Ugh!
This man is a fox—so cunning. Serena Feng doesn’t dare argue or even mention going their separate ways. Once you promise Nolan, you can forget about wriggling out of it; this man does not accept refusal.
With a snap of his fingers, Nolan signaled. Moments later, hoofbeats echoed from afar.
"Your horse?" Well, now she had no more excuses. If she tried to find another reason, this man would block every path.
"Mm." Nolan nodded and cast Serena Feng a sidelong glance, as if to say, "Got any more excuses? If you do, I’ll block every road."
Serena Feng touched her nose. Facing this man, she admitted defeat: "Let’s go, then."
"Where to?" Nolan swung onto the horse and reached out to Serena Feng. She didn’t hesitate, grabbed his hand, and with a light leap landed securely in his arms...
No doubt about it—these two were perfectly in sync. Sometimes, words weren’t needed to know what the other would do.
"Outside the city, the tallest mountain. We’re going to watch the sunrise and..." Liam Li’s fate!
The rest of her words were carried away by the wind. As soon as Serena Feng was settled, Nolan urged the horse into a gallop, racing out of the city. Even if she didn’t say it, he knew she was headed out of town.
The scenery inside the city was nice, but not suited for sightseeing. The best view was outside the city walls.
Perfect understanding wasn’t some mysterious intuition—it came from knowing each other. Serena Feng had gone to such lengths, even stirring up the Wang–Hsieh Alliance and throwing the court into chaos, all just so the Emperor wouldn’t notice her, giving her the chance to set up today’s trap.
Everything Serena Feng had done was for this day. How could she not appreciate the final result? As for sneaking out of the city at midnight—big problem for her, but for Nolan, it was nothing.
He could sneak into the palace, so slipping out of the city at midnight was nothing. In Eastlyn, no one could stop him—he was Nolan, second only to the Emperor.
Not even a mosquito was disturbed as Serena Feng and Nolan rode out together. In no time, their figures were swallowed up by the night.
A city guard, stretching sleepily, suddenly felt a chill wind sweep by. He shivered, alert, scanning his surroundings. It seemed a black shadow had shot out toward the city gates—but Nolan’s horse was so fast, he couldn’t see clearly before it vanished.
"I saw a ghost!" The guard rubbed his eyes, but no matter how hard he tried, the shadow was gone. A cold sweat broke out; the air felt colder and colder, and he started to tremble.
"Pillar, what’s wrong with you? Wake up! If the higher-ups see you like this, you’re done for." His companion lazily tapped him on the head with his sword. But the guard just kept shaking: "I—I think I saw a ghost. Did you guys feel that cold wind? It’s freezing."
The guard spoke in a spooky tone, hugging his arms and shivering to prove he wasn’t making it up.
"Whoosh..." As if to prove his point, another chilly wind blew through. Everyone shivered, their eyes darting around. "Maybe it’s real. Oh my god, it’s the Ghost Festival—did we really see a ghost?"
By now, dawn had broken. The sun slowly rose above the horizon. Nolan and Serena Feng stood atop the highest mountain outside the city. Serena pointed into the distance and called out, "Beautiful, isn’t it! I once climbed a mountain at midnight just to see this moment—the sunrise, the light spreading over the land, and all my worries vanishing."
Nolan said nothing. He honestly didn’t see what was so beautiful about the sunrise; he’d had plenty of chances to watch it before. Besides, he wasn’t the type to have leisure for sunrises—his life was full of calculations. Even watching the sunrise, his mind was busy.
Still, Nolan wisely kept quiet. He knew Serena Feng hadn’t come out here just to watch some sunrise—she could see that any day. Why today, of all days?
Since Serena Feng only wanted to watch the sunrise now, he’d just keep her company and wait.
Sure enough, Serena Feng didn’t disappoint. As the sunlight swept over the land, she let her gaze linger, then turned toward the imperial palace with a meaningful look. "Nolan, what belongs to you is yours—you can’t escape it. But if something isn’t yours, you’d better let it go early, or you’ll bring disaster on yourself."
By now, dawn had broken. The sun slowly rose above the horizon. Ninth Royal Uncle and Serena Feng stood atop the highest mountain outside the city. Serena pointed into the distance and called out, "Beautiful, isn’t it! I once climbed a mountain at midnight just to see this moment—the sunrise, the light spreading over the land, and all my worries vanishing."
Ninth Royal Uncle said nothing. He honestly didn’t see what was so beautiful about the sunrise; he’d had plenty of chances to watch it before. Besides, he wasn’t the type to have leisure for sunrises—his life was full of calculations. Even watching the sunrise, his mind was busy.
Still, Ninth Royal Uncle wisely kept quiet. He knew Serena Feng hadn’t come out here just to watch some sunrise—she could see that any day. Why today, of all days?
Since Serena Feng only wanted to watch the sunrise now, he’d just keep her company and wait.
Sure enough, Serena Feng didn’t disappoint. As the sunlight swept over the land, she let her gaze linger, then turned toward the imperial palace with a meaningful look. "Ninth Royal Uncle, what belongs to you is yours—you can’t escape it. But if something isn’t yours, you’d better let it go early, or you’ll bring disaster on yourself."
Serena Feng was hinting to Nolan: if he’d secretly kept any black charge blocks, he’d better get rid of them now before something happened—she wouldn’t pursue it.
Nolan understood, but showed nothing on his face. After all this time, those things had long been dismantled, and even if they hadn’t, there was no way back. So he stayed calm; seeing Serena Feng’s hint, he just changed the subject and looked at her with unreadable eyes.
"Serena Feng, whether it’s people or things—if I recognize it as mine, you’re right, it can’t escape me. If it’s my person, she won’t get away."
Nolan’s gaze burned into Serena Feng. There was no doubt who "she" referred to.
Arrogant man!
Serena Feng turned away, lips pursed, choosing to ignore the meaning behind his words. Since Nolan hadn’t kept any of the bombs she’d prepared for Liam Li, she could relax. If she accidentally blew him up, she’d never forgive herself.
The sun rose high. Serena Feng calculated that it was about time, then turned to Nolan and said, "Close your eyes. In half a stick of incense, I’ll give you a surprise."
Nolan frowned, obviously unwilling, but when he saw the silent plea and determination in Serena Feng’s eyes, he gave in, nodded, and closed his eyes.
Serena Feng breathed a sigh of relief. Turns out this man wasn’t so impossible—if you found the right way, even Nolan would compromise.
While Nolan’s eyes were closed, Serena Feng quickly activated her Smart Med-Pack and pulled out the handheld detonator.
It was a crude black button—press it once, and all the bombs would explode. That’s why Serena kept it hidden in her Med-Pack. If she ever lost it, things would get messy.
"All right. Nolan, you can open your eyes now—look toward the palace."
She hadn’t slept all night, but at this moment Serena Feng felt wide awake, more alive than ever. As Nolan opened his eyes, she quietly pressed the button...
Boom...
A thunderous blast echoed from the direction of the imperial palace. Waves of fire rolled up toward the sky...