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Chapter 19 Courting a Disaster
The vast Loushui Mountain’s Sierra has huge vegetation that grew densely. Finding a person inside is no different than looking for a needle in a haystack.
It is already late autumn but for some reason, the weather is unusually sultry, the two-person has been looking for a more than an hour. Both sweating profusely searching around but they could not find a clue. Jin Yan Hen wiped his sweat and said, “Luoshui Mountain so big, looking around like this is not the way .”
Truly this is not the way of searching, looking at the vast forest as huge as an ocean. Lou Chen said,” We will focus first on looking inside the nearby caves.”
If the assassin decides to hide in the mountain, they should find a place to rest. They looked at nearly three to four caves, but then again they have not discovered any secret code let alone an assassin. While the two were in hurry to find the next cave, they heard thunderclaps. Jin Yan Hen looked at the sky, the cloud is getting darker, the leaves swaying vigorously due to strong wind, there is scattered leaves and dust rolling with the wind and lightning flashing through the clouds. Staying on the mountain in an open is too dangerous, “There will be a heavy rain soon and it is too late to go down the hill. Let us find a shelter.”
The weather changed very fast. They already hear the sound of the rain rushing, the pitter patter of the water hitting the leaves of the forest, Lou Chen looked around and say, “ Let’s go this way.”
Jin Yan Hen followed Lou Chen towards the North and after running less than a minute at a distance of two-ten feet they reached a long and narrow area. Yan Hen was surprised. He knew that they once passed this shallow clearing and there is no place to hide at all. He glanced to see Lou Chen who already proceeded. He followed as she made a little turn to find the cave. Lou Chen remembered their position in the forest, not only that, she also surprisingly easily found the shortest route to the nearest cav e.
As the two people rushed inside the mountain as the rain intensified. The rain is so strong, it is as if the whole sky was being poured down. The water did not seem to fall in drops; the intensity is like a bucket of water was being poured down from the sky. Jin Yan Hen smiled to his companion and asked, “Having a photographic memory, how does that feel?”
The smile on his lips suddenly disappeared when Lou Chen whispered back to him,” Like playing silly and a dim wit, how does that feel?”
Jin Yan Hen‘s smile stiffened, they are standing face-to-face now. Lou Chen’s back is facing the level and narrow cliff and he is standing before her.”
Someone is not quite at ease in this situation especially when he moved even closer. Lou Chen put out her hand and pushes Jin Yan Hen’s shoulder until he is an arm’s length distance.”What the hell are you doing?”
He looked at her innocently, answered her with a pitiful tone in his voice, ”Covering you from the rain. This rain is a downpour.”
The rain outside is truly big, the level area is long and narrow but the area is not deep. Together with the mighty strong winds, the raindrop almost hits Yan Hen’s back. Lou Chen is standing on the inner side; she could also feel the rain hitting her face. Lou Chen moved to the right and said,” There’s a space where you can stand beside me.”
“It’s okay. I am already wet anyway.” Jin Yan Hen turned his back from Lou Chen.
By the level area, there are several clusters of wild yam next to the foothill. The leaf blades are large as a tub. Jin Yan Hen caught two of this yam leaves and lift it high to cover their heads. Lou Chen also noticed that the rain doesn’t hit her face anymore.
The clothes on his back are almost drenched by the rain. He was diligently standing in place to block the rain on Lou Chen. Lou Chen is almost not touched by the rain, even her face that once got sprinkled is now covered by yam leaves being held by Jin Yan Hen slightly above her head. The water was dripping all the way down his arms. Traces of bandages on his arms were also revealed as his clothes were plastered to his body after being soaked in the rain. Lou Chen knits her brows slightly thinking of his arm that was wounded, he is still hurting and the treatment for his poison is not yet done.
Lou Chen took out of a small jar from her waist. This is her own concoction for detoxification of poison and it naturally not as effective as the antidote for specific poison but in the absence of antidote, she estimated that it is about 60-70% effective in eliminating the toxic compounds.
Chen took out one pill from the jar, put it in her palm, stretched it out in front calling,”‘ Jin Yan Hen.” She then passed him the pill.
Jin Yan Hen did not turn but just casually answered, ”Umm” in acknowledgment. Looking back, he saw a white slim arm stretched in front of him with a black pill lying on a palm. The pill has a faint scent and while holding the yam leaves, he lowered his head sideways to pick up the pill and swallowed it.
Lou Chen hand shivered a little. His warm breath hitting his palm felt a little tickled.
After Jin Yan Hen swallowed the medicine, he found it good and not painful to take. He then asked, “What is this pill?”
Isn’t too late to ask after you eat? Lou Chen took back her hand, ignored the strange feeling in her heart. She just looked away from him and tried to ignore him.
Then a flash of lightning illuminated the ground. Lou Chen noticed that the stone level ground has something on it. She gently pushes Jin Yan Hen and walked out of her position sideways.
Jin Yan Hen saw her walked 6 to 7 steps sideways and then kneeled down on one knee.
Jin Yan Hen hurriedly rushed towards her side to look, immediately he doesn’t know if he will laugh or cry. In front, he was staring at the diamond pattern, pointing inside the mountain?
After examining closely they discovered that under the foot of the mountain there is a gap. The gap is very small and the person has to lie down and go in slowly. Jin Yan Hen picked a stone and throws it inside the gap. He heard a few echoes at the beginning, and then it stopped.
Lou Chen stretched out her hand inside the gap and felt a wind slightly passing. She pulls back her hand and said: “I will go down to take a look.”
