bestfiction Chapter 138 Eagle Beak Cliff
Chapter 138 Eagle Beak Cliff
As Xia Yichen galloped away on his steed, his inner joy was unknown to anyone. Just moments ago, Wen Yuxia had said she could secretly lead him and An Yi through the numerous blockades to Eagle's Beak Cliff, and also safely bring Lu Mubai and the others out of Eagle's Beak Cliff.
Wen Yuxia made it clear that she didn't want her secret to be exposed; anyone leading people in or out of Eagle's Beak Cliff had to take her specially made sleeping potion.
All it takes is one sleeping pill to allow Lu Mubai and the others to escape unscathed and to make Zhan Beiwang suffer a humiliation. Xia Yichen agreed on behalf of Lu Mubai and the five hundred soldiers without the slightest hesitation.
Xia Yichen and his group traveled at a rapid pace, strictly limiting the horses' feeding and overnight rest periods to within two hours; the rest of the time was spent on horseback.
Xia Yichen and An Yi were already used to life on horseback. Every day, when they stopped to rest after riding for ten or so hours, neither of them had a limp or weak legs, and both looked calm.
On the night of departure, Wen Yuxia took advantage of her rest time to take out a cotton pad from her spatial storage and lay it on the horse's back to prevent the inner thighs from being chafed while the horse was running.
Perhaps it was due to the differences between men and women, or perhaps women's skin is naturally more delicate than men's, but after riding at full speed for five days, Wen Yuxia began to feel a burning pain on both sides of her thighs.
She endured the pain and persevered, but every day after dismounting from horseback, her slight limp made Xia Yichen notice her discomfort.
Compared to Lu Mubai's hunger and cold at Eagle's Beak Cliff, Xia Yichen had no choice but to harden his heart and stick to his goal of cycling for ten hours a day.
Seeing that Wen Yuxia's limp was getting worse when she got up to rest, Xia Yichen said apologetically, "Sister Yuxia, put some medicine on your leg and lie down under the tree to rest. I'll have An Yi bring you the food when it's ready."
The summit of Eagle's Beak Cliff is unaffected by the temperature differences of the four seasons and is covered in ice and snow year-round. Lu Mubai and his group were gradually forced to the vicinity of the summit by Zhan Beiwang's army. They had neither cotton-padded clothes to keep warm nor enough food to fill their stomachs.
Wen Yuxia knew that Xia Yichen was worried about Lu Mubai and the others' safety as well as her health, so she smiled and comforted him, "Brother Chen, your legs don't hurt anymore. It's just that sitting on horseback for a long time makes your walking posture a little strange."
They cycled for another three days before finally arriving at Pingyuan Pass. At Wen Yuxia's request, Xia Yichen didn't go to the military camp but instead led Wen Yuxia directly out of the pass to the village where the veterans lived.
After finding two spacious courtyards, Wen Yuxia moved the supplies from her spatial storage to the courtyards. Then, after thinking for a moment, she took some cooked food and put it back into her spatial storage.
The once empty courtyard was suddenly filled with various supplies. Wen Yuxia didn't want these supplies to be seen, so after stepping out of the courtyard, she stood next to Xia Yichen and whispered:
"Since they don't have warm clothes, I'll prepare some food for them. Brother Chen, the courtyard can't be entered by anyone; someone has to guard it."
Xia Yichen turned to the village chief standing not far away and said, "Until I return, this place must be guarded. Anyone who dares to enter the courtyard without permission will not be spared."
"I guarantee to complete the task," the village chief replied loudly and with a strong voice, this being the first time the Crown Prince had assigned him a task.
When he left, An Yi was left in the village by Xia Yichen, who instructed him to hide in the shadows to ensure that no one would climb over the wall to spy on the courtyard.
Xia Yichen and Wen Yuxia quietly left Pingyuan Pass. The soldiers of Pingyuan Pass were unaware that the Crown Prince had arrived, and Zhan Beiwang, who was guarding Eagle's Beak Cliff, was also unaware that Xia Yichen had reached the foot of Eagle's Beak Cliff.
