The exit on the other side of the fissure was located at Fenghou Ferry in Haixi.
Though said to be in Haixi Dao, it was actually not far from Anbei Dao, lying just a bit farther north of the border between the two regions.
Traveling through the Confluence would make for far too long a journey, and they might not even be able to locate the exact position. Returning to Anbei Dao's central city and heading out from there was therefore both the most convenient and the shortest route.
This time, Chen Chuan was accompanied not only by Mingchengzi, who was well-acquainted with the former imperial house's affairs, but also by Jiang Linghuai and Mu Xiaoren, two colleagues he had worked with before.
However, as the supreme commander on this frontline, he could not simply abandon matters here completely, so he left behind an avatar of his power to oversee the overall situation.
With the strength Youdu currently possessed, mounting an effective counterattack against them was impossible. If they could have done so, they would have done it long ago instead of doing nothing even with enemies pushed right up to the city walls.
Naturally, it could not be ruled out that the enemy's scheme was precisely to lure him away and then launch a desperate, all-or-nothing gambit.
Tactically speaking, however, such a scenario existed only as a theoretical possibility. Pulling it off in reality was far too complex—it would require him to follow the enemy's script at every single step without straying by even half a pace, giving it virtually no chance of success.
And even if that were truly the case, the distance between the two places was not far; once he received a report, he could rush back in time.
He and the other three emerged from the Confluence. They took no vehicles along the way, simply flying through the air at high speed. In a dozen minutes or so, they crossed Anbei Dao and entered Haixi Dao.
Night had already fallen, and the lights on the surface could be seen thinning from dense clusters to sparse flickers before vanishing altogether. The horizon dividing earth and sky remained sharp in their eyes, and the contours of the terrain served well to guide their heading.
There were virtually no man-made structures here, with only a few observation stations and mooring points scattered along the way.
This was why successive dynasties had always arranged their escape routes through Haixi Dao, a practice that had barely changed from beginning to end.
Given the vast territory and sparse population, a single central city was completely insufficient to anchor and gather all the fissures. Deep within many canyons and ravines, stable or unstable fissures might lie hidden.
Mingchengzi likewise believed that a fissure capable of allowing a large number of people or individuals of substantial power to pass through could never be opened on a whim, as it would not be stable enough.
Therefore, the former imperial house was bound to rely on pre-existing apertures or simply locate an ancient ritual site to repair and reactivate, as that was the only way they could achieve their escape.
Chen Chuan agreed with this assessment. Whichever option they chose, it was not something that could be completed in a short span, which gave them ample time to travel and prepare.
Meanwhile, Prince Qiong was seated aboard a train bound for Haixi Dao. Once again dispatched by Emperor Wenguang, he was tasked with clearing the path for the Northern Hunt.
His procession had set out more than half a day before Emperor Wenguang's departure.
This time, they did not travel across the perilous surface. Instead, they traveled through an underground tunnel whose existence his aide had previously suspected. From here, it indeed led straight to Mount Panquan, entirely circumventing the eyes and ears of Great Shun along the way.
The aide stood beside Prince Qiong, his brows furrowed the entire time.
Seeing him weighed down with worry, Prince Qiong could not help asking, "Zikang, what is on your mind? Are you worried there might still be an ambush ahead? As a son, I am the vanguard for Imperial Father on this journey; naturally, it falls to me to bear any danger."
Having said that, he did not forget to comfort him: "Besides, since Imperial Father had us take this tunnel, the journey should be safe. You need not worry too much, Zikang."
The aide sighed. "Has Your Highness ever considered why, if this tunnel existed all along, you were not permitted to take it before, yet now you are allowed to?"
Prince Qiong was momentarily struck dumb by the question. In truth, the thought had crossed his mind earlier, but he had been unwilling to ponder it deeply.
He hesitated before saying, "Presumably Imperial Father viewed me as inadequate before, which was why he tested me in that manner. Yes, that must be it... When I returned safely afterward, Imperial Father entrusted this heavy responsibility to me. This time, I will never disappoint Imperial Father and Imperial Mother."
Seeing his resolute expression, the aide thought to himself: *Oh, Your Highness... you treat His Majesty with pure filial devotion, yet His Majesty may not feel the same toward you. I fear he merely sees you as an expendable pawn.*
He thought further: since things had already reached a point of no return, as an aide of the princely mansion whose fortunes were inextricably tied to Prince Qiong's, he had to scheme a way out no matter what.
By the hour of xu, they finally arrived at Beidaokou, a place they had visited before.
The accompanying personal guards immediately disembarked to scout ahead, needing no instructions from Prince Qiong throughout the process.
About an hour later, an attendant eunuch approached him. "Your Highness Prince Qiong, His Majesty's imperial entourage will arrive shortly. Please prepare yourself to receive the carriage."
Prince Qiong was taken aback, then delighted, feeling an indescribable surge of excitement. He said, "I shall go welcome the imperial carriage at once."
