HMHSE - 30

Below, the space was unexpectedly vast. Unable to see the surroundings, they could only move forward in the direction of the wind.

The path seemed endless.

Finally, Shen Rong couldn’t help but ask: “Has it been a long time?”

It was hard to gauge time in this lightless place. She asked because she felt exhausted.

Shan Zong replied from ahead: “Yes, it’s been a while.”

The ground was uneven, and Shan Zong had to lead the way, clearing obstacles.

Shen Rong, growing weary, gradually fell behind. She could hear his voice but couldn’t tell where he was. Turning her head to search, she still couldn’t see clearly.

She called out tentatively: “Shan Zong?”

“Hmm?” His voice was still ahead.

Not wanting to admit she was looking for him, she softly said: “Nothing.”

Not far ahead, she suddenly collided with something and stopped abruptly.

It was a man’s chest. She pressed against it and nearly stumbled backward, but her arm was caught.

Shan Zong’s voice came from above her: “Looking for me?” He had noticed.

Shen Rong replied: “No, just calling you.”

Knowing her stubbornness, Shan Zong silently chuckled. Reaching into his chest, he handed her something wrapped in paper.

Shen Rong touched it: “What’s this?”

“Military rations. Eat before we continue.” Shan Zong estimated that a long time had passed since they hadn’t eaten or drunk water—they wouldn’t last much longer.

Only when he mentioned it did Shen Rong realize how hungry she was. Unwrapping the paper, she bit into it—it was either jerky or something equally tough, making her frown. Shan Zong said: “It’s not tasty, but there’s nothing else here for you to eat.”

Shen Rong suddenly looked up at him: “Can you see?”

How could he seem to know her expressions so well? Earlier, he had caught her so securely.

Shan Zong laughed. Trained in martial arts since childhood, his eyesight was sharp even in such conditions—it wasn’t difficult to make out shapes.

“There’s no need to dwell on that. There’s nothing about you that can’t be seen.”

Shen Rong chewed forcefully on the tough military ration, thinking how even in this dire situation, he could still act so smugly.

Yet, somehow, his confidence was reassuring. Being trapped here didn’t seem like a big deal to him.

When she finally couldn’t force herself to eat anymore, all she felt was thirst. She instinctively reached for her throat.

“Want water?” Shan Zong asked.

“There’s no water here,” she muttered, knowing full well.

Shan Zong seemed to move slightly. The next moment, her lips felt a cool touch—wetness. Instinctively, she licked, realizing it was his fingers.

Shan Zong knew water had been sucked through earlier, leaving traces. He wiped the cave wall, gathering moisture on his fingertips and pressing them to her lips.

The calloused pads of his fingers, accustomed to gripping swords, pressed against her lips like a spring pond. When she licked, it felt like a bird pecking or sipping water—an instant mingling of warmth.

For a moment, neither moved.

Her breath brushed against his fingers. Perhaps it was an illusion, but Shan Zong seemed closer now. In the darkness, his figure appeared taller, even imposing.

Her face was level with his broad shoulders, and she could clearly hear his breathing.

Strangely, her lips felt drier.

It wasn’t long, but it felt endless.

Shan Zong’s fingers slid off her lips, his voice low: “Lick some moisture to tide you over. Don’t swallow.”

Shen Rong murmured “Mm” in response, slowly exhaling.

Shan Zong lowered his head, rubbing his fingers together a few times before moving again.

Shen Rong felt him grab her sleeve, pulling her closer. Then she realized he was tying something. Her waistband, trailing silk ribbons, was wrapped around her tightly cinched waist, with a long section dangling. Without her noticing, he had tied it to the buckle of his leather belt.

“To make sure you don’t get lost,” Shan Zong said, turning around. “Stay close.”

With their waists connected, they were only a step apart. As he moved, Shen Rong felt the tug and followed him forward.

The natural passages in the mountain belly twisted like intestines, rising and falling, strewn with broken stones.

