crisis

Pang Linqiu and the others arrived at the cave. The cave was dark. After settling Peng Xuan in a relatively flat spot, she turned and walked into the woods, returning with some branches. Qin Xiangde took out a tinderbox from his clothes and lit the pile of branches, dispelling the darkness with the campfire.

The flames flickered, casting shadows on the undulating cave floor, stretching the irregular lines of the rock into a longer pattern, resembling the cracked bark of an old tree, yet possessing the unique hardness of rock. It felt rough to the touch, and upon closer inspection, one could see the chisel marks of varying depths intertwined with traces of natural weathering, exuding a primitive and rugged atmosphere.

The three of them warmed themselves around the campfire. Pang Linqiu was so tired that her mouth was dry and parched. Because she hadn't drunk any water and the weather was dry and cold, her lips were chapped and peeling.

All three had their eyes lowered, their gazes fixed on the burning campfire. The scene was silent, an unsettling silence.

She got up and walked outside, saying, "I'll go find some more firewood. You all rest first." With that, she disappeared into the woods in the blink of an eye.

Time passed quickly, especially as winter was approaching. The sky darkened rapidly, the temperature dropped quickly, and a cold wind swept through the forest. Peng Xuan'an was somewhat worried, constantly watching for any movement outside the cave.

Finally, he spotted a familiar figure in the distance, and his heart settled down. The person, small in stature, was carrying a rabbit in one hand and a few dry branches in the other as they returned.

Qin Xiangde looked at the things she brought back and asked, "Linqiu, where did you go? Why did it take you so long?"

"Not long... only a quarter of an hour has passed..." She glanced at the sky outside. The sky was covered with dark clouds, as if it was about to snow. The woods were quiet and somewhat eerie.

She changed the subject again, bringing up the rabbit ears and asking, "Are you hungry?"

"It's alright," Peng Xuan'an said.

"Oh," she replied indifferently, then looked at Qin Xiangde warmly, "Brother Mohe, are you hungry? If you are, I'll roast a rabbit for you?"

Qin Xiangde smiled calmly and looked at her gently. "I think you're hungry. Give me the rabbit, I'll cook it." He took the rabbit from her hand with his left hand; he had already seen through her little scheme.

"Great!" she exclaimed happily, throwing the branches she had brought back in.

Qin Xiangde lifted the rabbit over the campfire, letting the flames burn its fur. After cleaning the fur, he began to process its internal organs...

After a while, the rabbit was placed on the campfire, sizzling and looking very tempting.

"Brother Mohe, I searched all around outside... but I couldn't find your horse. If it runs back to camp, it will take about an hour," she said, puzzled.

Qin Xiangde remained gentle, his peach blossom eyes half-closed as he gazed at the roasted rabbit. He used a dagger to cut a small piece of the rabbit. The tip of the dagger held a small, steaming, fragrant piece of rabbit meat. He presented it to Pang Linqiu, saying, "No rush. After you finish eating, you stay here with Xuan'an. I'll go find a horse. Once I find it, I'll ride away immediately. You and Xuan'an wait here... okay?"

"Okay!" She nodded, took the dagger Qin Xiangde handed her, and didn't eat the rabbit meat, which was still piping hot.

"You be careful too, this trap is probably..." Before Peng Xuan'an could finish speaking, he looked warily out of the cave.

All that could be heard were unfamiliar voices coming from outside the cave.

"Hahaha! Another fool from the Tao Kingdom has fallen into the trap!"

"Look around, someone with an arrow wound can't run far!"

"Commander! There's blood here!"

"Kill them all if found!"

A dangerous sound approached, sending a chill down everyone's spine. Qin Xiangde sensed death drawing near. He quickly stood up, pulled out his dagger, and stared grimly at the outside of the cave.

"Xuan'an! You and Linqiu hide! I'll handle these small fry..."

Peng Xuan'an thought he was crazy, but what could they do in this situation? Could they escape?

"Brother Mohe! You're still injured!" She stood up and tried to take Qin Xiangde's dagger. "I'll draw them away! You and he hide in the cave first!"

Qin Xiangde frowned, quickly drawing his dagger to dodge her snatching, and said seriously, "You, a young woman, can't fight them!"

Her eyes welled with tears, a mixture of fear and indignation in them: "So what? It's better than everyone dying, isn't it?"

Qin Xiangde was taken aback.

Pang Linqiu snatched his dagger and hurriedly said, "Quick! Carry him and hide in the cave! There's a recessed area inside where you can hide!" She urged urgently, "Brother Mohe!! Listen to me... okay? They're coming soon!"

The hurried footsteps grew closer, and her heart leaped into her throat. Qin Xiangde hurriedly hoisted Peng Xuan'an onto his back and headed deeper into the cave. Peng Xuan'an's wounds were aggravated, and he groaned in pain a few times.

The two peeked out from behind rough rocks, and Pang Linqiu quickly stomped out the campfire.

"Xiangde! She'll die!" Peng Xuan'an watched her retreating figure, his heart aching as if being torn apart. He dared not think of it...

A woman falls into the hands of foreign soldiers... there's only one outcome! She'll be tortured to death! He understands this perfectly! He doesn't want her to fall into the tiger's den!

"Xiangde! Let me out! I'll fight them to the death!" His beloved was in dire straits, and he was powerless to help. He could only hate himself! He hated himself for being injured and unable to help!

"Xuan'an! You'll die anyway!" he hissed. He knew what would happen to Lin Qiu if she fell into their hands, but he had no choice!

