Chapter 141 The Torture of Heaven

She just left like that?

Princess Zhaoning stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

The sun was about to set, with only the last rays of its setting sun casting an eerie dark red hue over the river.

The river surface resembled a silent behemoth, as if it were about to devour people.

All around were the sounds of wind rustling the reeds and rushing water; as far as the eye could see, there was no one in sight.

Princess Zhaoning turned pale with fright and burst into tears.

"Waaah, Father, Mother, come quick!"

The crying startled several birds in the reeds, and a green water snake poked its head out from the reeds before darting onto the driftwood.

It spat out its bright red tongue at Princess Zhaoning.

Princess Zhaoning was so frightened that she pushed the driftwood away.

"Ah! A snake! Li Nanke, save me!"

Before he could finish speaking, he gulped down several more mouthfuls of water.

She frantically slapped the water, but the more she slapped, the deeper she sank.

Just then, a crisp sound rang in my ears.

"Grab the stick!"

She opened her eyes in a panic and saw a stick swinging beside her.

The other end of the stick was held in Li Nanke's hand.

Princess Zhaoning quickly gripped the stick tightly.

Li Nanke closed his eyes. "Try kicking your legs. I can't pull you up by myself."

"Huh? Oh."

Princess Zhaoning mechanically kicked her legs, and with Li Nanke's help, she finally managed to climb ashore.

She collapsed to the ground, vomiting water and crying loudly.

"Waaaaah, that scared me to death."

"I want my mother!"

"I'm never coming here again!"

She was crying so hard she could barely breathe, but there was no sound from her side.

Zhao Ning opened one eye and saw Li Nanke, who had been resting on the ground, get up, turn around, and leave.

Princess Zhaoning was stunned for a moment, then quickly scrambled to her feet and chased after him.

It was getting dark, and she was afraid to be alone.

"Li Nanke, why didn't you comfort me just now?"

Li Nanke's voice was tinged with obvious impatience.

Why should I comfort you?

Princess Zhaoning had never been treated like this before. The palace maids and eunuchs around her always coaxed her, and even the concubines dared not easily show her any displeasure.

Only Li Nanke not only didn't comfort her, but also bullied her.

Princess Zhaoning glared angrily at Li Nanke.

"Li Nanke, I hate you."

"Yes, I know, I already said it, that's your problem."

Princess Zhaoning was furious. A gust of cool wind blew by, and she shivered from the cold.

"Achoo! Achoo!"

Li Nanke took two steps back in disgust.

Princess Zhaoning, hugging her wet shoulders, angrily questioned Li Nanke.

"What do you mean by this? You dare to look down on this princess?"

Li Nanke pursed her lips, her words filled with undisguised anger.

"You know you're disliked, why don't you shut up?"

"you......"

“Say one more word and I’ll throw you back into the water.”

"You dare! I am a princess! If you dare throw me back into the water, I'll have my father kill your entire family!"

"Ha, you'll drown if you fall into the water, and you'll never see your father again!"

Two equally soaking wet children stared at each other like fighting cocks, neither willing to give an inch.

Li Nanke was cold, hungry, and irritable.

Anyone who has been soaking in the water for two hours would not be in a good mood at this moment.

She wasn't in the mood to argue with Zhao Ning, but she couldn't control her frustration.

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath to calm her agitation, and turned to continue walking along the edge of the woods.

The sun has set, and the last rays of light on the horizon are about to disappear.

The river was shrouded in darkness, the shadows of the trees swayed in the woods, and only the rustling of the wind could be heard.

Princess Zhaoning was so frightened that she trembled and dared not say anything more, following Li Nanke step by step.

It wasn't until she passed the same crooked tree for the third time that she couldn't help but look up at it.

"Li Nanke, do you even know the way?"

Li Nanke was also looking up at the crooked elm tree, his eyes filled with frustration.

But he resolutely refuses to admit that he has no sense of direction.

"You think I don't know the way? Why don't you lead the way?"

Princess Zhaoning hung her head in dejection.

She didn't know the way either.

Li Nanke took off the headband from his head and tied it to the crooked tree.

This time, he chose the opposite direction from before. Every few steps, he tore off a strip of cloth from his jacket and tied it to a tree.

A moment later, Princess Zhaoning shouted angrily.

"Li Nanke, you tore your own clothes, why are you tearing mine too?"

Li Nanke rolled her eyes impatiently.

"Do you think my clothes can be torn any further?"

Princess Zhaoning pursed her lips and remained silent.

Li Nanke's jacket, which originally reached his knees, had been torn into a short shirt in such a short time.

Li Nanke raised an eyebrow. "You have a problem with that?"

Princess Zhaoning nodded emphatically.

"have."

"If you have it, just keep it to yourself!"

"Li Nanke, I am a princess! You must listen to me."

"Then let's split up and go our separate ways. If you encounter water snakes or wild boars again, don't call me. It won't do any good."

Princess Zhaoning, remembering the water snake she had just encountered, shuddered in fright and dared not speak again, silently letting Li Nanke tear a strip of cloth from her jacket.

When Princess Zhaoning's outer garment was also torn into a short shirt, they returned once again to the crooked elm tree.

Princess Zhaoning was so frightened that she fell to the ground and burst into tears.

"We're doomed! This is a nightmare! We're not getting out of this place!"

Li Nanke was exhausted; he had come this far only through sheer willpower.

She broke down when she saw the crooked elm tree for the fourth time.

He sat silently on the ground, his head drooping in frustration.

They chose a bend in the river, so the road there isn't running due south or north, or due east or west.

This is absolute torture for someone who has no sense of direction!

"Li Nanke, are we not leaving?"

Princess Zhaoning hugged herself tightly, gazing at her longingly.

Li Nanke pursed her lips and hummed after a moment.

"Let's wait for someone to come looking for us."

"But...but didn't you say there would be wild boars here?"

Princess Zhaoning spoke in a low voice, glancing nervously around as she spoke, as if afraid that if she raised her voice even slightly, a wild boar would leap out from some corner.

If it weren't for the cold and exhaustion, Li Nanke would have loved to loudly mock Princess Zhaoning's furtive behavior.

"If the wild boar really comes, I'll just have to outrun you."

Princess Zhaoning turned away angrily and ignored her.

The world finally quieted down... for a moment!

In the blink of an eye, Princess Zhaoning's voice rang out once again.

"Li Nanke, I'm thirsty, I want to drink water."

"Didn't you drink enough in the river?"

"Li Nanke, I'm hungry!"

"Bear with it!"

"Li Nanke, I'm so cold... Achoo!"

Achoo!

Li Nanke also sneezed a few times.

She felt cold too, and was shivering from the cold.

It was completely dark, and a cold wind was blowing; their clothes were soaked through.

If they continue sitting like this, they might catch a cold before anyone finds them.

She thought of starting a fire.

But to start a fire, you need a tinderbox.

She didn't know how to start a fire by rubbing sticks together, and besides, she didn't have the tools.

Even with tools, she wasn't strong enough with her small arms and legs.

Li Nanke once again felt dejected at his eight-year-old body, pressing his hands to the ground in frustration.

The stones on the ground pressed against my palm, and they were warm.

She picked up the stone and looked at it; it was a pitch-black stone, and there was another one about the size of a palm next to it.

Let's try anything, even if it seems hopeless.

She rubbed the two stones together against each other without much hope.

Sizzle!

Unexpectedly, tiny sparks appeared!

Li Nanke sat up straight in surprise, staring at the two dark stones in his hands, when suddenly he remembered something!