Chapter 543: Greatly Connected to Sang Zhi
"I’ll take my men and leave the city at once." Dean Chen didn’t dare delay for a moment.
Consort Yuan already wanted the little girl dead. With her brother leading the troops, there was no way he would let the girl return to the city alive.
"The Eighth Prince was lured out of the city just as the Emperor learned of the matter, and the little girl followed right after. It seems someone is determined to see her dead," Zhan Yi quickly deduced.
"I will return at once to gather the Qian family’s men and ride out of the city," Qian Fu said, turning to leave.
"I’ll go as well," Old Gu added, rushing out the door.
Madam Zhan, thoroughly frightened, rose unsteadily. "I will go to the palace now."
"My lady, you aren’t well. Please, stay here. I will take my men and leave the city," Zhan Yi said as he rose.
"Husband," Madam Zhan said, taking two steps after him. "You must bring our granddaughter back safely."
"I will." Zhan Yi departed.
Madam Zhan watched Zhan Yi leave, then turned and instructed a maid, "Have the steward fetch some cash. You’re coming with me to the imperial dungeon."
"My lady, what are you going to the imperial dungeon for?" the maid asked in surprise.
"Few who enter the imperial dungeon escape torment. How could a concubine from the General’s Manor possibly endure such a thing?" Madam Zhan caught her breath. ’The manor is empty right now. I cannot afford to panic, much less collapse.’
"My lady, you’re incredibly frail. Why not let the steward go and handle things?"
"This is too important. The steward likely wouldn’t even be granted an audience. Prepare the carriage." If she went herself, they would at least have to show her some respect.
’Even if she couldn’t get them out, it would be good to spare the people of the General’s Manor from physical torment for the time being.’
Night enveloped the landscape. The roars of beasts and the stench of blood wafted from the mountains.
Four-direction Mountain was massive. Following Xiliu Yuan’s directions, Ye Qianning had already spent two to four hours crossing the second shattered peak, and her stamina was draining fast.
Perched on a tree trunk, she panted slightly.
’This was the first time since arriving in this era that she had fully unleashed her powers. Her small body was struggling to keep up.’
The forest was too dense and the undergrowth too high to travel on the ground. The higher she climbed, the steeper the terrain became, and navigating the overlapping trees was exhausting.
The June wind was hot and dry. Ye Qianning took a flask of spring water from her spatial storage and drank a few mouthfuls.
Though anxious, she didn’t dare push herself too hard. Her small frame was already past its limit, leaving her gasping for air. ’If I don’t rest,’ she thought, ’I’m afraid I’ll pass out at a critical moment!’
’And that would be no different than personally delivering her life into someone else’s hands.’
Ye Qianning rested against the tree trunk for a moment, Xiliu Yuan’s words echoing in her mind: Penglai Immortal Mountain was hidden in a person’s eyes. Many of the items in her spatial storage were fruits depicted in the *Atlas of Miscellanies*.
’According to legend, all the items in the *Atlas* came from Penglai Immortal Mountain...’
’The fortune value of her space required the sincere gratitude of others to be replenished. Every time she helped Sang Zhi, her fortune value maxed out. If Sang Zhi’s eyes were truly related to Penglai Immortal Mountain, then she and Sang Zhi must be deeply connected.’
RUSTLE. The dense forest stirred, as if a great wind was about to rise. The smell of blood grew stronger.
CHIRP CHIRP CHIRP CHIRP. Two small honeyeaters landed on the tree.
Ye Qianning glanced upward. She could no longer go straight ahead. Higher up the slope, something ferocious was relentlessly hunting the forest animals, as if it had gone berserk.
’Three kilometers to the left!’
After catching her breath, she skirted the base of the next cliff face, moving to the left.
The wind grew stronger, and the swaying of the trees became terrifying.
The honeyeaters overhead guided her, chirping alerts about the signs of human activity up ahead.
After traveling for two kilometers, Ye Qianning began to move up the slope.