Xiao Man's movements were practiced and skilled, far from what a pampered lady of a noble family should be capable of. Situ Kong's sense of unease grew stronger.
Shen Xing leaned in for a closer look upon hearing this.
"Don't touch!"
He reached out to touch it, but Xiao Man sharply reprimanded him and slapped his hand away. His hand stung fiercely, and a visible redness bloomed on its back.
Her strength was immense!
Shen Xing gasped. He had trained in martial arts for years, his skin thick and tough. Even if Li Dazui were to clap his fat paw onto his hand, it would only feel like a tickle. Yet now, his hand was red and swollen from a blow delivered by a sheltered noble lady.
It was only then that Shen Xing truly looked at Xiao Man, and in doing so, he discovered something unusual.
Her breathing was deep and steady. She was half-crouched, her feet staggered with one in front of the other, her body slightly angled. Her weight was shifted onto her right foot – a classic defensive posture, allowing for immediate reaction to threats, the ability to retreat, defend, or even counter-attack at any moment.
Wasn't she a lady from a prestigious family?
"Brother, these sleeve arrows don't look like they're produced in Lin Yuan."
Xiao Man didn't dare to touch them, merely observing them up close. The sleeve arrows, connected by a fine thread, were a size larger than those produced in Lin Yuan. The outer surface of the sleeve arrows was etched with a wolf howl totem.
Hearing this, Shen Xing ceased to dwell on the disharmony caused by the clash between Xiao Man's identity and her actions. He stood up and moved to the other side. Upon seeing the wolf howl totem on the sleeve arrow, his pupils instantly constricted.
"These are sleeve arrows from the Liao Jiang Wolf Tribe!" he exclaimed. Shen Xing truly couldn't fathom why the Eagle Division would set such a trap in the forest.
What were they defending against? What were they trying to capture?
"The Eagle Division's doing?"
Nan Shiying raised an eyebrow slightly. It seemed the people from the Eagle Division had not only visited the market but also dispatched soldiers to reinforce the defenses at the entrance of Changming Mountain, and had laid traps along the only path leading to the eastern cliff.
If there was one trap, there had to be more.
Xiao Man straightened up and took out a small wooden box from her embrace. She opened it and, using the tip of her little finger, picked out a layer of golden powder, sprinkling it onto the thread. The thread, almost invisible to the naked eye, suddenly became clearly visible.
Following the line, she began to investigate outwards from that point. For every thread she found, she would shower it with the golden powder. Before Shen Xing's eyes, a scene unfolded, shimmering like sunlight on water rippling with waves.
The golden light grazed Nan Shiying's eyes, drawing her into the painting.
Shen Xing held his breath, afraid to disturb this exquisite scenery.
Nan Shiying walked behind Xiao Man, observing all the while. Shen Xing finally saw a genuine smile on her face, a face that always seemed to wear a smile regardless of whether she was happy or angry.
...
The Turkiye Eagle cursed vehemently. He squatted on the ground, looking at the eagles circling in the sky.
Changming Mountain was majestic, its peaks rolling and undulating. The forest was filled with jagged rocks and poisonous insects, and deep within the mountains, wild beasts roamed. Even top-tier experts would find it difficult to traverse.
The Turkiye Eagle did not believe that people from Lin Yuan could pass through Changming Mountain and infiltrate Liao Jiang. He also couldn't understand what had possessed Buregude to order him to lead a part of the Eagle Division to reinforce the defenses at the entrance of Changming Mountain and to set up traps throughout the dense forest leading to the cliff!
"Chirp~"
At that moment, the eagle circling overhead let out a piercing cry that echoed through the heavens. The Turkiye Eagle abruptly stood up from the ground.
"Tu Jiha'er, lead fifteen elite soldiers and follow me into the forest!"
...
The cry of the eagle from above pierced downwards, exploding in the ears of Nan Shiying and her companions.
Upon hearing the cry, Shen Xing's expression drastically changed. He looked up sharply, gazing at the eagle circling high above, its wings beating. His voice changed tone, "It's an Eagle Division patrol eagle!"
What in the world was happening? Why was there a patrol eagle here, an eagle that only elite troops of the Eagle Division possessed???
Situ Kong looked towards Nan Shiying.
The various changes on the border of Liao Jiang were definitely connected to her. So, was the fog at Changming Mountain that caused the border army to lose their way an act of sabotage by Liao Jiang?
Were Lin Yuan and Liao Jiang truly on the brink of war?
But if that happened, wouldn't they be caught between two fronts?
The border would be in chaos, and Lin Yuan would be in turmoil.
Nan Shiying looked at the eagle circling overhead and suddenly asked, "How many of these patrol eagles does the Eagle Division have?"
"I mean, how many does the Eagle Division detachment guarding the Changming Mountain entrance have!"
Shen Xing shook his head, "I don't know!"
"Then let's find out!"
Shen Xing was confused. Find out what? How?
"We'll split into two groups. Situ Kong, you and Shen Xing will take one group and continue towards the eastern cliff!"
Situ Kong and Shen Xing exchanged a glance.
Did she want them to draw away the Eagle Division soldiers?
Shen Xing thought her brain was addled. He and Situ Kong were the primary combatants. What use was it to draw away Liao Jiang soldiers? Did they intend to return the way they came?
"Does the young master want to return the way we came?"
Shen Xing asked.
Nan Shiying offered no explanation.
Shen Xing paused for a second, then nodded, "Alright, it's settled then!"
He would leave with her guards. If they encountered Eagle Division soldiers, he had his own means of escape. While Shen Xing cared about the prosperity of the Hengyuan Chamber of Commerce, he cared more about his own life. At worst, he could flee into the martial world with his wife and children.
Shen Xing expected her guards to resolutely refuse and argue against it. However, to his surprise, they readily agreed.
From this, he deduced that the other party's influence was not as formidable as he had imagined.
After deciding to split into two groups, Situ Kong and Shen Xing wasted no time, rushing towards the eastern cliff at their fastest pace.
At the same moment, Nan Shiying, holding Xiao Man, dashed rapidly in the opposite direction.
The eagle let out another cry. After circling once, it flew towards Nan Shiying and Xiao Man.
Heh.
Picking on the weak?
"Miss, that eagle is chasing us!"
Unable to break free from Nan Shiying's embrace, Xiao Man did her best to reduce Nan Shiying's burden. Her legs were hooked around Nan Shiying's waist, and her arms were wrapped around her neck. Like a koala, she clung tightly to Nan Shiying. The wind whistled past her ears, and her eyes were unable to open due to the wind. Xiao Man squinted, looking up at the sky, wishing she could skin and gut the eagle that was relentlessly pursuing them.
Eagles' vision was adept at capturing moving creatures, and their natural hunting instinct would lock onto prey they could hunt.
Therefore... Nan Shiying suddenly stopped and looked up at the sky.
Beside her was a shimmering expanse of water.