The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 1269 - 675: The First Night in Mubei Forest (Part 2)

Chapter 1269: Chapter 675: The First Night in Mubei Forest (Part 2)

Yes.

With the great enmity formed by the Heavenly Hunting and Destruction of Buddha six hundred years ago, once Xuan Yin and the Dharma King merge successfully, truly impacting the Human Immortal, that would be when the Heavenly Master Mansion faces annihilation.

And also the time when Yu Country will be destroyed.

"I, the poor Taoist, will walk ahead, you all follow behind." Zhang Yan Yi unexpectedly took the lead, using his black robe to block the cold wind for the others.

Zhao Douan and the others stood in place, staring fixedly as the silhouette of the Old Heavenly Master who was fighting desperately faded into the distance, like a lone wolf on the snowfield.

"Why aren’t you following?" Zhang Yan Yi turned his head, looking at the few of them in a daze.

Zhao Douan said with an expressionless face: "Do you know the way? Know where to go?"

The Empress and Tuoba Weizhi both nodded, expressing the same doubt.

"..." Zhang Yan Yi was silent for a moment, then shook his head.

"Then what’s the point of you leading the way!" Zhao Douan retorted irritably, "The forest is so huge, wandering around aimlessly? You wouldn’t even know how you died!"

Zhang Yan Yi opened his mouth but had nothing to say, sulkingly waved his sleeve, "You all haven’t been here either, do you know?"

Zhao Douan, however, smiled faintly: "We haven’t been here, but that doesn’t mean none of us is a guide."

This remark left everyone momentarily stunned.

Immediately, they saw Zhao Douan raise his hand, gently tap his forehead, and say in a low voice, "Elder, please come out of the mountain."

His eyes instantly reflected a silver color, and illusory red lines appeared in the air, outlining the figure of someone wearing a wedding dress and a dark gold mask.

As soon as Pei Niannu appeared, she looked ahead with a dazed expression, nostalgia flickering through her eyes beneath the mask!

She murmured, "Mubei Forest... I’m back again..."

Xu Zhenguan’s eyes lit up, yes, Pei Niannu was an ancient person who witnessed the crafting of the golden gate, with such unparalleled strategies, how could the ancestors not have arranged a guide? Would they let their group venture in recklessly?

It now seemed, Pei Niannu, hidden within the royal family’s cultivation method, was the "guide" for the final leg of the journey.

"Elder, have you remembered something?" Zhao Douan asked.

He found that though his cultivation was suppressed and couldn’t be used, his Inner Strength was only sealed within the Qi Sea, yet it could still be used to maintain Pei Niannu’s presence, though it couldn’t be summoned.

"I... have been here." Pei Niannu hugged her head with both hands, seemingly recalling something, murmuring: "I can’t remember clearly, only a single path."

The monarch and minister both brightened: "Elder, please lead the way ahead."

This time, Pei Niannu did not refuse, as if realizing that this was her "mission" for existing. Without delay, she floated past Zhang Yan Yi and went forward.

Zhang Yan Yi was taken aback, the Old Heavenly Master remained silent but celebrated inwardly:

Fortunately, I chose to ally with the royal family, otherwise with no one leading the way, there might not even be a chance of survival.

...

"Rustle, rustle, rustle——"

The boots crunched crisp sounds on the snow.

Once the group entered the forest, the cold wind around them significantly lessened, and the snow on the ground was not as thick.

As they continued forward, the variety of trees around them increased, and there were more footprints left by wild animals on the ground.

The forest was extremely silent, occasionally, strange "screeches" came from above, only the sound of wind moving through the branches.

The entire group remained highly vigilant, ever fearful of beast attacks.

Fortunately, not only was the forest’s outer area inherently safe, but also thanks to Pei Niannu’s chosen path, the journey was perilous without disasters. Despite a few encounters with beasts similar to wild bears, those creatures seemingly didn’t recognize "humans" and kept their distance peacefully.

"It seems, it isn’t that dangerous here." Zhao Douan couldn’t help but say after a few hours of walking.

Xu Zhenguan’s face was somewhat red from the cold. He shook his head, saying: "We can’t be careless, this is only the periphery, the inner area is definitely dangerous. If there’s an encounter, I’ll act first, and you hide behind. Anyway, this puppet of mine, even if the body is destroyed and only the head remains, can maintain a trace of the Divine Soul’s existence. Then you can carry my head and proceed together."

