“Since the strange power within me awakened, I seem to be able to touch another dimension of this world and sense the pulse of power hidden in the distance,” Xu Yuehuai suddenly said.
Upon hearing this, Li Lei's gaze instantly focused. He knew that this was not just a simple discovery, but could be the key to changing the situation.
"Where is it? This power might be the key to turning the tide for us." His tone was urgent, yet calm.
Xu Yuehuai smiled gently, her composure seemingly capable of calming anyone's heart. She slowly rose, picked up a yellowed map from the table, touched it lightly with her fingertips, and finally used vermilion to outline a striking circle at one spot.
“The closest place to us is here—Tiger Head Mountain!” Her finger slid across the map, as if guiding them across the boundaries of time and space. “Go find two trustworthy people to come with us.”
“At our fastest pace, it will only take a day and a half.” Li Lei quickly calculated the time, a resolute glint in his eyes. “I understand. This is a secret operation, and we must proceed with caution.”
He turned around and began preparations, every movement revealing the decisiveness and efficiency of a soldier.
Xu Yuehuai then quietly walked out of the tent and returned to her residence.
At this moment, Qi Guze's breathing was much more stable than before.
Xu Yuehuai approached, "When I came back, I really hoped you would already be awake."
She lowered her head and placed a kiss on Qi Guze's forehead, her movements as gentle as if afraid of disturbing his dream.
Then, she gently stroked his cheek, her affection and care making the surrounding air seem warmer.
Xu Yuehuai sat down on the edge of the bed, closed her eyes to rest, and prepared to face the upcoming challenge.
As night fell, moonlight streamed through the window and fell on her face, adding a touch of coolness and mystery to her appearance.
Xu Yuehuai slowly opened her eyes. Lu Li had already brought the old members of Tianxianglou to deliver the meal. Although their faces showed some signs of vicissitude, their love and dedication to cooking remained undiminished.
"Although you are no longer at Tianxiang Restaurant, this skill is the foundation of your livelihood, so you must not let it go to waste. In the future, I will definitely find you a better place to live."
Xu Yuehuai's words were full of encouragement and expectation, which warmed everyone's hearts.
After the meal, Xu Yuehuai did not rush to rest, but went to the martial arts training ground.
There, Yan Qing and Li Feng were practicing intensely, their clothes soaked with sweat, but it couldn't hide the determination and perseverance in their eyes.
Xu Yuehuai's appearance caused the two to stop fighting instantly and bow respectfully.
"princess."
Xu Yuehuai waved to Li Feng to continue the contact, and then called Yan Qing aside.
“I intend to take you with me to find that mysterious power, but this journey is dangerous, and you need to choose a reliable partner to accompany you.” Her gaze was deep, as if she could see into people’s hearts.
Upon hearing this, Yan Qing asked, "Aren't you taking Lu Li with you? Although he's not skilled in martial arts, he's loyal and reliable."
Xu Yuehuai shook her head slightly, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. "Lu Li's talent is limited, and this trip is dangerous. It's safer for him to stay behind. Besides, we also need someone here to look after us and ensure our safety."
Her explanation was both a comfort to Yan Qing and a demonstration of her commitment to her decision.
Yan Qing nodded. "Alright, I'll go and choose one right away. I will certainly live up to your expectations."
After saying this, he turned and left with firm steps, as if he had already embarked on a new journey.
As night deepened, the camp was quiet inside and out, with only the occasional sound of horses' hooves in the distance, seemingly foreshadowing the coming storm.
Xu Yuehuai gazed in the direction Yan Qing had departed, her heart filled with both anticipation for the unknown and worry for her companions' safety. But she knew that for the sake of that power that could change her destiny, she had to move forward, no matter how difficult the road ahead.
In the stillness of the night, Yan Qing, Li Lei, Xu Yuehuai, and their group had quietly completed their preparations.
They stood in the center of the camp with their respective entourages, their shadows elongated in the faint moonlight, appearing exceptionally resolute.
"Brother Yan Qing, is the bodyguard you chose truly a top expert?" Li Lei's voice was lowered.
Yan Qing's eyes gleamed with confidence: "He is the sharpest blade in the dark night, silent and stealthy, yet capable of deciding victory or defeat."
Seeing this, Xu Yuehuai clapped her hands lightly, interrupting their whispered conversation: "Alright, time is of the essence, we need to act quickly. I've already arranged for substitutes, they will take our place in the coming days to ensure everything goes smoothly."
Following Xu Yuehuai's instructions, several soldiers of similar build were quickly summoned. After some careful disguise, it was almost impossible to distinguish them from the real soldiers.
Xu Yuehua nodded in satisfaction, then turned to the group and said, "Let's go, our destination is Tiger Head Mountain."
The group spurred their horses and quietly left the military camp.
However, as they approached the foot of Tiger Head Mountain, the sight before them made them stop in their tracks.
"The bridge...the bridge is gone?" Li Lei's voice was filled with disbelief. He dismounted and strode towards the broken bridge.
A look of alarm flashed in Yan Qing's eyes: "This is definitely not natural damage; it must have been done intentionally."
"Could it be that our whereabouts have been leaked?" Li Lei's tone was full of worry.
Xu Yuehuai calmly analyzed, "The military has strict discipline, making leaks difficult, but we can't completely rule out accidents. Right now, assigning blame isn't the priority; getting across the river is the key."
After pondering for a moment, Yan Qing offered his suggestion: "With my lightness skill, I might be able to reach the middle of the river with difficulty, but we need to find another way to get everyone across."
A hint of appreciation flashed in Xu Yuehuai's eyes, and then she proposed a bold plan: "We can use driftwood to build a temporary passage. But this requires precise calculations and teamwork."
Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement and quickly got to work.
Xu Yuehuai personally directed the collection of enough driftwood from the nearby woods and secured it with ropes he carried with him.
While she was busy, she explained to Yan Qing, "We will string the driftwood together and then fix it to the rocks on the riverbed with ropes to form a stable floating bridge. In this way, we can use our light-footed skills to step across this man-made 'bridge' step by step."
As dawn broke, their efforts began to bear fruit.
Yan Qing took the lead, lightly leaping onto the first piece of driftwood and steadily moving forward. Every movement he made was so composed, as if he were performing an elegant dance.
"Success!" When Yan Qing successfully reached the other side and waved to everyone, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and their faces showed long-lost smiles.
Over the next few hours, everyone took turns carefully crossing this floating bridge, a testament to their wisdom and courage.
Xu Yuehuai always stood at the forefront, directing the final cleanup work to ensure that everyone could cross the river safely.
As the last rays of sunlight bathed the river, they finally stood at the foot of Tiger Head Mountain.
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