Chapter 14: Hiding in the Wilderness

The small boat headed east.

It was unclear how far they had left Yellow Ganoderma Mountain, when suddenly they entered a stretch of river with rapid currents. Huge rocks jutted out from the riverbed, but there were even more hidden reefs.

"Qingyu, hold on tight!"

Lu Qingfeng reminded her, holding the paddle tightly, focusing intently on maneuvering the boat to avoid the reefs.

Splash! Splash!

The turbulent river water crashed against the protruding rocks, the sound clear and sharp.

A small skiff carrying the three Lu siblings agilely wove through these rocks.

The boat rocked precariously, threatening to capsize at any moment.

Lu Qingyu clung to the handles on the boat with both hands, pressing Lu Qingshan beneath her body.

Perspiration beaded on Lu Qingfeng's forehead.

He had only practiced boating for two or three months in the Primordial wilderness; he could ensure that the boat would not flip, but he was far from a seasoned hand. These complex river terrains were beyond his capabilities.

Thump!

Thump thump thump!

More hidden reefs emerged, and the boat constantly struck against them, beginning to leak.

"Big brother!"

"We're taking on water!"

Lu Qingyu saw the river flooding over their feet and hurriedly shouted.

"No way!"

"We must get to shore quickly, or we'll die in the river sooner or later!"

Lu Qingfeng quickly steered the boat towards the north bank.

The south was fraught with dangers, inhabited by demons; even Inner Chamber Disciples from the Returning to Truth Sect could perish there. Lu Qingfeng, with Qingshan and Qingyu in tow, dared not land on the south shore.

Thump thump!

Lu Qingfeng's timely decision could not be understated. Just as the boat reached the shore, it completely sank.

The roaring and surging Chengyang River was on par with the Yangtze River that Lu Qingfeng had seen in his previous life.

The Chengyang River flowed through Jiuzhai County, breaking through lofty mountains and ridges, carving out a magnificent and unique grand canyon, much like the Three Gorges.

At this moment.

The Lu siblings, disheveled, stood on a protruding rock on the shore, with the torrential river three feet below their feet.

"Big brother, how do we get up there?"

Lu Qingyu held her big brother's arm and looked up at the nearly vertical cliff behind them, speaking out.

"Qingyu, stay right here and don't move, make sure your second brother doesn't fall down."

"I'll go up first to find some vines, then come back for you both."

Lu Qingfeng placed the unconscious Lu Qingshan on the rock.

The cliff was too steep. He could barely climb it himself, but it was impossible to do so while carrying Qingshan and Qingyu; he had to find some tools first.

"Okay!"

Lu Qingyu nodded in agreement, then sat down on the rock, supporting Lu Qingshan.

Lu Qingfeng knew they were short on time and could not afford to delay.

He found his footing, leapt into the air, and landed firmly. After reaching the First Level of the Fetal Breathing Realm, his body became light and agile. A half an hour later, he finally climbed up.

Only upon reaching the top did he realize that the cliff was a hundred feet tall.

Standing on the cliff, he looked out.

Below, the river was wild and unforgiving, with waves crashing against the shore, never turning back!

Surrounding him were towering rocks and steep cliffs, shrouded in a mist of smoke!

He had no idea where he was.

Lu Qingfeng had no time to enjoy the view. After reaching the top, he plunged into the jungle. Quarter of an hour later, he tore down more than ten vines and braided them into a rope slung over his shoulder.

Then he returned to the cliff.

Lu Qingyu leaned against the rock, one hand holding Lu Qingshan, looking up at the top of the cliff. Seeing Lu Qingfeng appear, her profoundly dark face lit up with surprise.

...

After transporting Lu Qingyu and Lu Qingshan up, two hours had passed, and it was now afternoon.

Ever since midnight, Lu Qingfeng's nerves had been on edge.

He had killed Wu Yuan, controlled the boat downstream, and climbed the precipice!

His physical strength had long been depleted.

After arriving at the top, he collapsed on the ground, gasping for air.

While they had just reached the top, not having even recovered, several boats stopped at the upstream part of the reef-strewn river section. More than a dozen people surveyed around but failed to spot the trio of Lu Qingfeng on top of the cliff.

Lu Qingfeng rested for a moment and his strength returned.

At this time, Lu Qingshan also awoke.

"Big brother, Qingyu, where are we?" Lu Qingshan, just awakened, looked pale and confused.

"On a mountain!"

"We've left Black Wood Village and Yellow Ganoderma Mountain!"

Lu Qingyu, watching over her second brother, heard him wake and crisply replied.

"We——"

Lu Qingshan remembered.

They had killed Wu Yuan, killed five servant disciples, and then boarded the ship.

"Big brother, did we make it?" Lu Qingshan looked towards his big brother beside him, belatedly excited.

"Almost."

"But we don't know where we are now. We have to cross this forest and a few mountains before we can truly be safe."

Lu Qingfeng pointed eastward.

To command a view from a height!

To the east and north lay an endless forest, with towering trees and lush vegetation so dense that nothing was visible beneath them. One could only see a continuous range of peaks, high and low, with no end in sight.

They could not head north, for it could lead them back into the power of the Returning to Truth Sect.

Lu Qingfeng planned to head east, to put a significant distance between them and the Returning to Truth Sect. The forest was equally perilous, but without the looming presence of the sect, Lu Qingfeng was willing to face whatever dangers lay ahead, even if it meant being devoured by wolves or tigers the next moment!

"That's great!"

"That's great!"

"That's great!"

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...

Lu Qingshan was so overwhelmed that he couldn't utter anything else; he just kept repeating those three words, then his voice grew quieter. Sitting on the ground, his head buried deep between his knees, his shoulders shook rhythmically.