Had she not eaten something, Shen Rong might not have lasted much longer.

As she walked, she imagined the group being swept away by the water, secretly touching the scroll in her arms to calculate.

The speed of the water suction was naturally fast. Now, relying only on their feet, who knew how much time had passed?

Suddenly, her foot stepped into a puddle of water. A stone jabbed her, causing her to stumble. The waistband tugged, and Shan Zong turned back to catch her.

“You’ve no strength left?”

Shen Rong steadied herself, panting: “You’re walking too fast.”

Shan Zong switched the hand holding his sword, using the other to support her. He was already walking slowly.

“The wind seems stronger,” Shen Rong remarked suddenly.

Shan Zong looked ahead. Apart from the puddle she had stepped in, the ground seemed flatter.

He said: “You lead. We can’t miss the exit.”

Shen Rong took the lead, with his shadow closely following.

Soon, they reached a narrow, cramped area. It was unavoidable to feel constrained. From behind her, he leaned in close, almost pressing against her as they squeezed through.

Shen Rong felt the heat of his chest against her back and couldn’t help but recall his fingers brushing her lips earlier.

But the next moment, a gust of wind blew those thoughts away.

A faint light emerged ahead. Unconsciously, Shen Rong tugged on his sleeve: “We’re here.”

Shan Zong glanced at her hand on his arm, then at her profile. Even in the dim light, her excitement was evident, and the corner of his mouth twitched: “Mm.”

Shen Rong walked forward, using her last reserves of strength.

Shan Zong remained close behind.

As the light grew stronger, a large opening appeared before them. Transitioning from darkness to sudden brightness, both instinctively raised their hands to shield their eyes.

Shan Zong adjusted first, lowering his hand to look ahead, then chuckled.

Shen Rong uncovered her eyes to look, her heart sinking.

Before them was an opening, but more than ten feet below was a jar-like cavern filled entirely with mud. How deep, they couldn’t tell.

She looked at Shan Zong: “And you’re laughing?”

Shan Zong laughed because this was where they had found the trapped group earlier. The opening he had kicked open was still on the other side, with brighter light filtering through.

He had anticipated they would return here, but hadn’t expected it to drop straight down like this—he thought there might be another route around.

He stopped laughing: “Do you have any other paths?”

Shen Rong didn’t respond.

Turning to look, he saw her leaning against the protruding rock face, her head tilted slightly, looking utterly drained.

“No,” she said weakly. “I’m out of strength.”

She had pushed herself this far just to escape quickly. Now, faced with this mud pit below, with no footholds, it was undoubtedly their greatest challenge.

She couldn’t cling to the walls like those monstrous convicts, swept down by water yet managing to hang on. She simply lacked the physical endurance.

Shan Zong watched her: “So, do you plan to stay here?”

Shen Rong frowned: “No, but I can’t climb down the cliff.”

Below was a muddy abyss. Struggling would only deplete her remaining strength—it was a dilemma.

She touched the scroll in her arms. Someone who could stabilize countless mountains couldn’t possibly be swallowed by one—she refused to believe it.

“Then try my way,” Shan Zong suddenly said. Shen Rong looked at him.

Shan Zong knelt, untying the waistband connecting them. Removing his leather belt and protective gear, he loosened his arm guards.

“What are you doing?” She watched him undress.

Shan Zong draped his Hu-style robe over her, flipping up the collar to cover her nose and mouth. Even if she fell into the mud, she wouldn’t choke.

“I’ll count to three. Jump with me. Don’t think about anything else.”

Wrapped in his thick robe, only her eyes were visible, wide with disbelief.

Shan Zong met her gaze, smirking slightly: “What? Scared?”

Shen Rong bit her lip, saying nothing. Such a bold “path” could only come from him.

Shan Zong retied the leather belt, binding her waistband with his. Suddenly, he pulled her into his arms, one hand firmly gripping her waist.

