Chapter Seventy-Two: Crossing the Forest

Update time: 2013-07-04

“Hoo…” Staring at the smoldering remains, which could just barely be recognized as the rotting flesh of a horse, Forty-Seven let out a long sigh of relief. Good heavens! That nearly scared me to death!

While Thirteen also breathed a sigh of relief, his heart was now lodged in his throat. He wasn’t as optimistic as Forty-Seven; the young master had fallen with that horse. Now, seeing the horse reduced to such a state, how could the young master be any better off?

Thirteen gave a swift kick to the still secretly rejoicing Forty-Seven, dousing him with a cold bucket of water. “Don’t just stand there—hurry up and search for the young master nearby!”

Startled, Forty-Seven quickly did as Thirteen instructed. The two of them scoured the area around the carnage but found no sign of a human corpse. Only then did they truly relax. It seemed the young master must be all right.

Catching their breath, the two relied on their experience and began searching along the cliffside. Before leaving, Thirteen calmly rummaged through the mess and fished out two usable water flasks, hanging them at his waist.

Forty-Seven was hardly surprised by this; as long as something could be of use, even if it came from a pile of corpses, Thirteen would never let it go—let alone just a heap of rotten flesh.

When they passed several broad-leaved plants, Forty-Seven immediately noticed a clue: fresh breaks on the branches, confirming they were headed in the right direction.

They hadn’t gone far before they spotted the glow of fire in the distance. Excited but still cautious, the pair reminded themselves that the young master was not alone. They extinguished their torches and, shrouded by night and the cover of trees, stealthily crept closer.

By the campfire, Lian Yue slept soundly while Yu Wen Lingxi kept watch, eyes wide open. At last, those he had been waiting for arrived.

Yu Wen Lingxi gently pressed Lian Yue’s sleep acupoint. Only when the two men approached did he finally speak, his voice once more returning to its customary chill: “Come out.”

Forty-Seven and Thirteen exchanged glances, then stepped from the shadows and knelt before Yu Wen Lingxi in unison. “We await your punishment, young master!”

A flash of cold light crossed Yu Wen Lingxi’s eyes, but it was quickly concealed. Regarding his father’s subordinates, he would gladly have run them through, but he knew all too well they dared act only with his father’s implicit approval. For now, he would let this debt stand, considering how quickly they had come.

Sweat soaked the backs of both Forty-Seven and Thirteen. The young master was becoming more and more like the master himself—a presence that filled them with an unspoken dread.

“Rise. You serve the previous Lord of the Hall; there’s no need to kneel to me.”

Though Yu Wen Lingxi spoke the truth—this was the custom in the Hall of Rakshasa—neither Forty-Seven nor Thirteen dared take his words literally. They remained on their knees.

Seeing Yu Wen Lingxi unharmed, indeed in far better condition than they had anticipated, Forty-Seven finally felt his heart return to its rightful place. He declared in a ringing voice, “Forty-Seven willingly accepts punishment. As long as the young master is safe, I have no complaint, whatever you decide!”

Thirteen said nothing but tacitly agreed.

Yu Wen Lingxi regarded the two and wondered what expression his father would wear if he saw this scene. The journey through the forest still required their help; he would spare them, for now.

“Today’s matter is noted. We will speak of it later.” Only after saying this did Yu Wen Lingxi realize he had spoken at greater length than usual; ordinarily, he would have uttered just two words: “Noted.”

Casting a sideways glance at the peacefully sleeping Lian Yue, he thought: ever since spending time with her, he’d begun to speak more. She was changing him. Very well, let there be more change. Yue’er, I hope you won’t blame me when you learn the truth of this day.

“Send word home. I will carry out his plan.” Thirteen’s heart leapt for joy: at last, he could report to the master.

“I will take her through the forest. Forty-Seven, you will stay and scout the path for me. And the other—?”

“Your subordinate, Thirteen!”

