At noon,

south of Peixian,

about ten miles east of the official road, lay an endless expanse of lush, tranquil woods. Suddenly, a flock of birds startled and took flight, flapping their wings towards an unpredictable distance.

Soon, the sound of galloping hooves approached—three dusty travelers rode forth.

It was Cao Yi, Xiang Yu, and Yi Xiaochuan.

That day, Cao Yi had stayed overnight at Xiang Liang's residence. The next morning, he entrusted Xiang Liang to look after the Daoist temple, Howlingsky, and left Kuaiji with Xiang Yu and Yi Xiaochuan.

During the day, they sometimes traveled leisurely, sometimes galloping several dozen miles, and at night, they practiced the Golden Liquid Returning Pill Technique. Over the days, they had made significant progress.

"My backside can't take it anymore; let's take a break,"

Yi Xiaochuan said, pulling up his horse, his handsome face twisting in discomfort.

Cao Yi and Xiang Yu also halted.

"Hey, I may not have achieved much this year, but my horsemanship is top-notch. Once I get back to modern times, I could easily snag a bronze medal in competitions,"

Yi Xiaochuan boasted while rubbing his backside.

"With those skills? Ha!"

Xiang Yu, the future cavalry master, scoffed.

"Of course, I can't compare to you. You've been riding since you were little. If I had started at your age…"

Yi Xiaochuan protested.

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Xiang Yu laughed again.

Cao Yi, who had been quietly observing, suddenly looked up and gazed into the depths of the forest ahead.

---

Cao Yi's instincts stirred; there was an unusual presence nearby.

"Do you guys feel that?" he asked, his voice low.

Xiang Yu, sensing the tension, nodded, narrowing his eyes.

"I feel something strange… It's like a disturbance in the air."

Yi Xiaochuan looked puzzled, "What do you mean?"

"Just stay alert," Cao Yi said, dismounting.

The others followed suit, their horses shifting nervously.

"Let's move cautiously," Xiang Yu suggested, hand resting on his sword.

As they ventured deeper into the woods, the atmosphere thickened, and the sounds of nature fell silent.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from behind a tree—a girl, dressed in a flowing dress, her long hair cascading down her back.

"What brings you here?" she asked, eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Cao Yi stepped forward, "We're just passing through. Who are you?"

"I'm Lü Ling, the daughter of the Lü family," she replied, her demeanor confident.

Xiang Yu raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "The Lü family? What's someone like you doing in a place like this?"

Lü Ling smiled, "I could ask the same of you, brave travelers. But I'm here to gather herbs. This forest is rich with them."

Cao Yi exchanged glances with Xiang Yu and Yi Xiaochuan, sensing there was more to her than met the eye.

"Do you often come here alone?" Cao Yi asked, cautious.

"Only when the time is right," she replied mysteriously.

"Careful, it can be dangerous," Xiang Yu warned, stepping closer.

Lü Ling waved her hand dismissively, "I can take care of myself. Besides, it's not every day I meet such interesting companions."

Cao Yi couldn't shake the feeling that she was more than just a simple herbalist.

"Maybe you can help us," he said, intrigued.

"Help? In what way?" Lü Ling tilted her head, curiosity piqued.

"We're on a journey to… well, let's just say we're seeking knowledge and perhaps a bit of adventure," Cao Yi replied, gauging her reaction.

"Adventure? Count me in! I'm always up for something exciting," she said with enthusiasm.

"Are you sure? This journey might be more than you bargained for," Yi Xiaochuan added, still wary.

"I'm not afraid," she insisted, her eyes gleaming.

Cao Yi nodded, sensing her determination. "Then let's go together. The more, the merrier."

As they set off deeper into the woods, the camaraderie formed in that moment would lead them to unexpected encounters and challenges ahead.

"Where to first?" Lü Ling asked, leading the way.

"Let's see what this forest has to offer," Cao Yi said, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension.

Together, they ventured forth, unaware of the trials that awaited them in the depths of the forest.