Even women who travel through time can become prime ministers and nobles.

Shen Yanchu, Cui An, and the others trudged along the overgrown mountain path, having searched for two days without finding any trace of the man in black. However, they did not give up. Instead, they decided to use themselves as bait to lure the man in black out and eliminate him, before continuing their search for the true antidote.

The mountain path was rugged and uneven, with weeds on both sides almost completely obscuring it. They had to carefully push aside the grass to avoid tripping. Shen Yanchu's eyes were firm and sharp; he remained vigilant, watching for any movement around him. Cui Yu'an and the others were equally tense, gripping their weapons tightly, ready to deal with any potential dangers at any moment.

Suddenly, a gentle breeze rustled through the grass. Shen Yanchu immediately stopped and gestured for everyone to be quiet. They waited silently, their heartbeats ringing out clearly in the still forest.

A moment later, several dark figures sprang from the bushes and pounced on them. Shen Yanchu, Cui Yu'an, and the others reacted quickly, engaging in a fierce battle with the men in black. Their agility and sharp moves made it difficult for them to gain the upper hand for a time.

In the midst of the fierce battle, Shen Yanchu discovered an opening in the black-clad men's defenses. He seized the opportunity to launch a fatal blow, knocking one of them to the ground. Upon seeing this, the other black-clad men showed expressions of fear and began to retreat.

Shen Yanchu, Cui Yu'an, and the others gave the men in black no chance to catch their breath. They pressed their advantage and wiped them all out. After the battle, they sat exhausted on the ground, panting heavily.

However, they had no time to rest, for they knew the real danger lay ahead. They stood up and continued along the mountain path, searching for clues to the Izumo Lotus.

The Cloud Mist Mountain is shrouded in fog and miasma year-round. Before entering the mountain, the guards prepared many pills to counteract the miasma. Otherwise, it would be difficult to survive in such miasma.

Shen Yanchu and his group stepped into the valley, its ravines and gullies resembling the wrinkles of the earth. Looking around, oak trees dominated the landscape, tall and straight, their branches and leaves forming a verdant sea. Fir and birch trees dotted the area, adding unique touches of color to the forest.

The mountains and forests are shrouded in mist, the wisps of air drifting like veils among the treetops, creating a dreamlike atmosphere. Sunlight filters through the leaves, casting dappled patterns that resemble beautiful designs painted on the ground by nature's brush. However, the dense canopy of trees also makes the valley exceptionally dark, almost completely obscuring the sun.

In this secluded mountain forest, Shen Yanchu and his group felt as if they had entered a world completely isolated from the outside world. They moved forward cautiously, their feet rustling over the thick layer of fallen leaves. Occasionally, a bird would fly overhead, breaking the tranquility of the valley. Here, there was no worldly clamor, no worldly disturbances, only the breath and heartbeat of nature.

Shen Yanchu led the group into a valley where a stream flowed gently, surrounding them. He repeatedly confirmed the location indicated on the map; this was indeed the place where the antidote grew.

Shen Yanchu's gaze was firm and focused; he knew the importance of finding the antidote. He carefully observed his surroundings, not overlooking any possible clues. The valley was densely vegetated with towering trees, which made the search for the antidote somewhat difficult.

Shen Yanchu decided to have his men search separately to increase efficiency. The group dispersed and began a thorough search of the valley. They carefully parted the undergrowth, examined every tree, and left no place unchecked where the antidote might grow.

Time ticked by, and everyone's efforts finally paid off. Someone discovered a plant that appeared to be the antidote. Shen Yanchu rushed over and carefully examined the plant. After some confirmation, he determined that this was indeed the antidote they had been searching for.

A relieved smile appeared on Shen Yanchu's face. He knew their efforts had not been in vain. He ordered his men to carefully harvest the antidote, intending to bring it back to those in need. They had expended considerable effort in the process, but ultimately succeeded in finding the antidote, and there was now a way to cure the poison that had afflicted him and Cui Yu'an.

After obtaining the antidote, Shen Yanchu and the others immediately began their descent down the mountain. They carried a valuable map, which prevented them from getting lost in the misty mountains.