“You are to send messages and delay all the forces pursuing us. Stall them as long as possible. Also, inform the master that I will handle matters here as I see fit. His interference is not required. I will deliver him a satisfactory result.”

“Yes, I will report faithfully,” Thirteen replied.

Yu Wen Lingxi reflected on his words and realized he was ever more affected by her presence; he had never been so verbose before.

“Report the situation above,” he ordered.

The two men, still kneeling, did not rise. Thirteen replied, “Your subordinate followed closely behind you, young master, but the current circumstances are unclear.”

“You may go.” Yu Wen Lingxi dismissed them.

Thirteen and Forty-Seven withdrew back into the darkness. Yu Wen Lingxi narrowed his eyes; now that someone was on watch, he could rest for a while.

Thirteen patted Forty-Seven’s shoulder and whispered, “Leave a trail of marks. I’m off.”

Forty-Seven nodded and watched as Thirteen vanished from sight. Then he leapt onto a tree, eyes locked firmly on Yu Wen Lingxi’s location, not daring to blink, alert to every sound.

He did not know if this was punishment for the wound he had given Yu Wen Lingxi; if so, it was a punishment he welcomed. Forest behind him, wait for me—Forty-Seven will clear a path through you.

At dawn the next day.

As the first rays of sunlight pierced the thick clouds and shimmered on the water, Lian Yue, under Yu Wen Lingxi’s gaze, stretched her arms and yawned sleepily, calling out, “Zizhu!”

No answer. That lazy girl is shirking again. Wait—last night…

Lian Yue’s eyes flew open, startled like a fawn, her cheeks flushing crimson as she took in the unfamiliar scene and the pair of eyes watching her with a hint of amusement.

“Morning,” Yu Wen Lingxi greeted, unable to suppress a smile. His fiancée was simply too adorable. If only she could see him first thing every morning.

Lian Yue, oblivious to his thoughts, only wished she could crawl into a hole. Awkwardly, she replied, “Morning…”

“Pack up. Eat a little fruit, and let’s set out.”

“Oh!” she answered, then perked up. “Set out? You found a way out?”

“No. The cliff is impassable—unless we’ve grown wings, our only choice is to cross this forest.” Yu Wen Lingxi was surprised to find himself making a rare joke. What a bright, refreshing morning.

Hidden nearby, Forty-Seven twisted his lips. For the first time, he realized how thick-skinned the young master could be. Calling it a noble venture when it was really just abduction—and those fruits were picked by yours truly!

“We could wait here; my brother will surely find a way to rescue me.” Lian Yue was reluctant to accept his plan, yet she was no longer afraid of the shadowy figure before her. So she voiced her thoughts.

“What if your brother doesn’t know we fell from the cliff?” Sometimes intelligence could be a burden.

“He’ll know… He must…” she started, but her voice trailed off. It wasn’t that she doubted her brother, but as Yu Wen Lingxi pointed out, the cliff’s sudden appearance meant her brother might not even suspect.

“Then why must we cross the forest?” Lian Yue asked another question.

Because it means more time together, and it’s the best way to evade those searching for you. Of course, these thoughts remained unspoken. Instead, he replied, “I’ve checked—it’s our only way out. We can wait here for death or strike out for survival.”

Lian Yue chose to trust him. After she washed, applied medicine, and ate a few pieces of fruit, Yu Wen Lingxi thoroughly cleaned up the campsite and fire, leaving no trace they had ever been there.

When Lian Yue glanced at him in confusion, Yu Wen Lingxi explained, “We don’t know if your brother’s rescue team is behind us, but my enemies surely are.”

The black-clad men in the forest came to Lian Yue’s mind. They all seemed formidable; if encountered now, the two of them would hardly stand a chance.

She accepted this explanation easily and followed Yu Wen Lingxi into the forest.

Forty-Seven touched his face and chuckled wryly. As the so-called enemy, he would go scout the way ahead.