Yi An didn't speak, just nodded and continued clearing the way.
The two worked together seamlessly, one clearing obstacles and scouting for dangers, while the other focused on finding landmarks and confirming their direction, venturing deeper into Black Wind Ridge.
Sure enough, the road signs along the way were still there.
Approximately every ten minutes, you can find the same triangular mark on the tree trunk.
Some are carved on the back of sun-facing tree trunks, half-hidden by vines, while others are carved on an inconspicuous bark protrusion covered with a thin layer of soil, as if smeared on by hand.
When they couldn't find it occasionally, the two would slow down and search carefully, and they would always find that familiar mark in the most hidden corner.
Like guiding lights in the darkness.
Yi An, who was walking ahead, suddenly stopped. After climbing the mountain path for more than an hour, even someone like him who hunts all year round had fine beads of sweat on his forehead, his breathing gradually became heavy, and his pace slowed down.
"I need to stop and rest." He wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Walking on mountain paths is exhausting. If I keep pushing myself, my reaction time will slow down if something happens."
Although Xu Xinghe was anxious, she understood this principle.
Walking on mountain paths is completely different from walking on main roads. Every step requires extra effort, and the more eager you are to succeed, the more likely you are to make mistakes.
She must maintain sufficient physical fitness to cope with any unexpected events that may occur next.
Moreover, she had Yi'an as her guide.
She couldn't drag the other person into danger because of her own sake.
"Okay, I'll do as you say."
Yi An didn't linger. Her gaze quickly swept across the surroundings, and she soon locked onto a recessed mountain wall not far away. "There's a small cave over there, just the right place to rest."
After he finished speaking, he walked over first, used a probe to clear away the weeds at the entrance of the cave, and only after confirming that there were no traces of wild animals inside did he step aside to let Xu Xinghe in.
The cave wasn't large, just big enough for two people, and the ground was relatively dry.
Xu Xinghe put down his backpack, first took out meat buns wrapped in oil paper, handed two to Yi An, and then took out a canning jar.
It contains the spiritual spring water from the space.
She poured a small half-cup and handed it to Yi'an, saying, "I added some tonic powder to this water. Drinking it will help you recover your strength faster. Give it a try."
Yi'an looked at the clear water without thinking much about it.
He was indeed exhausted; his legs ached and his throat was dry. He took the water glass and drank it all in one gulp.
The water slid down my throat, carrying a faint sweetness, and flowed down my esophagus into my stomach, instantly turning into a cool sensation that spread throughout.
But after a short while, he sensed something was wrong.
My legs, which had been sore and swollen, gradually felt better, my tense muscles relaxed a lot, and even my breathing became easier.
The fatigue I felt earlier vanished without a trace in a short time.
Yi An suddenly raised her head, squinted slightly, and stared at Xu Xinghe.
He made a living in the mountains year-round, and injuries and exhaustion were common occurrences. He had seen many so-called tonics, but he had never seen one with such immediate effects.
This is something that ordinary families definitely can't have!
It's not even something that ordinary people can access!
"Who exactly are you?" Yi An finally couldn't hold back and asked, "This kind of medicine isn't something ordinary people can have."
Xu Xinghe ate a steamed bun. "You'd better not know too much. Just know that I'm not a bad person. I won't harm you or implicate you or your sister. We're just doing a deal. You brought me here, and I'll give you money. That's all."
Yi An stared at her for a long time, trying to read something from her face.
Yet the birthmark on her face remained conspicuous, and her expression was calm, revealing no flaw whatsoever.
Yi An remained silent for a moment before finally withdrawing her gaze.
Yes, what's the use of knowing too much?
All he wanted was a stable life and enough money to ensure his sister could live a good life.
The more mysterious the woman's identity was, the less he should investigate, lest he bring trouble upon himself.
"Mm," Yi An responded, without asking any further questions, and picked up the meat bun to eat it in large bites.
The spiritual spring water restored his strength, and his appetite improved considerably.
The two ate something simple and rested for about twenty minutes.
Compared to his usual rest time, it was shortened by half, all thanks to the magical effects of the water.
Yi An stood up, stretched her arms and legs, and felt full of energy, even better than when she set off.
"We can go now." Yi An shouldered her probing stick and was the first to walk out of the cave.
Xu Xinghe nodded and followed closely behind.
With the blessing of the spiritual spring water, the two of them walked much more lightly, following the constantly appearing road signs, heading deeper into Black Wind Ridge.
The path underfoot became increasingly difficult to traverse, the slope gradually steepened, and the surrounding trees grew denser, making it almost impossible for sunlight to penetrate the layers of branches and leaves, and the light in the woods dimmed even further.
The two continued walking for about half an hour. Xu Xinghe habitually searched for the next triangular marker, scanning the tree trunks and stones along the way, but found nothing.
What about the marker?
Xu Xinghe's heart sank, and she subconsciously stopped in her tracks.
She searched carefully again, looking in every conspicuous spot, in the grass, in the cracks between rocks, and even in the dead leaves on the ground, but she still couldn't find the familiar carving.
The sudden interruption of the continuous road signs made her a little anxious.
Jiang Linchuan wouldn't stop marking things for no reason. Could it be that he encountered an accident?
Or has he already reached his destination and no longer needs to leave directions?
But there's nobody here!
“Keep going this way!” Xu Xinghe gritted her teeth and looked at the deep forest ahead. “What if there’s a marker in the next ten minutes? We can’t stop here.”
Just as she was about to take a step, Yi An suddenly grabbed her wrist.
Yi An's hands were rough and firm. "We can't go any further in."
Xu Xinghe turned around and met his deep eyes. "Why? Just because the marker is gone? Maybe it will reappear after we walk a little further!"
“It’s not because of the markings.” Yi An shook his head, his gaze sweeping over the increasingly gloomy surroundings. “This is already deep in Black Wind Ridge. I’ve been hunting for so many years, and I’ve never dared to go this far. Not only are there wild beasts inside, but the terrain is also very complex. I’ve heard there are swamps inside, and… I’ve already lost my way.”
"I was able to protect you this far only because of my familiarity with the mountains and forests outside. If we go any further in, I'll just be wandering around aimlessly, and I won't be able to help you at all; I might even be a burden. Whether you're looking for something or someone, you should know when to stop. It's too dangerous here."
"No way!" Xu Xinghe refused without even thinking. How could she stop here?
Jiang Linchuan's clues are likely just ahead; she can't give up halfway!
"If you don't dare to go any further, just wait here for me, and I'll go in myself."
After she finished speaking, she tried to break free from Yi'an's hand and rush inside.
But just as she turned around, Yi An suddenly reached out from behind and covered her mouth tightly with his palm, while his other hand wrapped around her waist and forcefully dragged her behind a thick tree.
"Shh!" Yi An's voice was extremely low, her warm breath brushing against his ear, "I don't want to hurt you, something's coming!"
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