Ayao
"Quickly, save the lady!"
The guards' cries of alarm were drowned out by the deafening drumming and clamor.
The scene instantly descended into chaos.
Some people screamed, and some tried to help, but the fog was too thick, the sound of the flowing water was too loud, and the crowd was too chaotic.
In the instant of her fall, Xu Qingyao skillfully grabbed a thick vine hanging by the stream, using the angle and force calculated by the system. With the help of the vine, she swung her body and did not fall directly into the rapids. Instead, she disappeared into a shallow recess on the cliff, hidden by dense vegetation.
This was a hidden location that she had discovered in advance by scanning the terrain using the system.
She quickly removed her ornate cloak, revealing the ordinary Southern Yue dress underneath. She then used plant juice to rapidly alter her skin color and some facial features, and tore off a corner of the blood-stained cloak, hanging it on a sharp rock below to create the illusion of being torn apart by the rock and falling into the ravine.
Below, the guards and some enthusiastic believers continued their search and shouts, but the ravine was deep, the fog was thick, and the current was swift, so all their efforts were in vain.
Soon, someone discovered the rock with the blood-stained cloth hanging on it, and the roaring stream below.
"It's over... Madam... fell into the ravine..."
The guard leader's face was ashen, and his voice trembled.
The news spread like wildfire.
Lady Xu Qingyao, wife of the Marquis of Zhenyuan, unfortunately fell into the Fallen Soul Abyss while attending the Spirit Serpent Festival in Nanyue, and her body was never found.
When the news reached the inn at Nanque Pass, Yuejian fainted on the spot.
The secret guards immediately mobilized all available resources to search downstream along the stream, while simultaneously sending the devastating news back to the capital via express courier.
At this moment, Xu Qingyao was holding her breath and curled up in a recess in the cliff, listening to the gradually fading noise above and the eternal roar of the water below.
She succeeded.
Xu Qingyao is dead.
Next, we just need to wait for the search to die down, and then follow the secret path planned by the system to penetrate deep into southern Vietnam and disappear completely.
She touched the cold disguise potion on her face, and looked at the thick, impenetrable fog in front of her. There was no relief in her heart, only an unprecedented loneliness and determination.
The chill from the cliff seeped into her skin through her thin Nan Yue dress. Xu Qingyao huddled in the narrow hollow, motionless.
The commotion above, the guards' desperate shouts, and the subsequent large-scale search continued for a full day and night before gradually subsiding, leaving only the eternal roar of the Fallen Soul Ravine.
She dared not leave immediately.
Based on the system's calculations of human nature and search patterns, after an initial large-scale search yields no results, it is often assumed that the person who fell into the water has been swept downstream, but there may still be sentries nearby to observe, waiting for a possible "miracle" or to confirm the final result.
[Host, we recommend a 48-hour incubation period. Your bodily functions have been reduced to a low-energy state. Please remain still and replenish your nutrients.] The system calmly prompted.
Xu Qingyao followed instructions and took out highly concentrated nutrient solution and water from the system space, taking small sips to replenish her strength.
In this secluded little space, time seems to stretch on endlessly.
As she listened to the sound of water and watched the mist gather and disperse, Xiao Zhouyan's face flashed uncontrollably through her mind.
What expression would he have when he learned of his "death"?
Enraged? Grief-stricken? Or...?
Thinking of this, a subtle pang of sorrow welled up in her heart, which she forcibly suppressed.
Having chosen this path, there is no turning back, and no room for leniency.
At dawn on the third day, the thick fog still lingered by the stream.
The system scan confirmed that there were no signs of life nearby.
The safety window has opened; evacuation is advised following the pre-arranged route.
Xu Qingyao stretched her stiff hands and feet and carefully climbed down the almost vertical rock face with enough footholds, as indicated by the system.
She discarded all items that could potentially reveal her identity, carrying only the disguise tools she had obtained through the system, a small amount of gold and silver, and self-defense drugs.
Once you reach the bottom of the ravine, you'll see a completely different scene.
The rocks are jagged, the air is filled with moisture, and the light is dim.
She walked upstream against the current along the steep riverbank. This was the most unexpected direction; searchers would usually look downstream.
The system navigation clearly charts the path in your mind, avoiding potential treacherous shoals and deep pools.
After walking for two whole days, she finally left the area of Fallen Soul Gorge and entered a dense primeval forest.
This area is already deep in the southern part of Vietnam, and is rarely visited by people.
She found a secluded cave and completely transformed herself.
By using a special medicinal solution to dye the skin a healthy honey color, changing the shape of the eyebrows, adding a few inconspicuous small moles, and changing into a coarse cloth dress with a more southern Yue style, a vivid image of a southern Yue mountain woman with a touch of wildness appears.
Even when she looked at her reflection in the puddle, she could hardly recognize herself.