“Secure the scroll.”

Shen Rong froze, pressing the scroll into her chest. Without waiting for her response, he began counting: “One.”

Her heart tightened, and she instinctively grabbed his shirt.

Just as she braced herself for “two,” the ground beneath her vanished.

Without warning, he jumped.

The sensation of weightlessness hit sharply, then abruptly stopped.

Shen Rong tightly shut her eyes. When she opened them, Shan Zong’s face was inches away. One hand clung to the protruding rock, his arm straining, his sleeve stretched taut. The other hand firmly held her.

“Step,” he grunted, his voice deep and muffled from exertion.

Shen Rong immediately extended her leg, finding purchase on a jagged stone.

Below, not far, was the mud pit.

He spoke again: “Listen carefully. You move one step, then I’ll move one step.”

Shen Rong steadied her pounding heart: “Alright.”

Without the convicts’ chains to hinder them, Shan Zong moved smoothly, though with Shen Rong’s added weight, each step was slow and cautious.

The opening he had kicked open drew closer.

“One more step back.”

“I’ve got it.”

Shan Zong tightened his hold, leaping the final distance. They tumbled through the opening, rolling into the grass.

Shen Rong gasped heavily, his face above hers as she lay on top of him.

Shan Zong was also catching his breath, his dark eyes staring at her.

Above them, the sky was pale gray.

His gaze swept over her startled expression, her pale face, slightly parted lips, and heaving chest. Placing his hand beside him, he sat up.

Their bodies, once pressed together, separated.

Untying the bound waistbands, Shen Rong finally snapped out of her daze. Shan Zong was already standing.

“Let’s go.” His sword was still tied to his back, miraculously intact. Walking out, he wore only his inner shirt and pants, the blade swaying lightly, showing no signs of the perilous ordeal he’d just endured. Instead, he appeared even more unrestrained than usual.

Shen Rong sat silently, glancing at his robe draped over her, then at his retreating figure. Suddenly, she felt enveloped by his presence.

She rose and followed him to the eastern riverbank. Seeing the rushing water, she remembered her unbearable thirst.

Crouching, she scooped water and drank, finally feeling revived. She glanced around.

Shan Zong’s sword lay by his feet. Ignoring the cold, he washed his hands, sleeves rolled up, revealing the tattooed scars on his right arm—some bruised, dripping with water.

Before she could make out the details, he stood, smirking faintly: “I imagine people will arrive soon.” As he spoke, he lowered his sleeve, covering the tattoos.

“Boss!” Sure enough, Hu Eleven’s thunderous voice echoed from afar.

A group rushed toward them.

They had finally dug open the pit entrance but hadn’t found anyone. Hu Eleven suddenly recalled this spot where they had found the convicts and brought people to search.

To his surprise, they actually encountered them.

Now, dark circles under his eyes, he looked at Shan Zong, then at Shen Rong, who had just risen from the riverside: “How did you two survive this entire day and night?”

Shan Zong asked: “An entire day and night?”

“Indeed!” Hu Eleven hadn’t slept for a full day and night. Noticing Shan Zong’s robe on Shen Rong, he glanced back and forth several times.

Shen Rong paid no mind, gazing at the sky. No wonder it was just dawn—it had been so long.

Zi Rui and Dong Lai also arrived from afar.

Upon reaching them, Zi Rui’s eyes were red: “Young Mistress, you’ve finally come out!”

Dong Lai said: “I told you, no mountain could trap Young Mistress.” Shen Rong glanced at Shan Zong, who looked back, but neither spoke.

Zi Rui approached to support her, seeing her disheveled appearance wrapped in Shan Zong’s robe. She dared not look at Shan Zong and quietly reminded: “Young Mistress, we should return quickly. People have been waiting anxiously for news of you.”

Shen Rong casually asked: “Who?” She assumed it was Zhao Jinlian.

Zi Rui replied: “People from the Ministry of Works have arrived.”