pappabearbooks Chapter 20 - 21 Reasons
Chapter 20 - 21 Reasons
Chapter 20: Chapter 21 Reasons The situation was growing more perilous by the minute.
Overhead, hawks circled the skies, their sharp cries piercing the air, while the Pang family's hunting dogs prowled below, barking madly. Occasionally, a scout would appear on a distant hill before vanishing from sight, only to be followed by the ominous whistle of an arrow cutting through the air.
Despite these dangers, Du Yunlong was well-acquainted with the treacherous terrain of the Falling Star Mountain. Although Wang Zihan moved slowly, Du expertly navigated the rugged landscape, repeatedly leading them to safety through the enemy's relentless blockade.
As they moved, Du Yunlong remarked, "I shouldn't have discarded that sedan chair. It would have spared Miss Wang some of this hardship. That was my mistake. From now on, we must stay vigilant for those hawks flying low—they're the deadliest threat."
Wang Zihan glanced up at the sky, now empty of hawks, thanks to the cover provided by a dense forest. She didn't fully grasp Du Yunlong's concern about low-flying hawks, but she trusted his judgment implicitly.
"Understood! Fire Qianshu, follow his lead!" she ordered.
Fire Qianshu nodded, understanding Du's reasoning. "The Pang family's hawks skimming low... That signals an imminent attack. They're hardest to detect and often trail us closely."
Just as Du Yunlong was about to respond, a sudden burst of barking erupted ahead. Two fierce black hunting dogs appeared out of nowhere, leaping over a bush straight at him.
Fire Qianshu instinctively raised his meteor hammer, but before he could act, Du Yunlong surged forward, his hands moving with blinding speed. In a flash, he grabbed the two ferocious dogs, slamming them together mid-air. With a quick toss, he flung them aside, unconscious but unharmed. "Keep moving! Now!" he shouted.
Impressed, Wang Zihan marveled at Du Yunlong's restraint in not killing the dogs. Fire Qianshu, equally amazed, grinned and said, "That was impressive, Du. Truly impressive. Let's go!"
The group picked up their pace, but they had only gone a few hundred steps when the barking resumed. This time, Du Yunlong's hand shot up, a white flash streaked through the air, and a distant yelp followed. A small black shape fell from the sky—a low-flying hawk that had been trailing them.
Without pausing to celebrate, Du Yunlong called out, "There's a deep ravine up ahead, about 300 feet across. It's hidden by tall grass. We'll go that way!"
They descended into the ravine, where the tall grass and dense undergrowth blocked out nearly all sunlight. Wang Zihan could barely see a thing and had to rely on the sound of Du Yunlong's footsteps to guide her.
The strenuous journey was taking its toll on her. Sweat soaked her clothes, and she wondered when she had become so disheveled. But she quickly dismissed the thought, focusing instead on the unique experience she was sharing with the man ahead. "Du Yunlong, this is the first time I've ever done anything like this... Let's pick up the pace. Don't think I'm some fragile lady!"
Du Yunlong heard the barking of dogs, the cries of hawks, and even the sound of arrows slicing through the air, but he didn't stop. This secret path through the ravine, known to no one, not even Yu Changkong, could be their key to escaping the encirclement.
Outside, their enemies had lost track of Du Yunlong's group. They were frantically
"That's not fair to Uncle Changkong!" Wang Zihan protested. "I'm just your employer, but Uncle Changkong is your family! Give me a reason!"
"That's my Uncle Changkong!" Du Yunlong's voice was laced with deep pain.
"Give me a reason," Wang Zihan insisted. "It should be me bearing this responsibility, not you, a lowly servant!"
"If you want a reason... then it's for the woman I love most!" Du Yunlong