After extinguishing the fire, Pang Linqiu trembled with fear. She was terrified, yet helpless! She ran frantically towards the cave entrance! Fear washed over her like a tidal wave!

"Help! Help!"

"People from the Tao Kingdom have been spotted! Pursue them!!!"

His heart felt as if it were being gripped by an invisible hand, tightening and tightening, making even breathing feel like the pain of shards of glass. He watched helplessly as she was chased by soldiers from the foreign country, each word like a whip lashing his eardrums, but his feet seemed rooted to the spot, his throat blocked, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't take a step or utter a sound.

Peng Xuan'an, despite the pain, wanted to rush forward. He didn't want her to be trampled on by anyone! He didn't want her to get hurt!

Qin Xiangde quickly pulled him back and knocked him unconscious with a karate chop.

After the pursuers were gone, Qin Xiangde carried Peng Xuan'an on his back and ran out of the cave! After wandering around in the forest several times, he finally found his horse! He placed Peng Xuan'an on the horse's back, ignoring the tearing pain in his wound, tightened the reins, and rushed out of the forest.

Finally, they...returned to the military camp.

Upon returning to the camp, he hurriedly ordered with a grim face, "Everyone! Go to Xilin! Find Miss Pang!" He was almost furious as he roared at the soldiers in the camp.

"Slaughter every last soldier from the enemy camp in the forest! Leave not a single one alive!" His words were filled with rage.

Peng Xuan'an was able to settle down, and Qin Xiangde also stayed in the camp temporarily due to his injury. After Peng Xuan'an woke up, he was listless.

Time passed slowly and agonizingly, yet there was still no news from Pang Linqiu. His heart felt as if it had shattered into countless pieces, filled with regret and guilt. Even if he managed to piece it back together, his heart would still ache.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

"I'm asking you! Did you see a woman or not?" Peng Xuan'an asked angrily, grabbing the collar of a soldier from Liguo with a dark face.

The soldiers from the departing country shook their heads in fear. "General! General! We three have never seen this before! Please spare us..." His voice trembled as he spoke, utterly terrified of the man before him.

Peng Xuan'an's eyes instantly turned sinister, as if he wanted to devour people, and his voice was low and dangerous: "Men! Chop them up! Feed them to the wolves!"

He leaned back in his chair, his head aching, his breathing heavy and weak.

"The third batch! The third batch!" he emphasized to his attendant, his voice filled with frustration and anger. "Keep searching! Keep sending men to search the forest! We need to find them alive! Or dead..." He paused, his voice lowering, "...find their bodies..."

He was exhausted from the interrogation. Since waking up, he'd been on tenterhooks, terrified she might not come back. If she didn't return, he didn't know what to do, how to live; his life seemed to have fallen apart…

It snowed lightly for three days, as if God was telling him that he couldn't find it and the chances of survival were slim.

But he didn't believe it! He was determined to find it! He'd dig three feet into the ground; he was bound to find it eventually...

At the entrance to the military camp, an elderly man with a weathered face led his horse into the camp.

A woman, her gender unknown, sat on horseback. She was wrapped in black cloth, revealing only her almond-shaped eyes, which were lifeless and empty. Qin Xiangde heard from a guard that someone had found Miss Pang, and he rushed out of the tent.

He saw an old man leading a horse, and his eyes were fixed on the person on the horse's back. His eyes were full of worry, surprise and relief.

"Linqiu...is that you?" He looked up at her and asked cautiously.

Tears welled up in her empty eyes. She removed the cloth from her clothes, dismounted, and rushed to Qin Xiangde. "Brother Mohe... Chun'er... is back," she sobbed.

"Okay." He patted her back to comfort her, "It's good that you're back." He felt that the person in his arms was getting thinner and thinner.

"Brother Mohe... Chun'er is in so much pain... so much pain..." she choked out, hugging Qin Xiangde tightly.

Qin Xiangde patted her head, "Linqiu, don't cry..." He then looked at the old man who was watching the commotion, "Thank you for bringing her back, sir. Is there anything you want?"

The old man smiled, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Highness, a few taels of silver will suffice."

"Alright, then sir, why don't you stay and rest? We'd like to thank you properly."

"Then I shall respectfully comply."

He glanced at Pang Linqiu again: "It's good that this girl met me, otherwise I'm afraid the next time I see her, she'll be a skeleton."

Upon hearing that the person had been found, Peng Xuan'an limped out. He saw Pang Linqiu holding Qin Xiangde, and felt both happy and heartbroken. He quickly went forward.

"Linqiu, ...are you injured?" He wanted to touch Pang Linqiu, but she resisted and dodged away. He stood there stunned, his eyes filled with bitterness and helplessness.

“Don’t be afraid…it’s me…” he said softly, his voice filled with bitterness.

Three days... I'm finally back.

The old man looked at her, shook his head, and advised, "Major General, it's best not to provoke her. A few days ago, she was..."

"Shut up!" Peng Xuan'an roared, not wanting Pang Linqiu's scars to be reopened.

The old man closed his mouth and sighed.

“Xuan An! He is Lin Qiu’s savior!” He frowned and glanced at him.

Peng Xuan'an hesitated, then said, "I'm sorry."

Pang Linqiu felt dizzy and her legs felt weak.

"Mohe..." Before she could finish speaking, she fainted.

Qin Xiangde quickly picked her up and shouted, "Medic!" He then walked towards her tent, turning back to Peng Xuan'an and saying, "Xuan'an, you entertain this old man first, I'll take her down."

"Okay." Peng Xuan'an looked at the two people leaving with a worried expression, feeling lost and speechless.