Chapter 590 - 570: Technology (Second Update)

Zhou Gu looked ahead at the dense forest, took a deep breath, and immediately said to Zhang Yun, "Turn around, change the path." 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Zhang Yun nodded silently, also feeling that it was not wise to continue in this direction. To meet two thousand soldiers from the residence, all armed with bows and arrows, and then be ambushed from behind, that would be a road to certain death.

So, the pair led the Nanchu King in turning back.

After turning back for about three miles, they changed directions again, heading for a certain ravine.

Ajiu gently reminded Zhou Gu, "Fourth Young Master, once we bypass this mountain ravine, we will come upon the Lingshui River."

"Yes, we’ll take the water path." Zhou Gu nodded.

"But we don’t have a boat."

"Then we’ll build a boat."

Ajiu was surprised, "Do you know how to build a boat?"

"Not exactly," Zhou Gu replied, "but I’ve seen the blueprints. I can give it a try. It shouldn’t be too difficult to make a simple raft, right?"

Ajiu thought it made sense. A simple raft did not seem too difficult. But without any rope as thick as a child’s arm to bind it together, wouldn’t the raft fall apart as soon as it touched water?

He had this question in mind, but he didn’t voice it.

Zhang Yun seemed to know what he was thinking and reminded, "This deep mountain forest is full of vines. They are stronger than ropes."

Ajiu understood.

He looked at Zhou Gu, then at Zhang Yun, thinking that these two people were truly intelligent.

They quickly arrived at the mountain ravine, crossed it, and as expected, they saw the Lingshui River. It was then that Ajiu realized what was wrong, "It’s winter now, the river is frozen. There’s no need to build a raft."

"We’ll need it. Without a raft, we won’t be able to slide quickly. With so many of us, once we step on the ice, if it collapses and we don’t have a raft to float on, we’ll either freeze or drown." Zhou Gu said.

Ajiu found this explanation reasonable and closed his mouth.

Zhou Gu immediately started directing people to chop wood and build rafts.

Some were chopping wood, and some were cutting vines. Zhou Gu guided them in making simple rafts. Zhang Yun seemed to understand some principles as well and offered some suggestions from the side.

Soon, twenty simple rafts were made.

Zhou Gu grabbed the Nanchu King and told Zhang Yun, "Let’s go." The three of them each took a raft and slid forward.

Zhou Gu alone could maintain balance. Zhang Yun held onto the raft rim tightly with one hand and held onto the Nanchu King tightly with the other. He thought that the raft seemed quite sturdy and fast. Human wisdom indeed seemed inexhaustible.

The Nanchu King felt dizzy for a moment but luckily, being held firmly by Zhou Gu and Zhang Yun, he was not thrown off. Zhou Gu was moving the raft so fast that it slid forward as if it was an arrow shot from a bowstring. It was so fast that it made the Nanchu King’s face sting from the wind, and he couldn’t open his eyes for a long time.

When the Nanchu King finally adjusted, and managed to pry his eyes open, he looked back and saw that he and Ye Guixue’s guards were closely following. However, they were just dark blurry figures.

When the Nanchu King turned to look at Zhou Gu, the young man looked very steady and excited.

What was he excited about?

Excited that they had finally managed to shake off their pursuers?

Zhang Yun understood what exhilarated Zhou Gu. Every three years, a dragon boat race would be held in Capital City of Daliang. The young master Zhou had always attended it without fail since childhood, and from a very early age, he had been determined to clinch the leading position. So now, he might be considering the frozen Lingshui River as a dragon boat race track.

The wooden wheels on the raft were being propelled forward by Zhou Gu’s wooden pole acting as a fulcrum, a feat that not everyone could accomplish. Only Zhou Gu could display this remarkable skill.

It proved that those who knew how to have fun could always add variety, even in critical situations. This, too, was a survival skill.

A survival skill that Zhang Yun did not possess.

