The massive waterfall roared before their eyes, the thunderous sound shaking their hearts.
"Lang Huan… we're going to fall…!" Ruhua cried in panic, clutching her arm.
Lang Huan held her hand tightly. "Hold on to me. Don't let go," she said calmly, even as the raging current dragged their boat to the edge.
In the next instant, the boat shot downward, swallowed by the tremendous force of the waterfall. Their bodies were thrown into the air before plunging into the furious whirlpool below.
The crushing water pulled them under. Lang Ruhua choked, struggling to swim, but the current was too strong. Lang Huan quickly reached her, wrapping an arm around her waist and pushing through the violent water with all her strength.
"Don't be afraid, I'm here!" she shouted. Though her own body was battered against the rocks, Lang Huan never let go of Ruhua, fighting to protect her against the waterfall that seemed determined to devour them both.
The force of the water tore Lang Ruhua from Lang Huan's grasp, dragging her into the dark depths.
"Ruhua!" Lang Huan's chest tightened with fear as she dove after her.
At last, she found Ruhua caught beneath the water, her ankle twisted in thick roots, her body struggling weakly.
Lang Huan pulled at the roots, yet they refused to break. Instinctively, her hand flew to her waist, but the softsword was gone.
Lang Ruhua's lips parted in panic, bubbles escaping as her strength faded. Lang Huan leaned in, pressing her lips against Ruhua's to give her breath.
Warm air filled Ruhua's lungs, her eyes opening wide in shock and relief. Then Lang Huan pushed upward, giving her one more breath before diving back down. She clawed at the roots, her hands bleeding against the sharp edges.
The roots refused to break. Her lungs burned, but she refused to give up. Kicking hard against the current, she pulled with all her strength. Something snapped. The final strand gave way.
She wrapped her arm tightly around Ruhua's waist and pushed them upward, fighting the heavy pull of the water.
At last, they broke through the surface. Both gasped for air, coughing and trembling. Ruhua clung to Lang Huan's shoulder, her voice shaking.
"I thought… I would never see the sky again."
Lang Huan brushed the wet hair from her face, still holding her close. "As long as I'm here, I won't let you go."
Hours later, after swimming against the cruel river and sometimes clinging to sharp rocks for breath, they finally pulled themselves onto the muddy riverbank. Both collapsed, coughing water, their faces pale and their bodies shaking from the cold.
Lang Ruhua hugged herself, shivering uncontrollably. Lang Huan wrapped an arm around her, giving her all the warmth she could.
Her vision was blurred from exhaustion, and her ears were still ringing from the roar of the waterfall.
Suddenly, loud voices echoed through the forest.
"Commander Chang! We found the Little Duke!" One of the soldiers, who had previously helped Lang Huan capture the Second Prince, immediately rushed toward her.
Lang Huan lifted her head weakly. Through her blurred vision, she saw several men rushing toward them. Their armor gleamed faintly, and on their sleeves… the symbol of a falcon. The Falcon Army?
Relief and disbelief struck her all at once. She tried to stand, but her legs gave out beneath her.
The young soldiers hurried forward, wrapping a cloak around Lang Ruhua's trembling body while another knelt beside Lang Huan, steadying her by the shoulders.
For the first time since the fall, Lang Huan allowed her eyes to close and pressed a hand to her chest, letting out a long, trembling breath of relief.
That night, the Falcon Army lit a great bonfire by the riverbank. Lang Huan and Lang Ruhua sat wrapped in thick blankets, their bodies still trembling, though slowly regaining warmth. Steam curled from the hot tea handed to them by a soldier, its fragrance calming their weary hearts.
Commander Chang approached, his face lined with worry.
"Young Master Ye… we have searched for you four days and three nights," his deep voice carried both relief and exhaustion. "Thank the heavens you're alive." Then his gaze shifted to Lang Ruhua, puzzled. "But… where is Miss Lin?"
Lang Huan lowered her head, her lips pale, her eyes trembling. "She died in the explosion."
