Chapter 8 He was rescued

Chapter Eight: Rescued

The two got up very early the next day, and Shen Tang tidied herself up simply.

He gathered the leftover water reeds from yesterday and stuffed them into his sleeve.

Upon seeing this, Meng Huaiyan asked, "What is this?"

"Water reed is used to clear heat and detoxify. It was used when you had a high fever yesterday."

"It's not easy to find this in the wild, so let's keep it just in case."

Meng Huaiyan nodded.

When Shen Tang saw the water reeds, she was reminded of the scene of feeding him medicine yesterday, and her expression became a little awkward and unnatural.

Seeing that Meng Huaiyan's expression was normal and that he seemed to have no memory of being given medicine yesterday, they realized that Meng Huaiyan's complexion was normal.

I couldn't help but secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

After leaving the cave, Meng Huaiyan observed the terrain and decided to head southeast.

Shen Tang had no sense of direction in the forest and could only follow closely in Meng Huaiyan's footsteps.

Because of Meng Huaiyan's injury, he wasn't walking particularly fast, and Shen Tang didn't have as much trouble keeping up as last time.

Every time he walked a certain distance, Meng Huaiyan would carve two horizontal lines on the tree trunk, one long and one short.

Shen Tang guessed it was a code word used by his subordinates to make it easier to track them down.

Neither of them spoke, focusing only on their journey, so the atmosphere wasn't awkward.

The sun was high in the sky; it was already noon.

Shen Tang was both hungry and tired. Seeing that Meng Huaiyan was also pale, she suggested, "Why don't we rest for a while?"

Meng Huaiyan stopped and said succinctly, "Listen."

Shen Tang stopped and listened carefully, faintly hearing what sounded like water coming from afar.

Shen Tang's eyes widened in surprise, "There's water!"

Meng Huaiyan gave a soft "hmm".

The two continued on their way, and after turning a corner, the view suddenly opened up before them.

In front of us is a wide river, about ten meters wide, with a huge waterfall above it.

The sound of flowing water they just heard must have come from here.

Shen Tang had been traveling for so long and was extremely thirsty.

Upon reaching the riverbank, Shen Tang couldn't wait to scoop up the water and drink it in large gulps.

Suddenly, I spotted a fish swimming by in front of me, and my eyes widened instantly.

"Your Highness, may I borrow your sword?"

Meng Huaiyan handed over the sword, and Shen Tang took it, her eyes fixed intently on the water.

Seizing the opportunity, Shen Tang thrust his sword down, pinning a carp weighing about three or four pounds to the blade.

Unexpectedly, Shen Tang was overjoyed that his childhood skills in hunting birds and catching fish had not diminished.

Some, as if showing off a treasure, called out to Meng Huaiyan, "Look!"

Meng Huaiyan looked over upon hearing this.

Seeing Shen Tang bathed in sunlight, he seemed to be glowing.

She laughed freely, her dimples appearing and disappearing with her movements, making her look bright and radiant.

Meng Huaiyan was momentarily stunned by the scene before him, and stood there dumbfounded for a moment.

Seeing that Meng Huaiyan didn't react, Shen Tang couldn't help but wave her hand in front of his eyes: "Young Master?"

Meng Huaiyan suddenly came to his senses, subconsciously turning his head away and looking away with a somewhat gloomy expression.

He gave a soft "hmm" in response.

Shen Tang was in a good mood and didn't care about Meng Huaiyan's perfunctory answer.

For the past two days, Shen Tang has been eating wild fruits to fill her stomach, and she feels very uncomfortable with acid in her stomach.

Worried that one fish wouldn't be enough, Shen Tang caught a few more.

With deft movements, he gutted the fish, removed its internal organs, and scraped off its scales.

Seeing her so skilled, Meng Huaiyan was somewhat surprised: "You actually know how to do these?"

He remembered that her father was also an official, although his rank was not high, but his family should have had servants.

She, a young lady from a respectable family, was surprisingly skilled at cleaning fish.

Shen Tang's expression stiffened slightly, then she said nonchalantly, "I learned it because I thought it was fun."

Meng Huaiyan's expression was cryptic, but he didn't press the matter further.

After preparing the fish, Shen Tang went into the woods to cut some branches and built a temporary frame.

The branches were a bit damp, and after trying to start a fire for a long time, it wouldn't get going, instead billowing out thick black smoke. Shen Tang was choked by the smoke, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Meng Huaiyan wanted to step forward to help, but Shen Tang stopped him: "You're injured, so don't move around too much. I'll be fine soon."

After some more fiddling, the fire was finally started.

Shen Tang skillfully flipped the fish with both hands, and in no time, the aroma of the fish wafted out.

Shen Tang sniffed, feeling as if her mouth was about to water.

Shen Tang handed a grilled fish to Meng Huaiyan, and then took one for herself and started eating.

Without salt and seasonings, the fish tasted a bit bland, but fortunately the fish meat was fresh and tender, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, making it much tastier than wild fruits.

