* **Phantabeast Range.**
Lili was still moving at a blinding pace, with Yae-hi following closely behind, though already showing signs of strain. And that was with Lili deliberately holding herself back. It was hard to imagine just how fast she could be if she went all out.
Strangely, despite all the noise they made during their journey, they did not encounter many monsters along the way. Even when they did, they were usually weak ones. The mont Lili released her aura, those creatures would flee without a fight.
Occasionally, a few frenzied beasts would rush out, only to be slain effortlessly by her. All in all, their journey so far had been surprisingly safe. It was almost hard to believe this was the infamous and perilous Phantabeast Range.
“We’ve operated here for many years,” Lili suddenly said. “We’ve already mapped out the surroundings in detail, so there’s a special path leading in.”
“I see. I was beginning to think this place wasn’t as dangerous as the rumors claim,” Yae-hi replied.
“That’s impossible. This mountain range is thick with miasmic energy, it’s the perfect breeding ground for monsters and magibeasts,” Lili explained, slowing her pace slightly so that she could run alongside Yae-hi. “Without a guide, it’s easy to stray into dangerous zones.”
“A place like this really is ideal for hiding,” Yae-hi nodded gently.
The Jade Empire had countless such perilous regions, making any search extrely difficult. In a way, this area was a natural blind spot. Who would ever imagine that the First Princess of the Empire would choose to hide here of all places?1
Even Yae-hi, who had shared deep ties with Alicia, would never have guessed that she would take refuge in such a treacherous mountain range. It was a blind spot of thought.
Even if soone had considered the possibility, they would have dismissed it in the end. After all, seeking shelter in such a place was tantamount to courting death.
“The danger here far exceeds your imagination,” Lili suddenly warned. “Without , don’t ever co in alone.”
“Alright, I won’t.” Yae-hi didn’t press further. To soone of her level, it was nearly impossible to truly comprehend what Lili ant by *danger*.
After that, both fell silent, picking up their pace once more.
Ten minutes later, they reached the deeper part of the range. At that mont, Yae-hi keenly sensed the presence of many powerful beings lurking nearby. However, those dreadful monsters seed to be cowering from sothing, not daring to approach them.
Suddenly, a wave of murderous intent so suffocating it made one’s stomach churn surged across the forest like a flood. The hidden beasts imdiately scattered in terror, shaking the woods with their retreat.
Curiously, that terrifying aura was not aid at Lili or Yae-hi.
“Moon, thank you for your hard work,” Lili called softly, looking toward a patch of empty air ahead.
The space there rippled faintly, and a figure erged; a girl clad entirely in black, her graceful silhouette outlined beneath her attire, her eyes as dark as ink.
“Second Miss, welco back,” she said tenderly, her gaze fixed on Lili. Then she turned toward Yae-hi. “Princess, it’s good to see you again.”
That left Yae-hi puzzled. “We’ve t before?”
“My apologies,” the girl replied with a small smile. “To be precise, it was only a one-sided eting. Allow to introduce myself. I am Moonshadow of the Hidden Kill, and also the personal Shadow of the First Princess. You may call Moon, just as Second Miss does.”2
The girl who called herself Moon spoke politely.
Yae-hi paused, searching her mory for any trace of this person. ‘She’s seen , yet I’ve never seen her… That ans her ability to conceal her presence far surpasses mine. But she seems to believe I should have at least sensed her before… Wait— that murderous aura just now, it really did feel familiar!’
The realization struck her like lightning. “I rember now! You were in the underground chamber that day!” she said, pointing toward Moon.
Back when Alicia was still in Jade City, she had once t Yae-hi in an underground room. The mont Yae-hi entered, she had sensed an incredibly strong presence there.
“That’s right, that was ,” Moon replied with a soft smile.
Lili turned her head slightly toward Yae-hi and explained, “Moon’s strength is only slightly below mine. She’s usually responsible for protecting Alicia.”
“Nice to et you,” Yae-hi said with a friendly nod, extending her hand.
Moon hesitated for a mont before cautiously reaching out to take it. She was wearing gloves, so she could only feel the soft warmth of Yae-hi’s palm through the fabric.
“My apologies, that was a bit impolite of ,” Moon said as she withdrew her hand with a faint look of regret. Wearing gloves while shaking hands was indeed considered discourteous.
“It’s fine, I don’t mind,” Yae-hi replied with a small smile. She had never been the type to fuss over formalities.
“Thank you,” Moon said lightly, though her expression soon changed. “The First Princess is still unconscious, and I’m worried. So…”
“Don’t worry,” Yae-hi interrupted with a confident smile. “Since I’m here, Alicia will be fine.”
“Alright, let’s go see her quickly,” Lili urged, tugging gently at Yae-hi’s sleeve. Until she saw Alicia awaken with her own eyes, she couldn’t put her heart at ease.
The sa went for Moon. Nay, that wasn’t entirely true. Her worry ran even deeper. Although she had received Lili’s transmission earlier and knew that Yae-hi could heal Alicia, her heart remained restless until she could see Alicia rise from her bed herself.
The three of them sped through the forest, swiftly arriving at the base of a towering mountain. There were many such peaks throughout the Phantabeast Range, so this one did not stand out much from the rest.
Upon entering a cavern, Moon stayed outside to keep watch while Lili led Yae-hi through a series of winding passages. After several turns, they finally reached the chamber where Alicia rested.
Inside, countless magic formations glimred faintly. Despite being deep within the cave, the air was astonishingly fresh.
“It slls like the forest,” Yae-hi murmured to herself. Her gaze then fell upon the stone bed ahead, and there lay a sleeping beauty. Who else could it be but Alicia?
“After the incident, she hasn’t woken up once,” Lili explained quietly. “She’s resisting the power of the earth elent within her. It’ll take ti before she can awaken.”
Yae-hi approached the bedside and carefully examined Alicia’s condition. It was far worse than she had imagined. But still, it was nothing she couldn’t handle. Compared to Allie’s previous state, Alicia’s condition was much better.
“At most, a few hours. I can have Alicia awake by then,” Yae-hi said, lifting her gaze toward Lili. Her erald eyes glimred with an enigmatic light that made Lili’s heart flutter uneasily. It felt as though Yae-hi’s gaze had pierced through every inch of her being.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” Lili asked, trying to suppress the strange feeling in her chest.
“Let think,” Yae-hi murmured, turning her eyes back to Alicia. The woman’s layers of clothing would make it difficult for Yae-hi to apply her needles properly.
“Alright,” Yae-hi decided after a brief pause. “Help remove all of Alicia’s clothes.”
“Huh?” Lili froze in shock, barely managing to force out that single sound.
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