But that ungrateful, treacherous beast—at the very first sign of approaching bandits, it dumped me onto the ground without a second thought and ran off like its tail was on fire! Wasted two whole pounds of my good hay too! Brother Mu, I ask you sincerely—how could a donkey be so completely lacking in martial virtue and basic honor?"
Bai Shuo grew increasingly heated recalling the donkey's betrayal, gesturing emphatically, when suddenly Mu Fan stopped walking entirely.
"What's wrong?" Bai Shuo looked puzzled, following his gaze.
"Is that... the one you meant?" Mu Fan nodded toward something directly ahead, a hint of sardonic amusement coloring his tone.
Bai Shuo turned around and bumped face-first into a pair of pitch-black, surprisingly innocent eyes. The creature in question still had two half-chewed stalks of dry grass dangling comically from its mouth.
The "unprincipled" donkey never dreamed that cruel fate would engineer their reunion so quickly. Recognizing its former victim, the animal trembled violently, snorted loudly in alarm, rolled its oversized tongue, and swallowed both stalks of dry grass in one desperate gulp. Then, like a bolt of gray lightning, it spun around and bolted deeper into the forest without a single backward glance.
"Damn it all! Stupid donkey, stop right there!"
Bai Shuo's eyes blazed with righteous fury, completely forgetting about the bandit hideout, her mission, and basic self-preservation as she mustered every ounce of strength to chase after the fleeing donkey. "Come back here and face justice!"
Through the mountain forest, converging from different directions, packs of silver-eyed wolves and armed bandits simultaneously rushed toward Bai Shuo's location with deadly intent.
Outside the mountains, at the barrier's threshold, Fu Ling and the entranced Chong Zhao stood side by side. Though mortal eyes perceived nothing unusual before them—just ordinary forest and mountain—Fu Ling's supernatural senses knew with absolute certainty they had already arrived at the true mystical entrance of Mu Xiao Mountain.
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