Quick Wisdom Test
Zhong Yujing held the wooden stick tightly and followed Yi Shi. She didn't know how long she had been walking, nor could she ask how long she had to walk. She couldn't see Yi Shi, nor could she see the end.
After they ran into the dense miasma forest, Yi Shi saw that the masked man did not follow them, so he signaled Zhong Yujing not to speak, took out two face masks from his bag, put one on himself first, pointed at Zhong Yujing and asked her to put on one as well, then took out a medicine jar from his bag, poured out some red powder, rubbed it on his exposed skin, nodded at Zhong Yujing, gestured, and Zhong Yujing followed suit.
Yi Shi raised one hand with his palm facing Zhong Yujing, asking her not to move. He searched in a small area for a while, picked up a sturdy long wooden stick, and stretched it in front of Zhong Yujing. Zhong Yujing understood and held the other end of the stick. Yi Shi turned his back and pointed to the front, asking her to hold the stick tightly and follow him.
The miasma forest was like a barrier that kept changing color. Zhong Yujing knew without Yi Shi telling her that it was poisonous, and extremely poisonous.
After walking for a long time, when they were almost unable to lift their legs, a lake suddenly appeared in front of them. It was not clear, but they could finally vaguely see the scenery.
Zhong Yujing's heart suddenly rose from the bottom of the valley. She felt strength under her feet. She held the wooden stick tightly with both hands and continued to follow Yi Shi forward until the lake became clearer and clearer. Yi Shi's figure also appeared in front of her. In fact, he was less than ten feet in front of her, but she couldn't see him.
Zhong Yujing was overjoyed and pulled the wooden stick behind her, trying to remind Yi Shi. Yi Shi looked back at her and nodded.
They finally walked out of the miasma forest completely.
Sitting down to rest by the lake, Yi Shi took off his mask. Zhong Yujing, knowing it was safe, also took off her mask. Both of them were breathing heavily, like fish that were about to suffocate after being out of water for too long.
The mask had a strong and unpleasant smell of medicine mixed with plants. Wearing it on the face for a long time seemed to force people to breathe. Zhong Yujing almost wanted to vomit but held it back. She picked up the kettle and drank a big gulp of water, trying to swallow back the smell.
Yi Shi shook the mask in his hand and said to her, "They gave it to me when I first came to Nansai."
It turned out that Shangguan Yichen and his group landed at the place where they had just disembarked. That was the border of Nansai. Nansai was a humid land with continuous rain all year round and little sunshine. There were many miasma swamps, and there were also dense insects, snakes, ants and beasts. A natural miasma forest formed on the edge, surrounding Nansai and forming a natural barrier, preventing outsiders from entering and leaving at will.
The people of Nansai believed that miasma was caused by resentment and that only evildoers would be harmed by it. To avoid miasma and allow them to move freely, they developed this mask. They sealed it with camphor wood and soaked it in a special potion for 81 days. The mask was then removed and dried, and then worn on the face to ward off the miasma. Exposed skin was then smeared with a powder made from cordyceps, which protected it from harm.
Before Yi Shi returned to the court to report, Shangguan Yichen gave him several masks and a can of medicine powder, which came in handy this time.
"Once we get out of the miasma forest and even into the interior of Nansai, we can start looking for our military camp." Yi Shi wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked around. "The most important thing is to never run into anyone from the Setu tribe."
Zhong Yujing looked at Yi Shi and said, "Be careful."
Yi Shi hummed, "Let's take a break and then we'll set off."
Only when they find Shangguan Yichen as soon as possible will they be truly safe.
Zhong Yujing reached out to scoop water from the lake to wash her face, but Yi Shi stopped her in time, "Don't touch that water!"
Zhong Yujing was so frightened that she withdrew her hand and asked in surprise, "What?"
Yi Shi breathed a sigh of relief. "Nansai is a tribe known for its poisons. This place is full of poisons. If you are not careful, you will be poisoned. Don't touch the Cordyceps or water casually."
Zhong Yujing nodded in agreement. Yi Shi warned, "People from Nansai are born in a land of poisonous insects. They have been around poisonous insects since childhood. They are good at using poison to treat people, but they are also good at using poison to hurt people. If you are not careful, you will be poisoned. You must be extra careful."