Before she got down on her knees to go down, she felt a hand suddenly pulled her shoulder. Jin Yan Hen coaxed her,” I go down and look first.”
Lou Chen looked at him, surprised. His narrow yes narrowed even more while flashing a grandiose smile, he approaches her side self assumingly said, “You’re very touched right?” ”
If he does not say this, perhaps she will really be touched. Lou Chen pushed his wet head to the side with her finger.
Jin Yan Hen released the hands that are pulling Lou Chen to wipe the rain water in his head and body, putting aside his teasing he earnestly said,” In your hand is the Cang Feng, your martial arts is also better than mine and you are also a very skilled doctor in detoxification. I will go down first and see the situation. You can rescue me if I encounter any danger. If you go first and encounter any danger, I might necessarily be able to save you.”
He did not wait for Lou Chen to answer, he stuffed the yam leaves in her hand and while caught in surprise not knowing what he was doing, Jin Yan hen fell forward quickly and moved between the gap slowly moves inside.
The leaves of the wild yam were dropping cool rainwater at the back of the hand of Lou Chen but her palm was warm on the part of the stem that Yan Hen was holding before. She is a little confused at the moment doesn’t know what to feel.
The clatter of the rain was very loud; Lou Chen kneeled by the crack and barely heard the voice of Jin Yan Hen saying, “There is a pit down here!”
Jin Yan Hen climbed in from the crevice, tried to feel the inside of the cave, only to discover that there is no way ahead, but below is a huge pit like a tunnel. He jumped into the pit. Inside the pit is very dark but he could feel that the pit is very spacious. He feared that Lou Chen who was waiting above would be worried. After saying those few words, he remained in his place and waited for his eyes to adapt to the darkness.
It wasn’t very easy to see his surroundings; everything is fuzzy. Suddenly, he saw a shadow leap from above. Jin Yan Hen was squinting trying to figure what is that shadow. Indeed it was a silhouette of a person, with full of vigilance, he whispered, “Chen’er?”
“Umm.”The chilly unique tone of Lou Chen, although it is only one “um” was enough for Jin Yan Hen to know that it was her.
He called her “Chen’ er ” just moments ago. What is the meaning of this? Is Lou Chen then giving him permission to call her “Chen ‘er,’?
The surroundings were pitch black, Lou Chen has not seen in Jin Yan Hen’s self-satisfied appearance in his eyes, she only notes that the pit’s tunnel has a small underground river. To be more accurate, it is not really a river but a creek, the water is very shallow and it flows between the stones on the ground. The rain outside was still pouring strongly that it was masking the sound of the water flowing between the stones. Jin Yan Hen said, “This hole is very large since there is water, there should be an outlet somewhere. We follow the water and maybe the assassin is hidden somewhere in the cave.” ”
“Okay.”
Lou Chen has a booklet of match that is able to ignite a fire hidden on her waist. This booklet was preserved and has not been soaked by the rain. She feared that if she uses it now to start a fire, it will alert the enemy on the darkness, hide deeper and will cause him to be more dangerous. Therefore the two decided not to ignite a fire. After gradually adapting to the surroundings of the tunnel, they followed the direction of the small brook.
After walking only about ten feet, they suddenly smell a scent of blood transmitting from the distant place. They stopped their footsteps, in the darkness they looked at each other then grasp their weapons.
As they slowly proceeded, the bloody smell is getting richer but they could not feel the breathing of a human being. With a heavy injury, the person was able to hide his breathing this well? This is very unusual.
Lou Chen has a strong suspicion that something is odd. She took out the match from her waist, light up the torch and blew the flame gently to make the flame flourish little bigger. In the middle of pitch dark surroundings, they are able to see clearly around them.
Just as she thought, there was an obscure plant inside the cave where the strong scent of blood is coming from. The plant’s color is entirely scarlet red. Each long sheath of this humble plant is something resembling a ‘meat’. Lou Chen grabbed one of the long leaf blades and crumbled it into her palm. The red juice flowed out and the blood scent grew even stronger. Lou Chen was pleasantly surprised exclaimed softly, “ Yang Wang Cao?!” (meaning The King’s grass)
This is a truly pleasant surprise. This King’s grass likes to grow in isolated, dark, damp and cold places. She has seen one in the mountain institute. Her imperial uncle assigned a person to search for this plant for eldest maternal aunt. It took five years before they are able to find one and it was truly treasured by her aunt. She was not expecting that today she will find this treasure here! This is truly incredible.
Under the soft light, Lou Chen’s lips were smiling excitedly. She is looking at the grass closely and ecstatic of her discovery. Jin Yan Hen who occasionally watches the face of Lou Chen for a smile was also pleasantly surprised. This is the first time he had seen her smiling warmly without inhibition and right now he doesn’t know how to describe it. His brain can only think of two words,” very beautiful” and he tried to refrain himself but he still could not help from saying it out loud, “ You’re smile is very beautiful.”
Is this considered flirting? Lou Chen’s smiling lips suddenly turned stiff. Jin Yan Hen seemed like he doesn’t fear death suddenly blurted out, “When you are not smiling, you are still beautiful!”
That’s right! Lou Chen’s eyes swept past Jin Yan Hen and she extended her hand speedily towards him. Jin Yan Hen stepped back but he was too late. He heard a ‘hissing ‘sound of the blue cloth being ripped.
A section of the lower hem of his blue cloth was already torn and he could only look and hold on the other half of the hem. Jin Yan Hen doesn’t know if he should smile or cry. ‘Chen’er, don’t do be too aggressive. Use words and just ask nicely!”