Conquest of Taboo and Debauchery

Ye Fei laughed heartily as he left Liu Junyi's room after her playful scolding. That night, back in the dormitory, instead of chatting as usual with Zhang Qiang and the others, he earnestly sought their advice on disguise and concealment techniques. His experience earlier that day had revealed some gaps in his understanding; he realized that this kind of experience couldn't be learned from books alone.

Although he might not need such skills again after this mission, he was determined to master every aspect necessary to complete it successfully.

It wasn't until early morning that Ye Fei finally allowed Zhang Qiang and the others to turn in for the night. Their long conversation left him with new insights, but he knew he was still limited in certain areas—there were simply aspects of disguise he wouldn't fully understand without hands-on experience. He'd have to rely on Liu Junyi's expertise in the field when they went out together tomorrow.

Early the next day, Ye Fei and Liu Junyi set out from the stronghold while the rest of the team stayed behind, keeping up the usual signs of activity on the forest outskirts. Liu Junyi had already sent their so-called "general attack plan" to headquarters that morning to ensure that word would get to the enemy. With Li Si, the previous informant, now gone, the enemy would likely need time to get a new informant on the inside.

Guided by Ye Fei's sharp sense of direction, he and Liu Junyi made their way back to the place he'd encountered Li Si and the others the previous day. Thankfully, Ye Fei's memory of the route was clear—without it, finding their way in such dense forest would've been nearly impossible.

As they reached the perimeter, Ye Fei still couldn't see any signs of human presence. But with Liu Junyi's practiced eye, it was a different story. After just fifty meters of movement among the treetops, she pointed out three hidden sentries below, all expertly camouflaged.

Ye Fei glanced at the locations she pointed out, spotting three individuals who blended perfectly with their surroundings. He felt a slight chill realizing how well they were hidden—if his abilities hadn't improved so dramatically, they'd have spotted him right away, and he'd have lost any chance at concealment.

He led Liu Junyi to a spot away from the sentries, then asked with concern, "If we move this way, won't they notice us?"

Seeing the worry in Ye Fei's expression, Liu Junyi laughed. Though she admired his mature demeanor, his rare moments of uncertainty made her feel even closer to him. It reminded her of the young Ye Fei she'd known, easing her own recent anxieties.

Still smiling, she assured him, "No, they won't expect us to move through the trees. Did you notice how all their sentries are stationed where the forest is less dense? Most people couldn't move this way without stepping on the ground. They'd never think to station lookouts in the trees themselves."

Ye Fei nodded, smiling. "I didn't realize how clever my Junyi could be!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

It was the first time Ye Fei had used such an affectionate nickname for her. Liu Junyi felt both shy and delighted, warmth spreading in her heart. Rolling her eyes playfully, she replied, "It's not that I'm not clever—it's just that you always handle the plans, so I got used to not thinking about them. Now that you're here to help, of course I'll start paying attention!"

"Good! How bold of you to suggest your husband isn't capable," Ye Fei teased with a mischievous grin. His hand slipped from her waist to give her a playful squeeze.

Caught off guard, Liu Junyi blushed, her knees momentarily weak from the unexpected touch. Hugging his waist for support, she managed to pinch him in return, muttering, "You really don't know when to quit, do you?"

Ye Fei chuckled and, his teasing done, resumed moving cautiously forward with Liu Junyi at his side.

Eventually, they reached the spot where Ye Fei had seen Li Si and the others. Despite having been here the day before, Ye Fei still couldn't spot anything unusual from above. Even the spot where Li Si had emerged from the ground looked identical to any other area.

After observing for a moment, Liu Junyi pointed out several concealed hiding places, including the one used by Li Si.

Ye Fei closed his eyes, entering the calm, meditative state he called "still waters." He noticed immediately that his range of perception had expanded to fifty meters—a likely benefit from his last cultivation session with Liu Junyi.

Yesterday, he hadn't tried this technique since he wasn't even sure where to start looking, but now, he could instantly detect the people hidden in each spot Liu Junyi had pointed out. Each person was holed up in a cramped, confined space. The thought of such skilled fighters crouched in hidden nooks like trapped rats struck him as both impressive and sad.

Even though he could "see" the hiding spots underground, nothing seemed distinct to him from above. Still, he knew from his detection ability that the enemies were right where Liu Junyi had indicated.

"Can't you tell the difference between these places and the rest?" she asked, unaware of Ye Fei's ability to detect hidden presences.

Ye Fei focused again on the ground, trying to spot any inconsistencies. "No, they all look the same to me—even the fallen leaves blend in."

"Yes, exactly. But look closer at those fallen leaves," Liu Junyi hinted, encouraging him to figure it out for himself.

With her guidance, Ye Fei examined the ground more closely. He soon noticed a subtle discrepancy in how the leaves were layered—a slight misalignment at the edges. Realizing his earlier oversight, he silently scolded himself for missing something so subtle. Of course, he wouldn't have noticed this detail without Liu Junyi's trained eye.

Just as Ye Fei was processing this, he noticed movement nearby. A man emerged from one of the hiding spots—it was Tok, the man he'd seen the previous day. Tok carefully covered the entry point with fresh leaves and glanced around before heading off in the opposite direction.

Ye Fei thought, So that's why the leaves looked different. They were placed there afterward.

Liu Junyi signaled to him with a quick nod, and Ye Fei, understanding her plan, wrapped an arm around her waist. Silently, they moved as one, following Tok from the treetops like shadows.

After trailing him for about a kilometer, Tok paused, glanced around, and then quickly climbed up a large tree.