Chapter 7: Chapter 4: The Uncertain Path Ahead

Chou Sheng looked at her retreating figure in disbelief, his voice dark. "The Secret Records of Lord Lu have never reappeared in Huaxia. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes today, I wouldn't have believed it either. But six years ago, the State of Shu transformed overnight from a decaying, closed-off nation into a military powerhouse that made other nations wary. There were rumors of a secret method of cultivation, and that the King of Shu held the Secret Records of Lord Lu. Now that the Kingdom of Beiying has stepped onto Shu's territory, I fear it is also for the Secret Records in your hands. That is all I know."

Chou Sheng walked straight to a tree, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes. "I have no interest in who you are, and your life or death has nothing to do with me. Once we leave Yanming Mountain, we are strangers."

Night fell, covering the landscape in snow and frost, the chill biting at the skin. Zhen Yue’s brilliant eyes snapped open, her gaze sharp. She walked softly and quietly to the sleeping Chou Sheng, calling his name a few times. Seeing no reaction from him, the corners of her mouth curled upward as she headed toward the depths of the dense forest.

As her footsteps faded, the boy who had been sound asleep slightly opened his eyes. A cold light flashed within them, like a leopard lurking in the night, waiting for the right moment to extend its sharp claws.

She found an inconspicuous hollow beneath a tree and looked around vigilantly. Seeing no movement in the surroundings, she deftly buried the Secret Records of Lord Lu deep in the earth. Then, using the faint light, she carved the Nike logo into a withered tree. At first glance, it looked like nothing special, but she simply felt the Nike logo was simple; only a modern person like her could understand such an abstract symbol. Finally, feeling that it was foolproof, she smiled with relief.

Under the shroud of the deep night, she was her truest self. She sat down with her knees hugged to her chest, gazing at the star-filled sky with a heavy heart. The biting wind turned the tip of her nose red, yet it could not hide her eyes, which were as resilient as frost. She knew deep down that she could never go back. This rebirth was a gift from heaven; even though this was a world of war and constant strife, she was still grateful.

In her past life, she had very few relatives left. Her parents had divorced when she was young, and her mother had remarried and moved to America; the bond between mother and daughter was shallow. Her father had died a month ago from terminal stomach cancer. The only person she worried about was her beloved uncle, who would surely be heartbroken to know she had been murdered.

Facing this sudden turn of fate, her hatred for her past life had lessened. Before his death, her father had asked his most capable assistant to become a live-in son-in-law. Although she did not love the man, she had agreed to the marriage just so her father could pass away in peace. She never expected that on the day before the wedding, her best friend would push her off the thirty-fourth floor of a hotel. It was only in those final moments of death that she learned the truth: her best friend and her fiancé had been together for over a year. That man had agreed to this loveless marriage only for the sake of the Zhen family's shares. Driven by resentment and jealousy, her friend's rage had culminated in the situation she died in.

She let out a sigh, casting aside all her feelings of loss, and spoke with a firm, powerful voice: "I will live well. I will find a place for myself in this chaotic world, and I will no longer be as naive or trusting as I was in my past life."

A blue star shone brilliantly in the sky, resembling the piercing eyes of that man before he died. For some reason, her eyes grew moist, but she forced back the tears. Right now, she was merely a ten-year-old child with meager abilities, unable to protect the Secret Records of Lord Lu. Her path ahead was uncertain; she needed time to grow. Once she possessed enough strength, she would reclaim the Secret Records, uncover the truth, and deliver them to that man's kin. That would serve as repayment for his life-saving grace, and she believed his soul would rest in peace.

She furrowed her brows, lost in thought: "The Master! The man in black! The craftsman! The ten-year-old girl! Will they be connected?" She believed that one day, the mystery would surely be solved.

This night was destined to be a night stained in blood. The King of Shu, nestled in his bed of luxury, was entirely unaware that the decaying State of Shu was beginning to rot from the inside out, and the gears of history were beginning to turn.

The next day, as the first light of dawn appeared, Zhen Yue and Chou Sheng accelerated their journey. Seeing that he did not ask about the Secret Records, she remained blissfully silent. They traveled through wind and frost without a moment's rest. For a ten-year-old child, her physical strength was long exhausted; her stomach ached with hunger, and due to the overnight freeze, her lips were parched and she was gasping for breath.

