Just as Yellow Seven's strength failed her and her ankle gave way, sending her collapsing into the dust, a piercing sword energy cut through the air.
Lin Feng appeared out of the darkness like a deity, his movements so swift he left no afterimage. In a mere heartbeat, the arrogant men in black were struck back, falling to the ground with agonizing wails. He sheathed his sword with a crisp, practiced motion, remaining untouched by a single speck of dust.
He turned toward Yellow Seven, who lay on the ground, her white hem stained crimson with blood. A flicker of uncharacteristic urgency crossed his deep eyes.
He knelt on one knee, his voice steady but carrying a hidden raspy edge. "Princess, are you alright?"
"I'm... fine." Yellow Seven gritted her teeth, trying to push herself up, but a piercing pain from her ankle made her sway and fall back heavily.
"Pardon my rudeness."
Seeing this, Lin Feng did not hesitate. He extended his long arms and swept her up into a horizontal carry. "Princess, forgive the offense," he murmured.
Before Yellow Seven could cry out in surprise, she heard the wind whistling past her ears. Lin Feng's toes tapped the ground as he moved with the lightness of a swallow, leaping across the surface of the river as if walking on solid ground. In that moment, watching his profile through the turbulence, Yellow Seven marveled silently: Is this the legendary top-tier Qinggong? Such inner power and poise could never belong to an ordinary teacher.
With a dull thud, the two landed steadily on the deck.
The merchant ship had already untied its moorings and was slowly drifting away from the shore. Qi Hao, who had been waiting anxiously at the bow, witnessed the entire scene of Lin Feng flying aboard with his sister. That silhouette, like a startled swan crossing the sky, etched an eternal mark into his young heart.
The look Qi Hao gave Lin Feng was no longer just one of admiration, but of a newfound sense of security. He vowed silently: A sister should have such a formidable man guarding her. That way, those villains will never be able to hurt her again.
As the fires on the shore receded, their fates—bound by the flowing river—became inextricably intertwined.
Meanwhile, on the official road leading toward Southern Tang, the night air was cool.
Blue Five was fast asleep inside the carriage, while Crimson Nine sat on the driver's seat, side-by-side with Xiao Zhan, who was focused on the reins.
"Your Highness, thank you," Crimson Nine spoke softly, her gaze landing on Xiao Zhan's well-defined hands.
As a Prince of Great Qi and a member of the imperial nobility, Xiao Zhan had lowered himself to play the role of a rugged groom, wielding a whip in the freezing wind. This magnanimity and consideration, transcending status, felt like an impossible dream in a world ruled by patriarchy.
"Thanking me for what?" Xiao Zhan turned his head, his gaze exceptionally deep and tender in the night.
"For everything you've done." Crimson Nine lowered her eyes, a complex ripple of emotion stirring in her heart. Since their marriage, they had been husband and wife in name only, never sharing a bed. For a man of his status, this was undoubtedly a slight. He should have been in a manor surrounded by luxury and servants; instead, he was traveling to Western Yan and Southern Tang, sleeping in the wilderness for her sake.
"There is no need for thanks. All of this is of my own free will," Xiao Zhan said, looking ahead with a calm yet resonant voice.
He cherished this feeling of standing side-by-side with her. Both were cold by nature and accustomed to solitude, yet both were fiercely protective of those they accepted. Once, he had been trapped in the suffocating center of Great Qi's power struggles; now, being able to wander the world with her, this "freedom" was a redemption he had never dared to hope for.
Crimson Nine felt her heart struck by the words "free will," her fingertips trembling slightly. To hide her sudden awkwardness, she unwound the scarf from her neck. "The wind is strong at night. Wear this to block the chill."
Xiao Zhan looked at the scarf, but his hands did not leave the reins. Instead, he raised an eyebrow with playful confidence. "My hands are occupied. Perhaps... you could help me?"
Meeting his eyes, which carried a hint of mischief, Crimson Nine sighed helplessly but leaned forward. She unfolded the scarf—still warm from her skin—and carefully wrapped it around his neck. Her fingers accidentally brushed against his skin, sending a tiny shiver through him.
