The man's chest heaved, his wet black hanfu plastered tightly to his skin. He opened his mouth to speak, then abruptly stopped, his eyes flickering toward Bairan and the two maids standing nearby.
Bairan understood. She bowed slightly. "It seems Master Pei has urgent matters to attend to. I will take my leave first."
Hanyue inclined his head at her with a polite smile.
Bairan turned, signaling Bao'er and Qing'er to follow her back toward her courtyard.
They had not gone far when Dongpo's voice suddenly rose behind them-
"Master is missing!"
Bairan froze mid-step.
She turned her head slightly and saw the man kneeling on one knee in front of Hanyue, speaking in low, urgent tones. The longer he spoke, the tighter Hanyue's hands clenched at his sides.
Bairan wondered who was missing.
Her brows twitched. The cold man-
Bao'er noticed her sudden stillness and whispered in a low, cautious tone, "Young Miss? Is something wrong?"
Bairan remained silent for a moment, then spoke calmly. "Bao'er, return to my room first. Prepare hot water and secure the doors. If anyone asks, say I am resting and not to be disturbed."
Bao'er blinked. "But, young Miss-"
Bairan said without changing her tone, "Go. Now." She then turned to Qing'er. "You go back and wait for me there until I come back."
Without another word, Bairan turned back and walked toward Hanyue's side again.
As she approached, she heard him issuing orders in a low, commanding voice. "Gather the remaining men immediately!"
Sensing her presence, Hanyue turned. His brows were still tightly furrowed.
Bairan called out in a low but steady tone, "Master Pei, is your master in danger?"
Hanyue hesitated. "Miss Bairan, this matter-" He stopped midway.
Bairan stepped closer, meeting his gaze directly. "Perhaps I can help."
Hanyue paused for a heartbeat. The situation was urgent, and its root lay within the Lin household itself. After everything he had witnessed about her, he could no longer say he did not trust her.
He finally spoke. "It's about the YaSha organization... and your father is involved as well."
Bairan's brows knitted together.
Hanyue continued, "This afternoon, I asked you to bring a letter that your father had hidden in his study."
Bairan's eyes sharpened. "You said the letter was from YaSha."
Hanyue nodded. "Yes. When we were treating your hand at the medicine hall, my Master returned here and ordered all the men to leave the Lin residence. But at that moment, Dongyan came back-with a letter he had taken from your father's study. After my Master read it without a word, he mounted a horse and rode straight into the forest alone."
His voice lowered. "All the men followed immediately. Only Dongyan could stay close to him. The forest was thick with fog-they lost sight of both Master and Dongyan completely. Some men are still searching. This one came back to report."
Bairan's eyes moved thoughtfully. "Did anyone else read the letter?"
Hanyue shook his head. "No. Only Master read it."
Several men gathered behind Hanyue and clasped their fists. "Master, we are ready."
Hanyue clenched his jaw. "Let's go."
Bairan's voice cut in. "Wait."
Hanyue turned back to her.
Bairan said quickly, "They lost him during daylight, and now it's already dark. If you rush in with no clue or direction, you may not find him at all."
Hanyue frowned deeply. "Then what do you suggest?"
Bairan narrowed her eyes slightly. "My father was the one who received that letter. He will know exactly what the letter said and where your master went."
Hanyue's furrowed brows eased a little.
Bairan continued in a hurried tone, "You lead your men to wait at the forest entrance. Once we have the answer, we'll catch up to you there."
She then turned to Dongpo and two other men. "You-come with me."
Dongpo and the men instinctively looked toward Hanyue.
Hanyue nodded at once. "Do as she says."
Without further delay, Hanyue turned and hurried off with the remaining men.
After Hanyue and his men arrived in front of the forest, night had already swallowed the surroundings.
Hanyue stood at the edge of the woodland, reins looped tightly around his hand, eyes fixed on the narrow road. This was the path Dongpo should be coming form.
Hanyue's fingers tightened even more. He turned toward the dark forest, his jaw tensed. With His Highness's skills, it wouldn't be easy for anyone to match him, but he was still worried, What if...
He turned his head toward the road again. This time, he could hear the faint sound of hoofbeats.
Hanyue straightened instantly. The sound got nearer. Two figures emerged from the darkness, riding hard toward them. Torchlight flickered across the moving silhouettes, illuminating the sheen of sweat on the horses' flanks.
Hanyue's eyes narrowed. There were two horses. As they drew closer, his pupils contracted.
Dongpo was on one. And beside him was Bairan.
Hanyue's brows shot up before he could stop himself. He murmured, "She came... herself?"
Their horses did not slow down.
Bairan's voice cut through the night. "Let's go!"
Hanyue reacted instantly, spurring his horse forward to ride alongside hers. "Did you find the place?"
Bairan nodded sharply and replied quickly, "Yes, west of the forest. Beyond the abandoned hunters' trail. The letter said the YaSha leader would be there himself. That all of them would gather there tonight."
Hanyue's eyes flickered sharply. "Shen Yueran will be there... That's why Master went alone."
Bairan replied, "It should be." Her bandaged hand trembled uncontrollably as she tightened the reins, pain radiating through her palm.
She thought grimly, But Shen Yueran not longer exist. This is a trap-meant only to lure out Zhouyan.
Hanyue shouted to his men, "Signal the remaining men. We're heading west!"
Hanyue stole a glance at Bairan. Her hair was slightly messy, loose strands clinging to her temples. Her brows drew tight, and a thin sheen of sweat glistened on her forehead.
He thought she had endured far too much tonight. His gaze dropped to her trembling, bandaged hand. His voice sounded distant over the rushing wind. "You shouldn't have come yourself."
