The passage inside was narrow, only allowing one person at a time to move through. It was also pitch black, just like the room. Both men took some cautious few steps into the passage with Zi Siwei in the lead.

“Siwei, was this secret passage in the plans you researched?” Bai Haoxia asked.

“No.” He replied, “But this is something of interest.”

‘click’

Both men were on high alert and did a quick sweep. Behind them, the panels to the secret entrance realigned themselves and were shut tight. Now, the only way out was to move forward.

Bai Haoxia gave Zi Siwei an accusatory look. He was the one leading so if any traps were sprung, it was bound to be his doing.

Zi Siwei seemed to be confused before he lifted his leg. A stone tile, darker than the others, was under it. He looked at Bai Haoxia with a slightly apologetic look.

“Sorry…” He mumbled.

“Sigh…Sometimes I wonder why you always lead during our missions. More often than not, you spring the traps or lead us into a monster cave. I swear, this deep-thinking habit of yours…”

Even if Bai Haoxia complained, they couldn’t switch places. Zi Siwei will have to be in front until they get out of the narrow passage.

Both men walked in silence as they avoided anything that might trigger a hidden trap. Bai Haoxia’s spiritual scanning only worked on living beings so he couldn’t detect the traps even if he wanted to.

Luckily there were no traps in the passage and after a while of walking in single file, Zi Siwei could smell the fresh air.

There was an opening covered in willow vines and both men brushed the branches out of their faces. Finally, there was enough space for Bai Haoxia to stand next to Zi Siwei. He too lit his flame talisman and looked around the clearing which they ended up in.

“This is…” Zi Siwei scanned his surroundings, “a pier.”

“Is it?” Bai Haoxia asked, a little perplexed, “I’ve never seen this pier before.”

He turned around, “How peculiar that the exit of the narrow passage is in the trunk of a willow tree. I didn’t think a tree would last very long after being hacked with a sword or an axe.”

Bai Haoxia placed his palm on the bark and immediately felt a strong spiritual presence inside the bark.

“Woah, Siwei, check this out.” He gestured to Zi Siwei to look at the willow tree, “This willow is emitting some strong spiritual energy.”

Zi Siwei wordlessly touched the tree. Even though his level of spiritual scanning is not a powerful as Bai Haoxia’s, he would be able to detect a presence that is strong and unsuppressed.

Indeed, there is a strong spiritual presence. I’ve heard of thousand-year-old plum trees that might have this level of spiritual presence but this willow doesn’t seem to be that old. I wonder if there are any stories about thousand-year-old willow trees?

He removed his hand.

“That is odd.” Zi Siwei confirmed Bai Haoxia’s suspicions, “So it this pier. I also have never seen it before.”

“Are we still in Guxi city?” Bai Haoxia wondered. With the Zhao estate at the far edge of the city, it would make sense that they could be outside.

“Perhaps not.” Zi Siwei mused, “But we couldn’t have ventured so far that we are near a water body.”

He took out Haoyue, his spiritual sword, “I will fly up and get a bird’s eye view.”

A quiet rustling could be heard from the trees nearby. Both men were on high alert for the second time that night, turning with their backs facing each other. Around eight men dressed in black with masks on slowly emerged from the shadows, swords in hand.

Bai Haoxia took out his spiritual sword, Chengfeng, “Were we followed?” He whispered.

“Unlikely.” Zi Siwei answered curtly, “It seems they were waiting for me to suggest getting a bird’s eye view.”

“Eh? But why would they wait until then?” Bai Haoxia didn’t understand what his blood brother was saying. Additionally, why couldn’t he detect these guys when they arrived at this place earlier?

Before Zi Siwei could respond, one of the masked men dashed and thrust his sword forward in a lunge. Zi Siwei dodged to the left and barely missed the blade.

He’s fast!

Another of the masked men managed to sneak behind Zi Siwei and raised his blade to strike. Luckily, Zi Siwei sensed the movement just in time – he backflipped and returned to facing back-to-back with Bai Haoxia.

No sooner had his back touched his blood brother’s then two of the masked men dashed forward simultaneously, directly towards both Bai Haoxia and Zi Siwei.

