In Lu Zhou City, a group of riders galloped down the wide main street, leaving the vendors along the street choking on dust.

Xie Wanqing sat in a wonton shop by the street, chewing on a richly fragrant wonton while shielding her soup bowl with her arm. Hearing the commotion, she looked up and her face immediately became tense.

She only saw the backs of the riders.

But even just their backs were so familiar that she could never forget them, even if they turned to ashes.

Lu Ziyuan had actually come to Lu City!

Had he heard news of her? The events of the previous night were still fresh in her mind.

It made sense that he had come upon hearing the news.

Swallowing the wonton, Xie Wanqing made a decision.

She could no longer stay in Lu City.

She had originally planned to play around in Lu City for two days before heading south, but plans couldn’t keep up with changes. She should leave today.

In the eyes of those few thugs, she had jumped into Dayang Lake, and in the coming days, Lu City wouldn’t be peaceful.

Based on her understanding of Lu Ziyuan, he would seal off Dayang Lake to fish her out and inquire with boatmen along the way for news of her whereabouts...

In any case, as long as she’s presumed dead in Lu City, this place won’t be peaceful for a while. Lu Ziyuan wouldn’t leave until he’s out of options.

And Lu Cheng is such a tiny place; any moment, she might be caught by him.

Xie Wanqing glanced in the direction the fast horses disappeared, just as she heard a curious customer nearby say, "I wonder what happened. It looks like they’re heading toward our Lu City government office."

The wonton stall owner, busy cooking, replied nonchalantly, "Whatever it is, unless the Da Jin invades, it has nothing to do with us ordinary folks."

Indeed...

The few people laughed heartily.

Xie Wanqing stood up, paid a few copper coins, and was about to leave when she saw another group approaching from a distance, also riding tall horses, rushing by in a whirlwind.

The leader of the group was someone she recognized as well.

She froze in place...

She knew Pei Yuqing had come to the Northern Land, but she hadn’t expected such a coincidence; he was actually in Lu Zhou at this moment too.

From the looks of it, his destination was the same as Lu Ziyuan’s.

They must have heard the news of her accident, so...

"Miss... Miss?"

Xie Wanqing snapped back to reality.

"The caravans in the city are all over there in the South Market. You should head this way," the owner kindly directed her, then added, "The He Family Caravan has a good reputation. Most folks around here use them when traveling out of town."

In these chaotic times, everyone has urgent matters requiring travel afar, and traveling alone is certainly not an option.

Most people join up with caravans.

The merchants organizing these caravans have dealt with the local bandits and hooligans, paying the necessary tributes, so they’re left untroubled.

This is the most reliable way for ordinary folks to travel.

After thanking him, Xie Wanqing proceeded in the direction indicated by the wonton stall owner.

Before fleeing the Northern Border, she had prepared herself to abandon her identity and live incognito for the rest of her life.

Even if it meant dying out there.

Even if it meant being impoverished.

No matter how bitter or difficult, she must not let herself become an object of contention again.

As long as she remained, the struggle between Lu Ziyuan and Pei Yuqing would never cease.

The Great Khan was in ruins; it couldn’t withstand their ongoing conflict. She had no intention of causing turmoil in the court, nor did she want to endanger Pei Yuqing’s life.

Neither did she wish to tarnish the Xie family’s reputation.

But the moment she saw Pei Yuqing appear in Lu City, Xie Wanqing’s heart couldn’t help but tremble, giving rise to the thought of staying and meeting him.