Chapter 1338 - 1014: Savior and Thousand Gold

"Ah!"

Shang Ruyi exclaimed in surprise, and Wo Xue behind her dashed forward to grab the wooden stick in her hand, throwing it forcefully. The dark figure coiled around the stick flew several meters away and disappeared into the grass with a swift motion.

"It’s a snake, a snake!"

Someone saw it clearly and shouted, as Lei Yu and Lu Xiao hurried over, seeing Shang Ruyi’s pale face, her whole body trembling. On the webbing of the hand tightly held by Wo Xue, two bloody holes were gushing fresh blood!

She’s been bitten by a snake!

Lei Yu was shocked and quickly asked, "Ruyi, how are you? Is the snake venomous or not?"

Shang Ruyi glanced at her, wanting to say something, but her lips trembled and her tongue stiffened, unable to utter a word, only making a vague sound from her throat: "I, I—"

"It’s bad, a venomous snake!"

Wo Xue immediately lowered her head, sucked forcefully at her hand, and spat out a mouthful of blood, then bent down again to suck a few more times, until the two wounds turned pale. She quickly reached out to the people behind: "Give me a rope!"

The guards gathered around, panicking even more: "Rope! Where’s the rope!"

Someone handed over a bundle, but it was thick, used for tying people and things. Wo Xue anxiously tossed it aside, while Lu Xiao quickly reacted, hurriedly tearing a strip from her undergarment and handing it over. Wo Xue took it and immediately tied it tightly around Shang Ruyi’s wrist.

Then she looked at Shang Ruyi, sweating profusely: "Princess, how are you?"

By this time, Shang Ruyi’s face was ghastly pale, her eyes unfocused, her body shaking like a leaf. Bean-sized sweat kept dripping from her forehead. Lei Yu hurriedly took out a handkerchief to wipe her face, as Ashina Zhuxie approached, took a glance at the spot where the wooden stick was thrown, and asked, "How is she?"

Lei Yu anxiously replied, "She was bitten by a snake, and it’s not looking good."

Ashina Zhuxie frowned, saying nothing, just glanced at Shang Ruyi and surveyed the surroundings, seemingly worried about other venomous snakes lurking nearby. But Wang Shaoqiu stepped forward to check Shang Ruyi’s facial condition and said, "Is it a venomous snake?"

Lei Yu glared at him fiercely: "Of course it is!"

As she spoke, Shang Ruyi’s eyes lost focus, and her body softened, sliding down. Lei Yu hurriedly reached out to catch her, only to see her eyes rolling upwards. Everyone thought she was trying to look at something, but in the next moment, her eyes rolled back, and she passed out.

Now, everyone was panicking.

Someone in the crowd shouted urgently, "Quickly, get her down the mountain and find a doctor!"

Lei Yu quickly nodded: "Let’s go!"

Wo Xue looked up at the sky, shook her head, and said, "It’s too late; it’s almost dark. If we descend the mountain now, it will take longer than climbing up. I’m worried the Princess won’t endure."

Everyone looked around, realizing the sun had set, and the light was noticeably dimmer. If they really turned back down the mountain now, the way back would be even harder.

Lei Yu asked, "You mean—"

Wo Xue looked up again, but this time she glanced at the mountain top. People could still see the corner of the roof under the slanting sunset earlier, but now it was just a vague shadow. She said, "Why not continue upwards? If someone is on the mountain, maybe they can help treat the Princess."

Lei Yu hesitated, "This—"

Ashina Zhuxie nodded, "That’s a possibility."

Wang Shaoqiu added, "It’s definitely too late to descend now, so let’s do as she suggested."

Lei Yu and Lu Xiao exchanged a look.

They clearly knew the two men were focused only on the Left General’s Tomb, disregarding Shang Ruyi’s life or death, but since those around Shang Ruyi had spoken, and there was indeed no better plan, not to mention it would be dangerous to bring an injured person downhill at night, considering the treacherous path they had ascended. No one could guarantee they could safely bring her down and quickly find a cure.

It seemed climbing was the only option.

Lei Yu gritted her teeth, "Let’s go, hurry!"

A few guards quickly chopped down two sturdy tree trunks as supports and tied clothing onto them to make a stretcher. They then carried Shang Ruyi slowly up the mountain. Luckily, the remaining path wasn’t too steep, and the people lit torches to illuminate the way, but they were even more cautious, fearing another snake attack. They desperately beat the surrounding bushes and shrubs with sticks, forcefully carving out a path on the mountain.

Finally, as the sky darkened completely, and a thin moon passed over their heads along the winding path, climbing to the mountain peak, they arrived at the summit.

All was silent, the night wind blowing.

Once they reached the peak and looked back, even the distant city was swallowed by the night, leaving a gigantic black silhouette towering before them, the highest peak of Skytop Mountain. They stood on a peak that only reached the mid-slope of the opposite high peak, and looking down, the path they had taken vanished, as if there were no way back.

As they moved forward, the mountain top was covered in pine and cypress, lush and layered, like countless high walls blocking their view. Pine branches swayed in the wind, creating silhouettes that seemed like thousands of troops and horses barring their way, and the rustling sound made them increasingly uneasy.

Someone couldn’t help but whisper, "Are there really people here?"

Others said, "It’s a tomb; how can there be people?"

Hearing this, the group felt a chill down their spines, but Lei Yu didn’t have time to think about it, urging, "Stop talking nonsense and find someone to detoxify Ruyi quickly!"

As she spoke, she stepped forward and pushed aside a clump of pine branches, suddenly seeing a faint light ahead.

She immediately said, "Look!"

Everyone hurried forward and finally discovered a small path amidst the pines, hidden by the lush branches and made invisible by the darkness. On the other side of the pine forest, indeed, there was a flicker of firelight, accompanied by a faint aroma of Jiangzhen Fragrance carried by the night wind.

"There’s indeed someone up here!"

"Quickly, let’s check it out!"

"She’s saved, the Princess is saved!"

The group was overjoyed, hurrying to carry Shang Ruyi through the pine branches. Before long, they emerged from the forest and couldn’t help but take a deep breath.

Standing before them was indeed a small wooden cabin.

This cabin was simple and worn, seemingly battered by years of wind and rain atop the mountain, dilapidated, with a cracked door and loose window frames, uncertain when stronger winds might tear them down.

But now, this shabby cabin was their beacon of hope.

Worth more than gold!

Ashina Zhuxie and Wang Shaoqiu’s eyes lit up when they saw the light coming through the cracks in the windows and door, as if they had seen glittering treasures. But they didn’t rush forward; Lei Yu hurriedly went ahead to knock on the door but paused when she reached the doorstep.

She heard a tapping sound coming from inside the cabin.