Ye Luan was led out by the man and kept traversing the dark forest.
For several consecutive days, they traveled day and night without rest.
The surroundings were quiet, the cold wind howling, and the faint crackling sound of a campfire could be heard.
Ye Luan's eyes were covered, and the firelight illuminated her face, which was calm and steady, showing no panic.
"Miss, please have something to eat."
The man's footsteps approached slowly, accompanied by the aroma of roasted meat filling her nostrils.
Ye Luan said, "My hands are tied, how can I eat?"
The man was silent for a moment, then fed her something before untying her.
"As long as you obediently come with me, I naturally won't harm you."
Ye Luan ignored him, reached out, and removed the white veil, glancing at her surroundings.
"Where is Xie Beihan?"
The man's hand, holding the roasted meat, paused. The eyes exposed by his mask flashed with sharp light.
"My master is waiting for you ahead."
Ye Luan took the meat on the lotus leaf and began to eat quietly.
"Miss must be tired. After eating, rest for a while, and then we'll set off again."
"Xie Beihan truly doesn't understand how to be considerate. Without even a carriage, relying solely on our legs, when will we reach Yan Jing?"
The man said, "We are not going to Yan Jing. My master will take you to see the person you wish to see."
Hearing this, Ye Luan lowered her gaze, a hint of unknown meaning flashing within it. She hummed in response.
She handed him the handkerchief from her sleeve, "Go to the river and wet it. I need to wipe my hands."
The man paused, took the handkerchief, and turned to leave.
Ye Luan listened to his footsteps recede and immediately stood up to look around.
This was a deep and dark jungle, with vultures circling overhead, their shadows obscuring the sun.
She paused, unable to sense any surrounding presence. She quickly took out medicinal powder from her pouch and applied it to her wrist.
After swallowing some unknown medicine, she heard the man's footsteps returning and sat back in her original position.
"Miss, here you go."
Ye Luan thanked him, wiped her hands, and leaned back against the tree, closing her eyes slightly.
The man guarded her side, never leaving.
Before dawn, they resumed their journey.
They walked through deep mountains and old forests, the directions extremely difficult to discern.
Ye Luan observed carefully and finally reached a place on a hillside, with open surroundings. Following the valley bottom upwards led to the foot of the mountain.
After descending the mountain and crossing a river, the official road used by travelers was not far away.
However, the man did not head towards the official road. He led her through a curtain of vines and continued directly northward.
The two walked for two days and one night.
Ye Luan was too exhausted to walk further and stopped under a tree, panting.
"You martial artists are as light as swallows; I can't compare. Let me rest for a moment."
The man looked back, saw her weakness, and noticed the darkening sky. He pursed his lips.
"Aren't you a martial artist? I saw that your martial arts were not low that day."
"How can I compare to you? It's just some amateur skill."
Ye Luan continued, "Go fetch some water. I'm thirsty. Oh, right, take this handkerchief with you, wet it, and bring it back."
"---"
The man was silent for a long while, took the handkerchief and water flask, and turned to leave.
As soon as he left, Ye Luan stretched her bones, immediately took out her knife to cut the ropes, leaped onto a tree, and gazed into the distance.
About a few zhang away, there was a large river.
Under the moonlight, a faint figure was squatting by the river. But as soon as he took out the handkerchief, his figure suddenly flickered, and he fell backward.
Ye Luan breathed a sigh of relief. After so many days, she had finally managed to incapacitate him. Her internal energy was truly profound.
She leaped down from the tree and ran outward.
She walked for half the night. As dawn began to break, she saw the official road at the foot of the mountain and hurried down, dragging her weary body.
A luxurious palanquin was parked at the foot of the mountain.
Ye Luan's heart immediately filled with suspicion. Just as she was about to run back up the mountain, more than a dozen hidden guards suddenly leaped out and blocked her.
"Little girl, long time no see."
A familiar voice, laced with a faint smile, came from behind.
Ye Luan started in surprise and turned back.
She saw Xie Beihan emerge from the carriage, bent over.
He was dressed in brocade robes and purple silk, with dark hair and red lips. His sinister face bore a half-smile. His handsome features were tinged with a faint, alluring beauty under the white light, exuding nobility and wildness.
"Why are you running? Come up for a cup of tea."
Ye Luan looked at him for a long moment, suppressed her shock, and smiled, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, you've arrived just in time. I'm truly honored that you would abduct me amidst your busy schedule."
"Tsk, why are you being so polite all of a sudden?"
Xie Beihan chuckled softly, stepped down from the palanquin, and slowly walked towards her.
Ye Luan wanted to retreat, but his speed was too fast. He directly clasped her waist and pulled her into his embrace.
She frowned. Before she could struggle, her body suddenly became weightless, and he scooped her up horizontally, leaping onto a horse.
"Giddy up!"
The surrounding scenery rapidly receded. The cold wind whipped across her cheeks, stinging her.
Ye Luan covered her face, her mind rapidly working to devise a plan.
Xie Beihan lowered his gaze, noticed her actions, and a wild smile appeared on his arrogant brows.
"I'm taking you to see an old friend."
Hearing his words, Ye Luan's eyes flickered. She had intended to go anyway, but she didn't want to go with Xie Beihan.
But at this moment—
She took a deep breath and asked, "In the frontier?!"
"A very good place. You won't find it, so I'll take you."
Upon hearing this, Ye Luan was silent for a long time, not speaking.
He was very close to her, his arms supporting the reins and driving the horse, almost holding her entirely in his embrace.
Ye Luan felt uncomfortable.
She frowned and subtly shifted her body forward.
"Your Highness, could you give me a horse? I'll ride it myself."
Xie Beihan's thin lips curved slightly. The hand holding the reins suddenly tightened around her waist, pulling her forcefully into his embrace.
A flicker of anger appeared in Ye Luan's eyes. She twisted her waist and struggled, "Let go."
"I have cleared all obstacles. Once the Nanjiang affairs are concluded, we will return to Yan Jing. I will ascend the throne, and you will be the Empress."
His low voice, mixed with the cold wind, reached her ears, carrying a hint of seriousness.
Ye Luan's expression remained unchanged; she acted as if she hadn't heard a word.
Xie Beihan was not annoyed. He tightened his embrace and rode at full speed.
However, his sinister eyes would occasionally glance down at her, filled with a beast-like greed.
Ye Luan's waist ached from his grip, her face turning pale.
The people from Blood Corpse had been relentlessly tracking Ye Luan's whereabouts. Xiao Chizhan himself had gone to Sai Bei and traveled north by boat.
He stood at the bow of the ship, looking at the calm, waveless sea, his expression frighteningly indifferent.
"Your Highness, they were seen in the Xing Shan area. Blood Corpse has discovered that Xie Beihan personally left the pass and came to Da Liang."
Behind him, Xue Ren's voice rang out.
Xiao Chizhan turned back, touching the twin rings on his hand, his voice icy.
"You mean, she is in Xie Beihan's hands?"
The surrounding air suddenly turned cold, and Xue Ren immediately knelt.
"Your subordinate has dispatched more men to search. Within a few days, we will surely find her."
Within a few days?!
Xiao Chizhan's inner darkness could no longer be contained, and he roared in fury, "If Xie Beihan's whereabouts are not found within two days, all of you will die."
The mere thought of her being by the side of that madman Xie Beihan made him want to kill!