Rescue
It was already evening when they entered the mountains, and it was getting colder and colder. If they couldn't find it soon, their hope would be dwindling. This was an urgent matter, carrying the hopes of others, and they couldn't let them down. As the cold air swept over them, Jiang Yufan wrapped her arms around herself. With just this one movement, Gu Sidu was about to take off his own clothes and put them on her.
"Isn't Lord Gu cold?" Jiang Yufan asked.
"The blood that burns to save lives will never grow cold." Gu Sidu raised his chest.
Dao Yun rolled his eyes slightly, then looked at the terrain to make sure there were any cries for help.
Fortunately, it hasn't rained in the past few days. Wearing thicker clothing could extend the time available for rescue. The trees here show signs of having been felled, indicating that someone has been here. It's likely that Gu Sidu came here for this reason.
But why it was in the tree remains a mystery.
Perhaps they wanted to carefully examine the tree for signs of felling?
Gu Sidu explained, "I was chased here by a group of vicious wild animals. If I hadn't climbed the tree, I wouldn't have survived. I'm truly ashamed."
After Gu Sidu finished speaking, he covered his face and held his forehead.
Well, it was a lucky accident, a stroke of good fortune. Dao Yun drew his sword, not missing any place where he could temporarily hide.
Jiang Yufan was calm and focused, calculating something with her fingers. She looked very capable, but she was missing her prayer beads. Gu Sidu handed over the prayer beads that Jiang Yufan had given her from her wrist.
"Bodhisattva, use this."
Jiang Yufan didn't accept it, but Gu Sidu insisted on giving it to her: "Don't you need objects with spiritual power? This way it might be more accurate."
Finally, Jiang Yufan looked at Gu Sidu and said, "Get lost."
Those with a discerning mind would know that Jiang Yufan hadn't used Buddhist principles just now. She didn't understand these things, so naturally she couldn't get anything. But at this moment, Jiang Yufan suddenly felt the presented bracelet move slightly.
She picked it up and let the warmth of her fingertips soak into the bracelet. She closed her eyes and felt it for a long time before opening them again and heading in one direction.
Dao Yun stopped what he was doing and was urged in a low voice by Gu Sidu to follow Jiang Yufan. The direction was south, and the terrain gradually became flat, but if the temperature difference was extreme, there was a high chance of mountain fog, making it easy to lose one's way.
Among them, leaves rustled and swayed, soft and fine underfoot, as if freshly laid. Jiang Yufan and his group walked around the leaves, and not far away, they saw a small cave.
From a distance, the movement was faint, illuminated only by a sliver of light.
"It's fire, someone's here!" Gu Sidu said, his voice suddenly rising, which extinguished the small flame.
Perhaps someone had come, or animals had been attracted, because no matter how Gu Sidu inquired, there was no response from inside. To reach the cave entrance, one would need to cross a slightly swift river, with only a single log bridge across it.
“This must be the place,” Jiang Yufan said. “He must be terrified; someone needs to bring him out.”
"I'll go!" Gu Sidu volunteered, but as soon as he lifted his clothes and walked to the stream, the cold water soaked his shoes and socks, causing him to back down and sway several times.
"Ouch, this water is so cold and it hurts."
Without saying a word, Dao Yun took over Gu Sidu's steps, lightly stepped across the bridge, and carried the portrait, thus outshone Gu Sidu, who had originally wanted to show off his skills.
"As expected of Dao Yun." Jiang Yufan looked at Dao Yun with satisfaction.
Gu Sidu stood sullenly beside Jiang Yufan: "Bodhisattva, I could have been like this too."
“You’re quite capable too,” Jiang Yufan said, finally able to relax and chat with Gu Sidu. “I’m afraid the county government didn’t give you a friendly welcome today either.”
"It's alright. They're heartless and ungrateful. I won't stoop to their level." Gu Sidu waved his hand. He had been bored on his way here and had already cursed those people thoroughly, which was enough to vent his anger.
"But why would the Bodhisattva come?" Gu Sidu had originally planned to find someone to go home and tell Jiang Yufan about this, but he never expected to see Jiang Yufan in this mountain forest.
The forest wasn't large, but once darkness fell, the towering trees became a natural maze, impossible even for a strong young man to navigate. Jiang Yufan's arrival here was extremely dangerous, yet he and Daoyun managed to come on horseback to rescue the boy and Gu Sidu.
Jiang Yufan is also very capable.
When asked why she came, Jiang Yufan replied, "Because I know you're all alone and need someone to help you. I'm here to help you because I'm worried about you."
Jiang Yufan rarely spoke her mind directly, and what she said left Gu Sidu stunned for a long time, thinking he had misheard. He stood there dumbfounded until Jiang Yufan handed the bracelet back to Gu Sidu, at which point Gu Sidu composed himself, took the bracelet, and put it back on his wrist.
"You've protected the bracelet very well. Was it undamaged when you climbed the tree?"
“How could I possibly damage it?” Gu Sidu grasped his wrist. “I have always treasured it like a precious gem. Seeing this bracelet is like seeing you, the Bodhisattva. It is more precious than me.”