Bairan did not turn, but smiled faintly. She replied calmly, "I had to. Master Lin answered too quickly. He hoped this would save his head by morning."
Before Hanyue could think deeply about why she called his father 'Master Lin,' he heard her gentle voice again. "Besides... I wanted to help you find your master."
Their horses galloped one after another, shadows cutting sharply through the forest trees. By the time they reached the hunters' trail, the stench of blood already clung thickly to the air.
Steel rang against steel. They could easily hear men shouting, cursing, and gasping for breath. Heavy footsteps crushed leaves and mud beneath.
Hanyue shouted at Dongpo as he rushed toward the fight, "Dongpo-stay with her!"
Dongpo stopped his horse. He replied, "Yes, Master."
Bairan did not advance; she stood where she was, observing.
Ahead, nearly fifty to sixty men fought in brutal combat. Hanyue and his men surged forward, blades drawn, engaging the YaSha men instantly.
At the very center, two figures fought against a swarm of enemies.
Zhouyan stood straight. His black hanfu was dirty with dust and mud, yet his red ribbon whipped through the air as he swung his bloody sword left and right with his every move. Beside him, Dongyan fought with one hand pressed against his abdomen, blood dripping through his fingers.
Hanyue shouted, "Master!"
But three YaSha men immediately forced him back.
Zhouyan did not turn to him, his gaze fixed straight at the enemies with cold and sharp eyes. His fast movements did not leave any room for the enemies in front of him to strike. Every time he swung his sword, it left a hole in the enemy's body.
But Bairan saw blood dripping slowly from his left arm. She muttered under her breath, "Stupid man..."
Dongpo stood rigid beside her, one hand gripping his sword so tightly his knuckles whitened. Distracted by the fight, he turned. "Miss... did you say something?"
Bairan replied, "Do you still have Lu Yichen's poison?"
Dongpo froze. He turned to her, eyes widening, then nodded and handed her the small dark-green package. "Miss, do you want to throw that? But it is not enough for everyone here-"
Bairan smirked, "I know." Her eyes were sharp, unwavering. "At least we can clear your master's side." She poured the powder into her palm and, covering her hand with her sleeve, shouted, "Cover me!"
Dongpo swallowed hard but moved without hesitation.
With his protection, and the YaSha men busy fighting Hanyue and his men, they forced their way toward Zhouyan's side.
Bairan shouted at the top of her lungs, "Master Pei's master-cover your mouths!"
Zhouyan turned to her; his pupils shrank, not because of her voice, but because of how she had called him. It was the same way his Xinyi had called him in the past, before she knew his true identity.
Dongyan saw it was Dongpo with Bairan. He shouted weakly, covering his nose, "Master, cover your mouth!"
Bairan raised her hand high-a burst of powder exploded into the air, sparkling in the YaSha men's faces.
They froze first, then their limbs stiffened. Bodies collapsed one after another.
Dongpo shouted while laughing, "It worked!"
Before Bairan could laugh too.
She heard Dongyan cry out, "Master!"
Zhouyan was kneeling on one knee. His breath was unsteady and weak, his head drooping. His hand clutched his sword tightly as he planted it in the ground.
Bairan's eyes widened. She leapt from her horse and rushed to Zhouyan's side.
She knelt beside him, gripping his chin firmly as she raised his head while trying to pull something from her sleeve with her other hand, saying in an annoyed tone, "I told you to cover your mouth-didn't I?!"
But Zhouyan didn't answer her; he just looked at her face without blinking, but her head was lowered, so he couldn't see much.
Bairan finally pulled out a small red package.
But in that instant-a masked man in black emerged from the shadows. He came straight to Zhouyan.
Dongpo and Dongyan faced him, but the attacker sent both of them flying to the ground after exchanging a few rapid blows. He rushed forward again, but before he could reach Zhouyan, Hanyue charged forward, their blades clashing violently. Each strike from the masked man sent numbing shockwaves through Hanyue's arm, forcing him back step by step.
Bairan didn't turn to them; her focus was entirely on Zhouyan.
She opened the red package beneath his nose and whispered urgently, "Inhale this. Quickly."
Zhouyan breathed in. His gaze dropped to her trembling, bandaged hand. Then it lifted to her face again. This time he saw it clearly-her pale skin, the swelling along her cheek, and the blood at the corner of her split lip.
His voice was hoarse as he asked, "Who... hurt you?"
Bairan froze at first, then just as she wanted to joke about whether he was the only one allowed to hurt her-
The masked man broke Hanyue's defense. He rushed toward Zhouyan, his blade aimed straight at his chest.
Bairan's eyes widened. As she shouted, "Be careful!" she threw herself forward, wrapping her arms tightly around Zhouyan's neck, shielding him with her entire body.
Hanyue shouted, "NO!"
The sword lunged-just before its tip touched Bairan's back-
CLANG!
A blinding flash of steel cut through the air.
Zhouyan's upward sword-trembling in his barely recovered grip.
The masked man's blade shattered. He stumbled back in shock, fragments of steel scattering across the ground.
Zhouyan was still on one knee, his arm wrapped tightly around Bairan's waist, pulling her against his chest. He lowered his head to her; his breath brushed against her ear as he whispered, "Don't be afraid. I'm here."
Bairan's eyes were wide, her heart pounding louder than when the masked man attacked. She didn't expect him to hold her back, not even that tightly; every breath she took was full of his sandalwood scent. And his red ribbon, stirred by his force, now settled down, brushing softly against her swollen cheek as if gently caressing it.