11. Overnight Stay (1)

The sky was growing dark. Dull peals of thunder gradually rolled in from the horizon, while a damp, chilly wind swept through the dense forest. The leaves rustled in the wind, mingling with the rumble of thunder and making the atmosphere especially unnerving.

Yu Qingjia looked up at the sky, unable to hide her worry.

“It’s going to rain… If we can’t get out of this forest tonight, what are we supposed to do?”

Murong Yan, however, did not seem concerned about finding shelter. His eyes were dark and solemn, and he seemed to be listening intently for something.

Another deafening clap of thunder rang out. This time, he finally heard it—the enemy had deliberately concealed the sound of their footsteps beneath the thunder. He had only just noticed them!

An arrow suddenly shot out from the dense forest. Yu Qingjia, completely unaware that she was the target, had no time to react before someone suddenly tackled her.

She fell onto the thick layer of fallen leaves. Mu Rongyan immediately rolled with her across the ground before pulling her behind an ancient tree so wide that it would have taken two people to encircle its trunk.

Yu Qingjia leaned against the rough bark, still shaken. Mu Rongyan was half-kneeling beside her, his eyes fixed intently on the forest ahead. A dark, murderous intent had risen in his eyes.

“Vixen…”

“They have companions.”

Murong Yan continued staring into the forest without looking at her. He untied the dagger at his waist and tossed it to Yu Qingjia.

“Run forward. Get as far away as you can.”

Yu Qingjia stared at the dagger lying in front of her, too frightened to even pick it up.

“What about you?”

Murong Yan had already taken several components from a hidden pocket in his sleeve.

His fingers moved swiftly, assembling them into a compact crossbow. He ignored her question.

Yu Qingjia blinked, and he had already moved behind another tree.

She gritted her teeth. Even though she was terrified, she still forced herself to pick up the dagger and asked quietly,

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

Murong Yan seemed surprised by the question. He paused before giving a disdainful scoff.

“Hunting among the Xianbei has never required women or children. Go. You’ll only get in my way if you stay.”

Yu Qingjia wanted to say something else, but Murong Yan had already walked away without looking back.

She stared at the exquisitely crafted dagger in her hand, gritted her teeth, and got to her feet. Imitating Murong Yan, she ran from one tree to another, stumbling as she hurried forward.

The thunder grew increasingly frequent until large drops of rain began pouring from the sky.

There was nowhere to take shelter in the forest. The woods, now completely dark, resembled a gigantic beast with its jaws wide open, countless unseen eyes seemingly lurking within the darkness.

Yu Qingjia was frightened and cold. She bit her lip tightly, but tears still rolled down her cheeks.

She clutched the dagger tightly against her chest. In truth, she had no idea how to use it. In her fourteen years of life, she had never even seen a chicken being slaughtered.

But right now, all she could do was grip the cold, beautifully crafted dagger and continue stumbling forward through the forest.

Eventually, whether from the rain or her tears, Yu Qingjia could no longer keep her eyes open. She stopped beneath an enormous old tree and looked back toward the silent forest behind her.

Even beneath the tree's broad canopy, rain continued to drip onto her face. The droplets traced wet paths down her cheeks, lingering briefly on her chin before gathering into round beads and falling to the ground with soft plops.

Her hair was completely soaked, plastered against her face. Her pale skin, long eyelashes, and delicate features appeared even more striking without their usual embellishments.

Yu Qingjia stared anxiously into the darkness behind her. Unable to stop herself, she called softly,

“Vixen?”

How could she expect an answer?

Yu Qingjia gritted her teeth. Even though she was terrified of the darkness and the unknown assassins, she still began making her way back along the path.

She knew perfectly well how dangerous it was to retrace her steps. The assassins might already be following the same path to find her.

But she had taken the vixen’s dagger. Although he had a small crossbow, he would be at a huge disadvantage in close combat without a proper weapon.

No matter what, Yu Qingjia could not abandon the vixen.

She did not dare speak loudly in case she attracted the assassins, but she was also afraid that the vixen might be hiding somewhere and that they would miss each other.

Holding onto tree trunks for support, she quietly called “Vixen” again and again.

Because of the cold and fear, her voice gradually became choked with tears.

She continued searching while crying until she suddenly kicked something warm.

Yu Qingjia nearly screamed, but hurriedly covered her mouth.

She didn't dare imagine what she had kicked. Trembling, she called,

“Vixen, where are you?”

Only the bleak, cold autumn wind answered her.

Terrified, Yu Qingjia nevertheless forced herself to crouch down and examine the face of the corpse beneath her feet.

She widened her eyes in the darkness and stared for a long time before finally realizing that the dead man was wearing a short jacket, not the vixen's distinctive Hu clothing.

She did not know whether she should be afraid or feel relieved. Tears poured down her cheeks, she no longer dared to look at the dead corpse. She hurriedly got up, and looked around for Murong Yan's whereabouts.

Yu Qingjia repeatedly called his name. Finally, she heard a familiar voice from behind an ancient tree.

“I’m here.”     

Yu Qingjia froze.

He was Here?

hen why hadn't he answered her earlier?

She hurried over and found Murong Yan leaning against the tree. It was obvious that he was seriously injured.

Yu Qingjia immediately forgot about everything else. She rushed toward him, wanting to help but not knowing where to begin.

“Vixen, you… where are you hurt? Are you all right?”

Murong Yan braced himself against the ground with his uninjured hand, apparently trying to stand. Yu Qingjia quickly helped him.

His weight was much greater than she had expected. After struggling for a long while, the two of them finally managed to stand, both breathing heavily.

“Why did you come back?”

Yu Qingjia froze before realizing that Murong Yan was asking her.

She found the question incredibly strange.

“Of course I came back. You were still here.”

Murong Yan did not believe her answer.

Earlier, in order to deal with the assassin, he had deliberately taken a sword strike rather than dodge, using the opening to fire an arrow into the assassin.

As it turned out, he had been right to coat the arrowhead with poison—the assassin had quickly succumbed to it.

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