Chapter 87
The wind rushed past, whipping at Feng Jiao Xue’s sleeves as she guided Yin Xiao forward, the spiritual deer’s powerful wings cutting smoothly through the evening sky. Below them, the capital had long disappeared, replaced by rolling hills, thick forests, and the occasional glimmer of lanterns from far-off villages. The outskirts of the empire stretched endlessly before them—wild and untamed.
Behind her, Mo Tianze clung tightly, his arms wrapped around her waist. Though he had been eager to travel, his grip betrayed his unease. "Sister Jiao Xue," he called out, his voice barely carrying over the wind. "This is my first time flying so high... Yin Xiao is amazing, but I feel like if I let go, I might get blown away."
Feng Jiao Xue glanced back, an amused glint in her usually cold eyes. "You’re a fox demi-beast. Shouldn’t you be more agile?"
Mo Tianze pouted, golden eyes shining under the moonlight. "That doesn’t mean I can fly!" He huffed, burying his face against her shoulder as if it would help him feel more secure. "This is different from running. Very different."
Yin Xiao let out a soft chuff, as if taking offense at Mo Tianze’s words. With a powerful flap of his wings, he suddenly dipped lower, cutting through a layer of clouds before soaring back up again.
"Ah!" Mo Tianze yelped, his grip tightening around Feng Jiao Xue. "Don’t play around!"
Yin Xiao’s ears flicked, clearly entertained.
Feng Jiao Xue shook her head, but a small smile tugged at her lips. Mo Tianze, despite his height and strength, had a pure heart. Unlike the schemers in the imperial court, he was refreshingly honest—his emotions written all over his face.
The sky darkened as they continued forward, the landscape shifting beneath them. The towering trees of the imperial forests grew sparser, giving way to rugged cliffs and narrow dirt paths that wound through rocky terrain.
It was then that she felt it.
A subtle shift in the air.