Chapter 51: Danger on the Road, Seeking Shelter in the Wilderness Forest

Not long after leaving Yuxian County, the guard unit led by Li Chengfeng was escorting Xiaofeng along a winding road.

High in the sky, the sun hung bright and cast down scorching rays. The grass beside the road swayed gently in the breeze, seeming to whisper of unknown dangers.

Suddenly, with a sharp whistle, an arrow pierced the sky and embedded itself straight into the ground ahead of the guard unit, the feathers at its tail still quivering slightly.

Immediately following, a group of "bandits" surged from the surrounding woods. They were athletic and agile, scattering like ghosts to surround the guard unit completely.

These men were clearly no ordinary bandits. Their gazes were sharp and cold, and their weapons gleamed with a chilling light under the sun, every movement and stance revealing professional martial prowess.

The guards reacted swiftly, drawing the swords at their waists and meeting the enemy head-on.

Swords clashed, sending sparks flying as the sound of colliding metal echoed through the valley.

However, these mysterious figures possessed formidable martial arts, and the guards gradually found themselves at a disadvantage.

Seeing this, Adu knew the situation was critical. She tightly grasped Xiaofeng's hand and whispered, "Your Highness, let's fall back first!"

With that, she pulled Xiaofeng and sprinted toward the rear.

They ran desperately through the mountain forest, the sounds of battle and shouting echoing from behind from time to time.

Adu led Xiaofeng twisting and turning through the trees, attempting to shake off any potential pursuers.

After running for who knows how long, the surrounding scenery gradually grew unfamiliar.

A vast expanse of forest appeared before them. It was terrifyingly quiet, with dense layers of branches and leaves blocking out all but a few faint rays of sunlight that managed to struggle through the gaps. The ground was covered in a thick layer of fallen leaves and dead twigs, making a disturbing crunching sound with every step.

Adu gripped Xiaofeng's hand tightly, her eyes scanning her surroundings with vigilance as she tried to find a way out.

Although Xiaofeng was frightened inside, she forced herself to remain calm, not wanting to cause Adu excessive worry.

They walked blindly through the forest for a long time. As dusk fell, a mist began to roll in, making everything around them increasingly hazy and obscure.

Hunger and exhaustion washed over them like a tide, making Xiaofeng's steps heavier and nearly causing her to trip several times.

Seeing this, Adu felt a pang of heartache. She stopped, helped Xiaofeng to sit down beside a large tree, and gently comforted her: "Your Highness, rest here for a moment. I'll go check if there's anything to eat."

With that, Adu began to search carefully nearby.

Xiaofeng sat beneath the tree, hugging her knees tightly, her heart filled with fear of the unknown.

Suddenly, a faint rustling sound came from not far away. Xiaofeng lifted her head alertly and saw a wild rabbit darting out from the grass.

Overjoyed and without a second thought, Xiaofeng gave chase.

She pursued the rabbit as it wove through the forest, intent only on catching it to satisfy her hunger, completely forgetting Adu's warning and the surrounding dangers.

When Adu hurried back holding a handful of wild fruits, she discovered that Xiaofeng was gone.

Adu was deeply shocked and anxiously called out Xiaofeng's name. Her voice echoed through the silent forest, but there was no response.

Adu searched along the perimeter until she found the footprints Xiaofeng had left in her panic, and she set off pursuing them.

After running for a distance chasing the rabbit, Xiaofeng lost track of it entirely.

Only then did Xiaofeng realize she had lost her bearings. She looked around in panic; the surrounding trees all looked identical, and with the thick fog rolling in, it was impossible to tell north from south.

Overwhelmed with remorse, Xiaofeng sat helplessly on the ground, tears welling in her eyes.

Just as Xiaofeng was falling into despair, Adu tracked her down by following the footprints.

Seeing that Xiaofeng was safe and sound, Adu let out a long sigh of relief. She hurried over to Xiaofeng and pulled her tightly into her arms.

Seeing Adu, Xiaofeng's grievances and fear burst forth instantly, and she buried her face in Adu's embrace and sobbed loudly. Adu gently patted Xiaofeng's back, offering tender comfort: "Your Highness, don't be afraid. I am here."

After Xiaofeng's emotions settled, Adu took her hand and, relying on her years of survival experience on the grassland and her sharp intuition, continued to search for a way out.

Night grew heavier, and the moon quietly climbed into the boughs, casting a cold, clear radiance.

Xiaofeng and Adu were already utterly exhausted, and their footsteps had grown increasingly heavy.

Their stomachs began to rumble once more, reminding them that they had not eaten for a long time.

Just as they were nearly in despair, a dwelling suddenly appeared ahead.

It was a humble cottage, the thatch on its roof swaying gently in the night wind, while a dim, yellowish light filtered through the gaps in the window, bringing a trace of warmth to the cold night.

Xiaofeng's eyes lit up, a glimmer of hope appearing on her weary face: "Adu, let's go ask to stay for the night."

Adu, however, stopped in her tracks, eyeing the cottage with vigilance. She gently tugged at Xiaofeng's sleeve and advised: "Your Highness, in the middle of nowhere like this, for a household to suddenly appear is far too suspicious. If we walk into another ambush, it will be too late for regrets."

A flash of hesitation crossed Xiaofeng's face. She knew Adu's concerns were not without reason.

However, the exhaustion and hunger in her body made it truly difficult for her to continue walking.

Just as the two of them hesitated, the door of the house creaked open...