[New identity generated: A Yao, a herb-gathering girl who lost both parents at a young age and has no fixed abode. The database has been loaded with the basic modules of Nanyue dialect and customs.]
“Ah Yao…”
Xu Qingyao murmured her new name. From that moment on, Xu Qingyao ceased to exist in this world.
She began to venture into southern Vietnam in a systematically planned direction, away from major towns and transportation routes.
Along the way, she relied on picking wild fruits and identifying herbs to exchange for a small amount of food, and occasionally helped the mountain people with some simple injuries, gradually integrating into this land.
The climate in southern Vietnam was hot and humid, with many poisonous insects and wild beasts, making life difficult, but it also allowed her to experience a different kind of freedom.
Without the shackles of a noblewoman's wife, without the prying eyes of powerful figures in the capital, there was only the most primal challenge of survival.
She deliberately avoided any news related to the Great Zhou Dynasty, but some news still reached her ears.
For example, Marquis Xiao Zhouyan of Zhenyuan was devastated by the unexpected death of his wife. He personally rushed to Nanyue and waited and searched by Luohunjian for more than a month. In the end, he only brought back a blood-stained and tattered cloak and erected a cenotaph for it on the outskirts of the capital.
For example, the emperor, moved by his merits and grief over the loss of his wife, granted him permission to relieve himself of some military duties and recuperate for a period of time.
When she heard this, "A Yao" was helping an old man in a village to pound medicine. Her hand paused only slightly before she continued to work hard.
She was unmoved, at least on the surface.
*
However, the peaceful days did not last long.
One day, while searching for a rare herb in the deep mountains, she accidentally stumbled into a secluded valley.
The atmosphere in the valley was eerie. A group of people dressed differently from ordinary people from the South Yue region and exuding a chilling aura were moving about, seemingly guarding something.
What alarmed her even more was that she saw a familiar mark hidden in the concealed part of the men's knives:
Fire-Treading Qilin!
After the Second Prince fell from power, his privately-raised assassins scattered like monkeys falling from a tree, but some of the elites actually fled to Nanyue.
What are they doing here?
[Host, abnormal energy fluctuations detected, originating deep within the valley. The fluctuation characteristics are similar to those of the Wolf Howling Valley altar, but are weaker and more concealed.]
Xu Qingyao was filled with shock.
The forces of Shenrou, or rather, the forces associated with that strange altar, have actually infiltrated Nanyue.
Her feigned death... doesn't seem to have truly kept her out of the eye of the storm.
On the contrary, by chance, they may have stumbled upon an even bigger secret.
She retreated silently, disappearing into the dense forest, her heart pounding.
She originally only wanted to hide and survive, but the threads of fate seemed to pull her into the vortex once again.
Should we continue to avoid them, or investigate secretly?
A new choice was placed before her.
*
Hidden in the damp and sweltering dense forest, Xu Qingyao's heart was pounding in her chest.
The mark of the Fire-Treading Qilin, and the energy fluctuations detected by the system that originated from the same source as the Wolf Howling Valley altar, exploded in her mind like two thunderbolts.
She thought that by "dying" once, she could completely get rid of everything from the past and hide away in the mountains and rivers of southern Vietnam.
But fate seemed to play a cruel joke on her, causing her to stumble upon clues related to Shen Rou and that strange power again in such a remote place.
Was it a coincidence? Or was it that, in some mysterious way, she was simply unable to escape this preordained scheme?
[Host, the source of the energy fluctuations is located in the central area of the valley, guarded by living beings. Approach with caution.]
The system notification pulled her back from her chaotic thoughts.
Don't panic.
Xu Qingyao took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.
She is no longer Xu Qingyao, the wife of the Marquis of Zhenyuan, but A Yao, the herb-gathering girl.
This identity is her protective shield.
She carefully observed the situation in the valley.
Those bearing the Fire-Treading Qilin mark moved in an orderly fashion and were heavily guarded, unlike ordinary bandits; they seemed more like they were carrying out some kind of secret mission.
Deep in the valley, some makeshift shacks could be vaguely seen, and the energy fluctuations were coming from that direction.
What are they doing here? Building a new altar? Or are they looking for something?
Xu Qingyao decided that she could not rush into going deeper.
She carefully retreated to a safer area, found a secluded tree hollow to hide in, and began to formulate a plan.
Forcing her way in is the worst possible option; she needs more information.
Over the next few days, Xu Qingyao disguised herself as a real herb gatherer, using the pretext of searching for specific herbs to move around the outskirts of the valley.
She deliberately made contact with the villagers of a small village nearby, using the promise of treating their illnesses and injuries to gain their trust and information.
She pieced together some information from the villagers' scattered chatter: the valley was called "Ghost Cry Valley," and few people dared to approach it. It was said that sometimes strange noises could be heard and eerie lights could be seen at night.
