Torches lit the night as men gathered at the forest entrance.
Mo Ying tightened his grip on the reins.
"Open the path," he ordered.
Fuhan stepped beside him. "We'll split into teams."
Yan Mei clutched her sleeves, voice shaking. "Please… please find them."
The Crown Prince arrived, calm but tense.
"Lin Xu is still inside?" he asked quietly.
Mo Ying nodded once. "Yes."
The Crown Prince's gaze turned sharp.
"Then we go. Now."
The soldiers raised their torches. The forest glowed in red and gold.
Mo Ying whispered under his breath,
"Lin Xu… wait for me."
And they rode in.
Inside the forest…
"Move!" one maid shouted.
Lin Xu and San Na were dragged through the trees.
San Na hissed in pain. "Let go!"
Chu Ming followed slowly, smiling.
"Careful," she said sweetly. "We don't want them to die too early."
Lin Xu glared. "You call this courage? Attacking injured people?"
Chu Ming's lips curved. "Courage is not needed… when one has power."
One maid pointed ahead.