Along the way, they traversed mountains and valleys, passing through dense forests and treacherous canyons. Everyone remained highly vigilant, constantly aware of their surroundings, fearing any unexpected encounter.

After two days and two nights of arduous trekking, they finally emerged from the Cloud Mist Mountain. As soon as they reached the foot of the mountain, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, and a smile of relief appeared on their tired faces.

"Thank you all for your hard work!" Shen Yanchu said.

Everyone nodded in agreement, packed their bags, and continued their journey home. Although they were exhausted, they had no complaints, knowing they would soon be back at the inn to rest.

At the foot of Cloud Mist Mountain, Shen Yanchu and his companions, after a long journey, finally saw the light of day again. However, the sounds of fighting could be heard not far away, as groups of people in various clothes were shouting and killing each other at the foot of the mountain.

"Zhizhou, who are these people? Why are they fighting here?" Cui Yu'an asked, leaning closer to him. After all, these people were all wielding various sharp weapons, and their martial arts skills were not weak. Are you trying to steal the medicine?

Shen Yanchu ignored him, walked straight past the martial arts figures, and returned to the carriage. Cui Yu'an, being quite sensible, also got back into the carriage, his eyes constantly scanning the situation outside.

"Huh, what are these people doing making such a fuss about? Wang Fu hurried back to the inn."

Cui Yu'an observed for a while and saw that the people outside were fighting fiercely. He lost interest in watching the spectacle and was filled with excitement, thinking that he could detoxify and restore his strength when he returned.

Upon receiving orders from his master, the head guard, Wang Fu, raised his whip and drove the carriage away from this dangerous place.

"Wenzhu, have Wang Fu find a secluded and safe courtyard with a hot spring. We are both heavily poisoned and need acupuncture to protect our heart meridians. We also need to take a medicinal bath and practice internal energy for forty-nine hours to remove the toxins from our bodies. Once we start, we can't stop. Have Wang Fu find a reliable doctor to perform acupuncture and prepare the medicine for us. Also, have him arrange for some people to guard the courtyard."

Shen Yanchu, holding a teacup, entrusted the task of detoxification to him. After all, this Miss Wang was engaged to him, and it would be more convenient for him to have Wang Fu and the others handle the matter!

Cui Yu'an nodded, thinking that he would have Wang Fu and the others prepare once they returned to the inn. The convoy soon entered Yunping Town. Shen Yanchu sat upright in the carriage with his eyes closed, resting. Cui Yu'an didn't expect this guy to chat with him to pass the time. However, once the poison was cured, his appearance would return to normal. At that time, they would still be in another country, and they would definitely have to rely on him in the future, making the journey even more difficult.

The convoy returned to the inn swiftly, raising a cloud of dust. Cui Yu'an's expression was grave; he knew time was of the essence and they needed to detoxify themselves and Shen Yanchu as soon as possible. He turned to Wang Fu and said, "Find a safe and secluded place to prepare for our detoxification." Wang Fu immediately obeyed, his eyes resolute, and hurriedly left with a few others.

“Let’s go! Let’s find Miss Shi. The medicinal herbs are all with her. We’ll just focus on detoxifying her, so we won’t take the others with us. Let them wait at the inn. After we’re detoxified, I plan to only bring Miss Shi with us. Li Changyu will take the rest of the group. The journey is not safe. We can only protect her. Too many people would be too much of a burden for us.”

Shen Yanchu had his own ulterior motives in bringing Shi Wanxia along. He had indeed developed feelings for her, and once he was cured of the poison, his identity would surely attract the attention of Emperor Xuanwu and his enemies, who would not allow him to return to Cangling alive. The more people around, the more attention he would draw, and with Shi Wanxia by his side, he had the ability to protect her.

Cui Yu'an glanced at him. This guy really was hiding his true intentions. Even if we disguised ourselves, once the spies from Yan Yue Kingdom found out that Shen Yanchu was within Yan Yue Kingdom's territory, whether we could even return to Cang Ling alive would be a big question.