In no time, the fish were finished. Shen Tang patted his belly and couldn't help but let out a satisfied sigh.

The two sat quietly on the ground, speechless for a moment, with only the sound of the flowing river in their ears.

Shen Tang has been overwhelmed with work these past two days, and today she finally had a moment to catch her breath.

She couldn't help but think of her aunt, and a little worried, she murmured to herself, "I wonder how my aunt and the others are doing?"

Meng Huaiyan glanced at her and said, "They are fine."

How did you know?

"The assassins' target is me; they don't have the guts to target the entire Meng family."

Meng Huaiyan always kept his word, and since he had said that the Meng family would be fine.

The Meng family must be safe, and Shen Tang breathed a sigh of relief.

After resting for a while, Shen Tang used river water to extinguish the fire, and the two got up and continued on their way.

After walking for a while, Meng Huaiyan suddenly stopped and reached out to stop Shen Tang.

Shen Tang was unaware of what was going on. When she looked up and saw Meng Huaiyan's serious expression, she couldn't help but feel a chill run down her spine.

It was so quiet; there wasn't even a bird chirping or an insect buzzing around. The silence was eerily quiet.

Shen Tang was a little scared and subconsciously grabbed something in her hand.

Meng Huaiyan looked down at the delicate white hand gripping his sleeve, frowned slightly, but did not pull away.

"call out!"

An arrow flew out of the forest, heading straight for Meng Huaiyan's face with unstoppable momentum.

In a flash, Meng Huaiyan swiftly swung his sword at the arrow, causing the arrow to deflect instantly and pierce the soil behind him, the shaft sinking three inches into the ground.

The arrow's fletching swayed rapidly under the force of the impact, making a "cackling" sound.

The force was so great that it showed the person behind it was highly skilled.

The newcomer was even more skilled than the two from last time, and Meng Huaiyan's expression turned solemn.

They really went all out to hire so many experts to kill him.

Meng Huaiyan sneered and shouted in the direction the arrows came from, "Is this the only underhanded tactic you can use to stab someone in the back?"

"Or are you afraid and dare not confront me head-on?"

Seeing Meng Huaiyan's fearless provocation, the man in the woods gritted his teeth and said, "You're asking for death!"

Meng Huaiyan gently pushed Shen Tang away: "Hide!"

Shen Tang quickly walked away, found a large rock about half a person's height, and squatted down behind it.

The person in the forest flashed out instantly and arrived in front of Meng Huaiyan in a moment.

This man was tall and strong, dressed in black, with his face covered by a veil, revealing only a pair of sharp, hawk-like eyes.

His eyes flashed with a cold light, revealing a murderous intent.

Meng Huaiyan struck first, each move ruthless and aimed directly at vital points.

The assassin was equally formidable, drawing his sword to meet the attack. The two engaged in fierce combat, their blades flashing like lightning.

The speed was too fast; Shen Tang could only see the afterimages of the two flying figures and the ear-piercing metallic sound of the two swords colliding.

Shen Tang clenched her fists, her face filled with anxiety, as Meng Huaiyan was already injured.

This assassin is extremely skilled; I'm afraid he's no match for him.

Shen Tang was worried.

Suddenly, a loud "bang" was heard, and Meng Huaiyan was kicked to the ground by the assassin.

Meng Huaiyan felt an unbearable pain in his chest. He tried to prop himself up, but coughed up a mouthful of blood and collapsed weakly to the ground.

The assassin touched the wound on his chest inflicted by Meng Huaiyan, and said contemptuously, looking down at him, "Your kung fu is not bad."

"It's just a pity that you've run into me; today is destined to be your death day."

"However, it is your honor to die by my hand." The assassin pointed his sword at Meng Huaiyan, his tone arrogant.

This is the time!

With all her might, Shen Tang hurled the stone in her hand at the assassin's face.

The assassin seemed to sense something and turned his head to dodge.

A slight stinging sensation came from his eyelids. The assassin raised his hand to touch them and found traces of blood on his fingers.

He glared fiercely in Shen Tang's direction, his eyes filled with a sinister and terrifying light.

Startled by the assassin's gaze, Shen Tang involuntarily took several steps back, fearfully saying, "Don't come any closer!"

The beauty's anger had a unique charm, causing the assassin to lower his guard and walk towards Chen Tang.

His eyes were full of amusement and disdain: "I almost forgot there was a little wildcat."

Shen Tang was so frightened that she took several steps back, her face full of panic.

The assassin remained calm and composed, slowly pacing forward. Looking at her frightened face, he laughed excitedly.

Shen Tang was both angry and scared when she suddenly saw Meng Huaiyan behind the assassin give her a look.

Shen Tang remained calm and collected, picking up several stones and throwing them all at once.

The assassin easily dodged, and said to Shen Tang in a flippant tone, "Stop struggling, just obediently accept your death."

"Considering you're a beauty, I'll make sure you die a quick and painless death..."

With a "plop" sound.

Before the assassin could finish speaking, Meng Huaiyan's sword pierced him through from behind.

