The following day, early in the morning.
After tidying up, Xia Zhou sought out Mars, who was tending to the herbs in the castle's backyard. After exchanging greetings, he transformed into an air cloud and drifted towards the outskirts of the city.
The destination, Snake Den, was located far from human settlements. Without a map to guide, under normal circumstances, no one would be able to find it.
After drifting out of the city for more than an hour, Xia Zhou stopped atop a low mountain. After turning around the mountainside for a while, he found the correct direction and delved deep into the tree shadows.
There stood a clearing amid the trees that clearly held traces of human activity.
Xia Zhou began by circling the clearing a few times, then walked a distance along a path that had been tread by foot.
Assured there were no people, no ambushes, and no Elemental Light, he revealed himself in the clearing.