The group ascended halfway up the mountain, finding a spot to rest. Along the way, Lu Yuzhi and the others had managed to catch a few small prey animals.
Guang'an Prefecture's Songlin County had only been experiencing drought for less than half a year, so only the vegetation at the foot of the mountain had withered. From the mid-slope upwards, lush greenery was still visible, not yet completely desolate, thus there were quite a few prey animals.
Su Muqing and the others went far away to relieve themselves together, leaving the men waiting by a large boulder. After some time, they still hadn't returned.
Lao San kept glancing in the direction the girls had gone. "Why haven't they returned yet? Could they have encountered danger?"
Lao Wu, drinking the iced beer Su Muqing had given them, mumbled indistinctly, "Young ladies are just more troublesome. With Miss Muqing accompanying them, how could anything happen!"
Lu Yuzhi couldn't help but smile upon hearing their conversation. His guards now evidently treated Su Muqing as their leader; they did whatever she said.
However, this Miss Su was truly unique in personality and worthy of everyone's obedience and affection. She possessed great abilities but was not the least bit arrogant or conceited. Throughout their journey, she proactively helped those in need and drew her sword to aid in times of injustice. She was beautiful, generous, approachable, and kind. Facing wicked individuals, she acted decisively in their punishment, possessing a chivalrous heart to save the common people! She was truly an extraordinary woman, one in ten thousand.
Lin Rongrong and Su Muqing finished first and waited for the other two on the side. After a long while, they still hadn't emerged. "Sister Cui Ping, Sister Cui Lan, are you done?"
Su Cui Ping: "Coming... Ah~"
"Ah~"
Unexpectedly, just as Su Cui Ping finished speaking, two screams rang out. Su Muqing casually drew a cleaver, chopped through the branches and weeds blocking her path, and ran towards the source of the sound.
Lu Yuzhi and the others on this side also heard the screams. They quickly dropped their prey, were supported by Lao San and the others, and used their Qinggong to rush towards where the girls had gone to relieve themselves.
When Su Muqing arrived, she didn't see Su Cui Ping and the other woman, but a pit had appeared on the ground. She immediately took out a flashlight from her space and shone it down. "Sister Cui Ping, Sister Cui Lan, are you down there?"
"Yes... Mu... Muqing, my... my leg..." Su Cui Ping's voice came from the pit, but her condition seemed not good.
"Wait a moment, I'll come down to save you. Is Sister Cui Lan next to you?" Su Muqing spoke to Su Cui Ping while taking out an extended folding ladder. She had just seen that the pit was dark and deep, with many vines hanging from its sides. However, as it neared the bottom, it became twisted and uneven. One should not rashly jump down.
"I don't know... It's so dark here... Cui Lan... Cui Lan..." Su Cui Ping then remembered that Cui Lan had also fallen and quickly called her name. The two had just finished relieving themselves and were walking back when they saw a wild rabbit darting nearby. Both intended to surround the rabbit first and then have Muqing catch it. Who knew that as soon as she stepped on this rock, she fell in. Cui Lan, seeing her in danger, reached out to pull her, but her strength was too little, and both fell in.
Su Muqing placed the ladder and turned to instruct Lin Rongrong. "You wait here for Brother Lu and the others and tell them..." Before she could finish, Lu Yuzhi and the others arrived.
Lu Yuzhi: "Muqing, we're here. What happened?"
"Sister Cui Ping and Sister Cui Lan fell in. We need to go down and save them." Su Muqing finished speaking, bit the flashlight in her mouth, and held the ladder as she descended. Lu Yuzhi followed behind her, and Lao San and the others followed suit.
After reaching the bottom of the pit, Su Muqing took out several floodlights and hung them on both sides. Only then did everyone see the situation clearly. How dangerous! Where they were standing was not the bottom of the pit, but a long protruding giant rock. Su Cui Ping had fallen at the edge of the giant rock, her leg entangled by a cluster of vines. She was hanging upside down.
Lao San lunged forward, supporting her with one hand, turning Su Cui Ping to rest on his shoulder, and with the other hand, drew his saber and cut the vines that had ensnared her ankle. Only then was she rescued. Lao Wu found Su Cui Lan in a crevice between the rocks on the side. She was completely entangled by vines. Seeing blood on her forehead and that she was unconscious, Su Muqing quickly scanned her with a detector. Fortunately, she was not seriously injured. It was likely she had been knocked unconscious.
Su Muqing gave the two simple treatment. Su Cui Ping's left foot was dislocated, and Lao San, without her noticing, reset it with a "crack." She also had multiple abrasions on her body. Su Cui Lan also had many scrapes and a small wound on her forehead. Fortunately, the other injuries were superficial and could be treated with the healing术.
Everyone inwardly marveled that these two were truly destined not to perish! For below the giant rock was a ten-thousand-foot abyss! If not for the vines that entangled the two, the consequences would have been... No one expected that a large section in the middle of this mountain was hollow! Lao San picked up a nearby stone and threw it down. A long, long time passed without the sound of it hitting the ground.
"Muqing, come quickly." Su Muqing had just finished using the healing术 and was taking out two more sets of clothes to change for the two girls when she heard Lu Yuzhi calling her.
Su Muqing handed the clothes to Lin Rongrong, stood up, and walked over. "What is it?"
"Look here, there's such a large gate here." Lu Yuzhi said as he pulled away the covering vines, revealing a rusty iron gate.
Lao Wu: "It seems to lead somewhere down there?"
Lao Er: "Should we open it and take a look?" After Lao Er finished speaking, the few exchanged glances. Their eyes were filled with eagerness. Finally, they decided to go down and investigate.
"Then you all break this gate first. I'll go check on Sister Cui Ping and the others and inform them." Su Muqing gave them a large saw and then went to check on Su Cui Ping and the other girl's condition. Su Cui Lan had also woken up by then. The wound on her forehead had healed, leaving only a faint pink mark. Su Cui Ping's foot was also reset, although it still hurt a bit when she walked.
In the end, Lao San, Lao Qi, and Lao Shi remained to take care of the girls. Lu Yuzhi and Su Muqing, along with Lao Er and Lao Wu, four people in total, went down to investigate. The iron gate had been in place for a long time and was soon cut open. The four brought their equipment, with Lao Er Leng Feng leading the way. Following stone steps carved into the mountain wall, they slowly moved downwards. Descending straight down for dozens of meters, they reached the middle of the fault. Here, there was a small empty room, with a wooden plank laid on the ground. After confirming there was no danger, they called the other three to come down. Lu Yuzhi and the others also descended into the empty room. Lifting the wooden plank from the ground, they realized that this room was also suspended, about 5 meters from the ground. Lao Er and Lao Wu leaped down. Su Muqing was about to fetch a ladder when Lu Yuzhi grabbed her by the collar of her clothes and brought her down with him. Damn! So high! She hadn't learned Qinggong yet! It seemed learning Qinggong should be her top priority next time.