Sobs could be heard.

Lu Qingfeng watched in silence, not offering any comfort.

The pressure he faced in Black Wood Village was nothing compared to what Lu Qingshan suffered in the Returning to Truth Sect. The myriad of injuries that covered his body were testament to the kind of life Lu Qingshan had endured in the Sect these past months.

Lu Qingfeng even regretted not enacting their plan earlier to take Lu Qingshan away from the Returning to Truth Sect.

"Second brother, you can cry today, I cried today too."

Lu Qingyu, who rarely missed an opportunity to kick someone when they're down, was instead gently patting Lu Qingshan's back.

...

Lu Qingfeng, taking Qingshan and Qingyu with him, plunged into the depths of the mountains, heading east.

They intended to swiftly pass through the jungle, to put distance between themselves and the Returning to Truth Sect while looking for human settlements.

As it turned out, Lu Qingfeng had overestimated his own abilities and completely underestimated the dangers of the jungle.

The dense forest was filled with towering ancient trees that blocked out the sky and sun.

Within, one couldn't distinguish north from south, east from west. Entering the forest soon led to dizzying disorientation and a loss of one's bearings.

Wandering aimlessly could easily lead to an intrusion upon the territory of fierce wild beasts.

With Lu Qingshan's injuries yet to heal, and Qingyu still being only twelve and frail,

under such circumstances, Lu Qingfeng could only lead them to a flat piece of ground and stop.

"Anyone who enters this forest will lose their sense of direction. Even if the Returning to Truth Sect deployed all their forces, finding us would not be easy."

Lu Qingfeng had lived under the tyrranical rule of the Returning to Truth Sect for a full sixteen years, and his fear of it was deeply ingrained.

In fact, setting aside whether the Sect would go to such great lengths to pursue them, even if they were determined to do so, they would not be able to find them in a short time.

Rather than risking a blind dash through the forest, it was better to rest and recuperate there for a while. Once their strength had increased, they could then leave.

With a day in reality equating to a hundred days in the Primordial Wilderness,

just a few days' stay might not lead to a rapid increase in cultivation, but Lu Qingfeng's array of combat and survival skills would undoubtedly become much richer.

...

Nameless Cliff Mountain.

Mid-mountain dense forest.

Lu Qingfeng, holding a rough-hewn knife, found a 'small tree' as thick as a man's waist and began to chop.

In theory, it should be easy to find one cave after another in the mountains. But after scouring the surroundings, Lu Qingfeng hadn't found any caves, and thus had no choice but to build a simple wooden hut himself as shelter from the elements.

"Big brother, let me help you!"

Lu Qingshan struggled to stand up but was abruptly pulled down by Lu Qingyu.

"Ah!"

Caught off guard, Lu Qingshan landed on the ground, the movement aggravating the wound on his chest, twisting his face in pain.

"What are you trying to prove!"

"Your body hasn't recovered yet. You need to rest properly. Otherwise, if you can't get out of bed, who do you think will have to take care of you?"

Lu Qingyu pouted and scolded her second brother without any good temper, "Just sit there, don't go anywhere!"

Lu Qingshan's face showed his frustration as he looked up at his big brother.

"Listen to Qingyu, rest up and heal."

Lu Qingfeng wiped the sweat from his face and smiled at Lu Qingshan.

Having left Black Wood Village, he felt as if he had shed pounds of weight off his body, feeling completely and utterly relaxed from head to toe.

While he was busy working, the sky quickly darkened.

At that moment, evening mist was rising, the twilight deep and vast.

A Bright Moon hung over the mountain's edge, its Pure Light shining forth, casting a glow on one's brows and hair.

Seven or eight long wooden planks, fitted into the trees around, formed a makeshift hut only two meters tall.

The wooden hut was open on all sides, with a fire burning outside.

"It's really nice."

Lu Qingyu, sitting by the campfire, hugged both her brothers from left and right, her young face blossoming into a smile.

She found this way of living interesting and far better than in Black Wood Village, where she could say nothing and do nothing – it was immeasurably better.

"Yes!"

"It's really nice."

Ever since joining the Returning to Truth Sect, a smile had rarely appeared on Lu Qingshan's face; now, he laughed carefreely.

"Qingshan, about your 'fortunate encounter', I kept it safe for a few days, and now I'm returning it to you in pristine condition."

"And your little notebook of records."

Lu Qingfeng took out a purple-green Jade Pendant and a palm-sized booklet from his chest and handed it to Lu Qingshan. He added a special emphasis when mentioning the booklet.

Lu Qingshan sneaked a glance at Lu Qingfeng, "Big brother, did you look?"

"I did. But such things are better remembered in your head. If written down and lost or found by someone else, it's not a good thing."

Lu Qingfeng said.

"I know."

"But I'm just afraid I won't remember, then what'll I do if I have to go back!" Lu Qingshan said with a sheepish grin.

"Big brother, what's written in there? Let me have a look!"

Lu Qingyu poked her head forward.

"Are you going to let her see it?"

Lu Qingfeng looked at his second brother.

"It was actually Qingyu's idea to create this notebook." Lu Qingshan scratched his head, revealing a familiar, silly grin.

"Hmph!"

"As if he dares not let me look!"

Lu Qingyu snorted lightly, taking the small booklet from her big brother and browsed it in the faint light of the fire.

As she read, she spoke crisply—

"7th day of the 3rd month, Zhang Chong, three lashes."

"9th day of the 3rd month, Zhang Chong, three lashes, one kick."

"9th day of the 3rd month, Qian Han, a pastry, one punch."

"10th day of the 3rd month, Zhang Chong, ten slaps."

"12th day of the 3rd month, Zhang Chong, three lashes."

"13th day of the 3rd month..."

...

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