The day of departure arrived in the blink of an eye.


    At the break of dawn, Qin Yun left the Qin residence, mounted his horse, and headed to the Governor’s Manor.


    “Everyone,” the governor said solemnly, addressing Yi Xiao, Qin Yun, and Jia Huairen with his servant.


    “The Thousand-Year Frost Jade Fruit determines my very survival,” the governor stated earnestly. “I beseech you all to do everything in your power to retrieve the spiritual fruit. If this mission succeeds, I will forever be indebted to you.”


    “Uncle Wen, we promised to help, so we will do our utmost,” Yi Xiao replied.


    “Governor, rest assured and await our good news,” Qin Yun added.


    “We will secure the fruit for you, Governor,” Jia Huairen said confidently.


    A servant approached with a tray carrying five bronze cups filled with wine.


    The governor took one, while Yi Xiao, Qin Yun, Jia Huairen, and the demon servant Qian Shu each took a cup as well.


    “When you reach Cangya Mountain, follow Yi Xiao’s lead and avoid acting on your own. I will travel to the foot of Cangya Mountain tomorrow to await your return,” the governor said, raising his cup. “I entrust everything to you.”


    The four of them raised their cups, drank the wine, and bade farewell.


    “Uncle Wen, we’ll take our leave now,” Yi Xiao said before exiting the hall.


    The group mounted their horses and quickly departed from the Governor’s Manor. The governor stood outside, watching them ride away.


    “Father, the Thousand-Year Frost Jade Fruit will surely be retrieved,” Wen Chong, his son, said softly.


    The four riders galloped north along the official road after leaving Guangling County. The city, bustling and densely populated, stood in stark contrast to the sparse settlements outside its walls. Beyond the city limits, villages were rare, and even the larger ones housed several thousand residents who formed militias armed with bows and crossbows to fend off minor demons. The presence of patrol teams offered additional protection, allowing humans to survive in these dangerous lands.


    Inside the city, the imperial court maintained absolute control. Outside, the land was divided between humans and demons.


    “Up ahead is Yu’an County,” Yi Xiao said as they arrived near noon without encountering any danger. Demons, though powerful, were far less numerous than humans, and chance encounters were uncommon.


    “Cangya Mountain is just over twenty miles west of Yu’an County,” Yi Xiao continued. “Let’s stay in the county overnight and enter the mountain at dawn.”


    Jia Huairen quickly agreed, “We’ll follow your lead, Miss Yi.”


    After entering the county, they chose a quality inn to settle in for the night.


    The summer night was cool but plagued by mosquitoes.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    Sitting alone on the inn''s rooftop, Qin Yun drank wine. For once, he took a break from training his life-bound flying sword, using the evening to relax with a bottle of wine he borrowed from the innkeeper.


    Suddenly, a figure descended gracefully onto the rooftop like a celestial maiden.


    “Why aren’t you sleeping, Brother Qin?” Yi Xiao asked with a smile as she sat beside him. “Are you worried about tomorrow’s mission?”


    “Just enjoying the night. Beautiful scenery, fine wine, and Miss Yi’s company—how could I waste such a moment by sleeping early?” Qin Yun chuckled.


    Yi Xiao laughed softly. “Don’t drink alone; let me have some.”


    Qin Yun tossed her the wine flask, which she caught. Taking a large swig, she choked slightly and coughed, wiping the wine from her lips.


    “Not used to drinking?” Qin Yun asked.


    “In the sect, my master was very strict,” Yi Xiao replied briefly before changing the subject. “By the way, Brother Qin, regarding tomorrow’s mission, while Jia Huairen’s demon servant has some utility, we must remain cautious. If he shows any signs of treachery, we must not hesitate to eliminate him.”


    “Cangya Mountain is teeming with demons. If he betrays us, we can’t afford to be merciful,” Qin Yun agreed. “The governor has entrusted this mission to you. We’ll follow your lead.”


    “That’s because Uncle Wen trusts me,” Yi Xiao said. “But your experience surpasses mine, so I hope you’ll guide me so we can ensure the mission’s success.”


    “There’s nothing complicated about it,” Qin Yun replied.


    “Please, Brother Qin, share your thoughts. It would ease my nerves,” Yi Xiao urged.


    Qin Yun explained, “The key to retrieving the fruit is stealth at the start. We must avoid exposing our presence and sneak as close as possible to the fruit’s location. If discovered, we should reveal only part of our strength, ensuring the demons don’t perceive us as a major threat. If they think they can’t stop us, they might destroy the fruit.”


    “Once the fruit ripens, we must act swiftly to snatch it. Speed and subtlety are crucial because the fruit will surely be guarded. If the guards think they’ll lose it, they may destroy it.”


    “After securing the fruit, our priority will be to escape. The demons will undoubtedly go berserk,” Qin Yun concluded.


    Yi Xiao nodded. “That’s exactly what I was thinking.”


    “The process is straightforward, but execution requires boldness, caution, and decisiveness,” Qin Yun added. “Should any unexpected situations arise, we’ll adapt as needed. By the way, do the demons know the exact time the fruit will ripen?”


    “The Thousand-Year Frost Jade Fruit matures once every hundred years, reaching full maturity after ten cycles. Since it’s been so long, the demons can’t pinpoint the exact day or hour. Uncle Wen consulted a master diviner to determine the fruit will ripen tomorrow during the si hour,” Yi Xiao explained.


    Qin Yun nodded. “Good. If the demons don’t know the exact timing, our chances are much better.”


    “If they knew, sneaking in would be far more difficult,” Yi Xiao smiled. “Tomorrow, I’ll count on you, Brother Qin.”


    “We’ll be helping each other,” Qin Yun replied. “I excel at close combat but lack proficiency in ranged attacks.”


    “I’m the opposite. I avoid close combat,” Yi Xiao said with a smile. Most spell cultivators preferred to maintain distance from demons, whose close-range strength was often formidable. Qin Yun’s expertise in melee combat against demons was indeed rare.


    At dawn the next day, the group left the inn as the county gates opened, heading straight for Cangya Mountain.


    “Cangya Mountain,” Qin Yun murmured as they arrived after a short ride. The towering peaks loomed before them, shrouded in clouds, their depths concealing an unknown number of demons.


    They tethered their horses in a nearby grove and prepared to enter on foot.


    “Listen closely,” Yi Xiao said, addressing Qin Yun, Jia Huairen, and Qian Shu. “Let me be clear: we must proceed with utmost caution, avoiding any unnecessary noise or actions that might alert the demons. If anyone disobeys or deliberately causes trouble, I won’t hesitate to unleash the Five Elements Divine Thunder.”


    Jia Huairen, visibly intimidated, quickly assured her, “Of course, Miss Yi. We’ll follow your orders.”


    “Everything as Miss Yi says,” Qian Shu, the demon servant, agreed. Even he dared not defy the formidable Five Elements Divine Thunder.


    “A disciple of a top sect is indeed extraordinary,” Qin Yun thought to himself.


    “Let’s go. Into the mountain,” Yi Xiao commanded.


    The four moved silently into the dense forest. Even the weakest among them, Jia Huairen, who had already stepped into the cultivation path, could traverse mountains and ridges with ease.