NCCnovel Chapter 2 Encounters and Crisis in the Mountains
Chapter 2 Encounters and Crisis in the Mountains
Wanru hid behind a large tree, tightly covering her mouth, afraid to make a sound. Her heart pounded like a drum, pounding wildly in her chest, as if it would burst out of her chest at any moment. The approaching sound of horses' hooves and voices was like a death knell, causing her fear to rise higher and higher.
"What should I do? What will they do to me if they find out? In this day and age, I'll definitely be seen as a monster looking like this." Wanru thought frantically to herself, her eyes peering nervously through the gaps in the tree trunk, watching the direction from which the sound came.
Before long, a group of people came into her view. The man at the head of the group rode a magnificent black horse, his posture upright and imposing. He wore a deep purple brocade robe, embroidered with delicate cloud patterns in gold thread, which shimmered in the sunlight. He wore a jade crown, the gemstones inlaid on it radiating a dazzling light, further highlighting his handsome face, sharp eyebrows, and bright eyes. Wanru couldn't help but sigh inwardly; this man was exceptionally handsome, and his bearing was far beyond that of ordinary people.
But at this moment, she had no mind to admire handsome men; her heart was filled with worry for her own safety. Wanru tried to shrink herself even smaller, hoping to escape unscathed. However, fate always seemed to love playing tricks on people. Just then, a wild rabbit darted out from beside the tree where she was hiding, startling the nearby horses into a restless neighing.
"Who goes there?!" The leader, Huanmo, instantly became alert, gripping the sword at his waist tightly, his eyes sharp as lightning as he quickly scanned his surroundings.
Wanru knew she couldn't hide anymore. She gritted her teeth and slowly walked out from behind the big tree, her hands trembling as she held them up to her chest to indicate that she meant no harm.
When Huanmo and his men saw Wanru appear, their faces showed astonishment. Wanru's modern attire seemed completely out of place to them; the unusual style of her clothes, her simple hairstyle, and her fair and delicate face were all worlds apart from women of this era.
Huanmo frowned, his mind filled with doubt: "Where did this woman come from? Why is she dressed so strangely?" But as a noble young master, his calm demeanor, cultivated since childhood, kept him outwardly composed, though his gaze was fixed on Wanru, scrutinizing her from head to toe.
Wanru looked at the strangers who were scrutinizing her, and she was terrified. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found that something was stuck in her throat. After a long while, she managed to squeeze out a sentence: "I...I'm lost, please let me go."
Huanmo was filled with doubts after hearing Wanru's words, but seeing her terrified expression, he didn't say anything more. He dismounted and walked slowly towards Wanru with steady steps. Every step he took carried an innate nobility and majesty, as if he had an invisible aura that made Wanru almost unable to breathe.
When Huanmo walked up to Wanru, Wanru could clearly feel the cold aura emanating from him. Her body trembled slightly involuntarily, unsure of what this man was going to do next.
"Who are you? Where do you come from? And why are you lost here?" Huanmo asked, his voice deep and magnetic, yet his tone carried an undeniable authority.
Wanru frantically searched her mind for an answer. She knew she absolutely couldn't reveal the truth about her time travel, or she'd probably be seen as some kind of monster or monster. So, she stammered out a lie: "I... I'm Wanru. I'm originally from a small village far away. My family suffered a tragedy, and my parents... both of them have passed away. I had no choice but to go out and make a living. I got lost in these mountains. I hope you, sir, will be merciful and spare this poor soul."
Huanmo listened quietly to Wanru's story, his gaze constantly shifting over her, as if trying to discern the truth in her words. After a while, he nodded slightly and said, "If that's the case, then come with us. Wild beasts roam freely in these mountains, and you might be in danger of losing your life if you're alone here."
Wanru was taken aback. She hadn't expected this seemingly cold and dignified man to believe her lie so easily and even be willing to help her. A feeling of gratitude welled up inside her, but she also hesitated, after all, she knew nothing about these people.
"Thank you for your kindness, young master, but I... I have never met you before, how could I possibly trouble you?" Wanru said cautiously.
Huanmo glanced at her and said indifferently, "No need for further words. I feel sorry for you and will not stand by and watch you die." After saying that, he turned and walked to his horse. After mounting the horse, he looked back at Wanru and gestured for her to follow.
Wanru gritted her teeth, thinking that she had no better choice now. Following them might really help her escape the dangers of the mountains for the time being. So, she steeled herself and followed at the back of the group.
Throughout the journey, Wanru kept her head down and walked silently, her heart still filled with unease. She would occasionally steal glances at Huanmo and his men, trying to guess their identities and destination.
Huanmo would occasionally glance back at Wanru, his gaze revealing a complex mix of emotions, a mixture of curiosity about this strange woman and a nameless worry, given how weak and helpless she appeared.
As time passed, darkness gradually fell. Wanru grew increasingly anxious. She didn't know where these people would take her, nor what she would encounter in this unfamiliar place at night.
Just as Wanru was filled with worry, the group stopped at the foot of a mountain. Huanmo dismounted and said to everyone, "Let's rest here today and continue our journey tomorrow."
