Seeing the bustling crowd around her, Ye Zi never imagined she would ever find herself in a mundane town.
As she entered the borders of Border Town, the low brick-and-earth houses came into view like long-forgotten memories. Though she had fled into the Desolate Mountains less than half a year earlier, the scene before her felt as alien as another world.
The evil moon had just waned, and after surviving the winter of scarce food and clothing, the townspeople were likely in poor health. Ye Zi recalled that the Gongzhu Association had once passed through the slums of Silverlight City during winter—where bodies lay frozen and starving, and the few survivors moved like zombies, their faces pale and movements sluggish.
Yet here, most people she encountered were full of energy—some drying fish by the door, others repairing broken tiles on rooftops, while the majority were middle-aged men carrying hoes and hammers, chatting and laughing as they walked northward toward the town. At such moments, Yezi would lower her hat and try to avoid them.
The castle stood prominently on a high hill in the southwestern corner of the town. With no vegetation around to conceal it, stealthy entry was nearly impossible. While hiding in a tree trunk might work, climbing up the tree to enter would be too conspicuous.
She wasn't the kind of witch who could blend in. After much deliberation, Ye Zi decided it was wiser to walk into the castle openly than to hide.
If Nightingale hadn't lied to her, there would have been no problem even if she had entered through the main door.
If the Nightingale had deceived her and the sisters of the Gongzhu Society, she would have been able to escape the pursuit by the two guards at the door.
The worst-case scenario is when Nightingale completely betrays everyone and turns to hunting witches to aid Prince, leaving him with a high probability of dying here. As the most elite combat witch, few can escape Nightingale's pursuit—even a formidable warrior like Hakkara cannot guarantee victory.
Ye Zhi had prepared for the worst. If she failed to return alive, Shu Juan would assume the role of mentor, guiding her sisters onward—yet the destination remained unknown, and their ultimate fate was uncertain.
She made her way up the hillside toward the castle gates. The guards immediately noticed her, placing their hands on their swords and bellowing, "This is the Prince's temporary palace—no place for you. Back off!" After a pause, he added, "If you have urgent matters to report, take this path straight left to the town hall. There, someone will receive you." Ye Zi took a deep breath and removed her hood. As expected, both guards exchanged astonished looks. Without waiting for a reply, she cut straight to the chase: "I'm a Witch." The moment she spoke, she braced herself for the guards 'sword draws. Yet the guards merely exchanged glances, showing no trace of the revulsion most would feel at hearing the word. One even asked with amusement, "Witch, what brings you here?" Ye Zi's heart raced. Suppressing her nearly erupting excitement, she spoke in the calmest tone possible: "I'd like to see Nightingale. Or perhaps Anna and Nana Wa." In the tales of Nightingale, witches were frequent visitors to the castle. Your Royal Highness had not restricted their freedom, and the royal guards, under the Fourth Prince's orders, turned a blind eye to their movements... If Nightingale's words were true, the guards must have heard of them.
The guard who had asked out loud patted his companion's shoulder. "You watch her here, I'll go and inform Your Highness." Ye Zi watched him walk through the gate and soon disappeared into the garden.
What awaits you—will it be the warm welcome of sisters, the relentless pursuit by guards, or the deadly blade from the shadows?
She found herself caught in a strange paradox—despite wanting to trust Nightingale, the closer she got to the answer, the more she feared disappointment. Could Nightingale have transformed here, no longer bearing that name? Were Anna and Nanaava perhaps fabrications of hers? Or...
Time has never been so slow as at this moment! Each heartbeat seems to span a century, and in the long span of time, she waits quietly for her destiny.
She couldn't tell how long it had been, or perhaps just a fleeting moment, when she heard the nightingale's song—momentarily, she thought she'd misheard.
A familiar figure emerged from behind the door and lunged at her, arriving almost simultaneously with the sound. Subsequently, she was embraced by a warm body.
"Leaf, welcome home!"...
"This is my spare outfit—you go ahead and wear it," Nightingale said, rummaging through the closet. "And the coat, shoes... oh, and a nightgown and bath towel too." "Why are you in such a hurry?" Wendy laughed, shaking her head. "We'll take care of Your Highness when she wakes up." Watching Nightingale's frantic movements, Yezi's eyes grew warm again. She sniffed, bit her lip, and wiped away the tears that had been welling up. She feared that if she spoke, the tears would burst forth uncontrollably.
It turns out the Nightingale wasn't lying to me—Prince, who promised to treat the Witch kindly, actually exists.
"Would you like to take a hot bath first? You must be exhausted from the camp," Nightingale said, placing the towel and clothes beside Ye Zi. "Your Highness is napping now. When he wakes up, he'll be delighted to see you. By the way, have you found the Sacred Mountain? How are the other sisters doing?" The moment these words were spoken, Ye Zi's vision blurred. Unable to hold back any longer, she embraced Nightingale and let out all the pent-up pain she had been suppressing for days.
The nightingale wept until its chest was drenched, and only then did the leaves gradually calm down.
After escorting the three out of the Gongzhu Society, she recounted the sisters 'ordeal from beginning to end. When she spoke of how many had perished in the wilderness, the nightingale's hand clutched hers involuntarily.
After Ye Zi finished speaking, Wendy's God-like mood grew heavy. "I never expected Hakkara to drive the Aid Society into such a desperate situation. Only seven of the forty-two sisters remain... I bear inescapable responsibility. If I had stood firmly by Nightingale's side back then..." "It's not your fault," Nightingale said sadly. "No one can predict the future. The crucial question is what to do next." She looked at Ye Zi. "You mentioned six sisters survived. Where are they?" "They're waiting at the canyon entrance for my news. We agreed that if I can't return, Shu Juan will lead them away from here—either to the South Pole or across the strait..." "We must bring them back immediately," Nightingale said urgently. "I'll leave now, Wendy. Ye Zi is under your care." "Wait. What if they don't trust you? Ye Zi needs to go too. Call Lightning too. She's probably practicing flying at the western edge of town. Bring more horses to reduce their travel distance," Wendy instructed carefully.
"But Your Royal Highness... isn't he still asleep?" Ye Zi was stunned. "Shouldn' t you ask him?" "Don't worry," Nightingale reassured softly. "If Your Highness finds out about this, he'll be overjoyed before he can even react."