Chapter 89 White Feathers Like Snow In an instant, blood gushed forth, a few drops of blood...
Meng Lingyao received an invitation from Wang Li, inviting her to climb Xiuyai Mountain outside the city.
Since arriving in Jinling, she had received countless invitations like these, and she picked and chose some. After the incident at the garrison headquarters, she had no intention of going out to attend banquets recently.
After he had already declined, Wang Li personally delivered the invitation again, saying, "Miss Meng has only been in Jinling for a short time, and may not know that the autumn scenery of Xiuyai Mountain is the most exquisite. Miss has come all the way to Jinling; wouldn't it be a pity if you didn't go and see it?"
Meng Lingyao's gaze shifted slightly. It was true that Wang Li had come to her rescue during the earlier conflict at the garrison headquarters. Moreover, he was very close to Cui Qingyin; perhaps this person… could glean some information?
After a moment's consideration, she curtsied and replied, "I dare not refuse Young Master Wang's kind invitation."
On the appointed day, early in the morning, Wang Li's eye-catching horse stood before the gate, its coat covered in blue mane speckled with white spots as fine as a galaxy. Wang Li, dressed in a sapphire blue brocade robe, stood beside the horse, smiling obsequiously, "I am unworthy, but I would be happy to guide and explain the way to you, Miss. It would be... my way of showing hospitality." His reason was perfectly plausible, his demeanor humble and polite.
Looking at the fine horse outside the door and Wang Li's eager face, Meng Lingyao felt a slight toothache. If his previous seduction was somewhat subtle, now he was completely unrestrained.
But since they were already there, she couldn't just turn them away. She nodded politely, "Young Master Wang is too kind. However, I didn't rest well yesterday and will probably need to rest in the carriage for a while, so I won't be able to listen to your comments."
Wang Li hurriedly asked, "Miss Meng, why didn't you get enough rest? Are you feeling unwell?"
Meng Lingyao lowered her eyes and smiled faintly, "That's not it. I was just discussing the wedding dress with Master Liu from the south of the city and accidentally got a little late."
Upon hearing the words "wedding attire," Wang Li's expression stiffened. Yes, he had almost forgotten that Miss Meng was engaged…
However, it's just an engagement, not a marriage yet, so it doesn't count.
Even if we get married, what difference will it make?
Thinking of this, Wang Li smiled again and naturally replied, "Then Miss Meng, please rest well. I will not disturb you. When we arrive at Xiuyai Mountain, I will give you a detailed introduction."
Upon hearing this, Meng Lingyao nodded slightly, decisively tightened the sedan curtain, and said no more.
At the foot of the mountain, a large group of young men and women who had come to climb the mountain had gathered, their laughter and chatter filling the air. When Wang Li's most eye-catching horse from Jinling appeared, Cui Qingyin was about to step forward when she unexpectedly saw him dismount and considerately lift the carriage curtain for him. Stepping out was none other than Meng Lingyao!
Her smile froze instantly, turning so gloomy it seemed to drip water. She turned and looked around, trying to find Miss Yuan, but found she was long gone and nowhere to be found. Even if she were there, she would feign innocence, only saying that "someone" had invited Cui Qingyin, without mentioning that person was Wang Li.
Anger pierced through Cui Qingyin's reason; her nails dug deep into her palms, forcing out an extremely stiff smile.
Okay, very good, Wang Li is here too. She wanted to see if he could still play the hero and save the damsel in distress this time.
Meng Lingyao followed the crowd up the mountain, her gaze casually sweeping across the terrain, when suddenly it froze on a crack in the rock.
She remembered that on the ship when she first arrived in Jinling, Mr. Zhang, while explaining the geography of Jinling, mentioned that the hilly areas near Jinling were rich in minerals. He said that mineral veins possessed a spirit, and the mountains containing these veins often exhibited many unusual phenomena.
The unusual colors of the rocks are one example.
A faint ochre-red hue was seeping from the crack in the rock.
Thinking of what the guards had brought out of the garrison's residence, she frowned slightly without making a sound.
She didn't look at those things much, but deduced from the few words Mr. Zhang and the leader of the secret guards that they were related to mineral deposits.
I should have looked at it a few more times...
"What does Miss Meng think?"
The voice interrupted Meng Lingyao's thoughts. She looked up and asked, "Hmm?"
Seeing her bewildered expression, Wang Li seemed to have thought of something, and his eyes suddenly turned saccharine. He said in a deep voice, "Miss Meng, these mountain folk say they know a mountain path with scenery far superior to the main road, and you can also see the waterfall of Eagle's Sorrow Gorge up close. Would you like to go with me?"
