Ye Tiancheng said he wanted to go hiking, and Liu Lan Ying had originally agreed to handle the logistics. However, she was worried about Ye Tiancheng going on an adventure alone, so she decided to accompany him.
After Ye Tiancheng gave Liu Lan Ying some brief instructions, the two of them set off.
After walking for a while, they found the path to be quite muddy and difficult to traverse. Both of them felt the strain, but turning back seemed like a waste of their effort. They decided to persevere and see what different scenery lay beyond the mountain.
Before long, both Ye Tiancheng and Liu Lan Ying were feeling tired. They stopped talking as they walked, having chatted earlier. They trudged through the deep mud, their progress slow and uneven. At times, they stumbled, nearly falling, making for a rather difficult journey.
"Why don't we turn back?"
If Ye Tiancheng were alone, he would have chosen to press on. However, he had Liu Lan Ying with him and feared that if any fierce beasts appeared, he wouldn't be able to protect her in time. Thus, Ye Tiancheng decided to turn back.
Before Liu Lan Ying could respond, the ground suddenly began to shake violently. Both of them lost their footing, their bodies swaying wildly. Even their heads were moving uncontrollably. They began to slide downwards rapidly, instinctively trying to grab onto something in front of them, but to no avail.
They kept sinking for an unknown amount of time, feeling as if half their legs were submerged in mud. Both of them were on edge, their hearts pounding with fear. Suddenly, a thick fog enveloped them, swirling like a vortex towards the mountaintop, creating a terrifying atmosphere, as if something catastrophic was about to happen.
"Brother Ye, what's happening? It feels like we've fallen into a swamp."
They wanted to find a stable place to rest, but their legs were stuck. Both were in a predicament, unable to escape.
"It's alright, we've probably stepped into some mud. Let me get my bearings, and then we'll figure out how to get out of here."
Whenever possible, Ye Tiancheng tried to avoid using his true qi, as gathering it was difficult and using it would be a great pity.
Ye Tiancheng and Liu Lan Ying were in a hollow, feeling the mud clinging to their legs. It was sticky and bone-chillingly cold. The mud seemed alive, churning around their legs in waves, as if it were moving, layer upon layer, visible to them, before quickly merging back into one.
"This is terrifying, Brother Ye. This mud seems alive, like it's trying to swallow us."
Seeing Liu Lan Ying so frightened, Ye Tiancheng almost laughed but managed to suppress it. The fog was thick, obscuring the moonlight. It was an overcast day, and they could only smell a foul odor emanating from the mud, though they weren't entirely sure.
"How much longer do we have to endure? I can't hold on any longer. I'm afraid I'll fall."
Liu Lan Ying clutched Ye Tiancheng's clothes tightly, but her anxiety did not subside. She felt as if she could fall at any moment.
"Don't worry, when I pull you up, put your effort in with me."
To escape this situation, using true qi was unavoidable. Ye Tiancheng could only use a small amount and then shouted to Liu Lan Ying to exert herself.
If they didn't try their best now, they would suffer later. Liu Lan Ying followed Ye Tiancheng's rhythm and finally managed to pull her feet out of the mud. She felt as if she had become a tree, rooted in the mud, about to rot. With Ye Tiancheng's help, she finally escaped the predicament. They then stepped into the mud, making a loud squelching sound, and quickly ran forward.
They had to rely on each other, inseparable, as they were alone in this situation. After a struggle, they finally reached the foot of the mountain. They had already faced so many difficulties before even starting the climb. Liu Lan Ying was so exhausted that her eyes were barely open.
"I'm so tired, Brother Ye. Let's stop for a moment to catch our breath. I feel like I can barely breathe."
At Liu Lan Ying's suggestion, they sat down on a large rock at the foot of the mountain, gasping for air in the darkness, both feeling utterly exhausted.
Soon, they gradually recovered, their ragged breaths subsiding into a terrifying silence. The night was exceptionally quiet, not a sound to be heard, not even the chirping of insects. They could still feel a tremor in the earth, as if some living creatures were approaching from below. Ye Tiancheng began to regret their decision.
"I really had a bit too much to drink and didn't know my limits, coming out for an adventure this late at night."
Just moments ago, he could hear Liu Lan Ying's heartbeat. After all, Liu Lan Ying was just a young girl who had never experienced the world. She had spent her days studying in school, then became a village chief. How could she have experienced such terrifying events? Her frantic breaths and racing heart had finally calmed, but her nervousness was still evident.
