With reverence for the spirit, Zuko carefully sat on Four Directions' back, looking extrely restrained, as if any extra movent might anger them.
"Rember to act carefully."
"Especially now that you're under surveillance."
"You absolutely cannot reveal any flaws."
Before parting, Iroh reminded Kahn once again.
"I understand."
Kahn nodded, then said with concern,
"Uncle Iroh, you must take care of yourself too."
"Mm."
Iroh patted Kahn on the shoulder.
Communication between n did not require many words.
Everything was understood without being said.
Kahn nodded to Four Directions.
With Zuko letting out a startled gasp, Four Directions spread their wings, soared into the sky, and eventually disappeared into the clouds.
Only after Kahn and the others vanished from sight did Iroh withdraw his gaze, put on his straw hat, and turn to leave.
He would be very busy in the days to co.
—
The first flight felt fresh and exciting to Zuko.
He shifted from side to side, observing everything around him—the clouds below, the clear blue sky, the brilliant sunlight, and the vast land occasionally revealed through gaps in the cloud cover.
But after a while, the view inevitably beca sowhat monotonous, and he began to grow bored.
At that mont, Zuko suddenly thought of sothing and asked hesitantly,
"Oh, right, Kahn…"
"Uh…"
"Are you still there?"
"I'm here."
"What is it?"
"I have a question."
"Or more accurately, I want to ask about soone."
"Uh, that…"
"How is Mai doing now?"
Zuko scratched his cheek, embarrassed.
"…?"
Faced with the sudden silence, Zuko could not see Kahn, but he could easily guess what expression he was making.
And he did not know whether it was his imagination, but he seed to hear a faint, disdainful "tsk" beside his ear.
However, now that he had already spoken, Zuko lost his previous shyness and beca more open.
What was wrong with missing his girlfriend?
Seeing him like this, Kahn muttered inwardly, putting everything else aside, his skin had certainly grown thicker.
"She's doing quite well."
"She's even gone on several missions with us since then, and Azula has also invited her into this plan."
"Of course, although she has never actively ntioned it to us, it's obvious she has been waiting for you."
When he said the last sentence, Kahn himself felt a sour ache in his teeth.
As expected, Zuko revealed a smile so sweet it made one's skin crawl.
"Is that so?"
Zuko sighed, and in the next mont, he sank into a blissful reverie.
"I really owe her an apology."
"I made her wait so long."
"I wonder what she looks like now…"
Damn it.
You two are a couple, and you're sandwiching , a single man, right in the middle.
Isn't that a little too much?
You're even flaunting your affection right in front of ?
Kahn felt indignant, casting a disdainful glance at Zuko with the dignity of a noble single man before turning his gaze away, unwilling to reveal the envy hidden beneath that disdain.
Although being single was infinitely wonderful, as a transmigrator who had been single across two lifetis, he naturally wanted to experience a little of love's treachery too.
Young people should suffer more hardship.
Kahn felt that statent made a great deal of sense, and he truly wanted to experience a bit more of love's hardships.
Unfortunately, he had been young and ignorant before.
In his previous life, love had co at him like falling rain, yet he had dodged every drop.
In this life, it was even more incredible.
The girls who had confessed to him were all at an age where three years was the minimum sentence and the death penalty was the maximum.
Couldn't provoke that.
Absolutely couldn't provoke that.
"Oh, right, Kahn…"
"Shut up."
"I don't want to hear you talk right now."
"?"
Zuko was utterly bewildered, but he obediently shut his mouth, completely unaware of why Kahn's mood had suddenly worsened.
Still, he was used to it.
Azula had also often had sudden mood swings in the past.
Compared with hers, Kahn's level was only a minor issue.
From this point of view, the two of them really were sowhat alike.
And recalling the question he had just wanted to ask Kahn, Zuko thought carefully and realized it was indeed sowhat inappropriate to ask him that.
He would wait until later.
In physical form, Four Directions' speed was significantly reduced.
And since clouds did not always cover them in the sky, they sotis even needed to travel on foot, making the journey take much longer than when Kahn had arrived.
Considering that his physical body still needed to eat, Kahn returned to the capital first.
Four Directions and Zuko were not directionally challenged, and as long as they did not expose their whereabouts, there was no need to worry too much about them.
Seeing Kahn's body awaken, Azula, who had been waiting beside him, asked,
"How are things?"
"They're still on the way."
"Traveling during the day is a bit troubleso, but it'll be much better at night."
"They should arrive before dawn."
Kahn took the pineapple off his head and looked at Azula with a dark expression.
"What is this supposed to an?"
"Doesn't it look interesting?"
Azula teased.
Before Kahn could retort, she stood up, stretched, and waved her hand.
"Don't worry about it so much."
"Let's go."
"I'll treat you to a al."
"…I want barbecue."
"The most expensive kind."
Kahn spoke fiercely, as if to prove he had not been bought off by a single al.
Azula rely waved her hand grandly.
"Let's go."
Damn it.
This rich dog.
Because Azula was beside him, the people monitoring them seed less willing to act too openly.
They only watched from a distance, which did not disturb Kahn's rare good mood.
After eating their fill, Kahn and Azula began discussing their next move.
Since Kahn was under surveillance, he could not act personally.
The task of welcoming Zuko naturally fell to Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee.
Of course, the White Lotus mbers in the capital would also cooperate.
Whenever Kahn went to the Eastern Air Temple, he would first quietly leave the capital and then depart on Four Directions from a fixed wilderness spot outside the city.
Because of that, Four Directions was also very familiar with that location.
Kahn and Four Directions had agreed that once they and Zuko arrived, they would gather there.
Kahn would use spirit sight to observe whether they had arrived.
Once he saw them, he would use mind-speech to notify Azula and the others to begin the operation, while also providing them with visual cover.
On the other side, the White Lotus in the capital would also provide support inside the city at any mont.
For the foreseeable future, Zuko would live in one of the White Lotus' secret strongholds.
Although Ozai probably would never imagine that Zuko had returned to the capital under such circumstances, they still could not lower their guard.
Full preparation was absolutely necessary.
The slightest mistake could cause the entire plan to fail.
Strategically, they could look down on the enemy.
Tactically, they had to take him seriously.
That was the path to victory.
And so, as everyone waited quietly, ti passed into the latter half of the night.
A figure suddenly appeared within Kahn's vision, imdiately making him focus.
"Zuko has arrived."
"Begin the operation."
The order was transmitted through mind-speech into the minds of the three waiting girls.
The instant they received it, they began moving in unison.
Among them, Mai was the most active.
Today was truly unlucky.
I went out to submit so materials, rode my bike, and scraped my leg.
Although it wasn't serious, it looked awful, and I won't be able to shower properly for a while.
Then tonight, the total credits ca out, and I was actually over by 3.5 credits.
I still have to pay extra tuition.
I—
@#$%...&*
Intense language.
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