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After completely entrusting the disaster relief efforts to Han Shi, Jun Mo and Su Li shifted their focus to the matter of the missing men. F

After completely entrusting the disaster relief efforts to Han Shi, Jun Mo and Su Li shifted their focus to the matter of the missing men.

For several days prior, Jun Mo had sensed they were being followed квантовой as they left their residence.

Consequently, he and Su Li spent their days as usual, sightseeing, eating, and drinking.

After several consecutive days like this, the number of people sent to watch them gradually decreased.

Seeing that the time was ripe, the two disguised themselves and left the manor.

Mo Feng and Si Qin, whose builds were similar to Jun Mo and Su Li, disguised themselves and remained in the manor.

After Jun Mo and Su Li left the manor, there was no "tail" following them, and they headed towards the pre-arranged meeting place.

From a distance, they saw Mo Yang and Mo Yu waiting by an ordinary horse-drawn carriage.

Seeing them approach, Mo Yang and Mo Yu immediately went forward to greet them.

"Your Highness, Miss Su, please get in the carriage quickly."

Jun Mo helped Su Li into the carriage, then leaped in himself.

"Let’s go."

"Yes!"

The carriage sped off, heading towards the endlessly stretching Copper Drum Stronghold.

Half an hour later, the carriage stopped.

Jun Mo helped Su Li out of the carriage.

The four of them looked at the towering, dense forest and couldn’t help but marvel at the wonders of nature.

This Copper Drum Stronghold was comprised of more than ten interconnected mountain peaks, forming an encircling embrace.

If one were to search aimlessly like a headless fly, they could search for a month and still not find anything.

Fortunately, they had managed to get some clues from Chu Chu.

The Seven Immortals Cave was located between the sixth and seventh mountain peaks.

There were dry rations and water in the carriage, which Mo Yang and Mo Yu retrieved and slung onto their backs.

Jun Mo said, "Let’s go."

Su Li took out several small scented sachets and handed them over, saying, "Keep these on your person."

The men took the sachets, hung them from their waists, and officially set off towards the Copper Drum Stronghold, a place whose very mention made people in Shu Capital turn pale.

In the early morning, a faint, thin mist still lingered in the dense forest, appearing indistinct from afar, like the light gauze veils of dancing fairies.

Gentle sunlight sprinkled through the mountain forest, and the lush green leaves displayed varying shades of deep and light green.

The hillsides were covered with fragrant, cushion-like grass, and clumps and clusters of unknown wildflowers, bathed in sunlight, bloomed with smiling faces. Dewdrops on their petals, illuminated by the morning light, sparkled with iridescent colors.

The expressions on their faces gradually relaxed.

The further they went, the more rugged and difficult the mountain path became.

Jun Mo extended his hand to Su Li.

Su Li glanced at the large hand before her—the knuckles were well-defined, and there were thin calluses in the palm, a result of practicing martial arts year-round.

Su Li hesitated for a moment before placing her hand in his.

The instant their hands clasped, Jun Mo’s eyes lit up.

The air was filled with the clean, warm fragrance of grass and trees.

He looked down at the woman’s delicate, snow-white hand, now held tightly in his own.

The wind still blew gently, and the woman offered him a faint smile.

"I’ve troubled Your Highness."

A captivating smile, enchanting eyes so bright.

This warmth was already within his grasp; how could he possibly give it up?

So he smiled and said, "Li’er will never be a bother."

With Jun Mo holding her hand, Su Li walked a little faster.

The deeper they went, the darker the light became.

Above the dense forest, the branches were thickly layered and intertwined, making it difficult for sunlight to penetrate to the ground.

Besides the dimming light, the surrounding trees also grew thicker.

The surrounding plants were even more bizarre and unusual, things not commonly seen.

After walking for nearly another hour, the surroundings changed again.

The air around them became humid.

"Careful!" Mo Yang pulled Mo Yu back, his sword lashing out.

A small, snake-like creature was severed into two, but it wasn’t dead. It fell to the ground and continued to writhe.

Mo Yu, his heart still pounding with residual fear, asked, "What... what is this thing?"

Su Li approached for a closer look, and goosebumps rose on her skin.

"These are leeches!"

Leeches the size of small snakes!

The group looked around and, upon careful inspection, noticed many leeches on the leaves of trees that extended into the path.

Due to the dim light and the dark green color of the leeches, they were nearly impossible to spot without looking closely.

A wave of fear washed over Mo Yu. If one of these things burrowed into his neck, would he even survive?

