The more cowardly a person is, the more wild they are; I've driven the villainous minister craz

With the firelight burning all night, Yu Wan slept relatively soundly that night.

She dreamt of the days when she was locked in a dark, sunless basement.

But this time she didn't wake up from her sleep. In the pitch-black place, there always seemed to be a hazy light accompanying her.

The light was faint, but it was like a timely rain to her.

Yu Wan slept soundly until dawn.

When I woke up again, the morning light shining through the hole above my head shone into my eyes, the light was dazzling.

When she opened her eyes, Yu Wan covered them with her hand.

It was very quiet around; there wasn't a second person breathing.

She called out, "Yun Shang?"

There was no response for a long time.

Just as she was wondering, she heard the sound of water not far away, as if something was emerging from the water.

Yu Wan turned her head to look, and the next moment, her gaze went blank.

The light streaming in from the cave ceiling illuminated the cave brightly, unlike the dim and yellowish atmosphere of the previous night. Yu Wan could clearly see the man walking ashore from the pool, his white undershirt soaked and clinging tightly to his body, revealing his strong and beautiful muscles.

Yun Shang's body seemed to have been exquisitely sculpted, with every part perfectly proportioned.

Yu Wan swallowed hard and struggled to look away.

Seeing him approach, she asked somewhat guiltily, "Why did you go into the water again?"

Yun Shang sat down by the fire to dry his clothes. Hearing this, he looked up at her and said calmly, "Go out and scout ahead."

Pathfinder?

Yu Wan looked at him, puzzled, and asked, "Where are we going?"

"Aren't you going to wait for Prince Chen to send people to protect you?"

Yun Shang shook his head. "No need. The fewer people involved, the better."

He glanced at Yu Wan and changed his mind. He said, "If you want to go home, I'll take you down the mountain first."

Yu Wan hesitated for a moment.

Following the male lead is definitely not an easy task; in just one day, she has already experienced cliff jumping and diving, and who knows how many more extreme activities await her next.

Her life definitely can't withstand this kind of torment.

So Yu Wan said, "I want to go home, but..."

"Didn't you say before that you needed me to accompany you as cover?"

It was indeed necessary, but after this chase, Yun Shang realized that he did not want to put Yu Wan in danger.

He preferred her to stay safely at home rather than take her with him.

Yun Shang said, "I have other ideas."

Since he had already said that, Yu Wan didn't say anything more and confirmed, "Then I'll go home. You don't need to take me down the mountain; I can go back by myself."

Yu Wan felt that she might be safer acting alone.

Yun Shang remained silent.

After the two finished packing and left the cave, Yu Wan discovered that there was a dense forest outside the pool.

So why didn't they just find a place to rest here last night?

Yun Shang took her hand and led her ashore, saying, "There are wolves and bears that roam this area at night."

Upon hearing this, Yu Wan understood.

The area is densely wooded and overgrown with weeds, making it impossible to see the road.

Looking at the sparse shade that blocked out the sunlight, Yu Wan felt a little uneasy. "Wouldn't there be snakes here?"

Yun Shang turned to look at her, "Scared?"

Yu Wan met his dark eyes and stubbornly said, "Who, who's afraid? What do I have to be afraid of in broad daylight?"

It's unclear what pleased Yun Shang about her words, but Yun Shang chuckled softly.

That exceptionally beautiful face was like a dazzling, spectacular firework, blooming everywhere in the barren land.

Yu Wan's breath hitched, and her ears burned.

This is just too... enticing to commit a crime.

"Come up."

A man's clear, cold voice suddenly rang in my ears.

Yu Wan was taken aback, looking at him blankly, "What?"

Yun Shang said, "Aren't you scared? I'll carry you on my back."

Carry her on your back?!

In an instant, Yu Wan seemed to be burned by those words and subconsciously took a few steps back.

“No need!” she refused firmly, “You’re still injured.”

Yun Shang's gaze clearly swept over her, and he said in a light tone, "It's no problem carrying you."

Yu Wan: "..."

Does she think her small frame isn't enough to crush him?

In the end, Yu Wan still didn't let Yun Shang carry her.

Their relationship now seems a little too intimate.

But the male lead isn't hers.

So even though Yu Wan was very tempted by Yun Shang's suggestion, she still refused.

Yun Shang didn't say much and walked straight ahead of her to clear the way.

Few people come and go from this place, and there are almost no traces of trampling. Yun Shang also walked very carefully.

After walking for about fifteen minutes, the surrounding view opened up, and sunlight shone through the treetops, casting dappled shadows.

Footprints gradually appeared on the ground.

Yu Wan felt relieved and was about to speak when Yun Shang suddenly reached out and covered her mouth.

Yu Wan's eyes widened.

"Someone's here, don't make a sound," Yun Shang said in a low voice.

He pulled her close and quickly retreated behind a tree.

Yu Wan was filled with doubt when she heard voices coming from ahead.

“There’s no one coming to this godforsaken place, yet we’re made to patrol every day. After walking all day, my legs are sore and weak by evening. I really can’t do this job anymore.”

“...All you do is complain all day long. If you don’t want to work, go talk to Manager Xiao and ask him to transfer you to the mining area. You won’t have to move around there.”

"Let's forget about it then. Mining is even more exhausting. Those miners only get two hours of rest a day, working day and night. I heard that two more people died from exhaustion yesterday..."

"Who exactly is our master here? If this illegal mining is discovered, it's a capital offense that could wipe out the entire family. Who has the audacity to do this?"

"These things have nothing to do with us. We're just lowly clerks who get paid to do the work. We're not going to lose our lives over this, are we?"

"Who knows? We can only pray every day that no one else finds out."

The murmurs grew louder and louder.

Yu Wan was so nervous that she didn't dare to breathe.

She seemed to know why Yun Shang had come to Wushaoling.

Someone discovered a hidden mine in Wushaoling and is mining it illegally.

Prince Chen must have discovered something, which is why he sent Yun Shang to investigate.

But why send Yun Shang, who doesn't know martial arts?

Moreover, Yun Shang's face is so outstanding that no one would want to kidnap him and use him as a laborer, right?

Yu Wan blinked at Yun Shang, pointed at his hand, and gestured for him to let go of her.

Yun Shang looked down at her and let go of her hand.

Yu Wan took a few deep breaths to suppress her shock and confusion, holding her breath as she waited for these people to pass by.

The other party consisted of more than a dozen people, all with broadswords at their waists and looking wary.

Yu Wan dared not relax and squeezed next to Yun Shang behind the tree to wait.

Just then, a hissing sound suddenly rang in my ears.

The sound became increasingly clear.

Yu Wan felt a chill run down her spine and stiffly turned her head, catching a glimpse of a black snake flicking its tongue.

The black snake was as thick as a baby's fist, with cold and terrifying eyes and a bright red, bloodthirsty forked tongue. This was the first time Yu Wan had faced a snake's mouth so closely.

Before her mind could even process what was happening, a terrified scream had already escaped her lips.

"snake--"

The air fell into a deathly silence.

A flurry of footsteps approached them. "Who goes there?! Come out!"