Gu Yuzhi followed Marshal Huo up the mountain with great excitement. The snow was almost up to Marshal Huo's calves. Gu Yuzhi followed behind, hopping and skipping, stepping in Marshal Huo's footprints.

Looking at Gu Yuzhi, who was hopping around, Shu Xiaohan couldn't help but sigh, recalling how he had looked hesitant and aggrieved as he sat by the fire earlier: "He's still just a child."

Just as Huo Qiyuan said, Shu Xiaohan and Wen Xiuzhu had made thorough preparations, thinking that since it was Gu Yuzhi's first time conducting outdoor training, Huo Qiyuan and the others would not make things too difficult for him.

Until she saw this barren mountain and the snow that almost buried Gu Yuzhi, Teacher Shu exclaimed in amazement!

Starting with such a high stakes, Marshal Huo isn't afraid of going too far.

In these desolate mountains and forests, it is most likely to be home to large wild animals such as wolves and tigers.

Shu Xiaohan was filled with worry and wished she could fly out of Gu Yuzhi's mind, shake Huo Qiyuan's head vigorously, and ask him what he was thinking!

Unexpectedly, Huo Qiyuan threw the branch in his hand, and a trace of blood appeared on the snow not far away. Shu Xiaohan rubbed her eyes and looked for a while but still couldn't see what it was.

Gu Yuzhi clapped his hands so hard they were practically raw: "It's a rabbit! It's a rabbit! Mr. Huo is amazing!"

If he weren't afraid the snow would bury him, he would have rushed over and picked up the rabbit immediately!

A grin involuntarily spread across his face. He shook his head, jumped up, and pointed in the direction of the rabbit: "Mr. Huo, hurry, hurry, it's over there!"

Huo Qiyuan also felt that he was lucky today, and he quickly stepped forward and picked up the rabbit.

Shu Xiaohan looked closely and saw that it was indeed a rabbit, pure white, almost blending into the snow. She wondered how Marshal Huo had managed to spot it.

Huo Qiyuan handed the rabbit to Gu Yuzhi and pointed to the rabbit's path, saying, "Your Highness, look over here. Rabbits are quite light and run very fast, so they leave footprints when they run on the snow, but they don't sink in."

Gu Yuzhi jumped from one pit to another, finding some enjoyment in this harsh environment. Following the direction Huo Qiyuan pointed, he saw a series of footprints not far ahead. He went closer to take a closer look.

"If we encounter a situation where heavy snow blocks the mountains, in order to survive, we must be able to identify the footprints of these animals."

Huo Qiyuan pointed to a spot not far ahead: "Look over there, there are obviously more rabbit footprints over there, which means that the rabbit burrow is very likely over there. Would Your Highness like to give it a try?"

Gu Yuzhi covered his mouth, his big eyes wide open: "Mr. Huo, can I hunt rabbits too?"

He puffed out his cheeks and kicked the snow in front of him absentmindedly with his toes: "But when I went hunting in the suburbs of Changzhou with Guard Qi and the others in the spring, I didn't catch a single rabbit."

That was his first time experiencing mounted archery. Holding his own little bow, he rode on a small horse, chasing after a rabbit, and fired several arrows in quick succession, but ended up hunting nothing.

Thinking back to that day, Gu Yuzhi couldn't help but feel a little aggrieved: "Guard Qi said that I had only just started practicing archery and that being able to draw a bow on horseback was already very good."

As he spoke, he glanced at Marshal Huo, his expression practically saying, "If I don't manage to hunt anything later, you can't be disappointed."

Huo Qiyuan laughed heartily at the joke. He took Gu Yuzhu back to have a simple lunch first. After they warmed up, the two of them came back here. Huo Qiyuan explained to him how to make a simple bow and arrow, how to use the terrain to ambush, and how to use skill to hunt.

Gu Yuzhi listened intently, not daring to blink, as if he would lose all understanding of what Marshal Huo was saying if he blinked.

Winter days are unusually short. Gu Yuzhi had only learned how to make simple bows and arrows using the things around him, and before he had a chance to test them, the temperature suddenly dropped.

Huo Qiyuan led him to a sheltered spot and carefully explained to him what to be careful of at night, including keeping warm by the campfire and paying attention to the movements of large wild animals.

The daytime cheerfulness was dispelled by the sudden drop in temperature. As Gu Yuzhi looked at the increasingly dark surroundings, he felt as if the shadows of the trees had turned into demons and monsters, baring their fangs and claws at him, as if the branches would extend infinitely in the next second.

He watched Marshal Huo's figure recede into the distance, shrugging his shoulders, trying to shrink himself inside his cloak, as if that way the ghosts and monsters wouldn't be able to catch him.

Gu Yuzhi muttered to himself, "In storybooks, children are considered very nutritious, and ghosts and monsters love to eat them, one after another..."

The more afraid he was, the more Gu Yuzhi liked to mutter to himself.

Shu Xiaohan laughed heartily, and even though she had become a spirit, her stomach still hurt from laughing so much that she couldn't help but clutch her stomach and bend over, saying, "Young Prince, where in this world do demons and monsters come from..."

She was fine when she didn't speak, but when she did, Gu Yuzhi became even more frightened. His hands, which were gripping his cloak, were trembling, and he almost buried his head between his legs, curling himself up into a ball: "Teacher Shu, you and Manager Wen are spirits. Come to think of it, aren't you ghosts?"

Gu Yuzhi was so frightened that he almost cried; his voice was trembling.

Shu Xiaohan, who was just smiling...

Just as she was feeling indignant, she looked up and saw Wen Xiuzhu's sarcastic expression, which made her even angrier: "Laugh, what are you laughing at? Didn't the young prince mention you?"

Wen Xiuzhu's smile froze on his face. He wanted to say that Shu Xiaohan, a young woman, was using foul language, which was unbecoming. However, Huo Yuanshuai had gone to pick up dead branches. Although he was not far away, it was dark and he could not see anyone at all. The surroundings were so quiet that he could almost hear Gu Yuzhi's teeth chattering.

"Your Highness..."

As soon as Wen Xiuzhu opened his mouth, Gu Yuzhi hurriedly said, "Manager Wen, please don't speak either..." He shrugged and said somewhat embarrassedly, "Your voice sounds a bit sinister."

Normally, Gu Yuzhi would find Manager Wen's voice calm and unhurried, just like Chief Secretary Xie's, giving people a sense of peace that would remain unmoved even if Mount Tai collapsed before them.

But now, the thought that Manager Wen and Teacher Shu were both spirits, even though they came to help him and had never harmed him, still made him a little scared...

Fortunately, Marshal Huo returned quickly, carrying several thick branches that could burn for a longer time.

For dinner, the two had a simple meal of rice cakes and some dried meat. Gu Yuzhi then settled into a small shed that Marshal Huo had temporarily built for him.

The cold wind was howling in his ears, but Gu Yuzhi didn't feel so cold. He muttered to himself as he talked to Marshal Huo, and soon fell into a deep sleep.

The next day, as the sun rose, Gu Yuzhi began another day of experience.

He grew very quickly; in just half a month, he was already capable of independently completing important tasks such as finding a place to rest.