"So useless. Here, take this." Chou Sheng stopped and pulled a small silk pouch from his bosom, tossing it to the panting Zhen Yue.

The silk pouch felt smooth to the touch and was exquisitely embroidered, a stark contrast to the coarse linen clothes he wore, yet it perfectly matched the natural air of elegance he exuded.

The corners of her mouth lifted as she opened it, only to find a steamed bun as hard as a stone. A sudden wave of warmth melted in her heart; this boy was cold and hard on the surface, but had a soft side. This bun must have been his last bit of food, otherwise, he wouldn't have wrapped it in such a high-quality silk pouch. She had intended to share it with him, but since the bun had been stored for too long and it was the height of winter, it took her a long time to break it in half.

"You should eat some too."

Chou Sheng stared at the bun in his small hand, stunned for a moment. Seeing her eyes, which were as clear as water and filled with a profound, innocent sincerity, he abruptly turned his head. "I'm not hungry."

Zhen Yue shrugged, placed the half-bun back into the silk pouch, and returned it to Chou Sheng. She then lowered her head to struggle through the stone-hard bun. *Crunch, crackle.* It was truly painful on her teeth. She swallowed it through gritted teeth; she didn't want to starve to death in the wilderness, and the road ahead was too long.

Yanming Mountain was a labyrinth of jagged peaks and treacherous terrain, the entire mountain covered in white snow and biting cold. It was only after traveling through the night that they managed to cross the steep mountain crest. Her legs had long since lost all sensation, and her once tender, fair face was etched with the marks of wind and frost. With a *thud*, she fell heavily into the snow, her mouth filling with white powder.

"I can't do it anymore. I can't walk. Traveling through the night has exhausted me," she gasped for air.

Chou Sheng frowned and stopped. "I'm not going to carry you. I only learned of this path by chance. If we don't leave quickly, those with ulterior motives will find this trail soon enough. I told you, your life or death has nothing to do with me. If you can't get up, then die here!"

She felt like crying, her heart filled with anger. She hated how he cut straight to the point, and she hated the ruthlessness he showed. Seeing him truly walk away, a surge of indignation boiled within her. She bit her dry, cracked lower lip, enduring the pain as she struggled to her feet. Facing his upright figure ahead, she roared, "You brat! I've never seen anyone as cold as you! I won't die, and even if you die, I won't die either!"

A rare, fleeting smirk touched the boy's lips, and his voice pierced through the silence of the snowy mountains: "Fine! Then let's see who lives longer!"

Suddenly invigorated, she charged forward like a wild horse breaking free from its reins.

As her figure leaped past, leaving a gust of wind in her wake, Chou Sheng watched her stubborn back. He suddenly felt that she was not a ten-year-old child, but a powerful adult—a resilience and determination that far exceeded her age.

After two full days, they finally emerged from Yanming Mountain at twilight. Looking at the long ancient road ahead, the distant lights looked like an inviting glow of hope.

Immediately, Zhen Yue sat on the ground with a *thud*, stammering excitedly, "Fi... finally... arrived." She looked up, cursing inwardly: *Is this brat made of iron? Aside from his lips being a bit dry, his boots being worn, and his breathing being a bit heavy, he looks like nothing happened. Unlike me, who is exhausted like a dog. I really don't understand how a thirteen-year-old can act like an old man.*

Chou Sheng seemed to sense her staring. He turned back to see her lowering her head like a thief, shook his head, and sat on a rock. He said, "Ahead lies the Six Cities. Di has already fallen; the destruction of the Six Cities is not far off. I advise you to head northeast, avoid the main roads; the south should be safer."

"I have somewhere to go, but thank you for the warning anyway." She rubbed her aching legs. Seeing the doubt in his eyes, she quickly changed the subject: "Why didn't we encounter the Beiying army on Yanming Mountain?"

"Yanming Mountain's terrain is treacherous and impossible for ordinary people to climb. However, rare Rue leaves grow along the ridge; they are a primary source of luxury spices for the nobility. To ensure they could have a good New Year every year, the people living below the mountain secretly carved out a small path to make a living harvesting Rue leaves. Many pioneers have died on this path."