GTB Chapter 131

Chapter 133: Is This Snake Poisonous?

After Shí Yan thoroughly surveyed the entire mountain racecourse, he returned to what he considered the most suspicious spot and entered the woods—right at the fork where Jiang Jiuchu had deviated from the path.

He carefully examined the broken and trampled branches in the undergrowth, discerning directions from their traces, while also concluding that Jiang Jiuchu’s horse had been startled.

Suppressing his anxiety, he slowly searched for the correct direction, but as he ventured deeper into the woods, his handsome brows furrowed more and more deeply.

This area had no path at all, and the branches were chaotically overgrown, with the traces of trampling going in every direction.

Without pausing to think further, he immediately chose a direction and plunged onward, man and horse weaving through the forest, heedless of the thin branches and thorny vines that continuously scratched and tore at his red brocade robe.

The ache in his heart only fueled his desire to go faster, ever faster. He couldn’t imagine what kind of situation Jiang Jiuchu was in right now.

Had she been injured? How badly? Various scenarios flashed through Shí Yan’s mind, each one depicting Jiang Jiuchu as frightened and helpless.

At this moment, Jiang Jiuchu, having eaten and drunk her fill, was sitting propped against a nearby tree trunk, asking Shí Xiu beside her:

“Fifth Prince, how did you manage to get in here? Why haven’t my brother and the others found us yet?”

“I don’t know, I just kept searching and ended up here,” Shí Xiu said, comforting Jiang Jiuchu. “It’s still early, don’t worry too much.”

Jiang Jiuchu nodded. “I’m just thinking, after so long, with no one finding us, could this formation also be affecting the outside, preventing them from getting in?”

Shí Xiu shook his head. “I don’t think so! I don’t really understand it either.”

“Then why don’t we try again together? See if we can get out?” Jiang Jiuchu had given up hope for herself, but she felt that Shí Xiu hadn’t tried many times, so maybe he could find a way out.

“Alright! Let’s try,” Shí Xiu said, getting up and brushing off his moon-white robes. He and Jiang Jiuchu mounted their horses together.

Jiang Jiuchu offered no opinion on the direction, leaving it entirely up to Shí Xiu, since she had already tried so many times.

But as expected, nothing unexpected happened. After more than a quarter of an hour, they were still back where they started.

Shí Xiu said awkwardly, “I’ll definitely study this formation thoroughly when I get back.”

Jiang Jiuchu smiled at Shí Xiu. “Then you’ll really be something, knowing everything.”

As she spoke, she dismounted and returned to the shade under the tree. “Let’s just wait patiently!”

“Okay,” Shí Xiu replied casually, idly plucking at the grass beside him, weaving it in his hands. His expression was unhurried and serene, as if time stood still.

Before long, he had woven a delicate grasshopper and handed it to Jiang Jiuchu. “Here you go.”

Jiang Jiuchu took it in surprise, not expecting him to know how to weave one. Bored, she quickly plucked two blades of grass as well, asking Shí Xiu humbly, “Teach me how to weave one!”

“Okay,” Shí Xiu replied, plucking two more blades of grass and teaching Jiang Jiuchu step by step.

Before long, the two blades of grass in Jiang Jiuchu’s hands had also become a grasshopper, though not as finely crafted as Shí Xiu’s.

“It’s not that hard, is it?” Jiang Jiuchu said, and plucked two more blades of grass, beginning to weave on her own.

Shí Xiu turned his head to look at Jiang Jiuchu’s exquisite profile. From the moment he had met her more than a year ago, he had been captivated by the purity and clarity in her eyes, as if she were a beautiful spirit untainted by the world, with no sense of superiority or inferiority.

She was the kindest, most reasonable, gentle and obedient girl he had ever met, and also the most beautiful.

“It’s not hard if you understand it.”

“Mm,” Jiang Jiuchu responded, as she focused on weaving, completely unaware of the tenderness and affection in Shí Xiu’s eyes.

Looking at the second grasshopper she had woven, she was satisfied that it was nearly as good as Shí Xiu’s, and placed it aside. Then she said to Shí Xiu, “I’m sleepy, I’m going to take a nap. Wake me up if anything happens.”

“Okay, sleep peacefully.”

Shí Xiu watched Jiang Jiuchu lie down on the grass with her back to him. He had a lot he wanted to ask her, but when he was in front of her, he couldn’t bring himself to ask.

Forget it, asking more would be useless. She probably wouldn’t be honest with him, and it might even drive her further away.

Jiang Jiuchu seemed very sleepy, and before long, Shí Xiu could hear her even breathing.

He took out his folding fan from his waist, sat closer to Jiang Jiuchu, and fanned her.

Jiang Jiuchu seemed to feel the coolness on her back and turned over, lying on her back.

A doting smile appeared on Shí Xiu’s lips, but then his eyes filled with determination. Life was short, like passing clouds. He had nothing in the first half of his life, but he would fight for what he wanted in the second half.

Suddenly, an unfamiliar presence made him stop fanning, and he immediately looked up to see Shí Yan in red standing in the distance.

A look of surprise flashed in his eyes, as if he hadn’t expected Shí Yan to find them so quickly. In his plan, the best-case scenario was that they would be found by nightfall, and in the worst case, he could spend the night in the forest with Jiang Jiuchu.

He glanced at Jiang Jiuchu next to him, got up, and walked toward Shí Yan.

Shí Yan withdrew his cold gaze from Shí Xiu, loosened his fist, and strode towards the figure lying under the tree, not even looking at Shí Xiu as he approached.

As the two passed each other, Shí Xiu said, “She’s asleep and unharmed.”

Shí Yan paused, but didn’t reply. He walked directly to Jiang Jiuchu, looked her up and down, and then fixed his gaze on her unguarded sleeping face.

In a cold voice, he called out, “Jiang Jiuchu.”

Jiang Jiuchu stirred, as if recognizing the voice, and immediately opened her eyes. Looking up at Shí Yan looking down at her, she was stunned for a moment, then immediately sat up in surprise.

“You’re…. here.” She had just stood up when she suddenly stopped. The Shí Yan in front of her had disheveled hair and torn clothes, looking disheveled.

She looked at Shí Yan with some concern. “Are you… alright?” She wondered if he had encountered a wild animal, how else could he be in such a mess?

“I’m fine,” Shí Yan said. The anger in his heart subsided when he heard Jiang Jiuchu’s soft voice, but his tone was still clearly displeased.

“Ah!”

Jiang Jiuchu’s sudden scream echoed through the forest.

Shí Yan’s face went pale in shock. He quickly followed Jiang Jiuchu’s gaze and, upon seeing a poisonous snake, his pupils constricted. He grabbed Jiang Jiuchu, stepped forward, and stomped his foot directly on the snake’s head.

Then he quickly asked Jiang Jiuchu, “Did it bite you?”

Seeing Jiang Jiuchu’s pale face, he immediately picked her up and sat her down to the side, quickly removing her shoes and socks.

Standing not far away, Shí Xiu heard the scream and quickly ran over.

Jiang Jiuchu looked back at the green snake that Shí Yan had crushed to death, and asked Shí Xiu with a pale face, “Is this snake… poisonous?”

As soon as she finished speaking, she felt a warm softness on her ankle. Turning her head, she saw Shí Yan lowering his head and sucking at her ankle.

“Don’t.” She was startled and tried to pull her foot back.