As dusk fell, Wen Yuxia smiled and handed a pill to Xia Yichen: "Brother Chen, eat this quickly, I have to leave after you finish."
Xia Yichen took the pill without even looking at it and put it in his mouth. The pill was not only effective but also dissolved instantly in his mouth. Xia Yichen fell into a coma the moment he swallowed it.
Wen Yuxia moved it into her spatial dimension and, under the cover of night, carefully made her way up the mountain. When she arrived at Zhan Beiwang's camp, Wen Yuxia began to frequently enter and exit the spatial dimension, using it as cover to gradually approach the summit.
Leaving Zhan Beiwang's defense zone, Wen Yuxia brought Xia Yichen out of the space. The cold wind woke Xia Yichen; he sat up and looked around blankly.
Wen Yuxia chuckled and said, "Stop looking, we've already gone up the mountain."
"We're already up the mountain," Xia Yichen said urgently, jumping to his feet. "Let's split up and search separately. We'll meet back here in an hour."
Thinking of Lu Mubai and the others who were starving, Xia Yichen stepped back after leaping out: "Sister Yuxia, get me some food."
Wen Yuxia pointed to the two bundles on the ground and said with a smile, "They were prepared a long time ago, one for each of us."
Xia Yichen was the first to find Lu Mubai. Seeing Lu Mubai and the others lying barely alive in the cave, Xia Yichen quickly opened his bundle and took out some steamed buns.
People who have been hungry for a long time should not eat too much. Xia Yichen divided the steamed bun in half and gave half a bun to everyone, saying in a low voice, "Don't rush, eat slowly."
Xia Yichen, who had never served anyone before, took out the pots and pans that Wen Yuxia had prepared in advance, and personally scooped a pot of clean snow from outside the cave. He then boiled the snow water over the fire.
After everyone finished eating their steamed buns and drinking water, Xia Yichen put the pots and pans into his bundle and said to Lu Mubai, "I'll be right back."
When Xia Yichen returned to the agreed meeting place, he saw Wen Yuxia waiting there. He said in a light tone, "Sister Yuxia, I found Mu Bai."
After briefly explaining Lu Mubai and the others' current situation, Xia Yichen stated his plan: "I don't intend to tell Mubai that you were the one who brought them out of Eagle's Beak Cliff. I'll take the sleeping potion to the cave later..."
Wen Yuxia nodded and smiled, "That's excellent." The person Lu Mubai and the others saw before they lost consciousness was Xia Yichen, and the person they saw after regaining consciousness was also Xia Yichen.
Apart from Lu Mubai, no other officers and soldiers dared to ask Xia Yichen for answers, no matter how many questions they had. As for Lu Mubai, no matter how Xia Yichen tried to persuade him, he could never get Wen Yuxia involved.
After having dinner, Xia Yichen and Wen Yuxia leisurely made their way to the cave where Lu Mubai and the others were hiding. Half an hour later,
Xia Yichen stopped and pointed to a cave in front of him, saying, "The person is there. Sister Yuxia, give me the pills and some food."
After Lu Mubai and the others finished eating the steamed buns, Xia Yichen took out pills and handed them to everyone, saying with a serious expression, "If you want to leave this place safely, obey my command and take these pills."
Lu Mubai's face showed surprise, and he asked softly, "How do we leave?"
Xia Yichen said coldly, "How you leave is none of your concern. Take the pill, and leave the rest to me."
In Lu Mubai's memory, this was the first time Xia Yichen had spoken to him with a stern face. He said somewhat dejectedly, "I know."
Xia Yichen stared sternly at the soldiers lying on the ground and said coldly, "Everyone, listen to my command, one, two, three, take your medicine!"
Five hundred soldiers and Lu Mubai simultaneously put the pills into their mouths. After confirming that everyone in the cave was asleep, Xia Yichen walked to the cave entrance and waved to Wen Yuxia.