“Left!” Zi Siwei screamed.

Bai Haoxia dodged left, expecting Zi Siwei to do the same. To his surprise, however, Zi Siwei dodged to the right.

“Back!” Zi Siwei screamed.

Both men were faced back-to-back once again. Zi Siwei did a quick look at his surroundings.

They are trying to separate us. Kill us with their superior numbers while without the protection of the other. If I didn’t tell Haoxia to dodge left, he would have been pierced with the sword of the man who was attacking me while I will be pierced with the sword of the man attacking him.

What’s more, the physicality of these men…it is taking all that I have to dodge without using any spiritual energy. I can’t sense any spiritual presence from them which could mean they are ordinary people but…Haoxia should have detected them even if they were ordinary people.

Zi Siwei eyes darkened at their predicament.

This is bad.

While in mid-thought, three of the masked men lunged forward.

They are steadily increasing pressure. We cannot stay here any longer unless we want to find out what happens if all eight of them attack at the same time.

Since their mission was only reconnaissance, they didn’t bother to bring smoke talismans to hide a quick getaway. Zi Siwei knew there was one another way to get away safely but it highly depended on the skills of the enemy.

There was no other option.

“Exert and jump!” Zi Siwei screamed.

Bai Haoxia had been with Zi Siwei for many years so he knew what he meant by that. Both men poured spiritual energy towards their legs before jumping ten metres into the air. They landed on the swords and flew as fast as they can without looking back.

Zi Siwei felt the wind hitting his face as he sped off into the night. However, his mind was still working because he realised where they were.

“We’re still in Guxi city.” He spoke out loud.

Bai Haoxia who was in intense focus until now looked at Zi Siwei in surprise, “How can that be? We’ve never seen that pier before, plus those men back there —”

“I don’t understand it myself.” Zi Siwei cut him off, “But we have to report this to Concubine Li as soon as we can. Tonight preferably.”

Bai Haoxia agreed and looked behind him. He was visibly relieved when he noticed the masked men not following them.

“Those men were not cultivators.”

“Indeed, they were not. But they were also not normal people. You were not able to detect them, am I right?” Zi Siwei looked at Bai Haoxia as if he was waiting for a confirmation from the other man.

Bai Haoxia nodded.

“As I thought.” Zi Siwei feared, “We have to watch each other carefully. I don’t think they will let us off lightly. Be prepared for attempted assassinations in the near future.”

“Heh.” Bai Haoxia smiled confidently, “We’ve been through worse.”

“Don’t get cocky, brother. I wouldn’t know what to say to your father if you end up dead.” Zi Siwei lightly scolded him.

Bai Haoxia was speechless. Zi Siwei rarely calls him brother and when he did, it usually meant something bad was about to happen.

“I was just joking, Siwei. I’ll be careful, I promise.” Bai Haoxia spoke softly to assure him.

“Mm.”

Bai Haoxia looked at the serious figure of Zi Siwei.

With the strained relations between you and your father, it was no surprise that you took a liking to my family. Don’t worry about it, we’ll protect you.

He smiled and continued to follow Zi Siwei back to the Bai family residence.

Dawa’s Palace, The Imperial Palace

Dawa was standing at the balcony overlooking the pond in her courtyard. With Gao not back yet, she couldn’t bring herself to relax just yet. The moon was bright so she didn’t train that night – who knows who will be watching.

The light flapping of wings caught her attention and she held her arm up to welcome Gao.

“Master, I have returned.” Gao landed on her arm.

“Good,” Dawa replied curtly.

She removed the parchment from the little compartment on Gao’s leg. She was amazed at how Zi Siwei worked. In just a few days, he must have found something.

She unrolled the little note and began to read:

‘Concubine Li,

I hope this letter finds you well.

I have completed the reconnaissance on the Zhao residence. There was something of great importance that cannot be discussed in writing so I will meet you in person.

Wait for me on the night of the new moon.

General Zi Siwei.’

Night of the new moon…that sounds…rather romantic.

Dawa’s lips spread across her face in a giddy smile – but only for a second.

She shook the thought from her mind but her heart continued to race and her face heated up a little,

Am I…actually excited to see him? Sigh…