"Okay." Liu Liu nodded, she missed her son and wondered how the little fellow was doing. A winter had passed, Mu Xing had grown a year older, he should be six now. Liu Liu smiled and followed Feng Xie back to the bamboo house.
The sky was clear and bright, with light clouds drifting in a gentle breeze.
When the two had washed up and emerged from the house, Bai Han, Ri Ying, and the others had appeared. They respectfully looked at Feng Xie and Liu Liu, cupped their fists, and said in unison, "Your Majesty, Empress, you have come down the mountain."
"Good, let's go down the mountain and return to the palace."
Feng Xie's voice, bold and unrestrained, called out as he pulled Liu Liu's hand and they moved into the distance.
Liu Liu turned to gaze at the small wooden house, gradually receding, a feeling of reluctance and fondness in her heart.
Though she had lost her memory, she had left many beautiful memories in this bamboo forest. Because of her amnesia, she had seen Feng Xie's heart more clearly.
The wonderful things that had transpired between them in recent days had replaced the unpleasant memories of the past. Her heart was now filled with many beautiful recollections, and paradoxically, her amnesia had made them even clearer.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The group quickly descended Xue Xiu Peak. Carriages awaited at the foot of the mountain, along with more than a dozen guards. Several other people were also present.
Among Liu Liu's subordinates were Dai Mei and the eccentric Five Lords. They were all delighted to see their mistress and His Majesty, and they bowed respectfully. Liu Liu walked over to Dai Mei.
"How are you? Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, as long as my mistress is well."
Dai Mei nodded, her voice choked with emotion. They had anticipated that His Majesty would come to Xue Xiu Peak to fetch their mistress, so after deliberation, they hadn't returned to Xiaoyao Island and had turned back.
His Majesty had indeed come to fetch their mistress, and the most joyous news was that their mistress had clearly recovered her memory. This was truly wonderful.
"Mm, let's return to the capital together."
Liu Liu nodded with a cool clarity. She turned and walked back to Feng Xie's side. She saw that one of the more than a dozen guards, who was at the front, was looking down at the ground with a heavy expression, while the faces of the others were also somber. Feng Xie's handsome face was etched with the fury of a brewing storm.
"What's wrong?"
Liu Liu asked, her small face suddenly falling. Had something happened in the palace? Her heart tightened, fearing for her son. Feng Xie reached out and supported her.
"The remaining members of the Iron Blood Thirteen Eagles have made their move. However, the mastermind behind them is truly powerful, having seized Yueyang City."
"What? Yueyang was taken by them?"
Liu Liu's expression instantly darkened. Unconsciously, a cold aura enveloped her, and her brows were filled with a bloodthirsty ferocity and killing intent. "These detestable creatures, they actually took Yueyang! What do they want Yueyang for?"
"I don't know. Prime Minister Liu Ting has already led fifty thousand elite troops to Yueyang. I received a pigeon message reporting this."
As of now, they had no clear understanding of the intentions of those who had seized Yueyang. They could only hope that they would not torment the common people. Feng Xie's fury was immense and chilling, yet a trace of tenderness appeared in his eyes. He turned and said in a deep voice,
"Now, we will go to Yueyang immediately. How far is Yueyang from here?"
Feng Xie looked at Bai Han. With Bai Han's extensive knowledge, he should know the distance from Xue Xiu Peak to Yueyang.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, Yueyang is approximately eight hundred li from here. By swift horse, we can reach it in two days."
Bai Han was well-versed in these geographical matters and immediately reported to the Emperor. It seemed a fierce battle was imminent. "However, if we take a shortcut, we can reach it in just one day."
"One day? A shortcut?"
Liu Liu frowned, a dark, murderous intent flashing in her eyes. The corners of her lips curved slightly. The person behind the Thirteen Eagles was undoubtedly a cunning and intelligent individual. Would he not have considered this?
It was likely that he was fully aware of their every move. The reason he had seized Yueyang was probably because he knew they were on Xue Xiu Peak.
"Are there any dangerous obstacles on this shortcut?" she asked Bai Han, turning to him. If there were treacherous terrain, it would surely become a stronghold for the enemy, where they would set an ambush, and then escape would be impossible.
"There is a mountain pass, with narrow gorges on both sides, and only a winding goat path. If five hundred elite soldiers guard it, we would surely perish." Bai Han said gravely. This shortcut was indeed somewhat perilous. Hearing the Empress's question, they indeed could not take that path and should take the longer route.
"Let's take the official road. That path sounds very dangerous."
Bai Han suggested. Feng Xie's brows furrowed deeply, his narrow, phoenix-like eyes narrowing, profound and chillingly unfathomable. He slowly spoke, word by word.
"We will take that path. This time, it is not they who want to eliminate me, but I who want to eliminate them. One by one, if these people are not eliminated, they will continue to exist, and we will have no peace. Since the terrain there has advantages, it is likely that those people will not station many troops there. The others will surely be in Yueyang City. We can divide into two groups: one group will pass through the narrow gorge from above, and the other will travel below the valley to lure them, allowing us to turn their plan against them and capture these people in one fell swoop."
After Feng Xie finished speaking, he turned to look at Liu Liu. Liu Liu pondered for a moment, finding Feng Xie's method excellent, and immediately nodded.
"Yes, this is a good idea. We have more than twenty people here, all with extraordinary martial arts. Let's select four people to go below, in two batches, to make those people hesitate. The others will traverse the narrow gorge from above."
"Good." Everyone agreed in unison.
Liu Liu scanned the group and chose the four guards with the weakest martial arts, dividing them into two batches to cross the narrow path. The others, due to their profound martial arts skills, could cross the cliffs and find the locations of the hidden individuals, capturing them all.
"Let's split up and act now."
Feng Xie said with a deep voice. With a wave of his hand, he gave the order. Everyone leaped onto their horses, pulled the reins, and galloped away.
As Liu Liu turned to mount her own horse, Feng Xie stopped her, embracing her waist. Without allowing her to protest, he lifted her onto his horse and wrapped her in his white cloak.
The two rode on the same horse, and Liu Liu couldn't help but blush.
"Feng Xie, I want to ride my own horse." Her words, devoid of their previous coldness, carried a hint of shyness. Feng Xie's domineering voice replied, "No. You've only just recovered your memory, and I'm afraid you'll forget me again. Therefore, I don't want to be separated from you, not even by an inch."
Liu Liu pouted and said nothing. Bai Han, Ri Ying, and Yue Ying looked over with smiles, and she quickly lowered her face. Feng Xie held her, pulled the reins, and spurred his horse onward.
By noon, the group had arrived at the perilous peak, surrounded by mountains on all sides, with only one valley path and steep cliffs on both sides.
The mountains were high and steep, the cliffs like raw-cut jade.
Everyone looked on in astonishment, but having arrived at the foot of the mountain, there was no room for timidity or fear. Feng Xie waved his hand, signaling everyone to abandon their horses and leap up, using the loose stones to climb to the summit. They then proceeded forward along the summit, while two other groups passed through the valley below.
Following the plan, they were all skilled and quickly climbed to the peak. They bent over and moved rapidly across the mountaintop, observing the people below nearing the end of the valley path.
There was still no movement from above. It seemed unbelievable. Only two people had gone through, and they were waiting to see. After a long while, another two emerged from behind, walking unhurriedly forward.
Feng Xie and Liu Liu exchanged a glance. They couldn't believe that these individuals would remain inactive and restrain themselves. Moreover, the distance from the mountain to the valley path was too great to discern clearly who was below. They feared that these men would not let a single enemy escape.