Several mountain villagers, dressed in tattered clothes, stood at the front, their faces gaunt, their hands rough and covered with small wounds, nervously rubbing them together, their eyes fixed on Meng Lingyao.
Meng Lingyao lowered her eyes and asked, "Young Master Wang is familiar with the scenery of Xiuyai Mountain. Did you know of any hidden paths before?"
Wang Li thought for a moment and shook his head, "I have traveled to and from Xiuya Mountain several times, and I have never heard of any small path."
"Young master, you are unaware of your noble status and must have always taken the main road!"
Perhaps fearing they would lose this rare opportunity, the mountain dweller hurriedly spoke up, “This path is one that my brothers and I discovered when we went up the mountain to gather fruit and hunt; no one else knows about it. This year's harvest has been poor; there hasn't been a drop of rain for days on end. The crops in the fields have all died, and the trees on the mountain have almost been stripped bare. We can't earn any money, so we had to find another way—to guide you, sir. Other sirs have already passed through here and all said it was wonderful! If you also think this scenery is worthwhile, a little bit of it would be a lifeline for us.”
All of them wore pleading expressions.
Wang Li had no patience to listen to him talk about the harvest in the fields; he could tell that he wanted money. But Wang Li had his own thoughts. The main road was crowded with people, so how could they talk easily? The mountain path with its birdsong and fragrant flowers was much more charming.
Intending to show his kindness and generosity in front of Meng Lingyao, he casually tossed down a silver ingot, saying, "Take this first." Then, looking at Meng Lingyao, he said, "Miss Meng, these mountain people live on the mountain and rely entirely on it for a living. It is not easy for them. Why not go with them to see some new scenery and do a good deed?"
Meng Lingyao thought for a moment and nodded.
Songlan vaguely sensed something was amiss and tugged at her mistress's sleeve. Meng Lingyao gave her a reassuring look. She knew that Pei Xu had arranged guards to protect her secretly, so the trip should be worry-free. She also wanted to see who these people really were.
The group then left the main road and followed the mountain people into a narrow path deep in the forest and overgrown with grass.
The path meandered, flanked by ancient trees that blocked out the sun. After walking for about half an hour, the surroundings grew increasingly secluded and silent; not a bird chirped, only the rustling of withered leaves crunching underfoot. The sound of the waterfall seemed to be right beside me, yet I could never get close. Strangely, a peculiar smell of rust and earth began to fill the air, along with an indescribable, damp chill that seemed to emanate from the depths of the earth.
A warning bell rang in Meng Lingyao's mind. Looking at the retreating figures of the mountain people ahead, she said, "Gentlemen, this road seems to be getting further and further astray?"
"Almost there, almost there!" One of them turned around and smiled憨厚ly, a smile that looked strangely eerie in the dim light of the forest. "Just a few more steps!"
They turned another corner, and suddenly the view opened up—it was a valley that had been artificially excavated.
The ground was uneven, marked with excavation traces, and littered with rudimentary wooden supports and baskets used for transporting soil. Most conspicuous was a dark, bottomless cave entrance on one side of the valley, surrounded by piles of freshly dug soil and rubble. The smell of rust wafted from within the cave.
This isn't a scenic spot at all; it's clearly a... mine!
"We've arrived!" The honest face of the mountain villager who was leading the way vanished instantly, and he took a few steps back, putting distance between himself and Meng Lingyao and Wang Li.
More than ten people suddenly jumped out from behind the bushes and mounds of earth. In their hands they did not hold farm tools or shovels, but gleaming weapons with sharp blades that flashed with a bloodthirsty cold light in the dappled sunlight in the forest.
These men were all burly and muscular, with fierce, wolf-like eyes. The leader, a man with a hideous scar on his face, gripped a thick-backed machete. His gaze swept over the group, and his voice was hoarse, "Where did these blind fools come from? Tired of trespassing in forbidden territory?"
"presumptuous!"
Wang Li was horrified, but he still forced himself to step forward, blocking Meng Lingyao's path, and shouted sternly, "How dare you! Do you know who I am? I am Wang Li of the Jinling Wang Clan. If you wish to live in Jinling City, then get out of here at once!"
He invoked his family background, attempting to intimidate them. Given the Wang family's status in Jinling, they were usually invincible, but today this tactic failed.
The scarred man's fierce expression remained unchanged, even gaining a more grotesque and menacing air. "Bah! I don't care about your Wang or Xie family! Trespassers, kill without mercy!" He swung his knife sharply. "Brothers, chop them all up! Remember, the dead don't speak!"
These men weren't the household guards and servants from Commander Yuan's residence who were familiar with the elite circles of Nanjing; they were ruthless outlaws specifically tasked with protecting this shady private mine. They didn't care about the Wang or Xie families; they only knew that the mine's secrets were paramount, and any intruder had to die!
