The carriage traveled under the blazing sun, drawing closer and closer to Shanhuai County.

The wheels rolled over small stones on the mountain path, producing bursts of grating sounds that, accompanied by the sound of horse hooves, had somewhat the flavor of marching to battle.

Two shichen later, the carriage moved from a small forest mountain road into a dense large forest. The tall trees standing erect on both sides were a full ten to twenty meters high, their leafy treetops large and plump. As if their strength was insufficient, they all drooped toward the middle, blocking out the blazing sun overhead.

To reach Shanhuai County while being able to pass through with carriages, this road was the only route.

The entire forest was like a large ice cellar, so cold it made one’s hair stand on end. Only a tiny bit of meager light filtered down, yet it seemed to be desperately squeezing its way in!

Fortunately, this road wasn’t long—about a thousand meters or so in distance.

As soon as they entered, Jingrong ordered people to light four torches—two in front and two behind.

Caw—

The cry of crows!

Wei Yi jumped in fright and quickly burrowed into Ji Yunshu’s embrace.

“Shu’er, what is this place? Why is it dark?”

Ji Yunshu held him tightly, comforting him. “Don’t be afraid, this is just a high mountain forest. It will be fine once we get through.”

“What’s a high mountain forest?”

“Enough, don’t ask so many questions.”

If she really continued, Wei Yi would definitely come up with many strange and peculiar questions.

The carriage was still moving forward, but Ji Yunshu’s heart grew more and more flustered as they went deeper into this forest.

Suddenly!

The wind outside blew—

A faint floral fragrance drifted in!

Ji Yunshu only felt her head grow heavy, her temples throbbing with pain, her eyes powerlessly drooping downward.

“Shu’er, I… I feel so sleepy…” Wei Yi said.

Before Ji Yunshu could even glance at Wei Yi, she lost consciousness completely.

In the carriage ahead!

“To think there’s such a ghostly place.” Muruo lifted the curtain to look outside. “No wonder the bandits in this area are so rampant.”

Jingrong sat upright, eyes closed, resting. He frowned and asked, “What does the bandits’ rampancy have to do with this forest?”

“Look at this place. Without torches, it would be pitch black. Moreover, the terrain in the forest is inherently complex and ever-changing, like a maze. If ordinary people didn’t take this main road but instead cut through the forest, they might get lost and starve to death here. But the bandits in this area are different—they must be extremely familiar with this area. So even if the court truly sent troops to suppress them, as long as they hide in the forest, they can escape with their lives. The court can’t very well burn down the entire forest, can they?”

Of course not!

If they burned it, they’d have to burn the entire forest. If they encountered a north wind, it might even harm nearby villagers!

So what Muruo said wasn’t without reason.

Jingrong listened patiently with his eyes closed, but the next moment—

His eyes suddenly opened.

Alarmed, he said, “This is bad!”

Huh?

Before Muruo could react, Jingrong immediately jumped out of the carriage.

Little did he know—

The moment he emerged, a sharp arrow shot over from the deepest part of the forest, landing right on his carriage.

It was only a few centimeters from his eyes.

If it had been off by even a fraction, that arrow would have penetrated from his left temple straight through to the other side.

Just one second after this arrow shot over, another ten to twenty arrows flew out from deep within the forest.

Lang Bo reacted, drawing his sword and commanding, “Protect the people in the carriages!”

The guards drew their swords, deflecting those arrows on one side while orderly surrounding those several carriages on the other.

Muruo also leaped down from the carriage. His wide sleeves whirled, catching several arrows within them, then with a flick, those arrows shot back toward the deep mountain forest.

Caw—

The miserable cry of a crow rang out.

Jingrong rushed quickly toward the last carriage. Sharp arrows passed before him, which he perfectly avoided.

When he lifted the curtain of the carriage where Ji Yunshu was—

Inside, there wasn’t even a shadow of anyone.

“Yunshu…”

He shouted frantically.

His voice shattered the heavens.

Sharp arrows continued shooting over incessantly like rain. Jingrong grew so anxious he somewhat lost his reason, standing in place with no reaction.

A sharp arrow also shot toward him at this moment, hitting him squarely in the chest. Blood immediately flowed out, staining his ink-black brocade robe red.

Fortunately, Muruo reached his side in time, blocking in front of him and deflecting all the arrows shooting from behind.

This arrow rain didn’t last long before stopping.

Probably the bandits had run out of arrows!

Muruo turned around and crouched down. Without another word, he pressed down on Jingrong’s shoulder.

“Endure it.”

Without giving Jingrong a moment to catch his breath, he gripped that arrow and forcefully pulled it out.

Looking at the blood on the arrow, Muruo breathed a sigh of relief. “Fortunately there’s no poison on the arrow.”

“Yunshu… Yunshu has disappeared.”

Muruo lifted his eyes to glance inside the carriage. “Wei Yi has also disappeared.”

Both had vanished!

Jingrong furrowed his brow in pain, bracing himself to get up, but was pressed back down by Muruo.

Sternly, he said, “Although this arrow has no poison, the blade injured the meridians in your chest. You need to stop the bleeding immediately, and you absolutely cannot move forcefully. Otherwise, if the meridians open up, they’ll tear your heart apart, and no one can save you.”

“Move aside. I’m going to find Yunshu. Even if I have to kill everyone in Gaoshan Stronghold, I won’t hesitate.”

Stubbornly gritting his teeth, he rose!

Those eyes, besides carrying a fierce air, also held worry.

Shaking off Muruo, Jingrong forced himself to stand up. His legs went soft, and he stumbled backward against the carriage, nearly falling.

Muruo said, “If those people wanted to kill, they would have killed here. They wouldn’t have abducted those two. Right now, what’s most important is your injury.”

“If something happens to Yunshu, I won’t survive either.”

“She’s not even dead yet, and you want to die first?”

The two of them shouted at each other like this.

Jingrong panted, refusing to answer for a long time!

At this moment, Lang Bo ran over drenched in sweat, seeing that his prince was injured.

Alarmed, he said, “Your Highness, are you alright?”

Jingrong first glanced at Muruo, his heart gradually calming down.

Weakly, he ordered Lang Bo, “For now, go to Shanhuai County first. Send people to Gaoshan Stronghold to see if Master Ji and Wei Yi are inside.”

“Master Ji and Young Master Wei have disappeared?”

Lang Bo looked into the carriage in surprise, seeming to understand.

He quickly said, “Yes, this subordinate understands.”

Jingrong could no longer support himself. Cold sweat seeped from his forehead, and his face had turned pale.

When the blade pierced in, it was only a few centimeters from his heart. If he exerted any force at all, the pain would be heart-rending.

Muruo quickly helped him into the carriage.

Then he pulled back the curtain and asked Lang Bo, “How are Granny Xie and Miss Ji?”

Lang Bo replied, “They were somewhat frightened, but have already been calmed down.”

“Good. Quickly get out of the forest and go to Shanhuai County first. You also send people to scout Gaoshan Stronghold.”

“Yes!”