The assassin stared at the sword tip in his chest, his face filled with disbelief.

The assassin's eyes widened in fury as he raised his hand, intending to swing his sword backward.

Meng Huaiyan sensed his intention and thrust the sword in his hand forward an inch.

The assassin was stabbed so hard that he coughed up a mouthful of blood and instantly lost the strength to struggle.

His body swayed, then with a thud, he fell forward to the ground and fell completely silent.

Before Shen Tang could even rejoice at the assassin's death, Meng Huaiyan collapsed to the ground with a thud.

He was shocked and exclaimed, "Meng Huaiyan!"

Shen Tang rushed forward and saw that Meng Huaiyan was pale and silent, as if he were dead.

He tremblingly reached out and probed under Meng Huaiyan's nose.

Thank goodness! Thank goodness!

There's still breath! God bless!

Shen Tang pulled open Meng Huaiyan's shirt and saw that all the wounds from last time had reopened, and several more wounds had appeared this time.

His chest and back were covered in blood, with hardly any good flesh left. Shen Tang felt helpless and didn't know where to begin.

Without daring to hesitate any longer, Shen Tang took out the medicine and carefully and quickly sprinkled it on the wound.

The medicine was extremely effective; as soon as it was applied, the wound stopped bleeding. Shen Tang bandaged the wound and struggled to help Meng Huaiyan up.

This place has been exposed and is extremely dangerous; they must leave immediately.

It had been dark since noon, and Shen Tang had lost track of how long she had been walking.

Time seemed to stretch out infinitely, every minute and second becoming unbearably long.

My body was already exhausted, and my legs felt as heavy as if they were filled with lead.

Shen Tang dared not stop, struggling to hold on with all her might.

The night was dimly lit, and Shen Tang's consciousness gradually became blurred. When she was distracted for a moment, she suddenly felt something under her feet.

Before she could react, her foot twisted suddenly, and she lost her balance and fell straight to the ground.

In a flash, Shen Tang quickly pulled Meng Huaiyan with her hand, and Meng Huaiyan fell squarely onto Shen Tang.

A piercing pain shot through her soft chest, causing her to furrow her brow and let out a muffled groan.

I finally waited until the pain in my chest subsided.

Shen Tang gritted her teeth and used all her strength to try to push Meng Huaiyan off her, but her hand accidentally touched Meng Huaiyan's neck.

He felt a burning sensation to his touch, realizing that Meng Huaiyan had developed a high fever again without him even noticing.

Shen Tang was anxious and quickly laid Meng Huaiyan flat on the ground. She couldn't help but feel relieved that she hadn't thrown away the water reeds.

Shen Tang took out the water reed from her sleeve. After so much time, the water reed had lost its moisture and had become somewhat wilted.

Shen Tang prayed silently, hoping that the medicine would not lose its potency.

Shen Tang found two stones nearby, placed the water reeds on a slightly larger stone and crushed them, having learned from her previous experience.

This time, Shen Tang was very skilled. She put the crushed water reed in her mouth, and without hesitation, covered Meng Huaiyan's lips with hers, passing the medicine into his mouth.

Meng Huaiyan vaguely felt something warm on his lips, but before he could figure out what it was, the bitter taste of herbs spread from his mouth.

Meng Huaiyan frowned, trying to open his eyes, but his eyelids felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.

After several unsuccessful attempts, he was too exhausted and fell into a deep sleep.

Shen Tang was completely unaware of all this. After feeding Meng Huaiyan the medicine, she pulled open Meng Huaiyan's clothes and, seeing that the wound was not bleeding, felt relieved.

He helped Meng Huaiyan onto his shoulder again, but as soon as he took a step, he felt a clear pain in his right ankle.

Shen Tang took a breath and frowned; she must have twisted her ankle.

Shen Tang tried moving her ankle and felt a little better.

Gritting my teeth, I continued on my way.

Following Meng Huaiyan's example, she marked the route along the way. Shen Tang secretly prayed that Meng Huaiyan's subordinates would find them before the assassins.

After struggling for a while, I felt extremely hungry, dizzy, and about to collapse to the ground.

Suddenly, she saw a faint, warm yellow light not far ahead. Shen Tang rubbed her eyes, widened them, and finally realized that it was not her hallucination.

Someone's there! There's hope!

Shen Tang raised her hand and bit her arm hard until she tasted blood in her mouth before letting go.

The pain finally helped Shen Tang regain some of her spirits.

Shen Tang quickly walked towards the courtyard in one go.

Finally arriving at the entrance of the courtyard, Shen Tang was exhausted and could no longer stand. Her body slipped and fell to the ground uncontrollably.

She leaned half her body against the door and pounded on it with her last bit of strength.

From inside the yard came the barking of a dog and the owner's question: "Who is it?"

Then came the sound of the courtyard gate opening.

As the courtyard gate was opened, Shen Tang had nowhere to lean against and fell to the ground. The owner was so frightened by this scene that he screamed.

Shen Tang grabbed her trouser leg and whispered "Help!" before collapsing and losing consciousness.