An unbroken stretch of plain lay beneath the sky. There were no hills or mounds, just a serenity as deep as the sea on a calm day.

Here, they were already far from the capital of Kai Rong Kingdom. Some twenty fine horses and three ordinary carriages were galloping across this northwestern expanse.

Though the three carriages looked unremarkable, the horses pulling the lead one were anything but common. Even the riders, while perhaps not possessing legendary steeds, were mounted on horses fit for any army.

Among all the animals, only one—a powerful charger the color of fire and blood—was without a saddle, rider, or harness for pulling a cart. Like a solitary vanguard, it trotted steadily just behind one of the large wagons.

The curtain of the carriage suddenly parted, revealing He Yiming’s face. Upon seeing He Yiming, the riderless red horse let out a loud neigh, its long tail whipping wildly behind it.

He Yiming laughed aloud, then suddenly felt an impulse. He turned and said, "Li Xun, riding in the carriage is too tiresome.

How about we ride instead?" Inside the carriage, Yuan Li Xun smiled faintly. The moment she nodded, her waist was grasped, and she was swept into He Yiming's embrace.

In a flash, as if soaring through the clouds, they flew from the carriage and landed upon the ecstatic Hong Ling horse. The Hong Ling horse’s large eyes gleamed with excitement, and it immediately stretched its legs, instantly overtaking the lead knight.

Its four hooves churned, its long mane flying—a magnificent silhouette like a homing pigeon that had endured ocean crossings, or a petrel vigorously fighting a squall. In what felt like a blink, they had become a small, dark speck in the eyes of the others.

The head knight reached out, his mouth opening to speak, but the words caught in his throat, stopping abruptly. He suddenly recalled their respective statuses.

What right did he have to address them, especially when the Grand Elder and Elder Lu, seated in the carriages behind, hadn't even spared them a glance? The curtain of one of the two rear carriages had opened at some point.

Yu Jinglei and Lu Zhengyi exchanged a look and a brief smile. However, their gazes immediately shifted to the last carriage.

At that moment, a flicker of dread and confusion crossed both their faces. Since leaving the capital of Kai Rong Kingdom, they had politely refused escort from Zhan Tianfeng’s men, choosing only to travel toward Tian Luo Kingdom with the disciples of Heng Shan.

Along the road, they wished to avoid drawing attention, so while their vehicles were spacious, they were not luxurious. Yet, the horses pulling the wagons and the mounts ridden by the disciples were all carefully selected—while not as precious as the Hong Ling horse, they were certainly presentable.

Of the three ordinary carriages, He Yiming and Yuan Li Xun shared one; Yu Jinglei and Lu Zhengyi shared another; the third was occupied solely by the enigmatic Bai Lingba. What astonished Yu Jinglei and Lu Zhengyi, both Innate Realm masters, was that ever since Bai Lingba entered that carriage, they had completely lost all sense of the super-expert.

To their perception, it seemed as if no one occupied that final carriage at all. Even when they maximized their internal energy to its peak, they could neither hear nor sense the slightest sound emanating from within.

Suddenly, a gust of northern wind howled past... Although this was not the Northern Frontier Ice Field, the wind here was certainly fierce.

It rushed past with a loud, flapping noise. The curtain of the last carriage suddenly lifted, fluttering halfway up.

Though only a fleeting glimpse, both Yu Jinglei and Lu Zhengyi clearly perceived the interior. They both froze, then turned to look at each other, their eyes filled with uncertain astonishment.

A moment later, under Lu Zhengyi’s questioning gaze, Yu Jinglei nodded almost imperceptibly. Lu Zhengyi stepped forward to the final carriage, cupped his hands, and spoke: "Senior Bai, Elder He and Miss Yuan have gone off riding for pleasure.

Shall we wait here, or proceed slowly?" Inside the carriage, there was absolute silence, as if Bai Lingba had not heard the question. As Lu Zhengyi spoke, all the Heng Shan disciples held their breath.

In their hearts, anyone addressed as 'Senior' by both the Grand Elder and the Elder was far beyond their reach. Yet, after a long pause, no human sound emerged—only the ceaseless northern wind and a few sporadic horse whinnies.

Lu Zhengyi hesitated, then repeated the query. This time, his tone was even more earnest, his demeanor exceedingly humble.

It was an exceptionally rare sight for an Innate Realm expert to speak with such deference. A feeling of utter absurdity washed over the onlookers, yet no one dared to laugh, or even let a hint of a smile show.

Still, silence persisted. Lu Zhengyi gritted his teeth and stepped closer, gently grasping a corner of the carriage curtain.

He was fully on guard, ready to instantly let go and retreat at the slightest sign of movement. Judging by the way this Senior Bai treated Grand Elder He Yiming, perhaps if he withdrew quickly, the Senior wouldn't pursue retribution.