They walked through the dense forest, stepping on the wet soil that had not yet dried. Every step was like pulling a radish from the soil. If they stepped into a swamp, their feet would sink in quickly. If they were not pulled out in time, the consequences would be disastrous.
Yi Shi would observe the tree trunks around him every once in a while. The vegetation here was lush and the leaves were mostly fan-shaped, which provided shade and made the air in the forest more humid and sticky.
When Yi Shi saw some tree trunks, he would stop and rub them carefully. Zhong Yujing also went up to check and found some small marks such as arrows, swords and crossbows. They were not easy to find without careful observation. He probably guessed that they must be marks left deliberately during the march. Only his companions and himself could understand them, so that they could find him and avoid getting lost in unfamiliar areas.
Zhong Yujing's shoes were covered with mud as she walked through layer after layer, which made the weight of the shoes increase layer by layer, like marching with a heavy load, and finally she arrived at the foot of a mountain.
"It seems that after crossing these mountains, we will be able to find the general and the others." Yi Shi wiped his face with his arm, and the mud on his sleeves rubbed onto his face, making his face look even more dirty.
Zhong Yujing looked up at the mountain in front of her. She had traveled through mountains and rivers all the way, and finally only had this last breath left. She was originally sent by Emperor Hong to give advice, but she had run out of strength before she could even come up with any ideas.
She rubbed her shoes hard in the grass to lighten the weight on her feet, lifted the bag on her shoulders, and followed Yi Shi to climb up the mountain.
This mountain is clearly a wild mountain, without even a trampled path. The mountain is high and steep, making it a good place for soldiers to pass through in seclusion, but it is not a good place for traveling in a hurry.
Yi Shi had been practicing martial arts for many years and had rich combat experience, so climbing over the mountain was naturally easy for him. However, for Zhong Yujing, it was a real test. She had to use both her hands and feet and climb up by pulling the grass. She knew that the longer she delayed, the greater the chance of danger. So she followed Yi Shi without saying a word and did not slack off.
After finally reaching the top, they had a wide view of the mountain below, a dense forest in sight. They stopped to catch their breath, wanting to search for Shangguan Yichen and his army. As they looked, they suddenly heard a shout from behind, "Who's looking around here?"
Yi Shi's brow furrowed, Zhong Yujing's heart tightened, and they both slowly turned around.
A soldier who looked like a Nansai was on patrol, holding a hand-made sharp blade in his hand. It seemed to be made from the bones of some animal. The white bones looked extremely hard and sharp.
The people of Nansai speak with a very heavy accent and have their own language. They must have changed their language because they saw that Zhong Yujing and the others were not dressed like people from the tribe.
"Looking for someone, looking for someone..." Yi Shi laughed and said, "Don't be nervous, brother!"
The Nansai man swept the two of them back and forth, and continued to point the sharp blade at them: "What are you looking for in Nansai?"
Yi Shi feigned innocence, pouting as he was unsure how to respond. Zhong Yujing suddenly said, "Looking for Wang Qiang. Someone in the palace has sent a message with a secret."
Yi Shi was stunned for a moment and looked at Zhong Yujing calmly.
When the Nansai man heard the name "Wang Qiang", he first stopped the long blade in his hand in mid-air and then asked, "Do you have any proof?"
"Military secrets are all confidential. Even if there is evidence, only Wang Qiang can see it!" Zhong Yujing looked coldly at the Nansai man.
The Nansai man still looked at her suspiciously, his eyes rolling around.
Zhong Yujing suddenly pulled out the golden sword medal bestowed by the Hong Emperor from her bosom. She deliberately grasped the area with calligraphy and painting, leaving only a hint of yellow edge to show it to the Nansai man. She quickly took it back and put it back in her bosom. "This is a token given by someone in the palace to connect me with Wang Qiang. Seeing the gold medal is like seeing a master. Do you dare to stop me?"
The Nansai man finally knelt down and put down his long blade. "Please forgive me, the Imperial Censor. I was really blind."
Zhong Yujing said indifferently, "Just let us pass immediately and we will forgive you."
