Chapter 57 A Matter of Life and Death He paused, then suddenly raised the dagger and...
——The bodies buried under the dead fields.
As if noticing that Liu Yeshu's expression was not right, Guo frowned and asked, "Miss Liu, do you know this person?"
Liu Yeshu gently closed the purse and shook her head, "I haven't seen it before."
The door creaked open, and Liu Yeshu quickly put away her purse. She quickly put away her purse, looked up, and saw the bandit leader striding in, followed by Yang Qing, who was half-bowed.
The bandit leader's face was filled with suspicion. He glanced between Liu Yeshu and Guo and asked in a deep voice, "What are you talking about? Why are you talking for so long?"
"Brother Chief, I need these herbs. Do you have them in the village?" Liu Yeshu listed several herbs.
The bandit leader took it, his expression still alert, but when he saw that Liu Yeshu was fine, he sent someone to get the medicine.
After a careful look, Liu Yeshu picked out a herb.
"Brother Chief, this is Chuanwu. It looks similar to Aconite, making it difficult for ordinary people to tell the difference, but its uses are very different. If this herb is used incorrectly, it will not only fail to cure the disease, but may also cause poisoning, leading to physical weakness and even life-threatening consequences."
"Brother Yang," the bandit leader turned to look at Yang Qing, his voice questioning, "What do you think?"
Yang Qing stood aside, a faint sneer playing on his lips. His gaze lingered on Liu Yeshu for a moment, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes. "It seems our Miss Liu is quite skilled in medicine and knows a lot." He paused, then added, "Since she says these herbs are not suitable, why not let her go find the right ones herself? After all, the Madam's illness can't be delayed any longer."
Liu Yeshu sneered inwardly, thinking Yang Qing was testing her. But at this moment, she had to go along with his wishes. She lowered her head to sort the herbs in the basket and said calmly, "We really can't delay. Madam Guo's condition is already very serious."
The bandit leader's gaze lingered on Liu Yeshu. She lowered her head, her slender neck as white as jade, her long black hair cascading down her ears, a few strands cascading down, making her delicate face appear even more fair and charming. She pursed her lips, her stubbornness tinged with a hint of pity. Her long eyelashes cast a shadow under her eyes, masking the emotion in them.
Her figure was slender, yet not frail. Her every gesture exuded a noble demeanor, far superior to those crude, mountain girls. Even her voice was pleasant, crisp and melodious, unlike Guo's perpetually sickly tone.
The bandit leader watched intently, thinking to himself, "Yang Qing has found him a good match this time. He's long tired of Guo's constant coughing. If he could keep Miss Liu, it wouldn't be a loss."
A violent cough shattered the silence. Mrs. Guo slumped over the bed, her shoulders heaving, her voice hoarse and painful. The coughs were mingled with faint moans, a sound that made one's heart tighten. The air in the room suddenly grew stagnant, even the lingering sandalwood incense seemed to linger in mid-air.
"Then keep looking," he said casually, his voice steady yet unwavering, yet filled with undeniable authority. He paused deliberately, a meaningful sneer curling his lips. "But remember, don't try any tricks."
The next morning, the mountain mist still hung heavy. A thin veil of mist enveloped the rolling hills, leaving distant peaks only to appear and disappear, reminiscent of an ink painting. A gentle, cool mountain breeze blew away some of the low-hanging clouds, revealing the gullies of varying depths below.
Liu Yeshu followed several bandits along a rugged mountain path. The stone steps beneath her feet had long been worn smooth by time, and the edges were overgrown with weeds and vines. In her hands, she held a coarsely woven bamboo basket, a few scattered herbs in it, which swayed gently with her footsteps.
Although the bandit leader agreed to let her collect herbs, he obviously would not give her any chance to escape.
The mountain road ahead wound upward, sometimes disappearing into dense trees, sometimes circling along a steep cliff. Below the cliff was a bottomless canyon, where morning mist drifted in and out, and occasionally the crisp chirping of birds echoed in the deep valley.
Liu Yeshu glanced around warily. The vegetation here was lush: tall pines and cypresses, scattered trees, and dense bushes. Sunlight filtered through the gaps between the treetops, casting dappled shadows on the ground. Dewdrops shimmered on the leaves, crystalline and translucent, making the mountain path seem even more treacherous.
Several bandits followed her, one in front and one behind, vigilantly watching her every move. They wore thick mountain boots and walked steadily, clearly familiar with the mountain trail. Occasionally, small stones would roll from under their feet, making a soft sound before disappearing into the bushes at the edge of the cliff.
The locals call this area "The Valley of Confusion," saying it's easy to lose your way once you enter. The mist at this moment seemed to confirm this belief, flowing through the mountains, sometimes gathering, sometimes dispersing, making it difficult to distinguish east from west. But Liu Yeshu knew that the mist was actually a barrier, concealing her movements as she left her mark.
"There are quite a few herbs here." Liu Yeshu squatted down, pretending to carefully identify the herbs at her feet. While fiddling with the grass, she quietly stuck a leaf of a special shape into the soil - this was a mark she learned in the military camp. If anyone followed these marks, they would definitely be able to find her location.
