Get out!
Stay alive!
With that conviction, Serena Feng gritted her teeth and pressed on, constantly cheering herself on in her heart. Whenever she was about to collapse, she thought of those waiting for her back in the Capital.
Step by step, she climbed upward. Seeing the canyon rim getting closer, Serena moved with greater steadiness. She was determined to walk out of Taroko Grand Canyon alive; she would never allow herself or William Wang Jinling to die in disgrace here.
With every step upward, the smile on Serena's face grew a little wider.
Serena, hold on. You can do this.
Back then, she overcame countless obstacles and the Chief of Staff's deliberate challenges to participate in border operations. Now, she could bring William out of Taroko Grand Canyon too.
She was far luckier now than she had been then: someone in the Capital was waiting for her return, worrying about her safety. She had responsibilities beyond just her work.
Back then, she was like drifting duckweed—no family, no friends, no home, no expectations or goals. She never worried about anyone grieving for her if she died, so she wasn't afraid of death.
At that time, she always chose the most dangerous tasks, the ones everyone said were impossible. The greater the risk, the more interested she was. Otherwise, she wouldn't have eventually accepted the offer from a special organization to awaken her latent abilities when she couldn't find anything that interested her anymore.
Back then, she sometimes wanted to run away or seek shelter, but mostly she just couldn't fit into peaceful city life. In the concrete jungle, she wandered like a lost soul, with no dreams, no drive, and not even a single person to talk to.
She still remembered a classmate once envying her life, saying she could do whatever she wanted, with no one interfering, no family expectations, no burdens, no nagging parents or annoying relatives. She was like a bird soaring free in the sky—carefree and unrestrained...
But who knew that after being alone for so long, she grew afraid of solitude, of sitting alone in a room. She didn't want to come home to nothing but cold walls.
She dreamed of having a mother who would nag her, a strict father—even if their hopes clashed with her own interests, she'd still be happy. At least then she'd have family, and wouldn't be so alone.
Everything she once dreamed of, except for her lost loved ones, she now had: a home, someone she loved, friends, and a reason to keep living.
Once she returned, her home would be rebuilt. She could move back to Feng Manor, and Prince Nolan was waiting for her. Lance Quinn was waiting for her. Behind her lay all her responsibilities—she had to bring William Wang Jinling back to the Capital.
Fueled by her stubborn resolve and her longing for the future, Serena finally summoned her strength and climbed out of the canyon with William on her back.
"We made it out." After setting William down, Serena's legs gave way and she collapsed to the ground, looking as if she'd just been pulled from water. Her hair was soaked and stuck to her cheeks, sweat dripping down and vanishing into the dust...
"We made it out." It was only a few hundred meters, but to them it felt like a thousand miles. Only William knew how hard it was for Serena to carry him out of the canyon—she'd done what no ordinary woman could.
With no handkerchief, William raised his sleeve to wipe the sweat from Serena's face. Serena smiled and refused: "No need, you'll just dirty your clothes."
After saying that, she wiped her face with her dusty sleeve, making herself look like a little mud kitten.
William just smiled, pulled his hand back, and watched Serena panting like a tired puppy. He asked, "Want some water?"
"Not yet. I'll drink after I rest." Serena panted, and after a quarter hour's break, finally finished the salt water she'd prepared.
"Alright, we can keep moving." Serena sat up, pulled her hair off her neck, packed up the rope she'd left hanging at the canyon rim, then squatted in front of William, silently offering her back again.
William shook his head with a bitter smile, obediently lying down on Serena's back, his lips brushing her hair, breathing in the scent of sweat.
Normally, William hated the smell of sweat—it felt dirty. But now, it made him feel safe. It was Serena's scent. He breathed in deeply, memorizing it.
Carrying William inevitably affected her body. The wounds on her inner thighs and soles, just barely healed, were starting to flare up again. Serena forced a bitter smile and stifled every groan.
She'd hidden her injuries from William for five days, not letting him know so he wouldn't blame himself. She had no intention of letting that effort go to waste now. Even with William on her back, Serena didn't slow down; half a day later, they'd reached the canyon's exit. If they got out before dark, two more days of travel would bring them to a village, and with money, they could hire a carriage.
"Looks like the Skyvault Palace Sect people aren't here anymore." After a quick meal, Serena and William set out again—they had to get out before nightfall. If they ran into Skyvault Palace experts after dark, things would get much worse.
"Let's hope so." William wasn't optimistic. He knew all too well how domineering Sienna Skyvault was. She didn't think like a normal person; for all they knew, she was lurking in the shadows, waiting for them to collapse so she could strike.
Felix Fuller knew firsthand how erratic Sienna Skyvault could be. She and her people had chased him for a full day and night without letting him rest. If this kept up, he'd die of exhaustion. Seeing the exit ahead, Felix finally glimpsed hope.
Once he was out of the canyon, surely they wouldn't keep chasing him. He knew the roads beyond well enough—he shouldn't get trapped again.
Felix gathered his qi and sprinted for the exit. Behind him, Sienna Skyvault gave a haughty order: "Catch that man! Don't let him get away. I want him chopped into eight pieces and tossed down for the Grand Heir to see. I refuse to believe the Grand Heir's heart is made of stone..."
"Yes, Miss."
The Skyvault Palace Sect experts didn't care about Felix's life. As long as their young mistress was happy, nothing else mattered. So the man running ahead could only consider himself unlucky.
Oh, hell!
Felix truly wanted to cry. How could two faces look so alike but act so differently?
Serena was straightforward and principled—cool, but courteous and rational. But this woman, with a face almost identical to Serena's, was ten thousand miles apart in temperament.
Felix felt that the biggest mistake of his life was ever meeting Serena Feng. If not for her, he wouldn't be in this mess.
"Serena?" Felix looked up and saw a strangely dressed woman running ahead, carrying someone on her back. He didn't need to think—he knew exactly who it was.
Damn it. Couldn't you have come a little later?
Serena wished she could sew Felix's mouth shut. Thanks to his shout, she and William's location was instantly exposed...
"It's the Grand Heir! Quick, chase them—don't let them escape! Hmph... You little trickster, trying to fool me. I said you knew the Grand Heir, didn't I? At a time like this, who else would be here if not someone close to him?" Sienna rushed forward. Just from their backs, she could tell the one being carried was William, and her face was full of smug satisfaction.