Zhenbao, isn’t your description a bit grim? Carrying your head around sounds off, doesn’t it? Not to mention, if only the head remains, are you sure you can still "live"? At least retain the puppet’s "solar recharge" section... Zhao Douan internally retorted furiously.

Upon hearing this, Tuoba Weizhi whispered: "This servant can stand at the front, this body can be replaced once it’s damaged." 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Alright, so in this team, I’m the most fragile, right? Zhao Douan was deeply moved. Three female teammates, one being a Divine Soul, and the other two aren’t even their true forms...

He fell back two steps, looking at the Old Heavenly Master with a stick picked up as a "magic wand," now dressed somewhat like a black-robed Gandalf from movies, sighed: "Heavenly Master, at least you and I still resemble a living person. Afraid of dying."

Zhang Yan Yi with frosted eyebrows and beard glanced at him sideways while supporting his magic wand, said: "This poor Taoist has been preparing for this day for many years, naturally, I have life-saving methods. If there’s danger, kid, you’re on your own."

After speaking, the old man accelerated to catch up with the three women.

Leaving only the weak, pitiful, helpless Zhao Douan with a knife, dazed at the rear, almost in tears.

All the way, they bantered playfully.

On this first day’s journey, surprisingly, no battle occurred. But as they ventured deeper, everyone felt the surrounding danger increasing.

It was as though in this forest, there were invisible eyes watching them from the shadows, the sense of danger, palpable yet elusive, kept them on edge.

Until the sun set, and Mubei Forest entered the night, the five-person team decided to stop and rest.

They found a sheltered place, and Zhao Douan took out a silver scroll to produce a tent, a pot, and other supplies.

Then he commanded Tuoba Weizhi to pick dry branches, started a fire, melted snow for water, and cooked some carried rations to eat.

Soon, the forest fell into complete darkness, leaving only a cluster of firelight burning here.

Zhao Douan hesitated for a moment, considering that the animals around likely feared fire, and that night was when the wild beasts had the upper hand, so he sought more firewood, planning to keep the fire burning through the night.

...

At night.

Pei Niannu temporarily vanished.

The four members of the team sat inside the tent, unable to sleep. They lit a candle, and with the help of the flame, began their first night talk.

"Here’s today’s route for us."

Zhao Douan placed a newly drawn "map" in the center of the four of them, the map only had a broad outline, a map of the entire forest perimeter drawn along Mubei Forest by Yu Country.

And through this world’s not-so-scientific compass, they drew grid lines similar to "latitude and longitude" for division.

Throughout the day, Zhao Douan frequently asked Zhang Yan Yi to measure orientation, struggling to draw a somewhat accurate map. He pointed at the lines on the paper and said:

"Although our cultivation has been severely suppressed, our bodies are still strong, with quite the stamina, and in these ten or so hours, we’ve moved rather quickly. According to my calculations, we’ve now left the perimeter and entered the central area of Mubei Forest, and according to the direction Pei Niannu is leading us, clearly, my goal should be the core area."

Xu Zhenguan nodded, saying: "If that’s the case, we’ll need at least five to six more days to reach it."

Zhang Yan Yi calmly analyzed: "It probably will take even longer, for the deeper we go, the slower we’ll have to navigate, evading dangers and recovering if battles occur."

Zhao Douan agreed: "So, it might take ten days to reach."

At this moment, a black-skinned female priest sitting quietly suddenly found herself staring at the map with blank eyes. As if some shattered, forgotten memory was triggered, she shook her head: "No, it won’t take that long. There’s a shortcut. I... seem to have seen a map of this forest."

Swish——

Instantly, all three gazes fell on Tuoba Weizhi.

Tuoba Weizhi was startled, cautiously explaining: "But I can’t remember clearly, it’s very vague, lacking details..."

Zhao Douan stared at her: "Are you saying Qi Country once mapped this place?"

Tuoba Weizhi was silent for a moment, then slowly said: "Perhaps. But the time should be very long ago, probably around a thousand years ago."

She paused, then supplemented: "Because... over a thousand years ago, Mubei Forest seemed to be of no special significance, allowing for easy exploration, but after that time a thousand years ago, the entire forest suddenly changed, and no one could ever enter again."