When Xiao Lan overheard the conversation and found out that Lang Huan was in danger, she ran straight into the forest, determined to find her Big Brother.
Her feet stumbled over roots and rocks, but she didn't stop. The trees were tall, and the shadows felt heavy. Slowly, fear crept into her chest.
Suddenly, something big brushed against her shoulder. Xiao Lan froze, eyes wide with fear. It was the giant white wolf—Xiao Bai. He nudged her gently with his nose.
At first, she was terrified. The wolf was huge, towering over her, and his eyes were a sharp, icy blue. But standing this close, she realized… he didn't look wild at all.
"Do you know how to find Big Brother?" she whispered, her voice shaking. To her surprise, he nodded. Her mouth dropped open in shock. "You… really understand me?"
Xiao Bai looked at her once, then turned around and started walking forward—slowly, as if waiting for her to follow. Heart pounding, Xiao Lan hurried after him, her fear slowly replaced by hope.
Meanwhile, back at the house, when the village chief returned from delivering his fake report, Feng Yao was still seated in the same place.
Feng Yao called a few of her shadow guards. "Go find Lang Huan. Bring him back. Anyone who gets in your way—kill them." She didn't raise her voice, but the weight of her words froze the air.
"Yes, Your Highness," they responded in unison.
Feng Yao didn't summon Qiu Yue. She already knew the loyal commander would be stubborn, and she didn't want to waste time arguing.
Still, her sharp gaze landed on Qiu Yue—heavy with silent pressure. It was enough to make Qiu Yue's heart sink.
It was unusual. The Eldest Princess didn't give her any instructions and instead passed them directly to another guard.
The thought that Her Highness might hate her made Qiu Yue's chest tighten. She lowered her eyes, saying nothing—but the unease inside her only grew stronger.
Just as the shadow guards were about to leave, she stepped forward. "Let me go," she said simply. Feng Yao said nothing at first, then gave a small nod.
Before she left, Qiu Yue turned to the guards. "No matter what happens, do not leave Her Highness's side. Protect her with your lives."
"Understood!"
She rushed out of the house and searched the village for Xiao Bai, hoping the wolf could help her. But he was nowhere to be found. Frustration burned in her chest. "Lang Huan… Xiao Bai… you two idiots!" she screamed silently.
She decided to find the altar on her own. She began asking the villagers where the mountain god's altar was located, ignoring their hesitant looks.
Halfway through the forest, she felt something snap around her leg. Pain shot through her body as a metal trap clamped down hard.
"Aahh… shit!" she hissed, dropping to one knee. Blood was already soaking through the fabric of her pants. Breathing heavily, she reached for the dagger hidden beneath her belt, forcing herself to stay alert through the pain. But before she could react, a familiar voice came from behind.
It was the village chief—walking toward her with a few men. "Looks like the gods are on our side after all," he said with a fake smile. They came closer, pretending to be helpful, speaking gently like they were worried.
Just as Qiu Yue let her guard down, one of them struck her hard from behind. Her world spun. The last thing she saw was the smug grin on the chief's face before everything went black.
The chief crouched beside her limp body, his expression twisting into something cruel. "This is our offering to the mountain god," he whispered. The men picked her up and carried her deep into the forest, finally laying her on a cold stone altar inside a cave.
---
Before heading back to the village, the group went to check on the pit where Lang Huan had fallen. They leaned over the edge and called out, "Young Master? Are you still alive?" No answer came.
They called again—still nothing. After a while, a few of them began to chuckle, convinced Lang Huan was already dead or had passed out in the hole.
But at the bottom, Lang Huan sat in silence, listening to every word. Her heart pounded as she heard the chief's voice say, "Guard the altar. Make sure the girl doesn't escape."
Who did they take? she didn't think they'd move this fast. The silence grew heavier as she realized just how little time she had left to act.
Not far away, hidden behind a thick wall of bushes, Xiao Lan crouched low beside Xiao Bai. They had spotted the village chief and his men earlier and quickly ducked out of sight. Xiao Lan pressed a finger to her lips, signaling the white wolf to stay quiet.
Once the men were gone, she whispered, "They've left… but this place is dangerous. There are traps everywhere." Her hand gripped Xiao Bai's thick fur tightly. "Be careful, okay?" The white wolf let out a low grunt, his sharp blue eyes scanning the dark forest ahead. They couldn't waste any more time.
The sky had already turned dark, and the forest was quiet. Suddenly, Xiao Bai let out a powerful, echoing howl that shook through the trees. Deep in the trap, Lang Huan heard it and instantly recognized the sound.
Her eyes lit up with hope. Tilting her head upward, she cupped her hands around her mouth and called back, her voice cutting through the stillness. The white wolf heard her reply and immediately lowered himself, signaling for Xiao Lan to climb onto his back.
With his blue eyes that could see in the dark and a nose sharp enough to catch the faintest scent, Xiao Bai moved carefully, weaving between trees and stepping lightly over rocks. The path was riddled with hidden pits. It didn't take long before they found the pit.
Lang Huan glanced at the narrow walls around her and sighed, "I can't climb up… this pit is too tight. Can you find a root or something?"
