Fortunately, his cold poison hadn't flared up, and the wound on his back didn't hinder his movements. Plus, two sturdy men were carrying Chu Junyu and Nangong Yichen on their shoulders, saving them a lot of time on the way up the mountain.
The winding mountain path was tough to navigate, and the adults were panting heavily. But Chu Junyu and Nangong Yichen, perched on the men's shoulders, were as lively as deer in the woods. One moment they'd shout encouragement, the next they'd mimic the uncles singing folk songs.
With two adorable, innocent little ones around, their cheerful, youthful voices erased all of Chu Lingzhi's fatigue. They had always lived in T City and had never been to such a remote, deep mountain area before. Even when traveling to climb mountains, they'd take cable cars. This was their first time truly experiencing the joy of hiking.
Along the way, Chu Lingzhi took great care of Nangong Yehen. She'd have him drink water, eat some dry rations, and check if his wound was soaked with sweat. Her thoughtfulness and attention filled Nangong Yehen with gratitude and warmth.
When they reached the halfway point, they stopped. Chu Lingzhi chose to rest here because not far off, there was a stream flowing from the mountaintop down to the foot. Here, they could hear the babbling of the stream, its sound crisp like a melody. Various bird calls filled the air, occasionally punctuated by the rough grunts of wild boars.
The two men went to gather medicinal herbs, while Chu Lingzhi and Nangong Yichen sat down on the spot. "Mommy, I feel like I've stepped into a dream," Chu Junyu said, spreading his arms and taking a deep breath of the air, rich with the scent of nature. He was so short that the grass and trees towered over him.
Nangong Yichen plucked a maple leaf to play with, glancing at Chu Junyu indifferently at his words. "You haven't stepped into a dream—you've stepped into the deep mountains."
Chu Lingzhi, Nangong Yehen, and Huo Luan all couldn't help but laugh. "I was just trying to express myself poetically. Don't be like that," Chu Junyu said, mimicking Zhong Xibing's coquettish tone with Nangong Yichen.
Nangong Yichen got goosebumps at that. Chu Junyu, the little clown, had the adults all laughing.
"Roar—"
Suddenly, a rough sound came from afar. It startled Chu Junyu, and his tiny body darted into Chu Lingzhi's arms. "What was that? Scared the baby to death."
Chu Lingzhi and Nangong Yehen: "..." Nangong Yichen was silent, rolling his eyes at the sky.
"It's a wolf's howl," Chu Lingzhi said, stroking the little one in her arms with a smile. "Wolf? Will it eat us?" Chu Junyu pretended to be scared.
"Young Master, if a wolf dares to come close, I'll shoot it dead with one bullet," Huo Luan said seriously. Chu Junyu beamed brightly. "Then we'll have wolf meat to eat."
"Kid, when you got scared, why did you dive into Mommy's arms instead of mine?" Nangong Yehen raised an eyebrow. "I don't want to crash into a wall and kill myself," Chu Junyu said, clinging to Chu Lingzhi's arms and refusing to come out.
Nangong Yehen's dark, sharp brows shot up even higher at that, his aura turning dangerous as he looked at Chu Junyu. "Are you saying my chest is hard?" "Compared to Mommy's, it is a bit harder."
Chu Lingzhi felt a bit awkward at that. She pulled Chu Junyu out of her arms and tossed him aside. "Stay away from me." Then she waved at Nangong Yichen. "Little treasure, come here. Mommy will hold you."
Nangong Yichen shook his head. "I'm not a three-year-old." "..." Chu Lingzhi's heart felt wounded. "I'll let you hold me," Nangong Yehen said with a charming smile.