Finally, under the gaze of all present, the curtain was lifted. To everyone’s utter bewilderment, the carriage interior was empty.

Lu Zhengyi lowered the curtain. Despite being somewhat prepared, his face still wore a strange expression.

Returning to Yu Jinglei’s side, Lu Zhengyi whispered, "Martial Uncle, did you see when he departed?" Yu Jinglei shook his head slightly. "I did not." He turned his gaze toward the direction He Yiming had taken, saying softly, "Perhaps Senior Bai went to follow Elder He." "But Elder He hasn't left yet, we only just came out," Lu Zhengyi lowered his voice.

"Could Senior Bai have left even before Elder He departed?" Yu Jinglei’s lips twitched slightly, a hint of red coloring his face. If Bai Lingba had indeed slipped away unnoticed before they emerged, that would be one thing.

But if he hadn't, and had departed without a trace after they came out—that was truly horrifying. After pondering for a moment, Yu Jinglei shook his head.

"Never mind. Tell them to hurry their pace and try to catch up with Elder He soon.

Alas, he is the Grand Elder; how can he still be so..." Saying this, Yu Jinglei suddenly stopped as if realizing something. Although He Yiming was the Grand Elder of the One-Line Sky sect, he was under twenty years old.

It wasn't entirely shocking for him to occasionally do things that seemed rash in the eyes of older, cautious men like themselves. No matter Yu Jinglei’s internal dissatisfaction, he couldn't censure the Grand Elder over such a trivial matter.

When the two elders returned to their carriages, the entourage resumed its journey toward Tian Luo Kingdom, increasing its speed. Of course, hoping they could catch up to and find Grand Elder He Yiming quickly was wishful thinking.

The sound of the carriages gradually faded. Once all was quiet again, A section of the ground abruptly swelled upwards, and slowly, the figure of Bai Lingba materialized upon the empty plain.

He looked up, his gaze once again shining with light as intense as a small sun. Since being hired by He Yiming, he hadn't acted this way in front of others.

But now, with no one around, he no longer cared. No one knew that within his eyes at this moment, a strange angular transformation was taking place.

Like the highest-powered astronomical telescope, his eyes could clearly discern objects tens of thousands of meters away. Furthermore, this sight possessed powerful penetrating abilities, coupled with the capacity to simulate functions of advanced instruments like thermal imagers.

No matter how fast the Hong Ling horse ran, it could not escape the range of his reconnaissance in a short time. With this quasi-clairvoyant ability, even He Yiming’s tracking skills could not match his on this open plain.

Soon, he locked onto the target, and his eyes swiftly returned to normal. He shifted his feet, surging forward with incomparable speed.

His body seemed weightless, almost hovering three inches above the ground. A single stride covered ten meters.

His two feet pumped like high-powered engines, accelerating until he became little more than a blur. Bai Lingba deliberately avoided Yu Jinglei’s group by taking a long, looping route instead of a direct line.

Even so, it took him less than an hour to catch up to the Hong Ling horse and follow it like an inescapable shadow. ※※※※ He Yiming held Yuan Li Xun, the powerful wind whipping past their faces only invigorating them, giving them the feeling of being able to ride the Hong Ling horse across the entire world.

The Hong Ling horse unleashed its power, utterly disregarding the carriages behind, soaring across the grassland at its maximum speed. Though it carried no saddle, He Yiming and Yuan Li Xun, with their current capabilities, were unaffected.

Moreover, the Hong Ling horse was inherently smooth in motion; even at this breakneck speed, it remained steady as a mountain. It was unclear how long they galloped, but the Hong Ling horse was soon covered in a dense sheen of sweat.

Yet, it still seemed not to have had its fill, prancing joyfully as if it could run endlessly. It was He Yiming who felt reluctant to push further.

He gently stroked the horse's back and subtly tightened his legs. The Hong Ling horse immediately understood its master’s intent and gradually slowed its pace.

Like people, horses benefit from a period of slow trotting after a long, continuous run, rather than stopping abruptly. He Yiming looked back, but saw nothing in sight.

After the Hong Ling horse’s wild run, the group of Heng Shan disciples had been left far, far behind. Yuan Li Xun suddenly covered her mouth and laughed.

"Yiming, you are looking for Mr. Bai Lingba, aren't you?" He Yiming nodded slightly.

He closed his eyes, his two ears twitching faintly. Though Bai Lingba had no vital signs, He Yiming couldn't hear his voice.

However, if the man intended to follow the Hong Ling horse, he would surely offer a chance for He Yiming to detect him. Indeed, a moment later, He Yiming opened his eyes, a faint look of triumph in them.

If Bai Lingba stood still, even an immortal couldn't find him. But to track the Hong Ling horse, he would have to betray his presence.

