https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-67-That-Despicable-Man-Can-Go-Die/12582487/
Chapter 68: Encounter and Recognition
Chapter 68: Encounter and Recognition
Meng Qianqian retraced her steps for two li, passing through the western forest and entering a mountain range with layered peaks.
By crossing this mountain range, she could save two to three days of travel time.
The mountain path was treacherous, with deep snow covering the rugged terrain. Several winding sections hugged the edge of a cliff, where jagged rocks loomed on one side and a bottomless abyss whipped by fierce winds lay on the other.
What appeared to be a path might actually be nothing more than a pile of snow, ready to give way underfoot and lead to certain doom.
Meng Qianqian led her horse, struggling to make her way through the blizzard.
As she climbed higher, the wind and snow intensified, making it almost impossible to keep her eyes open. Even her horse refused to proceed several times.
The experienced horse could sense the danger of their surroundings. Its reluctance was not only for its own sake but also to protect Meng Qianqian.
Yet, she could not afford to stop.
Meng Qianqian patted its head and slowly parted her frozen, numb lips. With great difficulty, she said, "Don't worry, I'll definitely bring you safely across these mountains."
Human and horse continued their arduous journey.
It took them a full hour to traverse just a few hundred feet of this treacherous mountain path.
Fortunately, they made it past the most dangerous section without incident, and the rest of the journey along the mountain road would be much easier.
"Ah!" Meng Qianqian exhaled in relief. She supported herself with her embroidered spring dagger and paused to catch her breath.
The horse was exhausted, and Meng Qianqian couldn't bear to ride it any longer. She dismounted and continued on foot, leading the horse by its reins.
After an indeterminate amount of time, they finally reached the summit.
The horse was hungry, so Meng Qianqian retrieved some fodder from the saddle and fed it.
Just as the horse began to eat, a sudden change occurred!
A faint tearing sound emanated from beneath the thick layer of snow.
Oh no! The ground beneath her feet was actually a layer of frozen soil suspended over empty air!
It was about to collapse!
Meng Qianqian reached out to grab the horse's reins, but it was too late. Human effort was always minuscule in the face of natural disasters.
Boom! She plummeted into the abyss along with the collapsing frozen soil.
Just as she fell, a hand as cold as bone firmly grasped her wrist.
Lu Yuan lay in the snow, his body half-hanging over the cliff. With one hand, he held onto Meng Qianqian, and with the other, he grabbed the horse's reins.
The horse bit down hard on the reins, its hooves digging into the snow and sending sparks flying.
Meng Qianqian looked up, her eyes wide with disbelief, as she saw Lu Yuan and a masked assassin who had suddenly leaped into the air, sword drawn, aiming for Lu Yuan's back.
Lu Yuan had a choice: let go or die.
He chose to let go, releasing the hand that held the reins.
They fell together, but Lu Yuan managed to tug Meng Qianqian upward with all his might.
In the instant they leaped back onto the cliff, Meng Qianqian drew her embroidered spring dagger from her waist and slashed the assassin's throat!
Meng Qianqian landed on one knee, steadying herself in the snow. At the same time, she grabbed Lu Yuan's wrist and pulled him up.
Lu Yuan brushed the snow off his wide sleeves and smiled. "Impressive knife skills."
Meng Qianqian cleaned the dagger's blade with snow and sheathed it. "Not bad yourself."
She removed her mask and bowed. "Greetings, Grand Marshal."
In the capital, she had performed the courtesies expected of a lady. Now, dressed as a man, she offered the more informal salute.
Lu Yuan turned away and gazed up at the swirling snowflakes. "Let's find a place to take shelter."
Meng Qianqian glanced at the masked assassin lying on the ground. "Have you been pursued by assassins all this way, Grand Marshal?"
Lu Yuan replied nonchalantly, "It's nothing out of the ordinary. It would be strange if no one tried to assassinate me."
They found a cave and settled in.
The horse grazed outside.
Meng Qianqian unloaded the luggage from the saddle, which included dry firewood and rations.
Skilfully, she built a campfire.
When it came to her own food, she was content to eat the cold, frozen flatbread. However, considering the high-ranking official before her, who always travelled with a charcoal brazier and a chair, she took the flatbread and warmed it over the fire. She also took a new waterskin from her bundle, filled it with clean snow, and placed it by the fire to melt and warm.