The bracelet was just an object, but Gu Sidu had imbued it with a precious life. However, it was also thanks to this object that Jiang Yufan was able to find her way here. Perhaps treating people and things sincerely always brings blessings and protection. Jiang Yufan said to Gu Sidu, "No, the precious thing isn't the bracelet, but the person. This bracelet has a spirit; you can't let anyone else touch it."
"How could I bear to? I won't let anyone else touch it, nor will I let anyone else touch the Buddha." Gu Sidu shook his head and protected his wrist.
"But Bodhisattva, there is something I don't understand. Do you really possess those divine powers? How did you find this place?" Gu Sidu unconsciously moved closer to Jiang Yufan again.
"It's a secret." Jiang Yufan naturally knew Gu Sidu's little scheme. She quietly slipped away and saw that Daoyun had already arrived with his men. She abandoned her idle chatter and quickly went forward to check on the boy's condition.
"Are you Qin Zhiyi?" Jiang Yufan asked the boy. "Did you get lost while chopping wood on the mountain?"
The boy looked at Jiang Yufan with a blank expression, then slowly nodded. His clothes were tattered, his hair disheveled, and his stomach empty; he looked like he hadn't eaten for several days. Gu Sidu took the dry rations he had prepared and gave them to the boy. The boy immediately picked them up and wolfed them down in several large bites.
Daoyun said, "It's Qin Zhiyi. I just asked him. He got lost in the mountains and was chased by wild beasts. He could only hide in the cave and dared not go out. He's been too weak these past few days, and the firewood he carried home has all been used for warmth. This child is really pitiful. He's still thinking about home and wants to wait until dawn to gather more firewood to take home, but he hasn't eaten anything these past few days and is too weak to walk out."
"It's good that he's alright," Jiang Yufan said, looking at the boy. "But what injuries did he sustain?"
"It's just some superficial wounds. I just bandaged it up a bit. It should be fine." Qin Zhiyi shook his head, swallowed what was in his mouth, and pointed to his arm.
Gu Sidu rolled up his sleeves and saw the wounds that were haphazardly bandaged and treated. Some parts hadn't healed properly, and some were even festering. Gu Sidu said, "No, we can't delay. Let's take you out first, bandage your wounds, and then send you home."
You need to go out first.
However, there were only two horses available. Gu Sidu pulled one over first and extended his hand to Jiang Yufan: "Bodhisattva, it is not proper to ride a horse with a man, but you can sit with me on the same horse. Give me your hand."
Dao Yun looked at Gu Sidu and reminded him helplessly, "Lord Gu, this is a boy who is only thirteen years old!"
This is not some fierce or ruthless person; he is utterly weak and powerless.
"I'm fourteen years old!" Qin Zhiyi said.
“You’re only a year older, so you’re still the same,” Daoyun resignedly. “You can only ride the same horse as me now. You have no choice, because there’s someone who’s always on guard and very cunning, which is preventing you from making a choice.”
Qin Zhiyi turned around and saw Gu Sidu helping Jiang Yufan mount the horse. He then turned back to Daoyun and asked, "Sister, you just said that person was Lord Gu. Why did you call him 'Lord'?"
Dao Yun ignored her and simply reined in Qin Zhiyi, making sure she was seated firmly on the horse. She then said to Gu Sidu, "Stay close to me, or we'll get lost in these mountains and forests and it will be hard to find us again."
Gu Sidu nodded and followed, and together they walked out of the forest.
Back in the city, the moon was already high in the sky, so there was no need to worry about getting lost. Gu Sidu's horse gradually slowed down, increasing the distance between them. Gu Sidu looked down at Jiang Yufan in his arms and said, "Today we are so grateful to have the Bodhisattva. What will I do if the Bodhisattva is no longer here?"
"Today, it wasn't just my contribution that saved Qin Zhiyi. It was your courage and determination, the guidance of the bracelet, and Dao Yun's martial arts that saved her. What I did was insignificant."
"It's too late today, let's wait until tomorrow. Let this young man stay at our residence. First, send someone to deliver a message to the Qin family that the person has been found and to put their minds at ease."
“Alright, I’ll send someone to deliver the message once we get to your residence,” Gu Sidu nodded. “But I have some things I want to discuss with the Bodhisattva tonight. After the Bodhisattva returns, could you allow me to visit you?”
"Originally, I was also looking for you; you could have come directly to me."
Jiang Yufan did not refuse.
She should have refused. Gu Sidu had other intentions, and having something to say to Jiang Yufan was just an excuse. But Jiang Yufan readily agreed, which was quite strange. Gu Sidu knew something was amiss, but he didn't dwell on it. Perhaps the Bodhisattva shared the same thoughts as him, and also wanted to share a room with him.
Of course, this was Gu Sidu's thought, not Jiang Yufan's.
Jiang Yufan wanted to see Gu Sidu for another reason.
Dao Yun entered the mansion first, treated Qin Zhiyi's wounds, and prepared some new food for him to eat. Gu Sidu dismounted and followed Jiang Yufan directly into the house.
Before Gu Sidu could speak, Jiang Yufan turned around, and Gu Sidu saw that Jiang Yufan had taken out a first-aid kit. Jiang Yufan looked at Gu Sidu and said, "Take off your pants."
Gu Sidu's eyes widened as she shielded herself, saying, "Bodhisattva, this... isn't this a bad idea?"
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