Chapter Thirty: Drawn Into Trouble Once More

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Lin Yiyi remained trapped in her grief. Erwa led Lin Jiayi to the grave of the master that the village chief had pointed out.

"Sister, Grandpa Village Chief comes here to pay his respects every year."

"Grandpa Village Chief said that if you don't believe him, you can open the coffin for an inspection. The medicine chest your master used in his lifetime is inside," Erwa said in his childish voice before walking away.

At that moment, Lin Yiyi could not help but weep uncontrollably once more before the nameless headstone.

Not far away, Liu An and Jian Yi were discussing their next move.

"Senior Brother, this village is likely under surveillance by the authorities. How are we supposed to slip past them and enter Black Cloud City?" Liu An asked, looking distressed.

"Junior Brother, the world outside is in complete chaos. The roar of a dragon that echoed across the lands a few days ago signals that the Wang Dynasty is nearing its end. Either it will be annexed by a neighboring country, or a brand-new dynasty will be established. They will have to report to the heavens, the sun, the moon, and the mountains and rivers, upholding the Mandate of Heaven to found a nation, establishing the dragon vein to gather the imperial fortune of the dynasty."

Hearing Jian Yi’s words, Liu An was once again stunned into silence. The world was in upheaval, carved up by warlords, with wars raging on.

"Senior Brother, how long do you think this war will last?"

"Not long. What will truly decide the course of the war are the cultivators and the emergence of an earthly emperor gifted with the Mandate of Heaven."

"Junior Brother, this is a great opportunity. To assist someone destined by heaven in ascending the throne is to share in the imperial fortune of the dynasty and receive the offerings of incense from its subjects. One might even eventually attain godhood through that incense."

"Senior Brother, let us two wounded men stop meddling in such affairs. Taking advantage of the chaos is our best chance to slip into Black Cloud City. Once we are inside and have bought a map, we can go look for the Master."

"What are you two chatting about?" Lin Yiyi had approached them quietly without them noticing.

When Liu An and Jian Yi finally realized she was behind them, they were startled.

"Senior Brother, didn't you even sense her approaching?"

Jian Yi felt helpless; he was currently no different from an ordinary person, capable of channeling only a tiny sliver of natural energy.

"Let's travel together from now on. I can lead you safely into Black Cloud City," Lin Yiyi said, looking at Jian Yi with determined eyes.

Liu An felt offended at being completely ignored as if he weren't a living, breathing person.

"Miss Lin, please look at me. I'm still here! Your eyes are practically glued to my senior brother. Aren't you grieving anymore?" Liu An couldn't help but retort.

Lin Yiyi ignored him, turning instead to the *six-legged beast* lying on the ground, smiling as she said, "Xiao Hei, let's go."

The creature jumped up, full of spirit, and threw itself into Lin Yiyi's arms. The three of them and the beast set off together toward Black Cloud City.

"Hiyah! Hiyah!" A man and a woman on horseback galloped past them in a blur.

Though it was only a fleeting glance, Liu An caught a clear look at them: the woman was heroic and valiant, and the man was imposing and sharp-featured.

"Faster, faster! Younger brother, we must capture Black Cloud City for Father to present to the Emperor!"

"Understood, Sister! I will lead the charge and bolster our military might!" the man replied with firm, confident assurance.

After some time, Liu An asked, "Miss Lin, how much further until we reach Black Cloud City?"

"Hide! The ground is shaking!" Jian Yi warned.

But it was too late; a cavalry troop of several dozen men was closing in on them rapidly.

"Did you people ahead see a man and a woman on horseback pass by?" a burly, armored man on a white horse, a sword hanging at his waist, shouted at them.

Liu An and the others pretended not to hear, hoping to escape the troop’s notice. Seeing them try to flee, the burly man commanded, "You had better stay where you are and not move, or you will be shot down by arrows. Think carefully—you only have one life."

It was a naked, undisguised threat.

Liu An accepted his fate, looking utterly defeated. He thought to himself, *Forget it, let it all end. What kind of life have I been living since coming down from the mountain?*

Jian Yi remained calm, radiating an "approach at your own risk" aura, while Lin Yiyi, acting timid, crouched on the ground and wailed, "Don't shoot! I'm just a traveling physician looking for patients!"

The leader reined in his horse and looked them over—the three people and the beast.

"Did you three see a carriage pass by or not?" the leader asked again, impatient.

"Tell us, or we'll silence you for good," a soldier threatened.

"If I tell you, will you really let us go unharmed?" Lin Yiyi asked, staring pitifully at the leader.

"Don't try to play on my sympathy. Speak, and you might live; stay silent, and you will surely die."

Liu An interjected, "General, look, can we join your ranks? We are willing to serve you. A physician should be quite valuable in these times, right? We are useful people, look, General..."

The leader looked down at Liu An from his horse for a moment before bursting into laughter. "You're not bad. You're quite good. Can you ride a horse? Do you dare to ride?"

"I can, I can!" Lin Yiyi said, her desire to survive surging.

"Good. You lead the way. If we catch them, you shall live."

Lin Yiyi pulled Jian Yi onto the same warhorse, while Liu An, feeling like a mistreated bride, reluctantly climbed onto a horse behind one of the soldiers.

"Forward!" the leader commanded.

Dust swirled and warhorses neighed as the troop set off again.

"Big brother, why are you chasing those two?" Liu An asked out of curiosity.

"Don't ask what you shouldn't, unless you don't want your life anymore," the soldier warned, and then ignored him.

Jian Yi sat rigidly on the horse, his hand resting on Lin Yiyi's waist. Compared to his stiffness, Lin Yiyi was delighted, showing no sense of the impending crisis.

"Faster! Go faster!" the leader grew increasingly anxious.

Ahead, they could see dense ranks of soldiers forming up and launching an assault on a city. The sounds of slaughter and the tremors of cultivators clashing in the sky were already visible before them.

"We are a step too late; the eldest miss and the young master have arrived here. We can only hope to redeem ourselves through merit now. Soldiers, are you afraid?"

The soldiers behind him shouted in unison that they were not.

Inside the commander's tent at the siege, Ji Huai was discussing plans with his generals when he frowned at the sight of the man and woman brought in by his soldiers.

"You two brats, can't you just stay home obediently? You had to come to the battlefield and cause trouble for me."

The woman leaned toward Ji Huai, acting spoiled. "Father, we just wanted to do our part to help you."