62: Chapter 61 The Thorny Path 62: Chapter 61 The Thorny Path In the early morning, night rain had just cleared.

The mountain was damp all over, with large drops of accumulated water falling from the leaves and landing on the rabbit hat, creating a mess.

Zhao Changhe, holding Cui Yuanyang’s small hand, darted through the forest.

Having crossed the mountain where they rested at night, avoiding the mountain paths, they continued to dash up another mountain, choosing only deserted wild trails.

Cui Yuanyang had no complaints, obediently letting him hold her hand, allowing the brambles to tear her lovely clothes to shreds.

She didn’t make a choice, letting Zhao Changhe arrange things, but this attitude itself indicated her choice—she didn’t want to choose the first one.

Leaving home to find Zhao Changhe was inspired by the turmoil of the Worldly Society, drawn by the wildness so different from the gentle and refined family she had seen since childhood, impulsed by the rebellious phase of a young girl.

Once the impulsiveness passed, after having been through a lot, she would know how foolish she had been at that time.

Fortunately, Zhao Changhe didn’t disappoint her; otherwise, had she been manipulated into every possible state, she wouldn’t know how much she would regret it.

When they were cornered by soldiers in the city, she realized the stain it would bring to her life, and she appreciated Zhao Changhe’s act of tarnishing his reputation to preserve hers.

This time was no different.

If she were to run away with Zhao Changhe, there would be no other choice in this life except to marry him.

Had she thought it through?

The young girl had never considered so much before this.

Once she did, she found herself unsure, at least unable to make such a decision hastily.

Yangyang wanted to go home now, to see her parents, her brother, and that beautiful Black Peony…

She didn’t want to wander outside for a year and a half, being dragged around by him to sleep and have children.

Yangyang was still a child herself.

But Cui Yuanyang knew that the second option was a thorny path.

Even if Zhao Changhe made it sound easy-going, it would still be more dangerous than taking a detour.

To openly say “I want to go home, let’s take the risk,” she couldn’t say it either.

Meeting by chance, Zhao Changhe had done enough.

He hadn’t even demanded an ordinary secret book from her—why should he take such risks for her pastry?

He originally had no need to get involved in these matters, he could have flown away long ago.

Zhao Changhe understood her thoughts.

After a night of rest without a word, he pulled the little rabbit and dashed out of the cave the next morning.

Cui Yuanyang resignedly followed him out of the mountain cave.

When she realized they were heading toward Qinghe, her heart shuddered, like a rock flying from the sky and crashing into Qinghe, rippling circles upon circles of ripples.

Actually, Zhao Changhe was naturally brave and persistent; perhaps he would have chosen this thorny path?

Maybe even Han Wubing had seen it coming, knowing he would definitely send Yangyang home.

But Yangyang’s heart still felt strange.

The morning sunlight penetrated the trees in the mountains, shining on his face, so lovely, more perfect than any sculpture by the masters.

“Tired?” Zhao Changhe suddenly asked after an unknown length of time.

Cui Yuanyang, panting, still insisted, “It’s okay.”

“Mm…

After all, you’re at the Mystical Gate Third Layer, with top-tier Qinggong.

Enduring a little should be okay.” Zhao Changhe said, “Let’s rest for a bit, but we can’t go into the town to rest and eat.

However unpalatable this cake might be, you’ll have to make do.”

Cui Yuanyang looked at the coarse cake he took out—it was not only unpalatable but also a bit dirty…

But she didn’t say anything, taking the cake and nibbling it in small bites.

Zhao Changhe smiled a little.

This girl…

She was much more adorable than the rich young ladies he had imagined.

He strode to a nearby stream, drinking his fill with large gulps, then picked a broad leaf to carry some water back, “Here.”

Cui Yuanyang took the water, curious, “Why aren’t you drinking from your liquor gourd?

Is it empty?”

Zhao Changhe chuckled, “I have it, but we need to save a bit.”

Cui Yuanyang thought it was meant for when his craving for alcohol hit, so she didn’t say more, lowering her head to eat the cake.

Suddenly, a gust of wind stirred, and there seemed to be a scent of blood in the mountain air.

Cui Yuanyang didn’t know what it meant.

Wasn’t the mountain wind normal?…

She silently continued eating her cake, her mind full of worries.

Zhao Changhe looked up and, with a smile, said, “Keep eating.

I’m going to do my business behind there, and you better not turn around.”

Cui Yuanyang wrinkled her nose, “Who would watch you!”

Her face turned a bit sour immediately after.

What about when she needed to relieve herself…

She hadn’t done so since last night…

Right, while he was doing his business, shouldn’t she take the opportunity as well?

Cui Yuanyang had completely forgotten his instruction not to turn around and glanced back to see where he was.

In that glance, she saw Zhao Changhe leap forward with a steel knife in hand, while a white-browed fierce tiger pounced directly at him from the front.

The two were about to meet in mid-air.

“Roar!” The tiger’s roar shook the mountains and the vegetation trembled.

Cui Yuanyang dropped the cake from her hand and quickly covered her mouth.