The Nansai people retreated fearfully and soon disappeared behind the mountain.
Yi Shi breathed a sigh of relief and laughed, "That was a close call just now. I thought we were going to have another fierce battle, but thankfully you came up with a quick-witted move!" Then he thought again, "But who is Wang Qiang? Why did the Nansai people become so timid at the mere mention of his name?"
Zhong Yujing frowned and said, "This is a long story, and it's what I want to clarify with the general on this trip. Before, I was just guessing, but after I tried it just now, it actually confirmed my suspicions."
He turned to look at Yi Shi and said, "The most urgent thing is to meet up with the general as soon as possible and work with him to devise a plan so that the enemy's evil plan will be difficult to succeed."
Yi Shi realized the seriousness of the problem and nodded seriously. The two of them immediately went down the mountain and headed towards the forest at the foot of the mountain.
They found a tent mark on a tree trunk at the corner of the mountain. Yi Shi was overjoyed and pointed at the arrow under the tent and said to Zhong Yujing, "They are camping nearby." He pointed in the direction of the arrow, "In that direction."
The wind in the forest came slowly, carrying the fragrance of plants. The humid air was cool and comfortable as if it had just rained. The thrill, tension and fatigue of the past few days seemed to be swept away. She had come thousands of miles away, and he was finally in front of her. The world was so close yet so far away, and the world was so close yet so far away.
Yi Shi's steps also became lighter. The area around the military camp was filled with a comfortable atmosphere. They had entered a safe area and no longer had to worry about the masked men or be wary of being discovered by the Setu tribe.
The setting sun enveloped the entire forest, and light shone through the gaps between the trees, illuminating the ground with many halos. When the weather is not bad, Nansai can be beautiful and quiet in addition to being mysterious and dangerous.
"When did Lieutenant General Yi start to join the army?" The two had never spoken so calmly along the way. Zhong Yujing asked Yi casually.
Yi Shi was in a good mood and recalled, "I was originally a servant in King Yao's palace, serving the prince. When he was young, the prince was diligent, proficient in civil and military strategies, and sometimes he would tell me things in books. After a long time, I also understood some of the great principles of loyalty to the country and ambition to travel around the world. King Yao was brave, and so was the prince. So I asked the prince to join the army and joined. Later, I followed the prince in the army. Over the years, thanks to the prince, I was lucky enough to get the title of deputy general." After saying this, he scratched his head embarrassedly.
He recalled many things and sighed, "How did General Shanggong get to where he is today? I know better than anyone else..."
Zhong Yujing looked at him with a myriad of emotions in her eyes, but she couldn't begin to describe it.
"The prince saved my life." He suddenly said seriously, "There are military rules. We can't let a single soldier ruin the entire army's victory. We should always prioritize the overall situation. Once, I was injured in a battle and couldn't move. I thought I would die here. I had already given up on living and told them to abandon me and leave me alone..." Pain flowed in his eyes. "At that time, I had lost my will and was just waiting to die. Suddenly, I heard the sound of galloping horses. I opened my eyes and saw the prince riding a warhorse back into the battle, rushing towards me. At that time, I was surrounded by the enemy, but he turned back, fought his way through, and pulled me out, bringing me back to the camp..."
Yi Shi closed his eyes, took a long breath, and then opened them again, looking into the distance. "We narrowly won that battle. Afterwards, I asked the prince why he risked his life to save me. He said: He wants to win, and he must keep me alive!"
Yi Shi was not injured in any vital parts and was not in danger of his life. Shangguan Yichen brought him back and saved him from death by the swords. However, Shangguan Yichen was seriously injured by the enemy on the way back and was forced back to the camp, where he was in a coma for several days.
He was seriously injured and fell into a coma. He woke up halfway and struggled to ask everyone in the tent to leave and not stay with him. He managed to stay in the tent alone until he was able to get up and get out of the ground. He escaped the disaster and survived.
"The prince wouldn't let anyone get close to him. He stayed alone in his tent to recuperate. He fought his way back from the brink of death all by himself."
"King Yao is not in the army?" Zhong Yujing asked.
Yi Shi frowned, "After the battle was won, King Yao returned to the palace to report and did not stay in the army."
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