Chapter 578: A Day of Heavy Rain
"Alright, there’s food over there to fill your stomachs. You all get some rest; I’ll keep watch." Gu Shuo was the more level-headed one. The most important thing for them right now was to recover their strength.
There would still be many things to handle once they got off Four-direction Mountain.
"I’ll take over for you in a few hours," Qian Fanji said.
"Alright."
Qian Fanji and Gu Shuo sat down to the left and right of where Ye Qianning and Sang Zhi were sleeping soundly.
Gu Shuo stood a short distance from the man in red. His identity was unknown, so they needed to remain vigilant.
The man in red glanced at him, then ignored him, sitting down cross-legged to rest with his eyes closed.
Ying Ge sat beside Luo Wen and Ying Yuan.
For a moment, the cave was utterly silent. No one said a word.
Ye Qianning slept deeply and for a very long time. When she finally woke up, it was already late the next night. She shifted slightly.
"You’re awake," Sang Zhi’s joyful voice rang out.
At the sound of Sang Zhi’s voice, Zhan Chi also drew near.
"Mm."
Ye Qianning rubbed her head. She was still groggy from sleep, her mind felt like mush, and a sharp pain throbbed at her temples.
"You’ve been asleep for a full day and night," Sang Zhi said.
Ye Qianning wasn’t too surprised. After all, when she first transmigrated here, she had slept for three whole days, scaring Fourth Granny half to death. It was after that incident that she realized something about her own constitution.
’I’m always so sleepy. I can eat a lot and sleep a lot... I guess that’s why I got so chubby.’
"It’s been raining heavily outside. By dawn, we should be able to head down the mountain." Gu Shuo walked in from the cave entrance. Seeing Ye Qianning awake, a hint of joy flashed in his eyes.
Ye Qianning was delighted to hear this. "Is the wildfire completely out?"
"Almost. The heavy rain has been falling for half a day, and it looks like it will continue through the night." Gu Shuo came over and sat down.
"Heaven is on our side. I wonder if Princess East Shu is still alive."
"Even if she makes it back to East Shu alive, kidnapping the Eighth Prince is a heinous crime. The Emperor will never let her get away with it," Zhan Chi said indignantly.
Qian Fanji’s voice was cool. "I wouldn’t be so sure."
"Even if the Eighth Prince isn’t favored, he’s still a Prince! This is a slap in the face to the Imperial Family." The Emperor valued the Imperial Family’s prestige above all else. How could he possibly tolerate East Shu publicly humiliating Beili’s Imperial Family?
"I don’t care if he can tolerate it. I, for one, cannot. Princess East Shu must die," Gu Shuo said coldly.
"Exactly. This debt must be repaid." Coincidentally, Qian Fanji felt the same way.
"East Shu will pay the price." The usually quiet Sang Zhi suddenly spoke, his voice carrying a solemnity they had never heard from him before.
Ye Qianning was taken aback and turned to look at him.
The expression on his fair face was one she had never seen before—resolute, ruthless, and tinged with a hint of killing intent.
Qian Fanji and Gu Shuo exchanged a look, their eyes holding a deep, profound meaning.
The ruthlessness of the Imperial Family ran bone-deep. With his bloodline, he was destined to fight for power; otherwise, he would just be meat on the chopping block. It seemed a change had truly taken root in the Eighth Prince’s heart.
This change was good for him, but it wasn’t necessarily a good thing for Ye Qianning.
A hidden worry surfaced in their minds. They were afraid the young lady would be captivated by him.
’My thoughts are the complete opposite of theirs,’ Ye Qianning mused. ’If this ordeal helps Sang Zhi grow and realize a few things, then this trip won’t have been in vain.’
"COUGH, COUGH."
A sudden fit of coughing broke everyone from their thoughts.
Luo Wen had regained consciousness and tried to push himself up.
"Guard Luo, you can’t get up yet." Ying Ge held him down.
"The young miss... Where is the young miss?" Luo Wen’s voice was urgent, his brow deeply furrowed.
"I’m right here."
Ye Qianning’s young voice rang out.