"Attack!" Scarface gave the order, and several men pounced forward, heading straight for vital points.
"Protect the young lady!" Almost simultaneously, several lithe figures darted out from the woods; they were Pei Xu's hidden guards.
"Clang!" The sound of metal clanging echoed through the mountains and forests.
The guards were agile and their moves were fierce, but these mine guards were numerous and powerful, and their moves were ruthless and unrestrained. Every move they made was fierce, as if they had crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood. They were far superior to ordinary martial arts masters.
Before Meng Lingyao set off, Pei Xu had made ample preparations, selecting skilled guards to secretly accompany her, enough to handle almost any danger. However, a few days ago, they each made other arrangements: some stayed in the garrison to monitor the situation, while others rushed to the capital to deliver news. Those left behind were stretched thin in this situation.
Just as one of the guards parried a blow, another sword came slashing down from the side. He barely managed to dodge, the blade grazing his ribs and leaving a bloody gash in his tight-fitting clothes.
Several guards escorted Meng Lingyao and the others back, but they were quickly surrounded by several people. One of the guards sneered and slashed at the terrified Wang Li. The guard gritted his teeth and rushed back to save him. As their weapons clashed, he managed to parry the heavy sword, but his arm was grazed by the blade.
Scarface's thick-backed cleaver was powerful and heavy, forcing the guards to retreat repeatedly.
Suddenly, a cunning blade of light broke through the defenses and pierced straight for Meng Lingyao's heart.
"Miss!" Songlan's eyes widened in horror. In desperation, she rammed her body into the wrist of the knife-wielder. The tip of the blade narrowly grazed Meng Lingyao's sleeve, but the sharp edge struck Songlan directly in the back of the shoulder. Instantly, blood gushed out, and a few drops of blood splattered on Meng Lingyao's cheek.
Her pupils contracted sharply, and her blood seemed to freeze. The stench of blood assaulted her nostrils, almost making her nauseous. She bit her tongue hard, letting the pain stimulate her brain to stay awake and forcing herself to calm down.
We must not panic! If we panic, everyone will die here.
"stop--"
The woman's voice, trembling slightly, pierced through the sounds of clashing swords with exceptional clarity, causing the guards to pause for a moment.
Facing the guards' fierce gaze, Meng Lingyao's heart pounded wildly, but her voice remained utterly calm. "Perhaps you are unaware, but I come from the capital. My maternal grandfather is a third-rank commander, and my fiancé is the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. If I die here, they will surely do everything in their power to investigate! Do you think you can still hide this private mine hidden in the mountains?"
Upon hearing this, Scarface's face grew even more menacing, but he paused slightly. The other guards exchanged glances, their weapons raised, hesitant to strike.
Seizing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Meng Lingyao sharply scanned the guards who were clearly wavering. "I see that you are all highly skilled, far surpassing many of the fiercest generals in the army, yet you have been reduced to guarding a mine in this remote mountain forest, where you never see the light of day. You are all in the prime of your lives; are you willing to let your talents be buried here?"
She spoke slowly, word by word: "My maternal grandfather cherished talent above all else. With your abilities, if you were to leave with me and be recommended to the army, what difficulty would there be in even achieving a rank of lieutenant general or centurion? It's far better than staying here, stained with the blood of innocent people, becoming those vile dogs that cannot see the light of day!"
Some of the guards were unimpressed; they disliked the strict management in the military and that's why they were willing to take this job. Others were clearly tempted, their eyes darting around and their hands trembling as they gripped their knives.
"Miss, hurry up and go," the guard whispered to Meng Lingyao.
“I’m not leaving.” Meng Lingyao shook her head, her eyes resolute. “The terrain here is complicated; they’re on their home turf. Scattering and running away means certain death. Besides…” She looked at the guards fighting to the death to protect her, “You fought to the death for me; how can I stand idly by? We live together, we die together. The people on the mountain will soon discover we’re missing. Only by holding on can we survive!”
The guard's pupils trembled slightly as he gripped his weapon tighter.
"Don't listen to this woman's nonsense!" Scarface was the first to recover, his eyes blazing with malice. "If she gets out of here alive, the first thing she'll do is kill you all! Kill! Leave no one alive! Anyone who hesitates, I'll chop them down first—"
"Buzz—"
A sharp whistling sound tore through the air.
Pfft.
Scarface's words abruptly stopped.
A white-feathered arrow pierced his throat, pinning him to the ancient tree behind him!
The white feathers, as white as snow, trembled violently.
The forest was deathly silent.
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Author's note: Happy holidays everyone! Did you go out and have fun?
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