"Brother Ye, I thought exploring would be fun, but it doesn't seem that way."
After Liu Lan Ying said this, Ye Tiancheng smiled again. "Don't worry, it's not that scary. I'm here, aren't I? I'll protect you."
Ye Tiancheng felt he had a chance to protect Liu Lan Ying's life, so there was no need to be so afraid.
"I don't think we can climb this mountain tonight. How about this, let's rest here. I was hoping to have a drink, but there's no alcohol here. We can drink tomorrow."
"There's no alcohol, but I brought some snacks. Do you want some? You can eat if you're hungry."
Ye Tiancheng found it both amusing and exasperating. He hadn't expected Liu Lan Ying to be such a capable logistician. They were out on an adventure, and she still had snacks in her small bag.
"You know, it's been over an hour since we set out, and we've been through so much. I'm a bit hungry. Let's take out the snacks and eat."
Liu Lan Ying took two egg yolk pastries from her bag, and they each ate one, devouring them quickly. They had just eaten dinner, but the scare had made them hungry again.
After eating, Liu Lan Ying began to tidy her hair. Ye Tiancheng suddenly pointed to a spot at the foot of the mountain.
"Am I seeing things correctly? Is that a house?"
This was a rare discovery for them. A house at the foot of the mountain suggested that people had been here before. However, it wasn't important. It would be foolish to spend another hour returning home at this late hour. Ye Tiancheng thought that resting in the house might be a good option.
"It does seem to be a house. It's better than sitting on these rocks. Either way, we should go and take a look."
They agreed immediately and went to investigate. They discovered a small house not far from where they had been resting.
"Someone has really lived here. But it must have been a long time ago. Look, the blankets are all pilled."
Liu Lan Ying couldn't believe that someone had actually been here. Had the secret of the treasure in her family's ancestral property been leaked? The more she thought about it, the more suspicious she became.
"From the looks of it, this place has been explored several times. Your claim that it's being occupied for demolition purposes might not be entirely accurate. It's possible that cultivators have discovered fragments of the Fuxi Qin here, or perhaps people realized there was treasure, which is why they chose such a remote location to occupy. Building villas here is still quite out of the way."
The more Ye Tiancheng spoke, the clearer the situation became. It seemed this was indeed the case. They needed to be more cautious. The presence of competitors meant that the situation was no longer as simple as it was at the beginning. It was likely that once people discovered it, conflicts would arise, leading to further dangers.
"Brother Ye, it's starting to rain harder outside. Fortunately, we closed the door, so there isn't much wind. It's quite good. Let's just settle for sleeping here for the night. Otherwise, it's too cold outside, and we could easily freeze to death."
They dared not be reckless now. Having a place to shelter was a great blessing for both of them.
"Alright. Do you smell a faint floral scent in this room?"
"Really? Is there still a floral scent at this hour?"
"Look, there are many dried flowers here. It seems someone very romantic lived here once, possibly a woman, otherwise, they wouldn't have kept these flowers."
The fragrance of the flowers was refreshing, creating a pleasant feeling, as if they were filled with a sense of well-being.
The two of them soon fell asleep. Perhaps it was due to their exhaustion, but after eating something, they slept soundly. Of course, Ye Tiancheng knew that the purplish-red flowers, whose names he didn't know, had a calming effect.
When they woke up, the world seemed to have been renewed. The chirping of birds woke them up, and they felt as if the world was once again filled with vitality.
"Brother Ye, look, there's a little cat here. A white cat with black markings. It looks quite playful."
Liu Lan Ying had just woken up wanting to stretch and eat something, but she was immediately drawn to the little cat. The kitten was smaller than an ordinary house cat, looking very docile and timid, rubbing against Liu Lan Ying's legs.
"Liu Lan Ying, that kitten must really like you. Look how it's rubbing against your legs. It's just unable to express itself. Kittens are very intelligent."
Ye Tiancheng quite liked small animals, though he preferred puppies. He was a little less fond of kittens, but this kitten was too cute. He was a bit wary of fierce kittens, but he had no resistance to such a cute one, finding it very amusing.
"Then let's take this kitten with us. I'll take the kitten home first, and then I'll wait for you at home. You can continue your exploration. The visibility is better during the day, which will make it easier for you to explore."