Chapter 61: Desolate?

“Second Young Master Feng, this is...”

Moli glanced meaningfully at the people guarding Feng Wujiang behind him. Although she was only vaguely acquainted with the Second Young Master, given the current unusual circumstances, she couldn’t let her guard down.

Feng Wujiang immediately saw through her suspicion. His smile stiffened, becoming tinged with bitterness. He swallowed hard, stole a hurried glance behind him, then turned back and whispered in a voice only they could hear, “There’s a warrant out for your arrest from the palace... My father, he, he...”

Before the one he cared for, Feng Wujiang couldn’t bring himself to say it aloud. Because it was his father who accepted the mission, he dared not meet Moli’s eyes, lowering his head as if he had committed a grave sin.

“And then?”

Moli looked around the seemingly desolate mansion courtyard, her heart unmoved, and asked instinctively, “He... he...”

Feng Wujiang still found it hard to speak; the rest of the words remained trapped inside him.

“Heh...”

Moli let out a faint laugh, her expression so calm that it was impossible to read her thoughts. Even Xiao Junwang, standing beside her, frowned in puzzlement.

“Second Young Master Feng, I mainly want to ask you: how did Huanlan’s main city come to be in such a desolate state?”

“Desolate...?”

Feng Wujiang couldn’t believe he was hearing such words from this woman to describe their hometown. He quickly clarified, “It’s not desolate. The main city is quite prosperous during the day, but at night... the townsfolk are afraid of monsters roaming about, so they close their doors early.”

“Really, I’m not lying.”

Feng Wujiang’s heart tightened at the word ‘desolate.’ Afraid Moli wouldn’t believe him, he repeated the words with a hint of solemnity.

“Monsters? This is right at the foot of the main city, the area with the strictest patrols. How could there be monsters?”

“Because... there’s been rumors that someone stole an ancestral treasure from the palace. So the palace dispatched massive forces across the continent to search for it. Those troops are not ordinary—they are covered in blood, monstrous and terrifying...”

Seeing Moli’s face grow increasingly grim, Feng Wujiang fell silent.

Hearing him say this, Moli immediately thought of the monsters that had slaughtered the soldiers that day—the Death Corps!

“Alright, since Second Young Master Feng looks to be in a hurry, I won’t keep you.”

“Xiao, let’s go!”

Moli nodded politely to Feng Wujiang as a farewell for the secretive information, then gestured to Xiao Junwang and began to leave.

“You can’t go any further. My father will soon learn you’ve entered the city, and once those monsters appear, you’ll be in serious trouble!”

Feng Wujiang stretched out his hand, blocking Moli’s path with a heavy seriousness on his face.

“Move aside!”

Xiao Junwang, who had remained silent until now, spoke lightly, the two words laden with imminent danger.

Since stepping onto Huanlan Continent, he had felt restless and uneasy, especially seeing how close Moli and Feng Wujiang had grown. His heart felt heavy and troubled. Just as he had managed to restrain himself until Moli decided to leave, this man suddenly blocked their way again...

Moli said nothing. She simply circled around Feng Wujiang and intended to continue forward. Due to the dim light, her bare feet were pricked by small stones several times.

“Don’t go any further. Leave the city! Leave Huanlan Continent! As for your father, I’ll find a way to rescue him and reunite him with you!”

Seeing Moli determined to press on, Feng Wujiang ignored Xiao Junwang and quickly took a few steps back to block her again.

Annoyed by Feng Wujiang’s persistence, Moli’s temper flared, especially when she heard him mention rescuing Moyuan...