Lu Yuan examined the waterskin and remarked, "This is from the Governor's mansion."
Meng Qianqian nodded. "En, it was given by Manager Cen."
She opened the bundle and took out a bottle of medicine for wounds. "Grand Marshal, your wrist is injured."
It was scraped by the protruding rocks on the cliff when he pulled her earlier.
Lu Yuan extended his injured right hand towards her.
Meng Qianqian: I meant for you to apply it yourself.
Lu Yuan replied nonchalantly, "What? Can't you treat such a minor injury?"
"I can."
Meng Qianqian obediently applied the medicine to the Grand Marshal's wound.
Lu Yuan found the bottle of medicine familiar as well and asked, "Did Cen also give you this?"
"Yes," replied Meng Qianqian.
Lu Yuan's gaze fell on the opened bundle, which contained gloves, earmuffs, knee pads, and even an ointment for frostbite. Everything one could need was there.
However, judging from the frostbite on her face, she probably hadn't used them much.
"Were all these prepared by Manager Cen as well?"
"En!" Meng Qianqian nodded earnestly. "Don't you have any, Grand Marshal?"
Lu Yuan held the flatbread but suddenly lost his appetite.
Meng Qianqian asked, her eyes narrowing as she thought of something, "How did you recognize me, Grand Marshal?"
Lu Yuan answered indifferently, "The embroidered spring dagger."
Meng Qianqian touched the sheath of the dagger. "This embroidered spring dagger was also given to me by Manager Cen. Is it any different from the others?"
"You sure ask a lot of questions," Lu Yuan commented.
"Where's Zhao Zhao?" Meng Qianqian inquired.
Lu Yuan gave her a cold look.
Smiling, Meng Qianqian said, "This is my last question."
Lu Yuan answered in a displeased tone, "He's with Qing Shuang."
"At the foot of the mountain?"
"Is that really your last question?"
Meng Qianqian lowered her head.
Lu Yuan's voice turned cold. "Fengshazhen."
Fengshazhen was only a hundred miles away, and it would take just two days to reach Yumenguan from there.
It seemed that Zhao Zhao hadn't traveled with him, but he also wasn't too far away.
This arrangement was safer for Zhao Zhao.
Meng Qianqian hesitated, wanting to say something more.
Lu Yuan prompted, "Ask!"
"Is Lu Lingxiao also in Fengshazhen?" Meng Qianqian asked.
Lu Yuan let out a cold laugh. "You really care about him."
"I must find him," Meng Qianqian stated.
Lu Yuan turned away and coldly humphed.
Meng Qianqian had rushed for too long, and after warming herself by the fire for a while, she began to feel drowsy. However, she forced herself to stay awake.
Lu Yuan said indifferently, "I'll keep watch. I slept a lot during the day, so I won't be able to sleep at night."
Meng Qianqian didn't stand on ceremony with him. Holding the embroidered spring dagger, she laid down and fell asleep.
Lu Yuan walked over to the campfire and added some firewood to it.
He stared at the flickering flames, then swept his arm, sending the cloak from his shoulders flying. It draped over Meng Qianqian's curled-up body, enveloping her in his warmth and scent.
When Meng Qianqian woke up, the sky was already bright.
The bonfire was still burning.
"No wonder I didn't feel cold at all during the night," she remarked.
During these days of sleeping outdoors, she had been woken up by the cold many times. They had even been robbed at a post station, although the robbers hadn't succeeded. Still, her sleep had been disturbed.
After a good night's rest, she felt refreshed and energized.
Lu Yuan was standing outside the cave. The snow had stopped, and the morning light bathed the mountains, making them appear golden and magnificent.
He wore a black cloak and stood alone, overlooking the vast landscape.
Meng Qianqian approached him and said, "Grand Marshal."
Lu Yuan's gaze was distant as he said, "Let's go downhill."
After packing her things, Meng Qianqian thought of a problem. "There's only... one horse."
Lu Yuan mounted the horse.
Meng Qianqian blinked. "What about me?"
"Lead the horse," Lu Yuan instructed.
Meng Qianqian frowned. "This is my horse."
Lu Yuan justified, "That's why I'm letting you lead it."
Meng Qianqian's face darkened.
How should she respond to this?
(End of Chapter)
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