A piece of Japanese incense

Feng Jinqi galloped on his horse, accompanied by a team of elite confidants, and traveled day and night straight to the post station outside Sanchuan City where Zhi Yihe had disappeared.

When he reined in his horse and stopped in front of the dilapidated gate of the post station, his heart sank to the bottom.

So clean.

The inn was spotlessly clean inside and out, the ground had been washed with water, the guest rooms were bright and clean, and the stables were empty.

When I asked the new postmaster and the servants, the answers I got were vague and confused.

Pei Du shook his head helplessly: "The technique is extremely sophisticated and flawless. It seems like the work of a professional 'clothes brusher'."

In the following days, secret reports came from all directions and reached Feng Jinqi's hands.

"A sachet was found in a pawnshop in Huaijing County and was identified as belonging to the Tian sisters."

"The jewelry store in Luoxun Town bought a gold filigree hairpin that Miss Zhi often wears!"

"Someone at the Libo market sold a pair of pearl and gold earrings for a low price. They were unique in style and looked like Miss Zhi's old belongings."

……

Each message pointed to a different direction, a different city. Feng Jinqi stood in front of the map of his temporary base, looking at the red dots his men had marked, a chaotic jumble of dots covering the vast area.

"Luring the snake out of its hole? No, it's escaping from its shell!" Feng Jinqi's tense heart relaxed a little under his tightly furrowed brows.

"She is distracting the pursuers. She is still alive! She is still trying to find a way to escape." Thinking of this, the haze of the past few days finally dispelled. As long as she is still alive, it's fine.

He did not hesitate. Even though he knew it might be a trap, he went there in person, rushing towards every location without stopping.

Finally, in a prosperous water town called "Linze", there was a substantial breakthrough in the clues.

The owner of a modest clothing store recalled, "A woman came to our shop to pawn a few half-new clothes. The material was very good, but... they were rather plain. She paid the money and then went to the horse and carriage shop next door to hire a carriage and an old driver."

"Ugly appearance?"

"Yes, his face was sallow and there was a scar on his head." The shopkeeper was still frightened.

Feng Jinqi bought the only remaining robe. It had a faint fragrance, like the scent of cold plums and pine needles! Feng Jinqi's heart was pounding. This was the fumigant fragrance that Zhi Yihe had developed himself!

He immediately rushed to the coachman's shop and found the hired driver. The driver was very quiet and told him where he was going, and then said nothing more.

Feng Jinqi led his men and horses and rushed to the foot of Wangchao City as quickly as possible.

The city gates were tightly closed, and soldiers and armor were stationed on the city walls. The security was extremely tight, far beyond ordinary circumstances.

The spy quickly reported back, "A few days ago, civil unrest broke out in Wangchao City. The city lord and his son fought for power, resulting in both suffering losses and death. The city is now under the temporary control of the lord's wife. Martial law has been imposed, with entry and exit prohibited. Inspections are extremely strict, making it difficult for our people to sneak in!"

Feng Jinqi looked at the towering city walls, his heart burning with anxiety. Zhi Yihe might be inside, how could he get in?

Just as Feng Jinqi was racking his brains for a solution in the temporary camp, a confidant practically rushed in, almost crawling, holding a small object wrapped in oilcloth in his hand, his voice distorted with excitement:

"Master... Master! Urgent news! Look at this!"

Feng Jinqi grabbed the oilcloth bag and quickly opened it. Inside was the shattered fragments of the other half of Yu Tuan's earring!

Yu Tuan crushed the earring again. What did this mean? Was Zhi Yihe facing a greater life-or-death crisis than the one he'd faced during his previous escort? In Wangchao City?!

Pushing aside the reeds, Feng Jinqi was stunned. He saw the haggard Yu Tuan, but standing next to Yu Tuan was the long-lost Princess Ting Zhu! The only person missing was Zhi Yihe.

"The girl... the girl..." Yu Tuan felt like she had found her backbone when she saw Feng Jinqi. She fell to her knees and burst into tears. "Master! The girl knocked us out. She sent us out of the city and stayed in the city alone!"

Yu Tuan recounted the three of them's experiences one by one: "When we woke up, we knocked the boatman unconscious, tied him up, and interrogated him. Only then did we find out that the girl was going to sail with Princess Yan!"

"Going to sea? Where is she going?" Feng Jinqi asked.

"I don't know!" Yu Tuan cried, "Luckily the girl returned the earrings to me. As soon as I got ashore, I informed you, Master! You must find the girl!"

