newbobooks Chapter 183 Perilous Peak
Chapter 183 Perilous Peak
Outside the city walls was a dense forest, with tall trees and lush foliage, which looked particularly eerie in the rainy night.
Raindrops pattered on the leaves, making a dense "shush" sound that echoed in my ears.
The group carefully made their way through the muddy ground, which had been soaked by the rain, making each step extremely arduous.
The sound of breathing was drowned out by the rain, but the tension in my heart could not be dispelled.
"The rain is too heavy. It looks like we need to find a safe place to rest."
"Snake Ink said in a low voice, his eyes scanning the woods, looking for a suitable place to settle down."
"Is it really okay? We've only just left the Holy City." Chu Xinyao frowned and asked with some worry.
"Yaoyao, don't worry. We have people in that courtyard. We should be able to keep things going for a few days."
"Yes, Yao, don't worry." Shemo held Chu Xinyao's hand tightly and comforted her.
"There's a cave ahead, we can go there." Fish Bubble looked up at the dark sky. Although he could temporarily control the rain, it wasn't a long-term solution.
"Okay, lead the way."
The group quickly moved towards the cave. Chu Xinyao couldn't see the path clearly and her steps were a little unsteady, but every time she was about to lose her balance, a hand would catch her in time.
The tiger's roar and the snake's ink acted like two solid barriers, protecting her in the middle.
The cave was hidden behind several huge rocks. The entrance was narrow, but the interior was quite spacious. The cave was dry, a stark contrast to the dampness outside, and a faint smell of earth filled the air.
The group entered the cave and immediately felt a sense of relief. Once inside, Shemo immediately set up some simple traps at the entrance, just in case.
"We can't light a fire here, lest it cause unnecessary trouble," Snake Ink said in a low voice.
Tiger Roar nodded, then his figure blurred, transforming into a giant tiger. His fur gleamed faintly in the dim light, and his body, though enormous, was remarkably docile.
He came to Chu Xinyao's side, growled, and gestured for her to rest on her own.
Chu Xinyao took off her slightly damp feather robe and hung it on a nearby rock. She sat down against the giant tiger, hugging her knees.
"Alright, everyone, take a rest for a bit. We'll continue our journey tomorrow." Shemo took out some dry rations and distributed them to everyone.
Fish Bubble took the dry food, silently took a bite, but her eyes revealed a trace of worry.
Shemo sat down beside Chu Xinyao and said in a low voice, "Yao, don't think too much. We've already taken the first step. As long as we proceed carefully, we'll definitely be able to leave smoothly."
Chu Xinyao nodded, forcing a smile: "I know, but... I just feel a little uneasy."
“That’s normal,” the giant tiger behind us interjected. “Anyone would be nervous in this kind of environment. But as long as we stay calm and collected, there’s nothing to be afraid of.”
Fish Bubble glanced up at them, hesitating to speak. Leaving the Holy Land wouldn't be easy. The Holy Land was heavily guarded, with soldiers patrolling everywhere; a slight misstep could expose their presence.
He gripped the dry rations in his hand, secretly making up his mind that no matter what, he would protect Chu Xinyao.
The sound of rain continued to echo outside, but the cave gradually quieted down.
The group sat together, silently eating their dry rations, each pondering their next plan.
Chu Xinyao leaned against the giant tiger, feeling the constant warmth emanating from it. Her breathing gradually became steady, and the unease in her heart slowly dissipated.
Shemo looked at her profile, a hint of tenderness flashing in his eyes, and said softly, "Sleep for a while, we still have to travel tomorrow."
Chu Xinyao nodded, slowly closed her eyes, and her breathing gradually became even. Her face still showed signs of fatigue, but she had been holding on until now, finally relaxing for a moment.
Inside the cave, the sounds of their breathing mingled together. The torrential rain outside did nothing to disturb them. Raindrops tapped against the rocks at the cave entrance, making a crisp sound. Occasionally, a gust of wind would pass through the cave entrance, but it was only a gentle breeze.
They set off as soon as it was light.
Snake Ink walked at the front, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily. He had chosen a good route, passing through small tribes with few powerful figures. Although the journey was a bit roundabout, it did not expose their whereabouts.
Along the way, they carefully avoided places that might be dangerous, and tried to choose secluded forests and trails to travel.
Three days later, the group finally arrived at the foot of the mountain. The mountain before them was majestic, shrouded in mist, as if it were a masterpiece of nature.
Standing at the foot of the mountain, Chu Xinyao looked up at the towering peaks that seemed to pierce the clouds and asked in disbelief, "Mo, are we really going up this mountain?"
Her voice was somewhat uncertain, after all, the mountain's steepness exceeded her expectations.
Snake Ink stood beside her, smiling slightly, "Now that we're here, there's no need to worry so much. It's just that this mountain is indeed quite high. We male beasts are all fine, but Yao, you..."
Chu Xinyao crossed her arms, looked up and laughed, "You underestimate me, don't you?"
"How could that be? I was just worried you were too tired."
At the foot of the mountain, the group rested briefly, tidied their belongings, and then set off on the mountain path leading to the summit.
The mountain path was rugged and uneven, covered with loose stones and thorns, making every step extremely difficult. The mountain wind howled through the air, carrying a biting chill that felt like a knife cutting into your face.
Chu Xinyao's long hair was blown into a mess by the wind, but she couldn't care less about anything else. She could only hold She Mo's hand tightly and take each step carefully.
The mountain path was so narrow that only one person could pass at a time. Snake Ink, Tiger Roar, and Fish Bubble carefully protected Chu Xinyao, afraid that she might accidentally fall. Snake Ink walked in front, occasionally turning back to check on Chu Xinyao, while Tiger Roar and Fish Bubble each had an extra rope around their waists, which they tied around Chu Xinyao's waist.
They gripped one end of the rope tightly in their hands, as if it were the last line of defense protecting Chu Xinyao's life. They dared not slacken their efforts in the slightest; if anything happened to Chu Xinyao, they had to react immediately.
The mountain wind grew increasingly fierce, making it almost impossible for Chu Xinyao to open her eyes. Worried that her long hair would obstruct her vision and movement, she had already taken the time to braid it into a plait. However, some stray hairs still flew in the wind, occasionally brushing against her cheeks and causing a slight sting. But she couldn't care less; she could only grip Hu Xiao's hand tightly. Her palms were sweaty, cold, and slippery, but she dared not relax her grip even slightly.
The mountain path was rugged, and the loose stones underfoot made it easy to slip and fall. The thorns seemed like countless hands, trying to stop their progress.
Chu Xinyao's clothes were already torn in several places. Although she wasn't bleeding, she looked terribly disheveled. Her arms and legs were scratched by thorns, leaving red marks that stung painfully.
She frowned occasionally, but quickly relaxed, trying to appear calm. She knew that if she showed weakness, it would worry them, and she didn't want to be a burden to them.