Jin was already quite confident. He had studied all ailments that could attack any being in the martial realm.
It had been hard for him back then, but now he finally saw good use for it.
With his boss Han desperately searching for the body of Cao, Jin couldn't help but be extra careful at the palace gate. That was one of the reasons he was stationed there in the first place.
Besides, he could already see the uneasiness in Tia's eyes, which only made him more suspicious.
"The disease is called the Night Pore," Draven blurted out suddenly.
Jin paused in shock. He was surprised that Draven knew of such a rare disease. The only reason Jin himself had heard of it was because he once served as the physician's assistant before he was promoted.
"Hmm… so how does that affect your skin at night?" Jin asked. He already knew the answer but wanted to test if Draven was telling the truth or just calling a random illness.
Draven hesitated, trying to recall everything he had read in the library.
After a moment, he finally spoke.
"Well, because of the immense cultivation that occurs at night, my body and skin must be covered by a specific piece of clothing. If not, I could develop severe rashes and possibly be dead by sunrise."
Jin's eyes widened. His face turned pale with doubt, but the explanation Draven gave was sharp and convincing—enough to justify his disguise.
"Alright then, I rest my case. You may pass. But before that, you know the specific fabric required for someone suffering from the Night Pore disease, don't you?"
Just as he reached out to touch Draven's clothing, the other guard held his hand back.
"Enough, Jin. You've made your point. Just let them go," the guard said, turning to Tia.
"My lady, I apologize for the inconvenience. You may proceed now."
"It's fine. Thank you. I take no offense—Jin is only doing his job," Tia replied as she and Draven walked out through the gate.
Jin glared at the guard with hatred. He was there because the prince suspected Cao was still inside the palace. Since declaring a curfew would have drawn the elders' suspicion, Han had ordered him to watch the gates closely instead.
Once Draven and Tia got a safe distance away from the palace, they both breathed a heavy sigh of relief. It had been a very close call.
Tia then led Draven to a shop where they purchased a floating broom. After paying, she led him away. They walked for about thirty minutes until she looked around to make sure no one was watching.
When she was certain, she mounted the broom and gestured for Draven to join her. He did, and she quickly merged her energy with the broom's core. In moments, they were soaring into the night sky, far from the kingdom.
Silence hung between them. The night was still, and Draven didn't know how to break it.
Finally, Tia spoke.
"Cao, I never knew you knew anything about ailments."
Draven cleared his throat.
"Well, I've learned much in the process of trying to reverse the curse placed on me," he said confidently.
"That makes sense. Well that knowledge was one of the reasons we made it out alive tonight " Tia said, a brief smile crossing her face.
"I guess so," Draven muttered. After that, neither of them spoke again until they landed.
Tia stopped at the edge of the next kingdom. Flying in would attract suspicion, so it was safer to continue on foot.
As soon as they dismounted, Tia tossed the broom aside to avoid being implicated.
"We'll stay here for a few days," Tia said as she headed toward the gate of the kingdom.
The area was quiet, less bustling than the Kravile kingdom, since it was already late into the night.
"I know someone here," Tia said after a while. "During the war, I spared her life out of mercy."
She remembered when their kingdoms clashed years ago. Back then, she had only been at the fourth level of Qi Condensation, but her skills with the sword were sharp enough to fight evenly with stronger opponents. That woman had been at her mercy, but out of sympathy, Tia had let her go.
Draven remained quiet but kept studying his surroundings. Compared to Kravile, this kingdom was far less developed, with fewer houses and shops.
After thirty minutes of walking, they stopped at a small hut.
Tia stepped forward and knocked gently.
"Who's there? Just a moment!" a voice called from inside.
Soon, the door opened to reveal a young woman, probably in her late twenties, with blonde hair and bright eyes.
"Tia? Is it really you? I've always wished to see you again since the day you spared my life," the woman said joyfully—until her eyes landed on Draven.
"My lady, I see you've brought a friend," Lianhua said, studying Draven closely. She was not ignorant of what was happening in Kravile, after all—it was the largest kingdom in the realm.
"Well, won't you at least let me in?" Tia said with a smile, trying to hide her unease.
Lianhua nodded and gestured for them to step inside before shutting the door.
The hut was small, but it was clear the owner had tried to improve and decorate it. Though simple, the effort was noticeable and done fairly well.
Draven stepped in, Tia's words still echoing in his mind. She saved me in the war… but why trust her? The questions kept circling in his head.
"You should make yourselves comfortable while I get something for you to eat," Lianhua said as she headed into an inner chamber.
Tia then turned to Derek.
"We could stay here for a while before we figure things out."
As she spoke, Draven's eyes twitched. He could sense there was more to his sister than she let on—something he couldn't see.
"Well, that's fine. But are you sure it's a good idea to stay here?" Draven paused, correcting himself. "I mean… she's someone you met on the battlefield. Do you even remember her name?"
Derek added cautiously, "The only reason you'd even recall it is because she was a princess."
"Well…" Just as Tia was about to respond, Lianhua reentered the room.