Feng Jinqi felt a surge of blood rushing to his head. This foolish woman! She thought she could save everyone, but she couldn't even protect herself!

Feng Jinqi grabbed the boatman by the collar and demanded, "Which direction did she go out to sea? Which boat?"

Feng Jinqi mobilized all the ships he could, led them personally, and chased the Angry Dragon at the fastest speed.

Finally, when they saw the huge black outline of the Angry Dragon in the distance, he saw the chaotic fire on the ship. At the high side of the Angry Dragon, a slender and familiar figure was forced to the edge by several people.

"Ahhe——!" Feng Jinqi's roar pierced through the waves.

It's too late.

He watched helplessly as the figure fell into the raging sea.

"Hurry up! Catch up with them!!!" Feng Jinqi felt like his heart was torn apart, and all his rationality was gone at this moment.

His body reacted before his mind did. Amid the shouts of his guards, he leaped like a madman towards the sea where Zhi Yihe had disappeared.

The freezing cold sea water submerged him, and he dived desperately in the dark water, groping and searching.

He searched for an unknown amount of time until he was exhausted and was dragged to the surface by the guards who jumped down right after him, and was forcibly pulled back onto the boat.

He collapsed on the deck, coughing violently, vomiting bitter sea water, and staring at the sea in a daze.

Pei Du forcibly stopped and seized the Nu Jiao, and the chaos was quelled.

In the lower cabin of the Nu Jiao, Pei Fanzhou uncovered several black-clad assassins who were chasing Zhi Yihe. They were brought to the deck and interrogated personally by Feng Jinqi.

Feng Yan's face was stern, and there was scrutiny in his complex eyes.

"Who sent you here? Why do you want to kill her?" Feng Jinqi's eyes were red, and he wished he could kill this group of people immediately.

The assassins remained indifferent. Faced with Feng Jinqi's terrifying aura and interrogation, none of them spoke. Just as Pei Du signaled to prepare for torture, several assassins' eyes hardened and their Adam's apples rolled.

"Stop them!" Feng Jin shouted, and at the same time pinched the jaw of the killer closest to him.

After all, they were a step too slow. With a few thuds, black blood gushed from the mouths and noses of several killers, their bodies convulsed, and within a few breaths, they were dead.

Only the killer whose chin was pinched and his mandible was removed by Feng Jinqi was still alive.

Pei Du took out the poison sac, let go of his hand, and let the other person collapse to the ground.

"Tell me. Who is it? Tell me, and I'll give you a quick death."

No matter how they pressed him, whether it was the threat of death or the promise of freedom and wealth, he remained silent.

Feng Jinqi felt a sense of powerlessness sweeping over his body. The sea was vast, and Zhi Yihe was lost by him again.

"What are you standing there for! Explore that place again! And you too! Everyone who can go into the water, go down! Search every inch!" Feng Yan gave orders anxiously.

Feng Jinqi's personal soldiers jumped into the sea like dumplings, searching around the Nujiao, and fishing nets and grappling hooks were continuously thrown into the sea.

The sea breeze whimpered, ruffling Feng Jinqi's soaked clothes and messy hair. He looked at the silent killer before him, then at the sea that had swallowed Zhi Yihe, and finally his gaze landed on Feng Yan.

He walked straight towards Feng Yan, and the murderous aura around him made the guards around Princess Feng Yan subconsciously put their hands on the hilt of their swords.

Feng Yan forced herself to remain calm and looked up to meet Feng Jinqi's gaze: "Who are you? How dare you be so disrespectful to this lady!"

"Feng Yan! What did you do to her?" Feng Jinqi grabbed Feng Yan's throat.

"No...don't!" Feng Yan screamed, "I'll tell you...I'll tell you. I...I poisoned her."

"Poison!?"

Feng Yan was pinched so hard that she had difficulty breathing, her face flushed red and purple. "She knows about Xiqi's secret treasure. I will detoxify her maid and send Ting Zhu out of the city. Then she will come with me to meet His Majesty."

Feng Jinqi almost strangled Feng Yan to death. He threw her on the deck as if throwing away a piece of dirty garbage.

Feng Yan gasped for breath and curled up on the deck, no longer daring to look at Feng Jinqi. She just repeated fearfully, "Without an antidote, the poison will soon take effect on her. The time of onset depends on her physical condition. Maybe... maybe she has already..."

"Shut up!" Feng Jinqi shouted.