Chapter 188: Astonishing

Tieyi stunned—Phoenix Head near—two days round—variables—legend maybe fake—too naive—
Iron will—Tang orders—secret departure—
Disguise—Bajiao Fennel Mo Qing Congyang Tan—
Straw hat plain—unrecognized—Manor good at disguise—Tieyi worried—Shen stern—Shen Qiu wouldn't block—
Back—Tang—"Find anyone—"
Shake—"Try beats nothing—loyal—" Loud—"Leak—consequences—"
Carriage—Tan—"Cousin sleep—"
Chaotic—bounce—should rest—nod doze—
Long sleep—shaken—"Cousin—arrived—"
Down—second day dusk—wasteland—twisted branches—sky blocked—June evening—here yin cold—fear—
Mo Qing Congyang frown—"Ghost place—no people—"
Bajiao—"Once embroidery manor—Phoenix tail pattern—declined—abandoned—"
Tan map—"Path here—no path—"
Clear map—path fields houses—
Nothing—
"No one—years empty—grass covered—" Tan—
Mo Qing Congyang—"Unlikely—"
Bajiao Fennel—"Forest huge—dark—beasts—lost—madam—"
Protect Shen—no master—danger—Mo Yu fights men—not night forest—Tan fantasy—Shen too—subtle doubt—
Mo Qing unquestioning—Ming Qi peril—every call worked—
Map—"South after Phoenix Head—"
"Yes—map south path—no path—"
"Go—"
"Where—"
Compass—"South—"
"No path—wrong start—" Fennel—
Look—"Can't tell right wrong—try all—south same—four directions—no choice—try—" Walk compass—
Dazed—Tan—"Wait—"
Bajiao smile—"Follow—"
Sun set—dark—fire starters—
Same trees—can't tell—cold not June—women chill—coats tight—wolf howl—hands swords—
Fennel low—"Wolves—"
"Fear fire—" Two each—"Wolves cunning—many lights—won't near—"
Surprise—lady knows—Mo Yu normal—general daughter—too skilled—hunter old hand—
Smile—"Heard once—"
Wanyu Xiongnu—wolf packs—methods for sister—never used—pity—
Pain flash—calm—"Continue—"
"Still—" Fennel—"Hours—circling—same path—all night—"
Congyang—"No aim—repeat error—"
Think—Tan—"Compass still south—"
Nod—"Yes—same scenery—"
"No wrong road—same view—stranger—" Blind return trap—"Keep walking—same trees—mislead—doubt—fake confuse—"
Handkerchiefs—blindfold—"Eyes lie—compass only—Tan I blind—Bajiao Fennel front—Congyang rear—try—"
Mo Qing hesitate—"Work—"
"Know doubt—" Blind—firm—"Don't know outcome—no time—step—possibility—no walk—expected fail—"
Tan—"Try beats talk—"
Fennel puzzled—steady bride—cold to master—now risk night forest—smart yet believe legend—blind method—
Not complex—crisis—instinct not reason—
Wisdom—less than urgency—
Mo Qing silent follow—others followed—
……
Longye unaware—officials know hunt wound—severity unknown—daren't ask—Xie Yuan pivotal—some want dead—some pray—
Iron Manor—no leak—itchy sleepless—no clue—
Anxious—gloating—
Lu Manor—Wan pacing—"Mother visit Prince—how bad—"
Soothe—"Not serious—else doctors—no news—fine—don't go—"
"Uneasy—" "Blame Shen—disaster star—married—hurt—husband-killer omen—divorce—"
Smile—"Yes—" "Wait—Jing arrange—don't trouble—"
"Don't lie—"
Wan gone—smile sank—maid—"Watch—don't out—ruin master's plan—" Yin fierce—like Lu Zhengchun—
Maids bow—
Ye Manor—chess—
Ye Mao unlike Lu—pale harmless scholar look—but Chancellor—sparse heirs—none dare touch—Yongle can't tear face—not harmless—
Move smile—"Iron Rui Manor—no news—eat sleep bad—"
"Plan yet worry—" Move—
Coquettish wrong age—"No news bad news—showoff would appear—hidden—can't—"
"Maybe decoy—"
"Don't mock—" "Not fake—"
"Why—"
Board—"Manor quiet—Emperor not hiding—moving on Lu—heavy hand—Prince hurt bad—"
Laugh—"Wife clear—I'm shamed—guess my plan—"
Smile—"Hard—depends Prince outcome—" Not denied—"Years Emperor Lu—court us—we're not pawns—let them fight—was pro-Emperor with Prince—if Prince dies—Emperor alone—Lu controls—"
"One Prince—not magic—" Light—
"Formidable—" "You think so—"
Pause—meaningful—"You read me—pass this time—"
Long—four words—"Cannot escape—"
Look—
"Remember two years ago—heavy wound—Emperor couldn't hide us—thought dead—luck—revived—broke court—" Smile—"No second luck—fate set—no future—escaped then—not now—"
"Opposite—" Move—"Fate set—has future—then and now—"
"No anger—" "We'll see—"
Laugh—last move—"You lose—"
True—pout—"Unfair talking—again—"
"Later—test Hongguang lessons—"
"Go—lessons—"
Left—back cold—ugly—"Cripple—books useless—housebound—" Sweep pieces—"Same fox vixen—"
Maids frozen— hates Ye heir Hongguang—concubine son—crippled—only heir—
……
Dawn—silver light through branches—
Fennel Bajiao stop—blindfolded pair—"Light—"
Unbelievable—lady one night wilderness—Mo Yu trained—Tan exhausted—Shen clear—
Wonder martial artist—will—
Overthought—cold palace—Mei nights washing—urgency—no sleep—
"How far—"
Congyang—"All night far—marks no repeat—no backtrack—blind worked—eyes fooled—"
Tan weak—"Still same trees—"
"Continue—" "Far enough—end somewhere—"
Fennel silent—night blocks—Shen snapped—Mo Yu bullies—mouse cats—Empress less scary—
Follow—Tan drooping—notice—pull—"Flowers—none before—"
Look—small blooms hidden—
Mo Qing frown—"Rooster—"
Listen—"Yes—"
"Rooster—" Think—"Homestead ahead—" "Go—sound—exit near—"
Revived—half incense—gaps wider—sun—relief—
"Out—" Tan awake—end path—
Face each other—Shen first—
Path end—farm—flowers weeds messy—neglected—
Behind—thatched hut—shaky roof—
Bajiao in—out shake—"Empty—"
Disappointment—"Nobody—"
Not imagined—grand—empty—
"Plants live—someone—wait—"
Broken gong voice—"Guests—welcome—"
Turn—stunned—"You—"
Bajiao—"Know—"
Grinning ragged Taoist—Ming Qi Putuo Temple—gold peanut—phoenix fate trapped—past dream don't cling—turn fortune purple east—