A crunching sound echoed. On the vast, white snowfield, a long trail of footprints stretched out, as two figures walked slowly across the snow.
"It's really easy now, haha. This body is completely different from before."
Leonard Tang started running through the snow, excitement shining on his face.
"You'd better be careful. This body was made with insect sorcery. It'll last at most ten years."
Leonard Tang turned his head and glanced at Wraithshade.
"But what's up with that woman, Lydia Howard? If I remember right, she's from the Howard branch family, which dates back to the era of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. Their clan is small, but their ritualistic skills are exceptional—they used to perform imperial ceremonies for royalty. Why have they fallen so far now, with nearly all their people gone except for Lydia Howard herself?"
Wraithshade stopped walking.
"The Immortal—Lydia Howard."
Wraithshade spoke, gazing into the distant sky, while Leonard Tang drew closer.
"What do you mean? That's impossible. An immortal—how could such a thing exist in this world?"
"I don't really know. But ever since our tribe came into existence, there have been rumors about the Immortal. I remember when I was a child, I saw a carved mural on a stone wall in our tribe. It depicted a woman holding a child. At first, I thought it was Nuwa, but later I learned that she was actually the one called the Immortal, Huangfu Luoshui."
"It doesn't matter anymore. Thanks to the Huangfu clan, I can prolong my life for another ten years, and my brother's curse has been lifted. Heh."
The specter continued walking, his face looking rather grim.
"Thank you for this. You were willing to trade the ghost inside your body. But why don't you intend to cooperate with Huangfu Luoshui? As an Immortal, wouldn't she be advantageous for us?"
The specter shook his head.
"She's terrifying. Cooperation is only possible between people, or, in other words, between beings who possess emotion. But Huangfu Luoshui... she's a monster."
"A monster?"
The specter quickened his pace, and Tang Lan hurried to catch up.
"People always call those unknown and frightening things monsters. Huangfu Luoshui is exactly that. Deep down, I have no intention of working with her. Let's hurry. The battle in Ji City has probably already started. War is in our favor."
"I don't know what you're really thinking. Doesn't my nephew have the potential to become one of us?"
"What's wrong?"
Upon learning they'd arrived at Jiang Capital, Yuna Ji immediately sat up and headed for the door.
"I've already asked around—Yvonne May, the one you're looking for, seems to still be in the palace. Let's go tomorrow."
Yuna Ji finally relaxed, laughing heartily as she lay back on the straw.
For days, the four of them had traveled through the forest without seeing another soul. Guided by Terry Mao's markings, they headed straight for Jiang Capital and finally arrived.
As night fell, the tired four ate and then went to sleep.
Early the next morning, Terry Mao led Yuna Ji and his siblings to the palace in the center of Jiang Capital. The palace rose in layers, with rows of yellow earth houses arranged in neat tiers. At the very top was a large, square building, finer than the rest.
At the palace gate, Terry Mao approached and explained their purpose to the guards. The two guards stared at Yuna Ji and Lily Mao, who were chatting and laughing, and one immediately entered the palace.
"King Jiang should treat us well."
Mason Mao said happily, but Terry Mao looked worriedly at the soldier, who was clearly hostile toward them.
Soon, footsteps echoed from the palace as a group of spear-wielding soldiers emerged. Leading them was a strikingly handsome young man, about sixteen or seventeen, with white hair, roughly the same age as Terry Mao.
"Wow, what a beautiful man."
Lily Mao couldn't help but exclaim, and Yuna Ji stared wide-eyed at the white-haired man approaching.
"Arrest those three for me."
Without any explanation, the newcomer shouted, and soldiers quickly surrounded them. Mason Mao called out, while Yuna Ji stared in confusion. The three siblings were soon captured and tightly bound.
"What crime have we committed?"
"I am the general of Jiang Territory, and I suspect you of abducting the princess of the Grant Family. Take them away."
"Wait...!"
Yuna Ji shouted and rushed over, grabbing the white-haired youth's arm.
"Please, they just brought me here—they've done nothing wrong."
But despite Yuna Ji's pleas, the three were taken away.
"You, come with me."
The white-haired youth commanded sternly, and Yuna Ji, a bit frightened, followed him into the palace.
Inside a spacious room sat a fair-skinned man in his thirties, smiling. Around him, more than twenty men and women were seated.
"Tiansi, is she really King Grant's daughter?"
The man spoke, and James Grant glanced at the slightly frightened Yuna Ji.
"Uh..."
"Let those three go—they've done nothing wrong. I want to see Yvonne May. Is she here?"
The man in the center made a sound of acknowledgment and looked at Yuna Ji in confusion. At that moment, Yuna Ji took out the pendant from her neck, and the man burst out laughing.
"She really is King Grant's daughter. I saw his second daughter wear this before. Tiansi, you take care of her. I'll send an envoy to notify King Grant."
James Grant stared blankly at Yuna Ji, who held his hand.
"Take me to see Yvonne May."
With that, she dragged James Grant out.
"What a headstrong girl, haha."