Hearing this, the aide felt something was amiss. Could their Emperor really be coming here? Had he guessed wrong?
He accompanied Prince Qiong to receive them. In less than half a quarter of an hour, another train arrived. Then he indeed saw Emperor Wenguang step down from the train, accompanied by Empress Cao, the other consorts, and the young princes.
*Did I truly guess wrong?*
Thoughts churned in the aide's mind, yet he couldn't shake the feeling that he had overlooked something, though he couldn't put his finger on what it was.
Meanwhile, in the world on the other side, over twenty airships were cruising through airspace flooded with blinding radiance.
Prince Yong stood by a porthole of the flagship, gazing at the vague, indistinct shapes flitting occasionally through the light outside.
Just then, he heard a series of thumping, bouncing sounds, and the deck shuddered slightly beneath him. Soon, a small crimson ball rolled over, coming to a halt right by his feet.
The ball had two eyes. It blinked, then squeezed them shut as if startled; upon seeing him, it seemed terrified and curled tightly into a ball.
Prince Yong raised his head and looked across toward the hatchway. A little boy of about two or three years old stood there, looking at him with curiosity. Prince Yong recalled that this was probably one of his younger brothers who had not yet been granted a princely title because he was still too young to marry.
"You are A'fu, right?"
Prince Yong extended a hand, drawing the ball through the air into his grip, then beckoned to the little figure across from him.
The little boy came running over with pattering steps. Prince Yong scooped him up into his arms and handed the little ball to him. "Here!"
A'fu happily took the ball and said in a childish, milky voice, "Thank you, Imperial Brother."
"You know who I am?" Prince Yong was somewhat surprised.
A'fu nodded. "Mother Consort taught me. She said when I see Imperial Brother, I have to call you Imperial Brother and be respectful."
Prince Yong chuckled. Turning toward the porthole, he took two steps closer. "Look, what's outside?"
A'fu turned to look. Outside the porthole, indistinct shapes had drifted, but as they drew near, a twisted face with hollow features suddenly pressed against the glass. It looked as though it might punch through the porthole and burst inside at any moment, inspiring sheer dread.
Yet the face remained for only a moment before vanishing in a flash. The last thing the two saw was a lingering trace of terror etched upon its features.
Immediately afterward, a hazy, indistinct colossal entity appeared outside the porthole. The shadow it cast swept across the cabin floor, walls, and the two of them, lingering for quite a while before finally disappearing.
"Imperial Brother, what was that?"
Prince Yong said, "That is a god-demon. What we all might become one day."
"So ugly."
Hearing this, Prince Yong laughed heartily. "To become like that is something countless people can only dream of. A'fu, let me tell you, obsessing over appearances will only hold you back. Besides, is what you see truly what you think it is?"
As he spoke, he pointed at the ball in A'fu's hands. This thing was no ball at all, but a pangolin-like creature; only because it possessed astonishing elasticity when rolled into a ball had it become a plaything for children.
A'fu thought about it, then turned his head away. "I don't want to."
Prince Yong laughed again. At that moment, he saw a slender figure standing at the cabin door, and A'fu called out, "Mother Consort!"
He remembered that this was Consort Yue. In the past, she had merely been a palace maid, naturally timid and weak-willed, cowering before everyone and never daring to speak loudly. Standing there now, she was visibly anxious, yet dared not show it openly.
Prince Yong set A'fu down. Remembering something, he unfastened a jade pendant from his waist and handed it to the boy. "Take this, A'fu. If anything ever happens in the future, you can bring this to find me."
A'fu hesitated, then reluctantly handed over the ball in his hands. "Imperial Brother, Mother Consort says I can't take things from others for nothing. A'du is for Imperial Brother. It's very well-behaved."
Prince Yong chuckled once more, took the crimson ball, and patted the boy's head. "Go on."
A'fu scampered back with pattering feet. Consort Yue took her son's hand, curtsied toward Prince Yong, and turned to leave.
Prince Yong stood where he was, lost in thought. He could not help reflecting that although Imperial Father regarded him highly, he had yet to make any substantive promises.
While he could fight for it, without legitimate status granted by the Emperor, his standing would ultimately remain precarious. If those younger princes behaved themselves, he could tolerate them; but if any of them harbored thoughts they shouldn't... His fingers tightened, and with a sharp pop, the little ball in his hand burst into a cloud of blood mist.
Just then, he suddenly sensed something. Turning his head, he saw flowing luminous mist ahead, along with a massive void. This meant they were drawing close to the exit.
His spirits lifted. Striding swiftly out of the cabin, he stepped onto the open-air deck of the Fangzhang. After observing for a few moments, he instructed the captain to halt the airship fleet temporarily while he scouted the situation on the other side.
He then leaped toward the void. The light around him abruptly receded, and a landscape of ashen-gray earth, snow-capped mountains, and an azure sky leaped into view.
He hovered in midair, warily surveying this realm he had never seen before.
Chapter 1426