The one who arrived was Yun Siman, who had rushed from Dashui Village to welcome Jinhe home...
Since there was only this one road leading to Dashui Village, it wasn't a coincidence that Xiao Xinling met him.
"Hey, has that kid Jinhe gone home yet? He hasn't even written a letter, so where am I supposed to welcome him!~" Yun Siman grumbled.
As he spoke, he glanced back at the two carriages swallowed by the wind and snow, a sense of unease growing in his heart...
The two men driving the carriages looked quite familiar, but their faces were covered, so he couldn't see what they looked like.
Never mind, it was better to find Jinhe quickly. He still had to go back for a drink of wine.
With this thought, Yun Siman whipped his horse again. The steed neighed and, pulling the sled, rushed forward.
At the same time, Yun Jinhe and the others were struggling through the snowfield...
A heavy snow had fallen last night, covering the entire official road.
After dawn, no one had traveled the road, so as Jinhe and the others walked, they deviated from their path and were completely lost.
Yao Jinsheng lifted the curtain and glanced outside, "Oh dear, what I was worried about has happened. Jinhe, quickly show us a way, or we'll freeze to death in this wilderness..."
Yun Jinhe was also anxious. He took off his thick felt cap and handed it to Murong Qing, then lifted the curtain and jumped off the carriage.
They had already left the desolate plain and were gradually entering the forest.
Looking around, they saw straight birch trees everywhere. The morning light was weak, and the cold was biting. Occasionally, they could see many rabbit tracks on the snow...
Yun Jinhe was very unfamiliar with this area and was certain he had never been here before.
Sun Tianxiu tightened the reins, and the carriage slowly stopped, "Jinhe, we can't go any further. This forest has everything, wolf packs, black bears, tigers. If any of them suddenly appear, we'll be done for!~"
"Then what do you suggest?" Yao Jinsheng glared at him and grumbled in a low voice, "I told you to watch the road carefully when driving. If we get lost, we'll all suffer, but you just wouldn't listen..."
Yao Jinsheng: "???"
Wait, Young Master Yao, open your eyes and look carefully. Did I deliberately get us lost?
The entire official road was buried by snow, and I've never been to Dashui Village before. Can you blame me?
Yun Jinhe waved his hand, "Alright, let's all say less. Let's get out of this forest first..."
"Ha! Jinhe, are you still not awake!" Yao Jinsheng also jumped off the carriage and touched Yun Jinhe's forehead, "You don't have a fever, so why are you talking nonsense? Look at how big this forest is, and there's no one around. What if we encounter a black bear?"
"Black bears are all hibernating at this time!" Murong Qing said calmly.
As she spoke, she unhurriedly got off the carriage and took a compass from her sleeve, "But most black bears in the forest do not hibernate!~"
Yao Jinsheng: "..."
His heart, which had just settled, rose to his throat again.
Miss Murong, can you please not speak in such a way that makes my heart jump? It's too scary.
"Jinhe, Dashui Village is north of the academy, right?" Murong Qing asked.
Yun Jinhe nodded, "Yes, it's to the northeast. We've traveled so far, theoretically we should have arrived long ago..."
Murong Qing hummed and, after confirming the direction, pointed with her hand, "Go this way, and we'll be out of the woods within an hour!~"
As a top student in science and engineering, how embarrassing would it be if people knew she was trapped in the mountains?
Sun Tianxiu asked blankly, "Miss... Miss Murong, are you sure you can get us out?"
"What, you don't believe me?" Murong Qing glanced at him.
Although she was not very familiar with the terrain here, her general direction would not be wrong.
Yun Jinhe's heart leaped with joy. He quickly walked to Sun Tianxiu's side and patted his forehead, "Tianxiu, why are you still standing there? Hurry up and turn the carriage around. Do you still want to eat delicious sauerkraut steamed dumplings?"
Sun Tianxiu: "..."
You only know how to tempt me with dumplings.
But it was true, if Jinhe hadn't mentioned those delicious foods along the way, he and Yao Jinsheng would have given up long ago.
Indeed, delicious food is an important driving force for humanity's progress...
The carriage changed direction and slowly drove towards the other side of the forest.
Fortunately, the terrain here was relatively flat, without large rocks or uneven ditches, so the carriage moved quite smoothly.
Yao Jinsheng opened his bag and took out some dried persimmons to share with everyone.
"Hey, Miss Murong, are you really from Chen Country?" Yao Jinsheng struck up a conversation with Murong Qing, "But you don't look like a girl from Chen Country..."
Murong Qing smiled slightly upon hearing this, "Then what country do I look like?"
"I can't say!" Yao Jinsheng stared intently at Murong Qing, his doubts growing, "You don't look like anyone from any country. I've never seen such a delicate girl as you. If you were dressed up properly, you'd be as beautiful as a fairy!~"
Yun Jinhe: "..."
Is it appropriate for you to praise her as a fairy in front of me?
Murong Qing was amused and chuckled, giving Yao Jinsheng a playful glare, "I am indeed not from Chen Country, I just came to Chen Country with my parents to make a living since I was young!"
"Then where are you from?" Yun Jinhe suddenly asked.
Murong Qing paused, a complex light flashing in her eyes. After a moment of hesitation, she pursed her lips and smiled, "A place too insignificant to mention..."
She was afraid that revealing her background would scare everyone.
Some secrets should be buried in one's heart forever, never to be mentioned.
Sun Tianxiu twitched the reins and turned to look at Murong Qing, "Miss Murong, I heard you have a cousin in Chen Country. After Chen Country fell, you fled to Liang Country with her. What does your cousin do?"
Murong Qing: "..."
It really hit a sore spot.
She couldn't possibly say that Shangguan Fang'er was a princess of a fallen kingdom.
"She, she doesn't do anything!~" Murong Qing replied perfunctorily.
Yun Jinhe listened, observed Murong Qing's expression, and seeing that Sun Tianxiu and Yao Jinhua still wanted to ask more questions, he quickly changed the subject and started talking about the academy...
Some things could only be said by Miss Murong herself; they couldn't be obtained by direct questioning.
As noon approached, the carriage finally emerged from the forest, revealing a vast expanse of white snowfield before their eyes.
Gazing into the distance, they could faintly see wisps of smoke rising into the sky, only to be blown into a cold mist by the biting wind.
"Look, there seems to be a village over there!~" Yao Jinsheng exclaimed excitedly.
But before his words had even fallen, the sound of horses' hooves suddenly came from the forest behind them.
Turning to look, they saw dozens of burly men wielding sharp weapons, rapidly approaching the carriage...