Su Li said, "It’s alright. Don’t lose the scented sachets at your waists. These things won’t dare to come near."

Jun Mo walked a few steps forward. Sure enough, when the leeches on the branches saw him approach, they immediately crawled away.

Mo Yu patted his chest and said, "Many thanks to Your Highness for saving Mo Yu’s life!"

Su Li saw that the path ahead gradually disappeared, replaced by wild grass that reached past their ankles, even to their calves.

Su Li took out a porcelain bottle and handed it to Jun Mo.

"Sprinkle some of this powder on your boots."

Jun Mo smiled. "It’s all thanks to having Li’er around."

After sprinkling the powder, they continued forward.

Seeing there was no longer a path, Jun Mo bent down.

"Get on."

Su Li didn’t act coy; she climbed onto Jun Mo’s back.

Who knew what lurked in this grass? Although they had sprinkled the powder and those things couldn’t harm her, they could certainly be disgusting.

Jun Mo carried her and continued onward.

As they moved, strange sounds and movements occasionally came from the tall grass.

From the sounds, they could tell it was snakes, but not just snakes.

Never mind Su Li, even Mo Yang and Mo Yu felt goosebumps all over.

Mo Yu said, "Is there really a secret in these mountains? The Jiang family is too deranged, hiding people in here!"

Su Li smiled. "If it were that easy to find, wouldn’t it be very dangerous? What they’re doing is a matter of property confiscation and clan extermination."

If this journey hadn’t been dangerous, she wouldn’t have been so sure. But seeing things as they were, she was even more convinced that there was a secret in these mountains.

After walking for more than another half-hour, Su Li asked, "Are you tired?"

As the woman spoke, her breath was right by his ear. Jun Mo’s earlobes quietly turned red, and he answered irrelevantly, "Li’er should eat more."

The weight of the woman on his back was negligible to him; she was truly too light.

The group continued to venture deeper into the mountains, eating dry rations and drinking some water in relatively safe clearings when they got hungry.

Deep within the dense forest, it was hot and humid, and their waterskins were quickly emptying.

"Your Highness, you drink."

Mo Yang handed the last remaining bit of water to Jun Mo.

Jun Mo took it and passed it to Su Li.

Seeing their pale lips, Su Li knew they were severely dehydrated.

None of them had been to such a place before. They had thought their preparations were sufficient, but they hadn’t expected to run out of water.

Su Li handed it back to Jun Mo. "You drink it. I’m not thirsty."

In truth, she was extremely thirsty; her throat felt like it was about to emit smoke.

This blasted place was as hot as a steamer.

Su Li stood up and observed her surroundings.

They had covered half the journey, but the lack of water was now the critical problem.

Suddenly, she looked into the distance, her eyes lighting up.

"Mo Yang, quickly, there’s water!"

Mo Yang followed her gaze but saw nothing but plants.

Seeing everyone looking at her in confusion, Su Li said excitedly, "Your Highness, drink the rest of the water and empty the waterskin."

"Mo Yang, do you see that tree over there? Go and cut it down at its midsection. There’s water inside. Take the waterskin and fill it up."

Mo Yang was quite skeptical but, as instructed, took the waterskin, stood up, and walked over.

Mo Yang drew his sword, and with a swing, the tree was severed at its trunk.

Su Li walked over and said, "Mo Yang, the center of that tree is hollow and full of water. Fill the waterskin."

Then she dragged over the upper part of the tree herself.

"These branches are all hollow; there’s water inside them too, you can drink it."

Saying this, Su Li took out a dagger, cut off a section of a branch, and was about to bring it to her lips.

"Princess Consort, Mo Yu should try it first."

Su Li smiled. "Trust me, this is really drinkable."

This was all thanks to the miscellaneous notes her master from her previous life had tossed her. Otherwise, they would have really suffered today.

Without any doubt, Jun Mo used his sword to cut a section of a branch and drank some of the sap.

Su Li also took a sip. As the notes had described, it was refreshingly sweet and quenched her thirst.

Over there, Mo Yang had filled the waterskin with water and walked back.

They ate their dry rations along with this sap, and even the dry rations seemed a bit more palatable.

After eating and drinking their fill, their exhaustion was swept away, and they resumed their journey.

"It’s all thanks to Miss Su that we have water to drink," Mo Yang said.

Mo Yu, his face full of curiosity, asked, "Princess Consort, you’ve never traveled far from home, how do you know so much?"

Su Li smiled. "Books contain everything."

Jun Mo, carrying Su Li on his back, felt the corners of his lips curve slightly.

His luck was truly good; he had found a real treasure.