Xiao Lan quickly searched the area and found a long, strong root sticking out from the ground. She pulled it free, then tossed it down to Lang Huan.
Working together, Xiao Bai bit down on the root and dug his paws into the ground for support while Xiao Lan pulled with all her strength. Slowly, Lang Huan climbed up. With one final push, she made it out.
She was covered in dirt, leaves, and bits of twigs. Xiao Lan couldn't hold back—she giggled loudly. "You look like a walking bush!" she laughed.
Lang Huan gave her a playful look, then chuckled softly. She reached out and ruffled Xiao Lan's hair. "Thanks, both of you," she said warmly.
Then she stood up. "Let's go save someone else." She turned to Xiao Lan. "Do you know where the altar is?"
The little girl nodded, pointing deeper into the forest.
Lang Huan lifted her up and placed her gently on Xiao Bai's back. Xiao Lan's cheeks turned pink from embarrassment, unused to being carried like that.
With a small smile, Lang Huan climbed up behind her and held onto the wolf's thick fur. "Hold on tight," she said. Xiao Bai began moving at a steady pace, jumping over roots and weaving through the trees.
Following Xiao Lan's directions, they arrived at a hidden cave between jagged rocks. Several villagers were guarding the entrance, holding torches and whispering among themselves.
Xiao Bai raised his head and let out a loud, fierce howl that echoed through the forest. The sound was wild and powerful—it made the ground feel like it trembled.
The villagers' faces turned pale. One dropped his torch. "T-The mountain god… it's here!" someone yelled. Panic spread, and they all screamed, running away in fear and leaving the cave unguarded.
Xiao Lan couldn't stop laughing. She covered her mouth with both hands, eyes sparkling with joy as she watched them run.
Lang Huan raised an eyebrow and gave her a teasing pinch on the cheek. "Little girl, why are you so happy?"
Xiao Lan bit her lip, suddenly shy under Lang Huan's gaze. Lang Huan gave her a gentle smile. "Wait here, okay? I'll go check inside."
She stepped quietly into the cave. The air inside was damp and cold, and the path sloped steeply downward into darkness. She pulled a torch from the wall to light her way.
Before long, Lang Huan heard voices coming from deeper inside the cave. She quickly pressed herself against the stone wall and peeked around the corner.
There, tied up and looking furious, was Qiu Yue—her arms pulled tightly behind her back, her eyes blazing with anger.
A few villagers stood nearby, laughing. One of them stepped closer and sneered, "Tsk… what a waste, sacrificing a beauty like this." He reached out and grabbed her chin. "Why not become my third wife instead?"
Qiu Yue spat right in his face. "Keep dreaming!"
Another man tugged at his sleeve nervously. "Let's get out of here. Didn't you hear that terrifying howl earlier? We shouldn't mess with the offering." The others nodded and began to leave the cave.
The moment their backs were turned, Lang Huan moved. Her sword flashed in the dim light—fast and silent. The first man didn't even get a chance to scream before she struck. One by one, she took them down without a sound, quick and merciless.
Lang Huan crouched beside Qiu Yue and untied her.
As soon she was free, Qiu Yue pulled out a dagger, trembling with fury. Her face was flushed, her pride crushed from being tied up and humiliated by those men.
"Damn you, Lang Huan! she shouted, her voice shaking. "This is all your fault!"
Lang Huan froze, startled by the outburst. Her chest tightened as she stared at the woman who had always stood by Feng Yao's side, now looking at her like she was the enemy. "Why… why do you hate me?" her voice filled with confusion.
Qiu Yue didn't answer. Instead, she lunged at Lang Huan. The blade grazed Lang Huan's neck, leaving a thin, bleeding cut.
Lang Huan jumped back in shock. Qiu Yue, with her injured leg, kept attacking. Lang Huan didn't fight back. She just moved quickly, dodging each strike, refusing to hurt her.
Finally, Qiu Yue pointed a trembling finger at her. "If it weren't for you, Her Highness would never have come on this dangerous journey! If it weren't for you, she wouldn't hesitate when making decisions!"
Her eyes glistened. "Her Highness deserves someone better."
As patient as Lang Huan usually was, she couldn't stand being looked down on. Her calm expression vanished.
"You have no right to interfere in what's between us. Someone better? Like the Prince of Yan?"
She stepped forward, eyes narrowing. "What's so great about him?"
She kicked Qiu Yue's injured leg, and Qiu Yue fell hard to the ground, gasping in pain as if her bone had snapped.
But that wasn't enough for Lang Huan. She grabbed Qiu Yue by the collar and yanked her up, her hand tightening around her throat.
Their faces were just inches apart. "Look at me," she hissed. "Look at me and tell me—what makes him better than me?"
Panic flickered across Qiu Yue's face as she grabbed at Lang Huan's wrist, trying to loosen the choking grip. But Lang Huan didn't budge—her eyes burned into Qiu Yue's.
Qiu Yue shut her eyes, ready to accept it if Lang Huan chose to kill her. Silent tears traced down from the corners of her eyes.