The bandit behind them suddenly approached, and Liu Yeshu's heart tightened, but she kept a straight face. She casually pulled up a herb and pretended to examine it carefully. The bandit glanced at it and retreated. Liu Yeshu secretly breathed a sigh of relief and continued to pretend to be focused on finding the herb.
She bent down to pick up a herb, and while adjusting her skirt, she quietly scratched a nearly invisible mark on the bark of an old tree. These marks were like an invisible line, guiding the way out, as long as someone could understand them.
The mist in the mountains gradually thinned, and the sunlight became brighter. The shadowy peaks in the distance gradually became clearer, outlining an undulating skyline.
At this moment, a bandit suddenly asked, "Miss Liu, why do you always look for medicine near these big trees?"
Liu Yeshu's heart skipped a beat, but she remained calm. She explained softly, "These trees are very old, and the soil beneath their shade is moist, perfect for growing medicinal herbs. Look here," she pointed to a cluster of herbs beneath the tree. "This is angelica, perfect for nourishing Madam Guo."
The bandit nodded doubtfully, but didn't ask any more questions.
Liu Yeshu breathed a sigh of relief, but she knew she had to be even more careful. These bandits were no simple men, and if they discovered these markings, the consequences would be disastrous.
As the sun set, Liu Yeshu's bamboo basket was already filled with a variety of medicinal herbs. These herbs were carefully selected by her and could indeed help Guo's health. But more importantly, she had left enough marks on the way back to the village.
Now, it all depends on whether someone can find these marks. She looked at the distant sky and prayed silently in her heart:
General Qi Yu, you must understand the hint I left behind.
For three consecutive days, Liu Yeshu went out to collect herbs. After returning to the village, she boiled some medicine for Guo. Guo's cough gradually subsided. One day, she opened her eyes, looked at Liu Yeshu weakly, and whispered, "Have you found a way out?"
Liu Yeshu sighed and whispered, "They sent people to follow me closely, and I can't get away."
After hearing this, Guo's eyes flashed with a complex emotion. She raised her hand and gently held Liu Yeshu's hand, saying weakly, "Will the General Qi you mentioned come to save you?"
Liu Yeshu was stunned for a moment, then gave a wry smile. She lowered her head, her eyes revealing a complex emotion, and said softly, "He will definitely come."
Guo was a little confused and asked with difficulty: "Why are you so sure?"
Liu Yeshu lowered her head, pursed her lips, thought for a moment, and finally revealed a faint smile. She looked at Guo and said softly, "He won't abandon me."
Guo couldn't help but reveal a hint of envy and emotion in her eyes. She sighed and whispered, "That's great..."
"Mrs. Guo," Liu Yeshu whispered, "When I get out, I will do my best to help you get out of this place and help you live the life you want again."
The two stared at each other for a moment, a hint of gratitude and trust in Guo's eyes. She gently closed her eyes and slowly fell into a weak sleep. Liu Yeshu helped her cover herself with the quilt again and quietly left the room.
The bandit leader standing outside the door saw Liu Yeshu coming out and immediately stepped forward to ask, "How is she?"
"Her condition has stabilized, but she still needs further care. I need to prescribe some more medicine and give her another injection tomorrow morning."
Liu Yeshu returned to the woodshed, and the wooden door made a sharp creaking sound, like the cry of a night owl.
Yang Qing slowly entered the hut, followed by two towering bandits. Their figures intertwined at the doorway, blocking out the last ray of moonlight. The dim candlelight inside the room flickered, casting huge shadows on the wall. Yang Qing's previously unremarkable face looked particularly sinister against the flickering flames.
"Miss Liu, it seems General Qi hasn't made any moves." He paused, his eyes becoming even colder. "In that case, why don't we send some 'gifts' to the General's Mansion?" He approached Liu Yeshu, wielding the dagger in her hair, "Let General Qi know we're serious."
Liu Yeshu looked up at him calmly. But Yang Qing refused to give in. He pulled out a sharp dagger from his bosom, which gleamed coldly in the candlelight.
"Miss Liu," Yang Qing chuckled softly, his eyes lingering on her fingers, his tone sinister, "Tell me, which finger of yours should I cut off?"
His voice was quiet, but it carried a chilling chill. As he spoke, he slowly brought the dagger in front of her, as if thinking deeply. His fingers gently slid across her cheek, the blade lightly scraping through her hair, his voice deliberately lowered: "Are you really not afraid?"
After a pause, he suddenly raised the dagger and put it close to Liu Yeshu's eyes, "Do you think it would be more beautiful without one eye?"
The sharp blade of the dagger was only inches away from Liu Yeshu's eyes, and the chill in her breath seemed to penetrate her skin and into her bones.
"I told you before that I am insignificant to General Qi. He will never compromise on this."
"Compromise?" His voice was low and hoarse, with a creepy smile. "It doesn't matter if you don't compromise. Anyway, if he doesn't come to save you, I will let your head roll into the general's mansion." Footsteps echoed in the house. "Perhaps cutting off your head and giving it to him is a more direct way."
Before he finished speaking, the sound of something breaking through the air suddenly occurred! A ruthless look flashed in his eyes, and his left hand suddenly grabbed Liu Yeshu's hair, his knuckles making a slight crackling sound due to the force. The dagger in his right hand drew a cold whistling sound in the air, and a cold light flashed!
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