Looking back at the guards, he noticed all of them were lagging behind, as they struggled to control their rafts. Even those who were able to move were moving at a snail’s pace.

He cautioned Zhou Gu, "Brother Zhou, wait for the guards. If we leave the guards behind and encounter a large number of assassins after coming out of the Lingshui River, the three of us won’t be able to handle them."

Zhou Gu reassured, "Don’t worry, this river is long. By the time I am too tired to slide further, we won’t even be halfway through."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yun felt relieved.

The Nanchu King was finally able to find some enjoyment after the dizzy spells subsided. He said to Zhou Gu, "You’re truly talented in all aspects."

Zhou Gu smugly responded, "That’s right, future father-in-law, just keep watching. I can definitely keep you safe."

The Nanchu King wanted to chastise Zhou Gu for making claims too early, but did not want to jinx himself. He also wished to remain safe.

Two thousand soldiers were ambushed in the forest, waiting for the pursuers. However, they did not see the trio but instead, Nangong Zheng, with a gloomy look, came from behind. He stared frostily at the Lingshui River and kicked Nangong Zhen, a side branch member of the Nangong Family and the County Chief of Yutian, who had come to apologize. "Useless!"

Nangong Zhen was kicked to the ground by Nangong Zheng. With a pale face, he apologized, "Young Master Nangong Zheng, please forgive me."

"All you know is to stick to one path and lay an ambush? Don’t forget, you have two thousand soldiers of the residence at your disposal. Why ambush and waste time? They are now accompanied by less than two hundred guards." Nangong Zheng glared at him coldly, "You deserve to die!"

Nangong Zhen was terrified and immediately fell to his knees to beg for mercy, grabbing onto Nangong Zheng’s leg, "Young Master Zheng, I beg you to spare me. I am willing to make amends for my mistake."

"And how do you plan to make amends?" Nangong Zheng asked with a small face.

Nangong Zhen promptly replied, "I will take my men and pursue them."

Nangong Zheng glanced at the front of the Lingshui River and agreed. He immediately ordered, "Get up now, take your men, ride fast horses, and reach the east coast of the Lingshui River first. Even if it means running the horses to death, you must intercept them. I want Zhou Gu to be trapped like a bird with clipped wings."

"Yes, yes, yes, I will leave at once." Nangong Zhen got up from the ground, immediately took two thousand cavalrymen, and followed the Lingshui River in pursuit.

After Nangong Zhen left, Nangong Zheng ordered those around him, "Everyone, follow me to the Seven Ring Mountain. I want to see if Zhou Gu will leave the Lingshui River from the Seven Ring Mountain or from the East Water Crossing."

Ya Luo obeyed.

Zhou Gu, after sliding for a full day, was finally exhausted. He stopped the raft and asked Zhang Yun, "Can you take over?"

"I can." Zhang Yun found the knack was not difficult; what was tough was how to slide as fast as Zhou Gu. He said, "But I won’t be as fast as you."

"As long as you can manage, there’s no need to be too fast. This will give the guards time to catch up." Zhou Gu massaged his aching arm and sat down to rest with the Nanchu King.

The Nanchu King noticed that the back of Zhou Gu’s clothing was soaked with blood, "Your wound has reopened. Let’s stop and bandage it."

"Future father-in-law, it’s nothing serious, just a minor wound," Zhou Gu said, leaning nonchalantly against him, "Let me rest for a while. I just need a short nap."

The Nanchu King: "..."

Sure, this is the youngster who intends to be his daughter’s husband anyway. He obviously cherishes his own life very much. If he says it’s a minor wound and doesn’t want to care about it, then it shouldn’t be serious.

He let Zhou Gu lean on him, and after a while, he heard the steady sound of Zhou Gu’s breathing. The young man had fallen asleep, apparently exhausted.

Zhang Yun focused all his attention on propelling the wooden wheels of the raft forward. He thought this thing seemed simple, but it was really hard to slide. His speed, compared to Zhou Gu’s, was more than halved.

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