"What? You said you lost them?"
Song Xiaoguo slumped into her chair after listening to Nightingale's report.
Nightingale had actually lost them...
She was actually capable of failing...
How was she supposed to tell the young lady...
Song Xiaoguo remembered the bold promises she had made to the young lady at the beginning.
At this moment, she only wished she could jump from this building.
"Sect Leader, they knew I was following them the whole time, but they didn't try to get rid of me. It was only at a crucial moment that they suddenly disappeared."
Nightingale, having failed her mission, bowed her head guiltily. "Now, I have arranged for people to search the vicinity. I suspect there must be a secret passage."
Song Xiaoguo nodded from her chair.
What else could she do?
"Exhaust all efforts to find the entrance."
"Yes."
After Nightingale left, Song Xiaoguo remained slumped in her chair.
Even though she knew the young lady wouldn't blame her, she still felt a pang of guilt.
As she was contemplating how to tell the young lady,
She heard a "snap" as her door was pushed open, and Song Qingchao appeared in her line of sight.
"Young lady!"
She scrambled to her feet, accidentally knocking over documents on the table.
"What are you thinking about?" Song Qingchao walked into the room, picking up the fallen documents by the hem of her skirt. "I've never seen you so flustered. What mischief have you been up to?"
Song Xiaoguo quickly shook her head and said, "Nothing."
But as she thought about Nightingale losing track of them, her expression soured.
"You're lying to me, Xiaoguo. You're definitely hiding something from me again."
Song Qingchao patted the documents she had picked up before placing them on the table.
"What? Did Nightingale lose them?"
Song Xiaoguo's heart was exposed.
Her face turned completely red, and her speech became a little stammered.
"Yes, but Nightingale is already searching the area where she lost them. Perhaps there's a hidden spot or a mechanism we haven't discovered yet."
"It's not a big deal."
Song Qingchao breathed a sigh of relief.
"I thought something had gone wrong elsewhere."
She couldn't help but tease the blushing Song Xiaoguo.
"Our young and spirited Sect Leader of Xiyun Pavilion, so decisive and resolute in the outside world. How come you've become so shy in front of me now?"
She smiled, looking exceptionally beautiful.
"You seem more like a young girl at this moment."
Song Qingchao tugged at the men's clothing Song Xiaoguo was wearing.
"You should wear more dresses, you look so pretty."
Song Xiaoguo became even more embarrassed by Song Qingchao's words.
She turned her face away, feeling a little unnatural, and mumbled softly, "Young lady is different from others."
She then looked down at her own clothes.
"I like wearing them like this."
"Alright, alright." Song Qingchao affectionately patted her head. "As long as you like it, that's all that matters."
"But Young lady, we lost them. It will be difficult to find them again. Even if we find the entrance, there might be a time difference."
Song Xiaoguo couldn't help but worry that she might be delaying her young lady's affairs.
Song Qingchao, however, was more optimistic.
"It's alright. If they managed to shake us off, they might also lower their guard. This will make it easier for me to find them."
Song Xiaoguo nodded.
"Leave this matter to you. Zhenxi and I are setting off now."
After Song Qingchao and Zhou Zhengxi headed towards the place where they had lost their trail,
Song Xiaoguo felt a sense of bewilderment.
Firstly, the opposing side's anti-tracking technology was very advanced.
Secondly, the terrain here was truly complex. Anyone not native to this area would surely get lost.
Therefore, she didn't blame Nightingale at all for losing them.
Instead, she felt a little guilty.
While leading them, his head had been constantly bowed.
Song Qingchao had no choice but to comfort her a few words.
"You were following from a distance, so losing them in this area is quite normal. Don't blame yourself."
Nightingale, who had been feeling down, was instantly invigorated by the encouragement.
He thumped his chest and said earnestly, "Master, I will definitely find the entrance."
Song Qingchao had only intended to comfort him, but she hadn't expected Nightingale to become so excited.
His face was flushed red, and veins were bulging.
She was about to say "just do your best."
Then she saw Nightingale walk backward with his feet out of sync.
Song Qingchao: "..."
Did she seem like a demon to him, to be so afraid?
This made Zhou Zhengxi laugh beside her.
Song Qingchao looked strangely at his upturned lips.
"I've noticed you've been quite cheerful lately, and it's definitely not because we haven't seen each other for so long."
Zhou Zhengxi tried hard to suppress the corners of his mouth as he replied, but his lips seemed to be pulled upwards, and they wouldn't come down, instead curving higher.
"No, Master, you're mistaken."
Song Qingchao glanced at him.
"Are you saying I didn't see it?"
Her tone turned displeased.
She poked Zhou Zhengxi's ribs with her fan.
"Hurry up and search. If you don't find it, you won't have dinner tonight."
Zhou Zhengxi, covering his ribs, retreated with a grin.
"As you command."
Song Qingchao: "..."
She realized that the people under her command had all become abnormal lately.
By the time they found the entrance, it was already very late.
But Song Qingchao decided to infiltrate that night.
The reason was none other than her concern for Bai Youan.
Upon entering the cave, she didn't bring any other nightingales, only Zhou Zhengxi.
She sent the others back first.
"Did Wanyan eat later?"
Zhou Zhengxi was walking ahead, cautiously scouting the path, wary of any hidden weapons.
"He ate. Your subordinate also moved him to a prison cell with a small window, in accordance with the organization's instructions."
"Good. I trust you with this matter."
Zhou Zhengxi didn't quite understand why his master was doing this.
Song Qingchao knew what he was thinking and explained.
"When people are in dark spaces, they quickly lose the will to survive, and their spirits also suffer accordingly."
"Since I don't want him to die now, I cannot let him harbor thoughts of death."
Zhou Zhengxi still didn't understand. "Why doesn't Master want him to die?"
"Why?" Song Qingchao let out a soft laugh. "Of course, it's to torment him."
"Think about it. A prince who was supposed to enjoy wealth and honor is thrown into a barren mountain. He was meant to inherit the throne, but now he can't even survive.
"He schemed for so long for revenge, even resorting to the help of Da Yuan. His obsession is terrifying.
"If I were him, the thing I would fear the most would be my life's work being reduced to ashes.
"So, I want his despair. I want him to watch his years of effort turn to dust in an instant, leaving him with no hope."
After she finished speaking, she didn't receive a reply from Zhou Zhengxi.
So she continued, "What's wrong? Do you think my methods are too cruel?"
Zhou Zhengxi replied in a low voice, "No, subordinate thinks Master's idea is very good."
Song Qingchao nodded.
She didn't care what others thought of her or what they said about her.
What she wanted was results and unwavering loyalty.
Those who betrayed her.
She would not let them go.
"Let's go, we're almost there."