Recently, some outsiders have come. They look fierce and don't allow the villagers to approach the valley.
"Miss Ayao, please don't go that way when you're gathering herbs," a kind-hearted woman warned her. "Those people are dangerous; they're carrying knives!"
Xu Qingyao nodded her thanks, but she was even more certain that there was something wrong with the valley.
Taking advantage of her herb-gathering opportunities, she repeatedly approached the edge of the valley and used the system's remote scanning function to gradually draw a topographical map of the valley's interior and the distribution of guards.
[Preliminary scan complete: A man-made cave entrance is suspected to exist in the center of the valley; energy fluctuations originate from deep within the cave. Approximately thirty guards are on duty in three shifts, with a blind spot of about fifteen minutes between patrols.]
The chances are slim, but not nonexistent.
A bold plan gradually took shape in Xu Qingyao's mind.
She needed to wait for the right opportunity, such as a night with bad weather and low visibility, to take advantage of the blind spot when the guards changed shifts and sneak into the cave to find out what was going on.
On the eve of her planned operation, several uninvited guests suddenly arrived at the village—
It was those guards in the valley.
Under the guise of searching for fugitives, they were actually there to warn and intimidate the villagers, forbidding them from approaching the valley or speaking out to outsiders.
Xu Qingyao mingled in the crowd, keeping her head down and looking meek, but her heart was pounding.
Had their reconnaissance been discovered? Or was it just a routine intimidation tactic?
The leader of a small group swept his sharp eyes across the crowd, finally landing on Xu Qingyao, a complete stranger.
"What's your name? Where are you from?" he asked curtly.
Xu Qingyao suppressed her racing heart and answered in her broken Southern Yue dialect, with a timid expression, "I...I'm called A Yao, I'm...a herb-gathering girl from the northern village. My father is sick, so I came to gather some herbs..."
She deliberately feigned weakness, clutching a handful of freshly picked common herbs tightly in her hand.
The leader sized her up a few times. Seeing that she was simply dressed, with a dark face and a timid expression, he didn't think she was faking it. He waved his hand impatiently and said, "Hurry up and leave after you've finished picking the herbs. Don't loiter around here!"
It was a false alarm.
Xu Qingyao breathed a sigh of relief, but also realized that this place was not a safe place to stay and that she had to act as soon as possible.
That night, dark clouds obscured the moon, and a mountain breeze began to rise, making it the perfect time for a nighttime exploration.
Xu Qingyao changed into dark clothes, smeared his face with mud and ash, and silently sneaked into the outer perimeter of Ghost Cry Valley once again, like a ghost.
Following the route planned by the system, she carefully avoided several patrolling guards, using the cover of grass and rocks, and gradually approached the entrance to the cave in the center of the valley.
Two guards were dozing at the entrance of the cave, holding their swords. Inside, it was pitch black and bottomless.
Now!
Xu Qingyao seized the opportunity when another patrol team had just passed by, and like a cat, she darted out of the shadows and disappeared into the cave almost without making a sound.
The cave was cold and damp, with a faint smell of sulfur and...blood in the air?
Xu Qingyao's heart tightened, and she became extremely alert, using the weak night vision provided by the system to explore the narrow passage.
The passage wound downwards, and after walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, faint lights and voices could be heard ahead.
Xu Qingyao held her breath, pressed herself against the cold stone wall, and slowly approached.
She hid behind a protruding rock and cautiously peeked out.
The sight before her made her gasp—
Deep inside the cave is a huge natural grotto, and in the center of the grotto is a miniature altar made of black stones!
The altar was exactly the same as the one in Wolf Howl Valley, only much smaller in size, and covered with twisted frost wolf totems.
At this moment, the altar was emitting a faint, ominous blue light.
Several people dressed in black robes were busy around the altar, seemingly adjusting something.
What alarmed Xu Qingyao even more was that she saw a familiar figure—although the other person was also wearing a black robe and a hood, the profile of that person was clearly that of Shen Rou, who should have been "dead"!
She really didn't die!
Moreover, she was continuing her conspiracy deep within Southern Vietnam!
Xu Qingyao's heart began to pound.
She saw Shen Rou chanting softly towards a small meteorite fragment in the center of the altar, seemingly trying to activate it.
Around the altar, there were some strange vessels filled with dark red liquid, and the smell of blood was coming from there.
We must stop her!
At least know what she's doing!
Xu Qingyao quietly took out the miniature recording stone she had redeemed from the system, preparing to record the evidence here.
However, just as she was adjusting her angle, she accidentally kicked a small pebble.
"Gurgle—"
The sound of the pebbles rolling was exceptionally clear in the silent cave.
"who?!"
Shen Rou suddenly turned her head, her sharp gaze fixed on the direction where Xu Qingyao was hiding.
We've been discovered!
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