Those who have never seen a tiger pounce might imagine how one should slide away faced with such a beast, but when confronting one directly, the sheer force of the several-hundred-pound creature lunging at you can leave many people’s minds blank, and fear can render one immobile.

At that moment, Cui Yuanyang’s mind went blank, and all the swordsmanship he had practiced since childhood seemed to have gone out the window.

He watched wide-eyed as Zhao Changhe hung in midair, his knife gleaming with the hue of fresh blood, fiercely striking the tiger’s forehead with a ghastly red flash.

All the gods dispersed!

From the beginning, he had not intended to dodge or fight evasively, fearing a sidestep would expose Cui Yuanyang to harm.

Thus, he made his move with an ultimate skill, attempting to stop the mighty tiger in its tracks!

“Bang!” It was unclear if the knife struck true, as blood sprayed and the powerful impact caused Zhao Changhe to tumble in midair, then swiftly rebound off the trunk behind him with a twist of his waist, shooting back like an arrow.

Blood flowed from the tiger’s forehead as it let out a ferocious roar, spinning and lashing its tail heavily toward Zhao Changhe still in the air.

Zhao Changhe spun around in midair, evading the tiger’s tail, his blade slicing along the tiger’s flank, drawing a rain of blood in its wake.

“Step!” Zhao Changhe landed ahead, his great momentum sliding him several feet forward before he steadied himself.

He turned to look back, and the tiger lay thoroughly dead.

To Cui Yuanyang, it seemed as if he had witnessed a Heavenly God in action.

The vague memory of his brother’s comment came to mind: when this tiger descended the mountain, it was as if a Flood Dragon entered the sea.

But how could the tiger compare to him!

“Ah, I told you not to watch.

I thought I could take it down instantly, but I underestimated it—damn it, even the tigers here are more badass than those in Beimang.” Carrying the several-hundred-pound tiger corpse, Zhao Changhe walked back with long strides, laughing, “Since we’re prowling the wilderness, it’s normal to encounter wild beasts, but they’re easier to deal with than a skilled fighter, and come delivering meat right to our doorstep.

All is well now; you continue eating, I’ll see if I can roast some meat.”

Cui Yuanyang, as if possessed by a ghost, asked, “Do you often hunt tigers in Beimang?”

“Uh, I’ve never hunted them.

Back then, it was Luo… erm, my good friend who hunted.

But that was only occasionally.

It was winter, and though tigers don’t hibernate, they’re less active, harder to find.” As Zhao Changhe sliced the tiger meat, he described the scene animatedly: “When she got one, the whole fort celebrated like New Year.

Grandmaster Sun Xue himself skinned the tiger to make a chair cushion, the one I sat on in the Gathering Hall…

Not sure if you’ve seen it…

oh, you probably haven’t been in the Gathering Hall; I carried you into the house…”

Cui Yuanyang just sat there, chin in hand, listening to his ramble, no longer hearing what he was saying.

“Uh?

Why are you staring at me like that?”

“Oh…

oh, it’s nothing, I— I— I need to pee, don’t turn around!” Cui Yuanyang, like a startled rabbit, hopped up and dashed behind a bush at Zhao Changhe’s back.

Zhao Changhe: “…”

I can’t see you crouching behind the bushes, but could you not strip and squat at the same time…

Why is it always white…

that’s not right, perhaps not old enough?

“Ah!!!” Suddenly, a cry of alarm from Cui Yuanyang echoed forth.

Zhao Changhe stood up abruptly: “What’s wrong?”

“There’s a snake!”

“…” Zhao Changhe grabbed her sword and tossed it accurately beside her: “Use your own Cui Family swordsmanship.

This time, I really can’t help you.”

Cui Yuanyang drew her sword, swiftly decapitated the snake, then cast a suspicious look at Zhao Changhe’s silhouette: “How…

how did you know where my hand was?”

“Sound Recognition, haven’t you heard of it!” Zhao Changhe blushed with embarrassment, not even feeling like roasting the tiger meat anymore: “You’ve rested enough, finish up and let’s get moving!”

The little white rabbit, pulling up her trousers, caught up with him: “Zhao Changhe!

So you can be quite low too!”

Zhao Changhe turned his head and made a tiger’s claw gesture: “Keep nagging, and I’ll arrange you in eighteen different ways!”

“You’re all talk.”

“You just said I was low.

Is your head made of hemp?”

“Hmph.” The young girl seemed to have completely forgotten what she’d been questioning moments ago and naturally slipped her hand back into his large one.

Together, they activated their Qinggong and raced off.

Such were the simple and unglamorous days of roaming the wilderness with a beautiful maiden, and yet they were dull.

If he had a choice, Zhao Changhe would rather spend every day dealing with tigers and snakes, making his way to Qinghe just like this.

Regrettably, the path to Qinghe was not a succession of mountains.

After threading through the hills for three days, they emerged onto a vast plain.

A creek flowed from the mountains behind them, gradually joining the river ahead.

The water carried drifting boats, while fishermen’s songs resonated, melodious and long.

Zhao Changhe took a deep breath.

If they were to cross the river, it would be the place where they were most vulnerable to being ambushed, and from there on, their whereabouts could no longer be concealed.

Men were far more frightening than tigers.