Chapter 98: Huh? Why Arent You Singing Praises Anymore? (2 / 2)
“Your Majesty, is it fragrant?”
Xu Yanmiao sat atop a large boulder, resting his chin in his hands. Around him was a dense, misty forest, barely visible through the thick fog that had risen after the heavy rain.
The old emperor let out an awkward laugh.
The fragrance of the rain-soaked vegetation was indeed pleasant, but they were utterly lost.
In truth, the mountains north of the Qinling range generally had sparse vegetation and lacked dangerous beasts or insects, making them relatively safe. However, this was Shanhai Pass—a treacherous, formidable area surrounded by towering, unbroken mountain ranges and pristine forests. The old emperor had specifically chosen this region for hunting.
Initially, they hadn’t planned to venture deep into the mountains and had even brought a guide. Under normal circumstances, there should have been no issue finding their way. Unfortunately, bad luck struck when an unusual torrential rainstorm caught them off guard. In their haste to find shelter, they abandoned the idea of taking cover under trees—warned by Bai Ze’s internal voice that they might be struck by lightning—and scrambled to locate a cave.
Even then, they were still on track. The guide had not lost his bearings, and though the heavy mist that followed the rain could have been disorienting, they could have waited it out.
But what truly complicated matters was their encounter with borderland barbarians, who inexplicably recognized the emperor and immediately launched an attack. Forced to flee amidst the chaos, the group found themselves thoroughly lost in the mountains.
The old emperor checked the arrows in his quiver and adjusted his bowstring, letting out a cold snort. “If not for this accursed fog, those barbarians wouldn’t have gotten away with leaving only twenty bodies behind.”