Seeing the hint of smugness in He Yiming's eyes, Yuan Li Xun immediately understood. She smiled sweetly and asked, "How far away is Mr.

Bai?" "Very close," He Yiming laughed loudly. "Brother Bai, hurry up, or we are going to leave without you!" Hearing his call, the distant Bai Lingba instantly accelerated.

Once his speed increased, even a noble steed like the Hong Ling horse would instinctively shy away. Moments later, Bai Lingba arrived before them.

Looking at the expressionless Bai Lingba, He Yiming offered a deferential smile. "Brother Bai, we were carried away by excitement just now; please forgive our rudeness." Bai Lingba looked up coldly.

"It does not matter. I am your bodyguard; my task is to ensure your safety, not to restrict or limit your movements." A strange light flickered in He Yiming's eyes; he hadn't expected Bai Lingba to be so accommodating on this point.

However, Bai Lingba immediately added, "But when your lives are threatened, I also have the authority to prohibit you from entering dangerous areas." He Yiming paused. "What dangerous areas?" "Areas capable of killing you." He Yiming’s lips twitched, struggling to suppress the urge to roll his eyes.

If there were a place capable of killing him, why would he enter it in the first place? This man truly lacked common sense.

Yuan Li Xun chuckled softly, looking up at the sky. "Yiming, it is getting late.

Should we return, or wait here for Elder Yu and the others?" He Yiming grinned wryly, pointing ahead. "Since we have come this far, why turn back?

I heard there is a convoy ahead setting up camp; let's go impose on them for the night." Yuan Li Xun nodded in agreement; as long as it was He Yiming’s decision, she would unconditionally support it. As for Bai Lingba, as long as He Yiming didn't enter a zone he deemed dangerous, he would raise no objection.

As he stated, he was the bodyguard for He Yiming and his wife, not their superior or elder. The three individuals and one horse advanced again, though this time He Yiming deliberately slowed the Hong Ling horse's pace so as not to frighten others with its speed.

As the sun above sank toward the horizon, they reached the convoy ahead. It was a medium-sized convoy of over three hundred people.

From a distance, He Yiming could see many people in different attire: some setting up tents, others starting fires for cooking, and still others standing guard throughout the perimeter. Though clearly belonging to various factions, their coordination in tasks suggested they were not strangers to traveling together on this route.

He Yiming suddenly noticed Yuan Li Xun’s questioning gaze. He smiled faintly.

"These must be small merchants. Traveling alone, they are easily preyed upon by bandits.

By joining forces, even without hired protection, traveling in a group greatly enhances security." Yuan Li Xun relaxed. Though the Yuan family wasn't an ancient lineage, several centuries had allowed them to accumulate considerable wealth.

Their estate had plenty of staff; even escorting goods was handled by estate retainers, attendants, and household guards. Thus, although she had heard of such merchant caravans, this was her first time seeing one.

The guards on watch had noticed them, and a slight stir rippled through the convoy. However, because there were only three of them, the disturbance quickly subsided.

Most people returned to their tasks, but a dozen or so men stood in their path, observing them with wary eyes. Facing these cautious gazes, He Yiming laughed heartily and cupped his hands.

"Gentlemen, my wife and I, along with this elder brother, were in too much of a hurry and missed our designated resting spot. We wish to join you for the night." The man leading the small group was a stern-faced fellow, clearly capable, with eyes that shone sharply like knives.

He swept his gaze over the trio, seemingly trying to discern their origins. But he was quickly disappointed, as he suddenly realized he could not see through these people at all.

His usually reliable eyesight seemed to have failed him at this moment. The only impression these three gave him was one of...

unfathomable depth. He frowned slightly, sensing vaguely that such figures were best left undisturbed.

Clearing his throat lightly, he said, "I am the leader of this group, Xu Su from Tai'a County in Tian Luo Kingdom. We have just returned from Kai Rong Kingdom.

May I ask if you three are from Kai Rong or Tian Luo?" He Yiming raised his chin, his expression rather haughty. Xu Su and the men behind him, all sharp-eyed, inwardly cursed upon seeing He Yiming’s demeanor; they had run into someone from Kai Rong Kingdom.

The two nations bordered each other, and though there were no wars, the residents on both sides harbored some degree of competitive spirit. Kai Rong Kingdom, one of the three great powers of the Northwest, was undeniably stronger than Tian Luo Kingdom, leading people from Kai Rong to often carry an air of superiority when dealing with Tian Luo citizens.

However, just as their brows began to furrow, they heard He Yiming announce clearly, "We are, of course, people of Tian Luo Kingdom." Strictly speaking, only He Yiming was from Tian Luo Kingdom; Yuan Li Xun was from Jin Lin Kingdom; as for Bai Lingba... no one knew where he was from, so he could simply be ignored.

But since He Yiming was taking the lead now, they all automatically became citizens of Tian Luo Kingdom.