1819 Separation 1
Gu Chaoyan’s heart raced as she realized that Zhou Huaijin was nowhere to be seen. She desperately scanned the returning troops, but there was no sign of him among the guards from Snow Territory or the hidden guards. Panic overwhelmed her.

Without a second thought, Gu Chaoyan leaped off the wagon and frantically searched the cold, snowy surroundings. Fu Bao, Huaijin, and his private guards were all missing. Fear gripped her as she cried out, “Where is he?” The complexity of Snow Territory made it dangerous for strangers like them. Separation could easily lead to being trapped in the unforgiving cold. Gu Chaoyan dreaded the thought of what might happen to them.

Ouyang Mingjing was bewildered by the situation. He observed the troops and responded, “Wasn’t he always in the wagon?”

“….”

“We came here under the assumption that he and you were taken away by Longqing first, and we followed to join you,” Ouyang Mingjing explained, his confusion evident in his voice.

Hearing Ouyang Mingjing’s words, Gu Chaoyan became almost certain that she and Zhou Huaijin had been separated. Moreover, he had enemies with magical power. Where could he possibly be? Was he safe?

Determined to find him, Gu Chaoyan mounted her horse. “I will go and search for him!”

However, her sudden decision caught Ouyang Mingjing off guard. He used his magical power to restrain her, his voice filled with anger. “What’s the point? You are a stranger in this land, and it’s snowing heavily. The weather will only worsen. Your body won’t withstand the cold. Besides, do you even know where he is or how to navigate through this terrain? You’ll only end up getting separated from us and unable to find him!”
“…”

“Get back here!”

“…”

“I will have my guards search the area. They are familiar with this territory, and perhaps they can find some traces. They are experienced in these lands,” Ouyang Mingjing stated firmly, looking at Gu Chaoyan with a mixture of anger and concern.

Deep down, he was frustrated. Gu Chaoyan, the Phoenix Girl, should have been his wife. Yet, here she was, consumed by her unwavering devotion to another man, disregarding her own safety in the process. He regretted not having ordered his men to eliminate Zhou Huaijin, as seeing his lifeless body would have brought her ultimate conviction.

However, Gu Chaoyan shook her head, understanding that the guards from Snow Territory could conduct a thorough search. But she couldn’t bear to stay idle and wait. Zhou Huaijin had been kind to her, and she couldn’t abandon him in this unknown and perilous place.

Disregarding their objections, Gu Chaoyan dashed out, retracing the path they had taken during the recent skirmish. It hadn’t been long since the fight occurred, so there was a chance that Zhou Huaijin was still nearby.

As soon as Gu Chaoyan departed, Sword One, Lingyun, and a few hidden guards followed suit, joining her in the search. Gu Chaoyan acknowledged their presence and gave clear instructions, saying, “Split up and search in different directions, but never lose sight of each other!”