However, the expected flock of birds did not take flight, and the surroundings remained deathly silent.
"This..." Yan Qing's expression turned serious. He had never seen such a scene before. "Could it be that something unknown has really happened here?"
Li Lei pondered for a moment and said, "Perhaps we should be more careful. This forest may be more dangerous than we thought."
The group exchanged glances, their eyes flashing with both wariness and determination.
In this eerie wilderness, Xu Yuehuai and his group, exhausted and with unfinished business, slowly walked back to their makeshift camp.
The bright moonlight could not dispel the gloom in their hearts.
The flickering firelight illuminated Wang Mang's sorrowful face as he huddled in a corner of the tent, his breathing seemingly heavy.
“Wang Mang, don’t be too discouraged,” Xu Yuehuai comforted him. “Life always surprises you when you least expect it. Maybe we’ll wake up tomorrow morning to find a feast. Right now, the most important thing is to rest and recharge.”
Wang Mang forced a bitter smile, nodded, and obediently lay down deep inside the tent.
However, the tranquil night did not last long, as a faint but noticeable rustling sound broke the silence.
Xu Yuehuai's alertness was instantly awakened. He gently lifted a corner of the tent and saw Wang Mang's figure sneakily gnawing on something in the dim moonlight.
"Wang Mang, what are you eating?" Xu Yuehuai's voice was low and serious. She stepped forward quickly, her gaze fixed on the dark object that Wang Mang was holding tightly.
Wang Mang looked up, a hint of panic flashing in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a look of satisfaction. "This...this is so delicious!"
He took another bite as he spoke, completely disregarding its repulsive appearance.
Yan Qing, Li Lei, and the others were also drawn by the sudden commotion and gathered around. Yan Qing frowned, looking disgusted, and said, "What the hell is that? It looks so disgusting!"
Li Lei stared at the thing closely for a long time, then suddenly exclaimed, "Spit it out! You've eaten corpse bones!" His voice was filled with undeniable terror.
Wang Mang was stunned. The "delicious food" in his hand suddenly lost its appeal. He looked at everyone in confusion, his eyes full of bewilderment and innocence.
He slowly released his grip, and the gnawed, pitted bone slid to the ground with a dull thud.
"Where did you find this?" Xu Yuehuai's tone was a mix of reproach and curiosity.
Wang Mang pointed to the distant mountain peaks, his voice trembling: "There are many more behind there."
A sense of foreboding welled up in Xu Yuehuai's heart. He signaled Yan Qing, Li Lei, and the others to follow. The group set off towards the mountain shrouded in night, using the faint firelight as a guide.
As they walked, more and more animal carcasses gradually came into view, carelessly discarded on the land, as if telling a story of a silent massacre.
"It seems that all the wild animals on this mountain have been hunted down," Xu Yuehuai said in a deep voice.
Li Lei scratched his head in confusion: "But why would they bury so many bones here? Isn't that redundant?"
Yan Qing pondered: "Perhaps they took the most valuable things from these wild beasts, such as precious medicinal herbs, furs, or other rare materials that we don't know about."
Xu Yuehuai suddenly realized something. "The unusual power I sensed earlier might not have arisen naturally, but rather was deliberately created. Combined with the destroyed bridge, it's clear that some pioneers have already arrived here. We must be vigilant; the situation here is far more complex than we imagined."
"Then what should we do?" Li Lei asked anxiously.
Xu Yuehuai's voice sounded particularly firm and powerful in the silence: "We can't stay here any longer. Pack your things immediately and move the camp to a safer place. We must explore this area more carefully to uncover the true faces of those mysterious figures and the clues they left behind."
As soon as she finished speaking, everyone in the group sprang into action, their movements both hurried and orderly.
Li Lei, Li Guang, and Li Wang quickly assigned tasks: one was responsible for collecting firewood for emergencies; another checked the equipment to ensure nothing was missing; and the third began dismantling the tents with practiced speed and skill.
Gu Shen and Pei Hai were responsible for keeping watch on the surroundings in case of any unforeseen events.
Moonlight filtered through the sparse clouds, casting its glow on the mountaintop covered in the bones of wild beasts, making it appear even more eerie and terrifying. Each skeleton seemed to tell a story of past horrific tragedy, sending chills down one's spine.
Xu Yuehuai's gaze swept over everything, and a complex emotion welled up in her heart, but she quickly suppressed it and turned to devote herself to the intense relocation work.
After a lot of work, they finally moved their campsite to a more secluded spot near the ridge of a mountain.
The area is lush with trees and has complex terrain, making it difficult to spot even during the day.
Once the new camp was set up, they cleverly camouflaged it with weeds and branches to ensure that it blended seamlessly with the surrounding environment and was difficult to spot from the outside.
"Everyone, take turns to rest. I'll stay here and watch over things," Xu Yuehuai instructed.
Upon hearing this, Yan Qing immediately wanted to retort: "Your Highness, you should go to sleep first. I will keep watch."
But Xu Yuehuai simply shook her head slightly, her eyes filled with determination.
Seeing this, Li Lei, Li Guang, Li Wang, Gu Shen, Pei Hai, and others also volunteered to keep watch, causing a brief period of chaos.
Seeing this, Xu Yuehuai smiled slightly and said, "How about this, Yan Qing and I will take the first shift, and then we can take turns."
Her tone was calm yet firm, which stopped the argument, and the crowd dispersed to their respective tents to rest.
Wang Mang then approached, his face showing some hesitation and unease: "Are the things I just ate alright?"
Xu Yuehuai smiled and said, "Those are just the bones of wild animals. If you don't eat much, there shouldn't be any problem. But if you are really worried, I have some pills here. Taking them might put your mind at ease."
As she spoke, she took out a small pill from her bosom and handed it to Wang Mang.
Wang Mang accepted the pill, glanced gratefully at Xu Yuehuai, swallowed it, and went to rest.
Xu Yuehuai watched him leave, silently praying that he would be safe and sound.
Afterwards, she and Yan Qing sat side by side by the campfire and began their long vigil.
A gentle night breeze, carrying a touch of coolness, also dispelled the fatigue of the day.
After a moment of silence between Xu Yuehuai and Yan Qing, Yan Qing finally couldn't help but speak: "If Your Highness can wake up soon, the Princess Consort won't have to go through such a dangerous situation alone." His voice was filled with heartache and self-reproach.
Xu Yuehuai smiled gently, "It's alright, it's my responsibility as a princess. Besides, I actually hope he can stay safely at the border. As long as he's well, I'll be content."
Her deep affection and concern for Qi Guze moved Yan Qing deeply.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com