Feng Jiu’er, seated behind Qiao Mu, rose up from the horse’s back.

She looked around for a good while, then fixed her gaze on one direction.

“Over there — the path is more distinct.”

“Good.” Qiao Mu nodded and turned the horse’s head.

Feng Jiu’er’s body swayed, and she sat back down.

“Trying to throw me off and kill me!”

“Sorry! Forgot there was someone behind me?” Qiao Mu said with a smile at the corner of her mouth, tilting her head slightly.

From her expression, it was clear she’d done it on purpose.

Qiao Mu and Feng Jiu’er rode at the front, with three horses following behind.

“Sister, what exactly are we looking for?” Seeing no outsiders around, Gong Xing’er dared to ask.

“Medicine,” Gong Xinyue answered. “A poison that’s been hidden away.”

“Poison? Who’s so wicked as to hide poison deep in the mountains?” Gong Xing’er frowned.

But no one answered her question.

Qiao Mu, riding along, didn’t go far before stopping.

“Ahead, we can’t ride the horses in any further.”

“Let’s go.” Feng Jiu’er leapt down from her horse.

Everyone dismounted, adjusted their weapons, and continued along the ill-defined path.

Though it was deep forest, on closer inspection there were still some traces to follow.

The six of them walked on, and the trees and brush grew ever denser.

Finally, the two men at the front had to push aside the tall grass for the group to continue forward.

Passing through a dense thicket, the view suddenly opened up.

The grass, once taller than a person, was gone, and as far as the eye could see, there were still endless trees.

“We can’t keep going blindly. Let’s rest for a moment first.”

Feng Jiu’er spoke, and everyone stopped.

Qiao Mu took out the map and moved closer to Feng Jiu’er.

Gong Xinyue walked over too, and the three of them began discussing.

Gong Xing’er’s gaze, however, fell on a distant tree.

She looked at it for a while, blinked, walked forward a few steps, then stopped to look again.

Finally, as if she’d confirmed something, she took off running toward it.

Long Shiyi, who had been scanning the surroundings, noticed the movement and turned to see Gong Xing’er running off.

“Xing’er.” Long Shiyi called out softly and chased after her.

“Brother Long Shiyi, I see fruit, so much fruit!” Gong Xing’er called out as she ran.

Suddenly, she seemed to trip over something, gave a low cry, and pitched forward.

“Xing’er.” Long Shiyi frowned and quickened his pace.

“Swish, swish swish swish…” Suddenly, hidden arrows flew from several directions.

“Don’t move!” Long Shiyi, staring at the small head that had lifted up, leapt and threw himself forward.

He gathered Gong Xing’er into his arms and rolled several times.

Seeing this, the others rushed over, drawing the swords at their backs at the same time.

Feng Jiu’er, gripping a short blade, was the first to reach Long Shiyi and Gong Xing’er’s side.

“How is it? Are you hurt?”

Just as Feng Jiu’er reached out to help Gong Xing’er up, Jian Yi’s hand landed on Long Shiyi’s arm.

“I’m fine.” Long Shiyi, supported by Jian Yi, helped Gong Xing’er to her feet.

“Xing’er, are you all right?” He looked down at the girl in his arms.

After half a day together, Long Shiyi had already come to think of Gong Xing’er as his own little sister.

“I’m fine.” Gong Xing’er shook her head and raised her hand.

Feng Jiu’er rolled up her sleeve and found her elbow had been injured.

Gong Xing’er pulled her hand back and shook her head: “It’s just a scrape, it’s fine.”

She turned to look at the fruit tree so close by and frowned.

“Why is there a trap here? This fruit isn’t even poisonous.”

Feng Jiu’er took out a small jar and rolled up Gong Xing’er’s sleeve again.

“Long Shiyi, help me with this.”

Long Shiyi held up Gong Xing’er’s sleeve while Feng Jiu’er’s slender finger scooped up a bit of ointment.

“This will sting a little, but not too badly.”

“Mm.” Gong Xing’er didn’t refuse.

Feng Jiu’er applied the medicine to her wound and asked, “Anywhere else get hurt?”

“No.” Gong Xing’er shook her head.

Seeing this, Gong Xinyue let out a breath of relief.

“It wasn’t for the sake of the fruit tree.” On the other side, Qiao Mu was prodding at something on the ground with her long sword.

Hearing this, everyone turned to look, then walked over toward her.

“Bones — human bones?” Seeing the skull, Gong Xing’er was so frightened she flung herself into the arms of whoever was closest.

Long Shiyi reflexively reached out and covered her back with his hand.

“There’s more than one.”

Jian Yi’s voice drew everyone’s attention again.

In the end, they found several sets of human bones nearby, all confirmed to have died from arrow wounds.

“Jiu’er, there’s definitely an unspeakable secret in this direction.” Qiao Mu looked toward the fruit tree, brows furrowed.

Feng Jiu’er nodded and looked up in that direction.

“Let’s go, everyone, take a look together. Long Shiyi, be sure to protect Xing’er.”

“Good.” Long Shiyi nodded.

Ever since seeing the human bones, Gong Xing’er had kept a firm grip on Long Shiyi’s hand.

Though the two had been inseparable all day, as Qiao Mu had said, they were both still children.

Those two pairs of eyes were pure as clear ponds, without a trace of unnecessary emotion.

Gong Xing’er kept holding on this way, and though Long Shiyi had felt some resistance at first, he had gradually come to accept it.

They continued on, passing several more traps, and finally, at the foot of a mountain, they found a spot that looked like a cave entrance.

Outside the cave, the path had been worn smooth — clearly a place people frequented.

“There are explosives buried ahead.” Feng Jiu’er grabbed Jian Yi’s arm just as he was about to move forward.

“Perhaps what we’re looking for is inside. Everyone, don’t act rashly for now.”

“Jiu’er, what should we do now?” Gong Xinyue asked.

Feng Jiu’er pulled Jian Yi down with her, and the two crouched together behind the bushes.

The other four also crouched down and fell silent.

Soon, several figures emerged from the cave.

At the head of the group was a man, around thirty years old, dressed elegantly, with the bearing of a refined gentleman.

Beside him was a woman with a voluptuous figure, dressed in nun’s robes, her head wrapped in gray cloth.

Behind the two of them stood two tall attendants.

“It’s the town chief.” Gong Xing’er covered her mouth, trying to keep her voice as low as possible.

She glanced back at the others and said nothing more.

Being some distance from the cave entrance, none of those hiding could make out the conversation.

The town chief said something, then headed off in another direction.

The two attendants followed and left with him.

The remaining woman turned and walked back inside.

Once the departures had left and the one going in had gone in, all was quiet again in front of the cave entrance.

“At least fifty skilled fighters are lying in ambush around here, plus explosives — just how valuable can whatever’s inside be?” Qiao Mu murmured with a sigh.

“Let’s head back the way we came, for now,” Feng Jiu’er finally decided.

No one else said anything, and they followed the same path back.

On the way back, they also managed to hunt down two wild boars, one wild goat, several fat chickens, and some wild hares.

After the evening meal, Feng Jiu’er led the group away from Nanshan Resort and into a small village nearby.