The words sliced through the night air like a blade. A single tear rolled down her cheek, and she stifled a sob, clutching the tea bowl tightly in her hands.
The Falcon Army bowed their heads, and silence fell. Only the crackle of the bonfire remained, burning as though mourning alongside them.
---
"Tomorrow, we're heading to Luo City," Commander Chang said firmly. "Our duty is to escort the Young Master safely back to the Duke of Huguo's mansion."
Lang Huan pressed her lips together, saying nothing. His words only deepened the worry in her eyes.
She tried to follow Feng Yao's way of thinking. If her father still had some love left for her as his child, maybe she could return to the mansion, find her place again, and avoid unnecessary conflict.
Still, she knew it wouldn't be that simple. Her father would likely pressure her to act against the Eldest Princess. And if she refused… well, that would mean going directly against him.
If the Duke of Huguo had already abandoned her as his only "son," returning to Luo City could be even more dangerous—he might try to capture her instead of welcoming her home. Worse, if the Duke had already discovered her true identity, the danger would be even greater.
No matter what path Lang Huan chose, she could never betray the Eldest Princess. Feng Yao might push her toward rebellion, but if anything happened to Her Highness, what meaning would rebellion have at all?
"No… I can't go back… not without Her Highness," Lang Huan said firmly.
"But…" Commander Chang hesitated, unsure.
"You can go back first," she continued. "I'm afraid Her Highness is in danger. I can't leave her."
Because the matter involved the safety of the Eldest Princess, Commander Chang finally gave in.
As Lang Huan stood up, Lang Ruhua tugged her sleeve. "Lang Huan… your sword." She pointed at the ground.
Lang Huan frowned in confusion. She had thought the sword lost, swept away by the current. Her fingers tracing the familiar hilt as if to confirm it was real. Turning it over in her hands, still unable to understand—where had it come from?
Lang Ruhua watched her quietly, noticing her unease, but said nothing.
---
Bai Fei became more and more unsettled. Days without news had left him anxious, and finally, he sent his men to check Mount Baiyuan. What they found made his blood run cold.
The air around the ruins still carried a faint smell of gunpowder, mixed with the scorched scent of stone. The mountaintop was blackened, covered in soot, and rusted metal fragments littered the debris. The entrance to the cave was completely destroyed.
The villagers at the foot of the mountain still remembered the massive explosion that shook the earth days ago. Huge boulders tumbled down the slopes, black dust swallowed the sunlight, and the booming sound echoed like the wrath of a god. Many believed the God of Mount Baiyuan had risen in anger.
Bai Fei listened to their reports, his eyes blazing with fury. His heart burned with both anger and grief. There was no doubt in his mind—the Eldest Princess was behind it all. The treasure they had pursued for so long now lay buried beneath blackened rubble.
"Aaaaaarghhh!" he roared, his voice shattering the silence of the villa as all his pent-up rage burst free. He slammed his fists against the walls of his chamber until debris crumbled to the floor. Most likely… everyone caught in the explosion was already dead.
His thoughts kept circling back to one name, Lang Huan. If the Bai Clan had really perished in the blast… what about that little brat? Was he still alive, or had the flames swallowed him too?
Bai Fei grasped the red wedding dress he had once prepared with care, his hands trembling as the fabric slipped between his fingers. All the plans he had built, now seemed utterly meaningless. In the end, he had lost to the Eldest Princess.
He cast a long glance toward the window, torn by uncertainty. Was it time to stand by her side? Within him, anger and reason clashed. He knew that every choice he made could decide the life or death of the Bai Clan's remaining bloodline.
Finally, he walked toward the Eldest Princess's courtyard. Unlike his usual arrogant self, he entered with politeness, greeting the Eldest Princess with respect at the door, and humbly requested an audience through Qiu Yue.
As he was allowed to step inside, a voice from outside startled both him and the princess.
"Qiu Yue, inform Her Highness—the Little Duke has returned," the guard called out.