"It's okay, it's okay. I'm here." Ethan Brooks put his arm around Emily Shaw, gently patting her back to comfort her.

His expression was gentle, but his eyes were icy cold.

"How did you end up here?

Where is that Brian Bolton who was with you?"

"Brian Bolton told me to hide in the tree hollow, and he ran back to get help.

He also told me not to come out, and said that even if it was you calling me, I shouldn't come out."

Emily Shaw hurriedly explained.

"But how could Brother Ethan ever hurt me? I just heard from Dad's message tube—Dad and the others must have already set out. If we hurry back now, maybe we'll run into them!"

Ethan Brooks hadn't paid much attention at first, but when he heard about Brian Bolton's warning to Emily Shaw, his heart stirred, suspecting that the young Taoist might already be suspicious of him.

Hearing the rest, he suddenly felt a bit anxious.

"Which direction did that Brian Bolton go?"

He suddenly asked.

"That way."

Emily Shaw pointed, right in the direction where the sound of the signal firework had just come from.

Ethan Brooks's heart tightened, a trace of irritation flashing in his eyes.

He finally knew who had set off the signal tube—damn that little Taoist!

Ethan Brooks held Emily Shaw, made a gesture toward a direction in the dense forest, then pointed toward where Brian Bolton had left.

A shadow flickered in the forest, and someone immediately gave chase.

*** On the other side, watching the fireworks explode.

Brian Bolton withdrew his gaze, quickly scanning the surroundings, looking for a place to hide.

The trees here were dense, the light dim, and there were many places suitable for hiding.

He quickly jumped down from a large rock. The improvement in his vitality had made him much healthier, and his stamina was better than before.

If it had been before, after running all this way, he would have been completely out of breath by now.

As soon as he landed—

A masked man in black suddenly rushed out from the woods behind him.

The man in black looked up, locking eyes with Brian Bolton.

"Go! People from Qinghe Palace are almost here!"

Brian Bolton shouted in a low voice, looking tense.

The masked man didn't recognize Brian Bolton, and was still trying to figure things out, ready to make a move, but when he heard this, he was stunned.

"How many are coming?"

He asked instinctively.

"I don't know, but I just heard noises here and came to check. Someone set off a signal tube!

I was specifically assigned here to send signals!"

Brian Bolton said in a deep voice.

"Damn, this is trouble!"

The man in black clasped his fists, turned, and ran.

He had only run a few steps when he sensed something was wrong—Ethan Brooks had never mentioned arranging for anyone else.

Something's off with this kid!

He'd been tricked!

The man in black turned to look at Brian Bolton, and sure enough, the kid had already run more than ten meters away, almost swallowed by the shadows of the forest.

He immediately felt both embarrassed and angry—at his age, to be fooled by a young brat! If word got out, how could he ever show his face in the martial world again?

But the sound of the signal tube just now was real enough. He took a few steps forward to chase, then stopped, calculating the time.

His eyes behind the mask flickered uncertainly.

"Damn it, next time don't let me catch you!

You little brat!"

The man in black stopped chasing and turned to dash away from Qinghe Palace.

In no time, he disappeared into the vast sea of trees.

Brian Bolton ran a distance, looked back and saw no one chasing, so he stopped to catch his breath.

That full-speed sprint just now had drained him.

After waiting a bit, soon, from the direction of Qinghe Palace, the sound of running footsteps came from the woods.

Two figures emerged from the forest—one was Senior Sister David Green, and the other was none other than Helen Shaw.

He had actually come in person.

The two paused when they saw Brian Bolton.

"Brian Brooks, where is Xiao Ying!?"

Helen Shaw asked anxiously.

"I hid her in a tree hollow. I was afraid Senior Sister would be found, so I came out to draw the enemy away!"

Brian Bolton replied immediately.

Hearing this, Helen Shaw's expression softened a bit, but he still looked very grave.

"Take me there!"

At once, Brian Bolton led the two quickly toward where Emily Shaw was hiding.

Soon, they returned to the tree hollow, only to find it empty—no one inside.

"Where is she!?"

Helen Shaw's face instantly turned cold.

"I told Senior Sister not to come out," Brian Bolton replied instinctively.

But seeing Helen Shaw's expression, he quickly shut his mouth, his heart sinking.

If anything happened to Emily Shaw, he would definitely be in trouble.

No matter how good Helen Shaw's temper was, he might still take it out on him.

"There are footprints on the ground. Looks like a woman's—probably Junior Sister's!"

David Green quickly spoke up.

"Let's go!"

Helen Shaw took the lead.

The two followed the tracks, quickly giving chase.

They moved fast, disappearing into the dense forest in the blink of an eye.

Brian Bolton wanted to follow, but then thought better of it—he wouldn't be able to keep up anyway, so he stayed put.

Fortunately, he didn't have to wait long.

After just a few minutes, a loud shout came from the distant woods.