The pain was excruciating, and I couldn't help but groan. However, my arms soon regained their mobility.
The man rushed to my side and realigned the dislocated legs.
What I saw before me,
Wheat-colored skin, short hair cascading to her ears, a tiny figure yet with curves that are astonishingly exaggerated.
However, unlike before...
But compared to before...
At this moment, there was an added sense of strength in her, especially the seriousness, caution reflected on her face, quite different from before!
I hadn't expected...
Like an ant catching a cicada, a Huangque following a Huangque, and unexpectedly, it was Huangque who followed!?
"Stop staring, brother-in-law, or the old hermit will truly come."
Zhengqi's tense brows and eyes instantly blossomed into a smile.
"Thing!"
Without time for further contemplation, I focused my gaze in a specific direction.
Zhengqi's reaction was faster; she picked up the bag containing Old Gong's night pot from a pile of broken tiles. As she gripped the backpack, she let out a muffled groan, her eyes brimming with surprise.
I quickly advanced, picked up the backpack, and hung it on my waist.
My gaze turned to another direction, and my expression darkened instantly.
The bodies of the child corpse and the medium were pinned under a collapsed wall, making it impossible to remove them in the short term!
"Really, it's coming..."
Zhengqi's expression changed again.
Her words came out rapidly, "I knew the ghost pavilion was going to attack you, and even the people from the Tian Shou Taoist Temple were planning a decisive strike. So I followed you in secret, only to find that someone was following you as well. Just now, it was the third elder of the Tian Shou Taoist Temple. In the darker shadows, Ge Shu discovered an old Taoist... He's more formidable; even Ge Shu dare not get close."
"The third elder has taken you, brother-in-law. I timed it right, Ge Shu destroyed this house at noon, and I also felt the message from Ge Shu in the distance. The old Taoist is getting closer here!"
"He must have heard about the mountain side, and realized that you haven't returned yet, so he came himself!"
Zhengqi spoke too quickly, with logic that was too clear and distinct.
"I dare not stop, so I whispered, 'Let's go!'"
The two of them fled in another direction, not towards the woman's position just now.
The dense forest had barely any paths, just thickets underfoot. Without clothes on the upper body, the branches whipped against me, leaving a trail of bloodstains.
On the other side, I could see the calmly flowing river. In front of me, a large area covered by a landslide!
We ran at a fast pace, venturing deep into the mountain, not stopping until we couldn't see the river on the other side and there was no longer a sense of pursuit behind us. We finally came to a halt.
My breathing was exceptionally rapid, sweat pouring down from my forehead.
Zhengqi's pretty face was also covered in sweat, as she gasped for breath, her chest rising and falling.
Her eyes tensed as she watched the direction we had fled from, not daring to relax for a moment.
I controlled my disordered breathing and took a shallow breath of relief.
"We haven't been found."
"Hmm... That's a relief..." Zhengqi patted her chest.
After a moment, she turned her head and met my gaze.
I feel that Zhengqi has changed.
She has grown more confident.
Because of this confidence, her already delicate and beautiful face has gained an aura that is different from the ordinary.
There is also a trace of complexity, as well as gratitude for surviving the ordeal.
Without Zhengqi, I probably would have died at the hands of the third elder.
"Keep staring, or older sister will get angry."
Zhengqi squinted her eyes, smiling like a crescent moon.
"..."
Pressing her hand to her chest, she suppressed a groan.
Zhengqi's smile became even more vivid, joyous, and her body shook slightly.
Taking a deep breath and turning my head to the other side, I closed my eyes slightly before whispering, "Thank you."
"Oh..."
The laughter vanished, and her smile became more gentle.
Zhengqi's cheeks puffed out slightly, as if she had taken a deep breath.
"You're so afraid of older sister getting angry."
"Brother-in-law, you're really great."
Her words made me unsure of her meaning at the moment. Inside me, a wave of unrest rose, along with a slight panic.
The atmosphere grew tense and awkward.
Zhengqi turned her head and looked towards the other side, becoming my back.
I wanted to speak, but I didn't know how to start.
Suddenly, Zhengqi took a step forward.
I followed her.
This walk took a considerable amount of time.
Finally, when Zhengqi stopped walking, everything around was more unfamiliar and darker... we had ventured deeper into the mountains...
"We've gotten lost."
Zhengqi turned her head back. She hummed softly and a playful demeanor reappeared.
Me: "..."
Actually, I understand that Zhengqi is angry.
I remain silent because of limits.
I didn't expect that she was just venting by wandering aimlessly without any target.
"But, I'm no longer afraid of getting lost now. As long as it gets dark, Ge Shu can find its way."
"I can lead myself back."
Zhengqi spoke again, and the resilience shone on her face.
There are hints in what she said.
I understood it.
"Sorry," I said softly, my feelings complex.
"Mhm?" Zhengqi looked at me with a strange gaze.
"Brother-in-law, why are you apologizing to me again?"
"You, you didn't do anything wrong," Zhengqi shook her head.
I have no idea what to say next.
Zhengqi's gaze didn't linger on me but continued to scan the surroundings. She whispered, "First, we need to find a place to settle down. We'll go out after dark. That woman is a viper; she's not to be trifled with."
"The old Taoist may not leave the mountain. They're all troublesome people."
"Oh right, you don't need to worry about older sister. I just received a notice from the organization to bring older sister back and hand her over to the people of Tian Shou Taoist Temple. This way, I could gather more information and come here."
Between her words, Zhengqi still didn't look at me as she walked towards a position below the slope.
At this point, I truly breathed a sigh of relief!
Following Zhengqi downwards, the complexity within me soared.
This is even more surprising than the Tian Shou Taoist Temple recruiting me.
It is Zhengqi's change over this period that has become the most critical variable... saving my life and Zhengyin's.
It took a long time before we finally stopped walking.
We are almost at the foot of the mountain, and we can see the river below us, the terrain is somewhat more level.
To be honest, the feeling of exhaustion was constantly washing over me. I had already been injured, lost a lot of blood, and after a series of fights and desperate running, my body was nearing its limit.
Zhengqi sat down on the ground, and I followed suit. The pain in my waist made me want to cover it with my hand.
I hesitated to put my hand on the wound.
The sweat would irritate the wound and cause more pain. The previous treatment was simple, and my hands were too dirty to affect the wound.
Zhengqi's gaze fell on me again, no, on the wound on my waist.
She didn't speak for a long time.
"After dark, we should leave here as soon as possible," I said hoarsely.
"Mhm..." Zhengqi nodded.
After that, she moved closer to me, sitting next to me.
With one hand, she produced a small bottle from her pocket, and with the other, she grabbed my wrist where it hovered over the wound.
"Don't move." She lightly bit her lower lip, her voice shaking slightly.
After that, Zhengqi carefully sprinkled the powder on my wound and gently blew on it.
