Yuan Yunzhong wouldn’t be directionally challenged, would he?!
Song Jiyun thought back to their first meeting, which happened because he had inexplicably blundered into her father’s study room.
She couldn’t help but widen her eyes and said, "What about the way you came? Do you also not remember that?"
"How could that be possible!" Yuan Yunzhong gave her a sideways glance and declared assertively, "The Big Dipper, The Twenty-Eight Constellations. Amethyst is due north. East Azure Dragon, North Tortoise, West White Tiger... Plus, Horned Wood Auger Dragon, Overbearing Golden Dragon... and another seven constellations belong to Azure Dragon; Doumu Rhinos, Gold Bull... and another seven constellations belong to Tortoise... You know what direction you’re heading based on the constellations you see..."
But what did that have to do with not recognizing the road?
Song Jiyun looked at him, his expression one of stubborn denial, unwilling to admit fault, and despite her anxiety about the uncertain road ahead, she couldn’t help wanting to laugh.
She even felt a bit mischievous, intentionally furrowing her brows to interrupt him, "But I don’t understand any of what you’re saying, can you just tell me which road to take?"
Yuan Yunzhong paused.
His words came to an abrupt halt.
His handsome brows and eyes seemed like distant mountains in the night.
Song Jiyun suddenly felt a bit embarrassed.
After all, for him to face the situation with her and make a stand was already the mark of a remarkably upright person. A joke or two from her was fine, but it was a bit over the line to make him lose face.
"Young Master Yuan!" Just as she was about to give him an out, Yuan Yunzhong suddenly turned around and snapped off a tree branch.
Song Jiyun was thoroughly confused.
Yuan Yunzhong had broken that branch into three uneven pieces, shook them in his hand a few times, then scattered them on the ground.
Two longer ones lay side by side, with a shorter one beside them.
"What is this for?" Song Jiyun walked over.
Yuan Yunzhong instead pointed to the woods on the left side of the path and said, "Let’s go this way!"
What kind of method was this?
Divining, or betting on odds and evens?
Could you really decide which road to take like this?
Song Jiyun was stunned.
Yuan Yunzhong pulled her and darted into the woods.
"Wait a second!" Song Jiyun certainly couldn’t let him act recklessly; otherwise, she’d end up following him down a wrong path.
She pulled back on Yuan Yunzhong’s arm and asked, "What were you just doing?"
Yuan Yunzhong raised his eyebrows and said, "If you don’t understand, don’t ask! Have you ever heard of Plum Blossom Hexagram? Our journey has been far too troubled. I thought it best to divine... active hexagrams like Qian and Zhen often imply action, while passive ones like Kun and Gen often suggest inaction... Xun favors travel by boat... Li favors land travel..."
Song Jiyun didn’t understand Plum Blossom Hexagram, but his tone reminded her so much of how he spoke about "The Big Dipper."
She hadn’t expected Yuan Yunzhong to have such a youthful side.
It made her find him especially interesting, and she wanted to laugh even more.
But she didn’t dare.
She feared Yuan Yunzhong had a thin skin and didn’t want to hurt his pride.
Song Jiyun casually looked around at their direction of travel.
If heading back to the city, they were indeed going the right way!
So, she decided not to say anything more.
But Yuan Yunzhong suddenly grabbed her and said in a low voice, "Someone’s coming!"
Song Jiyun’s heart tightened.
Yuan Yunzhong made a shushing gesture to her, then looked around before finally fixing his gaze on a big tree not far from them, thick enough to require a group hug.
Next, he jogged a few steps, touched his feet against the trunk, and lightly landed on a branch, extending his hand to Song Jiyun, "Come up!"
Yuan Yunzhong had once sparred with Zheng Quan.
Although Song Jiyun didn’t know how skilled Yuan Yunzhong was, she knew Zheng Quan’s capabilities.
Without hesitation, she grabbed his hand.
Yuan Yunzhong’s hand was warm and strong, pulling her up onto the branch.
Standing on the thick branch large enough for a hug, it was somewhat of a struggle to accommodate two people.
The branch swayed several times in succession.
Song Jiyun hugged Yuan Yunzhong in fright.
Yuan Yunzhong’s body stiffened.
His arm was in front of her chest.
The warm and soft sensation set half of his body on fire, as if searing hot.
He struggled uncomfortably a few times.
Song Jiyun thought the branch couldn’t bear their weight, and that she was about to fall, so she instinctively hugged him even tighter.
Yuan Yunzhong felt his ears burning up.
He turned his face away and said, "You, go stand on the branch next to you."
Song Jiyun hadn’t noticed his discomfort at all.
She also thought it would be safer. But suspended several meters in the air, even though the branch was just a step away, her legs felt weak. She clung to Yuan Yunzhong’s hand tightly, stepped on the adjacent branch, stomped on it to test its strength, then finally hugged the tree trunk, moved over, and let go of Yuan Yunzhong.
Yuan Yunzhong secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
He also felt a bit chilly on his arm where the night wind touched it.
At the end of the nearby post road, seven or eight men appeared, dressed in short brown garments, holding clubs, with large arms and round waists.
Song Jiyun’s heart clenched immediately, as past events flooded her mind, causing cold sweat to break out all over her body.
Yuan Yunzhong’s eyes were fixed on those men and hadn’t noticed her change. He asked her softly, from across the branch, "Do you recognize them? I had Liu Zi run a mile or two to abandon the carriage and escape. It seems they haven’t caught Liu Zi."
Song Jiyun nodded but couldn’t make a sound.
Yuan Yunzhong looked at her curiously and then noticed her pale face and the fine sweat on her forehead.
He fell silent.
No matter how tough or formidable Song Jiyun was, she was still a girl and could get scared in such situations.
The plan he originally had to force their way out was no longer viable.
He sighed inwardly.
At the other end of the post road, another group of seven or eight men appeared, also dressed in short brown garments, holding clubs, with big arms and round waists.
The two groups met and started talking. Their voices weren’t loud, but in the stillness of the night, they were clear enough for the two in the tree to hear.
"The carriage is empty; they must have gotten off nearby."
"We didn’t see them returning to the Kiln Factory."
"That means they’re hiding."
"How did they find out about us?"
"Who cares how they found out? The priority is to find them quickly!"
"Let’s split up and search."
A man who seemed to be the leader began to arrange his men and assign search areas.
They were indeed coming for her!
Song Jiyun sneered.
With anger stuck in her chest, she was no longer that scared.
The men dispersed in twos and threes, waving their clubs as they slowly approached them.
Song Jiyun held her breath and remained silent.
The men didn’t even glance up at the tree as they complained and walked away from beneath it.
Song Jiyun finally exhaled, realizing her body was both stiff and rigid; it took a while before she could relax.
She looked over at Yuan Yunzhong.
Yuan Yunzhong silently leaped down from the tree.
He looked up at her, with his arms outstretched, and said, "Jump down!"
Song Jiyun was startled.
He stood there upright, his tall figure reminiscent of a cliffside pine tree, his handsome face shining brightly under the night sky.
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