Xiao Zhan savored her scent and warmth as she drew near, a faint curve touching his lips. In truth, he wasn't cold at all—the thick beard Crimson Nine had applied for his disguise already blocked most of the wind—but he craved this moment of intimacy.
Inside the carriage, Blue Five had woken up at some point.
She squinted through a gap in the curtain at the two silhouettes pressed close together and couldn't help but roll her eyes, thinking to herself: What is with my luck? First, I had to watch Situ Jing's parents be all lovey-dovey in the mines, and now I'm forced to watch the Captain and the Prince feed each other sugar all the way south... Good grief, is this 'dog food' mandatory for my diet?
She pulled her blanket over her head, deciding that what the eye doesn't see, the heart doesn't grieve over, letting the two of them continue to "torture" her single soul in the long night.
The carriage sped along the quiet road, the sound of the axles and hoofbeats blending together.
In a long silence, Crimson Nine and Xiao Zhan turned to each other at the exact same moment, speaking in unison:
"Why don't you tell me about your world?"
"Your Highness, tell me about your life."
They shared a look of surprise, followed by another simultaneous attempt:
"You go first."
"No, you first."
Crimson Nine let out a soft laugh, a sound like pearls dropping onto a jade plate, vibrant in the cool night wind. She looked at Xiao Zhan with a playful glint in her eyes. "Fine. I will tell you about 'my world.' I promise it's like nothing you've ever heard in your life."
Xiao Zhan watched her rare, brilliant smile. The heart that had been cold for years felt as if it were bathed in warm sunlight. His voice was deep and light. "I am all ears."
"Where I come from, our mode of transport is called a 'car.' It doesn't need horses or oxen to pull it, yet it can travel a thousand miles in a day." Crimson Nine spoke with excitement, her hands gesturing. "There are also 'airplanes' that can carry hundreds of people into the nine heavens, crossing ten thousand miles of mountains and rivers..."
Usually cold and sparing with words, Crimson Nine now seemed to have opened a floodgate. She described and gestured toward mechanical structures that sounded like miracles to Xiao Zhan. Her eyes shone with memories of her homeland—a vividness and vitality he had never seen before.
Xiao Zhan drove the carriage, listening intently to her shocking revelations. He didn't dismiss them as madness; instead, he asked precise questions like a student hungry for knowledge.
"If not horses, how does the carriage move?"
"If planes are high in the clouds where it is freezing, how do people survive?"
Seeing his genuine interest, Crimson Nine turned into a patient teacher, explaining everything from fuel combustion to cabin pressurization. She spoke until her throat was dry, and he listened until he was entranced.
The carriage galloped on as the veil of night was quietly drawn back.
As the first light of dawn broke through the clouds, Crimson Nine's voice gradually grew softer. Those stories of "planes" above the clouds and "iron dragons" felt like a magnificent, otherworldly dream in the cool morning mist. She had spoken for too long, and the exhaustion from days of travel finally found its outlet.
Sensing the voice beside him fading, Xiao Zhan instinctively softened the snap of his whip, even making the hoofbeats seem lighter.
The next moment, a cool yet soft weight leaned gently against his shoulder.
Xiao Zhan's body stiffened for a second before he slowly relaxed. He turned his head slightly and saw Crimson Nine's closed eyes, her long lashes casting soft shadows on her cheeks. She was sound asleep. Her features, usually sharp and cold, looked exceptionally soft in the morning light—showing a childlike reliance she never displayed in public.
He held his breath, fearing that the slightest rise of his chest would disturb her sleep.
Xiao Zhan freed one hand to steady her shoulder, drawing her a bit closer into his embrace so she could rest more comfortably. Feeling her steady breathing against his shoulder, a bittersweet smile of contentment touched his lips.
"Even if it is a dream you can never return to..." he whispered, his voice dissolving into the morning breeze, "as long as you are here, the whole world is your home."
As the morning light grew, the carriage moved forward at a steady pace. Inside, Blue Five peeked through the curtain again. Seeing the picture-perfect scene, she surprisingly didn't offer a sarcastic comment. Instead, she showed a knowing smile and quietly withdrew.
In this moment, there were no power struggles, no imperial chains—only two souls finding a moment of peace in the dawn of a foreign land.