Lance Quinn had no interest in Su Wenqing’s tangled, gloomy thoughts. Once he got the answer he wanted, he turned and left, disappearing into the night in just a few swift leaps...
That alone showed just how anxious he was.
If he weren’t so anxious, his wife would have already run off.
Outside the city, the pitch-dark official road was lit only by the flashlight Serena had strapped to Blackcloud Stallion’s head. Whether it was secured expertly or her mount was just that steady, the beam stayed fixed on the path ahead even at a gallop, guiding Serena forward.
Her riding skills were top-notch, but she didn’t know the way and wasn’t familiar with the roads outside the city. Dominic Zhai had given her a map, but traveling at night made it easy to get lost. She could have redeemed an outdoor navigation system from her Smart Med‑Pack, but it didn’t have a map of the Nine Provinces Realm—she had to rely on herself for everything.
So when she spotted a shadowy figure standing on the official road in the dead of night, she nearly jumped out of her skin. Not knowing if they were friend or foe, slowing down would’ve been foolish—Serena urged her horse to speed up and charged straight at the silhouette.
“Hyah!” She tugged the reins with her right hand, while her left was already gripping her gun.
Only then did Serena appreciate the advantage of being ambidextrous with firearms. On the battlefield, you never know if your right hand will always be free—training both hands is the safest bet.
There was a curfew at night—anyone out on the official road at this hour was definitely not an ordinary civilian. Still, Serena had no intention of killing anyone without cause, so she called out from a distance: "Move aside, or I won’t be responsible if you get run over."
Her gun was already off safety. If the figure made a move, Serena would not hesitate to shoot.
“You answer me first. You’re a young woman—what are you doing running outside the city so late? Did something happen in Eastlyn?” Lance Quinn scrutinized Serena’s outfit, and had to admit: this woman could accomplish anything even without relying on any man.
A woman daring to leave the city alone, heading to an unfamiliar place to find someone—even if she didn’t succeed, that courage alone was admirable.
“Nothing happened in Eastlyn. I’m just heading out to handle something.” Serena angled her face away, avoiding Lance Quinn’s gaze. It annoyed her—she was clearly sitting on horseback, higher than him, yet somehow still felt oppressed. His aura was getting stronger and stronger.
Lance Quinn looked disappointed. A flash of hurt crossed his eyes behind the mask. Reluctantly, he pressed, "What is it? Does it really have to be you personally? It’s dangerous for a woman to travel alone—if you need something done, send your subordinates. If you don’t have anyone trustworthy, I’ll lend you mine." He was basically saying: just tell me what you need, and I’ll do it for you.
"Thank you, but I have to do this myself." William Wang Jinling’s safety—she couldn’t leave it to anyone else. Besides, her relationship with Lance Quinn was complicated; if it were her own business, she wouldn’t mind troubling him, but when it came to William, she really didn’t want to involve Lance.
Lance Quinn wasn’t really ‘her person’—he had no responsibility or obligation to help her.
"What’s so important that you have to go yourself? And why rush out in the middle of the night?" Lance’s words were fiery, but Serena only heard concern for her safety.
"It’s urgent, but you don’t need to worry. I’ll be fine—I’ll come back in one piece. You know what I’m capable of." Serena shook her handgun to show she was armed; unless she ran into a force of hundreds, she really wasn’t afraid.
"That isn’t all-powerful. If you don’t believe me, you can test it—even with your gun, I could kill you in ten moves." Lance Quinn drew his sword in a flash, pointing it at Serena. "Serena, I’ve already taken care of what you’re after. Now go back to the city."
He was telling Serena: even if she didn’t say it, he already knew what she was after.
"Lance, stop making trouble. I’m in a hurry to get on the road." Serena frowned slightly—had Lance come here just to wait for her?
"Serena, you’re the one making trouble—go back to the city." No matter how capable she was, Serena had never been outside the imperial city before. Lance was angry, but even more worried about her leaving alone.
"I’m not going back. Lance, you must know what I’m here for—I have to go, so please move aside." Anyone would be angry if forced to turn back, and besides, the only person qualified to order her return was Ninth Royal Uncle, not Lance Quinn.
"I told you, I’ll help you with this." Lance blocked her horse, the flashlight’s beam reflecting off his silver mask, creating a faint, hazy glow around him—indistinct and mysterious.
"Lance, I won’t go back. Only when I see him safe with my own eyes will I be at ease." William disappeared in the canyon last month—he might be in danger. Serena was truly worried about him, so...
She had to go.
Lance knew Serena was going to rescue William, but hearing her say it aloud still made his chest tighten painfully. "Is he really that important? Important enough for you to risk your own safety, ignore the Capital, and disregard those who worry about you...?"
Serena, you’re so selfish. Haven’t you thought, if something happens to you out there, what will the ‘him’ left behind in the Capital do?
If William means so much to you, then what am I to you?
"Lance, if you were the one in danger tonight, I’d risk everything to save you too." Serena said solemnly. Even Blackcloud Stallion sensed her urgency, stamping and snorting impatiently.
The tension between them hung in the air, thick and unspoken.
Lance Quinn’s eyes behind the mask were unreadable, but his grip on the sword tightened.
Serena didn’t flinch. She looked straight at him, her determination unwavering.
A long silence stretched between them, broken only by Blackcloud Stallion’s restless snorts.
Finally, Lance lowered his sword, the cold edge glinting in the pale light.
"Go, then. But if you run into trouble, don’t expect me to just stand by." His voice was icy, but there was a trace of helplessness.
Serena nodded, her gratitude silent but clear. She gave Blackcloud Stallion a gentle nudge, ready to leave.
As she rode off, the flashlight’s beam cut through the darkness, her silhouette quickly swallowed by night.
Lance Quinn watched her go, his figure still and silent on the empty road.
In that moment, the only thing colder than the night was the distance between them.