Better not… we’re still in a war; planting flags now is like baiting thunder in a storm.

Qianya gave a bitter smile, frost at her lips, and shook her head.

On the outskirts of the City of Woe, Tangxue and Qianyue walked a dusty road under bruised dusk, heading for the Duskmoon Empire’s capital.

But—well—but neither knew the way, like two sparrows lost in fog.

Since leaving the tomb, Qianyue’s body had shrunk like a waning moon.

She shed her maiden’s shape and slipped back into the small form that saves power like a lantern turned low.

Ahh… Qianyue, are you sure we aren’t lost? Tangxue frowned over the map, clouds wrinkling on her brow.

Well… um~ Qianyue laughed it off and looked away, like a cat dodging rain.

Should be fine, right? That uncle swore his map never lies, beating his chest like a drum.

If we follow it, we should reach a city in a few days, after the road unwinds like silk.

True… a ten‑gold map shouldn’t be wrong, Tangxue murmured, counting hope like beads.

Hmm… Qianyue thinks a cheaper one might be more reliable, like bread without gold glaze.

Huh? Qianyue, what did you say?

Nothing, nothing! Qianyue said nothing! She shook her head fast, a sparrow flicking water.

Tangxue squinted at her, then sighed, letting it drift like smoke. Forget it… let’s keep going; I won’t debate you treating me like a fool.

Qianyue opened her mouth, then closed it, words fluttering off like moths at a lamp.

A wry warmth pricked her chest; she thought Sis probably gets fooled a lot, like a sweet fruit begging for crows.

Qianyue hugged Tangxue’s left arm, a satisfied smile blooming like dawn. Even if we’re lost, it’s fine, Sis. Worst case, we’re sightseeing.

Anyway—

But we’ve passed this tree trunk several times! Tangxue spun, like a compass gone mad. If we can’t get out, my snacks will run out!

…

A small worry tightened, then a plan settled like ink: time to lead Sis elsewhere.

Tangxue deflated and looked at tiny Qianyue by her side, like a stubborn sprout clinging to rain. Qianyue… could this be a ghost wall?

…A ghost wall?

Tangxue edged closer, voice a playful chill, like a draft at the nape. As in… we met a ghost!

For a heartbeat, Qianyue gave Sis the idiot look, flat as stone; then she softened, a soothing smile like warm tea. Sis~ don’t worry, there aren’t ghosts in this world.

Ghost walls don’t exist; you’re lost because you held the map upside down, like a fan turned backward.

Tangxue shot the map a glance, and her cheeks warmed like coals—she had it upside down.

Ahem…! She reddened, grasping for dignity like a slipping ribbon. It’s that uncle’s fault for not telling me the front!

Sis, yesterday you held the front side~ like a banner rightly raised.

Tangxue’s body went stiff, a reed in frost; Qianyue’s chuckle spilled, silver bells in a courtyard.

Stop… uuu… Tangxue covered her head with the map, wanting to burrow like a shy turtle.

Oh, and the day before yesterday it was upside down too, Qianyue added, lips curling like a crescent, words growing bold.

Ahhhhh!

Pfft~

Qianyue couldn’t hold it… laughter burst like a shaken gourd.

Qianyue!!!

Ten minutes later, Qianyue walked ahead with the map, a little bump on her head like a plum, while Tangxue lazed behind like a salted fish in shade.

Ahh~ much better. We should reach Solitary Shadow City soon, right, Qianyue? Her smile was easy, like sun through leaves.

Big idiot, Sis… Qianyue muttered, a coal under breath.

What did you say, Qianyue? Tangxue asked, eyes curious as lanterns.

Qianyue says you’re a big idiot! She stomped once, dust puffing like flour, and marched ahead alone.

Why does everyone call me dumb… Dreamsound I could ignore, but even Qianyue… Her complaint drifted like smoke. Wait for me, don’t run so fast!

Tangxue saw Qianyue about to vanish like mist and hurried after.

A tender ache rose first, then the wish spilled like spilled honey: Qianyue just wants more time alone with you, Sis. Why won’t you notice?

If we reach Solitary Shadow City… can we still stay together? She clenched the map, crumpling it like paper bark, and dabbed at her eye’s corner.

Don’t shout so loud; I can hear you. White light flashed like a struck pearl; Tangxue grabbed Qianyue and ducked into grass, green waves closing.

Sis… Qianyue stared, surprise wide as moonlight.

Shh. Tangxue covered Qianyue’s soft mouth, fingertip pointing like an arrow.

Without that tug, Qianyue would’ve run straight into them, like a moth to a torch.

Right under Blood Clan soldiers’ noses, sharp as hawks.

From their gear, they weren’t City of Woe rabble; they looked like Solitary Shadow City’s elite, iron tidy as scales.

Strange… why are they here instead of guarding Solitary Shadow City? The question hung like fog.

Could it be…? Damn, news travels fast, like wildfire. The seal broke only days ago, and Prince Crimson Goose already knows?

Tangxue’s face darkened, storm behind eyes; she bit a nail like a fox weighing traps. What now?

Do we stick to the plan and circle to the Blood Elf tomb in Solitary Shadow City, or take this chance to deal with that Vampire, Crimson Goose?

Forget it… stick to the plan, like following a river’s bend.

I’m not fighting an army alone; one against ten thousand is a swallow against tides.

She had probed, and behind that scouting unit marched tens of thousands of Blood Clan troops, a red flood ready to drown hills.

Let the Vampire palace be theirs; its halls hold little but dust. The tomb’s real prize already left with me.

Since this army took this road, Solitary Shadow City must be close, like a lantern beyond the bend.

Qianyue, there are many more Blood Clan behind them. We can only go around, like wind slipping past reeds.

Mm… Qianyue blushed and nestled in Tangxue’s arms, clinging like ivy; Sis’s floral scent was a garden she wouldn’t leave.

I’ll use spatial movement to blink toward the front, like a stone skipped across water.

Without stable coordinates, it’s dangerous; you can’t be sure you won’t appear inside stone jaws.

If we pop into the sky or a crowd, don’t be scared. Hold tight to me, got it? Her voice was steady, a bell in mist.

Qianyue buried her face in the softest place on Sis, rubbing gently in reply like a kitten.

Mm~

Sigh… Tangxue looked at the small girl, a smile wry as tea. She probably only heard the last line.

Still, that’s fine; at least she won’t let go mid‑flight, like a knot tied firm.