Everyone agreed and began setting up camp for the night. Wanru stood to the side, somewhat at a loss. Watching these people busily working, she secretly admired their survival skills.
Just then, Huanmo walked over to Wanru, handed her a piece of dry food, and said, "Eat it, you must be hungry too."
Wanru took the dry rations, glanced gratefully at Huanmo, and said softly, "Thank you, young master." She took a bite of the dry rations; although they were rough in texture, they felt like a lifeline to her at that moment.
As night fell, the camp was set up. Wanru was assigned to rest in a corner. Lying on the simple bedding, she couldn't fall asleep. Listening to the wind outside and the occasional neighing of horses, her mind was filled with a multitude of thoughts.
"Can I really trust these people? Where will I go tomorrow? Will I ever be able to return to the modern world..." These questions kept flashing through Wanru's mind, and she felt heavy-hearted and confused.
Just as she was tossing and turning, suddenly, the sound of rapid hoofbeats and shouts came from outside, as if someone was galloping towards their tent.
Wanru sat up abruptly, a strong sense of unease welling up inside her. She didn't know what had happened, only that this sudden turn of events might once again alter her fate in this unfamiliar era.
She hurriedly got up, wanting to go out and see what was going on, but she was also a little scared. Just as she hesitated, Huanmo had already strode out of the tent, and his men had also picked up their weapons and were ready for battle.
Wanru peered nervously through the cracks in the tent, watching the commotion outside. A group of masked men dressed in black rode horses toward them like ghosts.
"Oh no, they're bandits!" one of Huanmo's men exclaimed.
Mountain bandits? Wanru's heart leaped into her throat. In this era, mountain bandits were known for their ruthlessness; murder and robbery were commonplace for them. She began to worry about her own safety and that of these people, after all, her fate was now tied to theirs.
Huanmo's expression was cold and stern. He gripped his sword tightly and shouted, "Brothers, do not panic! Follow me to meet the enemy!"
Having said that, he charged out first, and his men followed without hesitation, rushing towards the bandits. In an instant, the sound of horses' hooves and shouts of battle mingled together, shattering the tranquility of the night.
Wanru waited anxiously in the tent, her hands clasped tightly together, praying silently that Huanmo and his men would be safe and sound.
However, the situation did not seem optimistic. The bandits were numerous and powerful, and each one was fierce and brutal. Relying on their numbers, they launched continuous attacks on Huanmo and his companions. Although Huanmo was highly skilled in martial arts, he was gradually finding himself struggling against such a large number of enemies.
"What should I do? I can't just sit here and wait, but what can I do?" Wanru thought anxiously to herself. She looked around, hoping to find something she could use to defend herself or help others.
Suddenly, her gaze fell on a wooden stick in the corner of the tent. Wanru gritted her teeth; she knew the stick might not be of much use, but it was better than doing nothing.
So she picked up a stick, mustered her courage, and rushed out of the tent.
As soon as Wanru stepped out of the tent, she saw Huanmo fiercely fighting with several bandits. His face was splattered with blood, whether his own or the enemy's, it was hard to tell, but his eyes remained firm, and he wielded his sword with great force, constantly deflecting the bandits' attacks.
"Young Master Huanmo!" Wanru couldn't help but shout.
Huanmo was slightly taken aback when he heard Wanru's shout. He hadn't expected this frail woman to rush out at this moment. But he had no time to think about it, because several more bandits were rushing towards him.
Wanru grabbed a wooden stick and charged toward the nearest bandit. Although she was afraid, she also had a stubborn streak; she didn't want to stand by and watch Huanmo and his men get into trouble while she could do nothing.
When the bandit saw Wanru charging towards him with a wooden stick, he burst into laughter: "Oh, this little wench dares to come out and die? I'll take you down!"
As he spoke, he brandished his broadsword and slashed at Wanru.
Wanru closed her eyes in fright, instinctively raising the wooden stick in her hand to block. With a "crack," the stick was instantly cut in two, and Wanru was thrown back a few steps by the impact.
Just as the bandit was about to swing his sword at Wanru again, Huanmo rushed forward and thrust his sword into the bandit's chest. The bandit stared wide-eyed at Huanmo in disbelief before collapsing to the ground.
Huanmo turned to look at Wanru, his eyes filled with both reproach and concern: "What are you doing out here? It's dangerous here, go back to your tent!"
Wanru shook her head and said stubbornly, "I can't just stand by and watch you all be in danger while I hide inside. I have to help!"
Huanmo's heart skipped a beat; he hadn't expected this woman to possess such courage. But the situation was critical, and he had no time for further reflection, turning back to the battle.
As Wanru watched Huanmo's retreating figure, a strange emotion welled up within her. She knew she might be truly weak in this era, but she also wanted to do her part.
Just then, several more bandits spotted Wanru and surrounded her with sinister smiles.
Wanru's heart was filled with fear again, but she gritted her teeth, gripped the remaining half of the wooden stick in her hand, and prepared to face the challenge once more.