Reborn as a Happy Wife in a Rural Family
Chapter 213: Leaving the Icefield

Chapter 213: Chapter 213: Leaving the Icefield

Still, it was laughable. It was understandable for Xiao Yunjing to love Gu Qingli—after all, they were husband and wife. But what concern was it of that dog of a man, Qingchen?

However, she could only entertain these thoughts in her mind. If that dog of a man found out, she’d lose half her life.

Now, she was like a bird with broken wings, imprisoned here.

All her belongings had been taken by that dog of a man; she couldn’t do anything even if she wanted to.

Soon, Xi Chenqing discovered it was a common and deadly poison that killed instantly upon entering the bloodstream. She immediately informed Secret Guard No.1 of her findings.

Once Secret Guard No.1 was briefed, he took the corpse and went to report to Qingchen.

Upon hearing Secret Guard No.1’s report, Qingchen nodded and instructed him to strengthen their defenses. For now, there was no other option.

It seemed the plan to advance and attack Capital City would have to be halted.

A gloomy light flickered in Qingchen’s eyes. If they can’t do it overtly, they’ll do it covertly.

Thus, while Qingchen overtly made no military moves and dealt with the various factions and their unsavory elements, he had secretly already dispatched people to Capital City.

Didn’t he possess Xi Chenqing’s King of cursed insects? He had spent this time thoroughly researching the cursed insects and could even control the King of cursed insects now.

「Meanwhile, it took Gu Qingli and her party a full ten days to emerge from the tunnel.」

"Is this Beijing?"

Xiao Yunjing observed the somewhat familiar terrain. After glancing around, he confirmed he was not mistaken.

"Young Master, does this mean that we have left the Icefield?" Wuqing asked with joy.

"Yes, we’re out." Xiao Yunjing rarely smiled at them. He looked at Gu Qingli, sleeping soundly in his arms, and dotingly kissed her cheek. Li’er, we’ve made it out, he thought.

"Master, should we contact Yun No. 2?" Yun No. 20 asked.

"No need. Let’s find a place to rest and then head to Beijing County."

"Alright." Yun No. 20 agreed and, along with Yun No. 18, sped ahead to see if there were any dwellings nearby.

As far as the eye could see, it was an expanse of white, with no houses in sight.

If there were any, they were concealed within the icy, snow-covered landscape.

After the two left, the rest of them followed in the direction of Beijing County.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Yun No. 20 and Yun No. 18 returned. "Master," they reported, "there are no dwellings within a radius of dozens of miles. We should cross that mountain range ahead and see if there are any on the other side."

Xiao Yunjing nodded. In my previous life, there were people living here, he recalled.

So many things have changed since my rebirth.

The group sped towards the mountain range.

Everyone in the group was an elite among martial arts experts; with just a few leaps and bounds, they quickly reached the foot of the mountain range.

Xiao Yunjing remembered this was the Wushan Mountain Range, a branch of the Yanshan Mountain Range. Perhaps all these mountain ranges are branches of Tianshan, he mused.

The Wushan Mountain Range was over five thousand four hundred feet high and stretched for more than thirty miles. Its summit was snow-capped year-round, while its slopes were covered with dense forests. These forests contained many rare herbs and plants, providing a livelihood for the local people.

When the group reached the mountaintop, it was already dark, and Gu Qingli woke up.

"Are you hungry?" Xiao Yunjing gently kissed her on the lips and asked.

Gu Qingli blinked and nodded. Seeing the dark sky above, she asked excitedly, "Have we made it out?"

"Yes, we’re out. We’re within the borders of Beijing County. Once we descend this mountain, it’s only a few days’ journey to the administrative center of Beijing County."

"Oh."

Gu Qingli struggled to stand on the snow, and Xiao Yunjing quickly supported her.

Gu Qingli steadied herself by gripping Xiao Yunjing’s sleeve, then stretched her arms and legs. She took a deep breath; they had finally emerged from Tianshan.

Breathing the air outside, she found it felt remarkably fresher.

"Let’s go into the Space to eat and rest for a bit," Gu Qingli suggested, stretching again. He held me in his arms every day. Even if he wasn’t tired, it pained my heart to see him like that.

Now that we’re out of Tianshan and can return to a city, we can finally live a normal life again.

The group entered the Space. As usual, some began to cook while others tended to the injured.

Having slept her fill, Gu Qingli strolled around the Space with Xiao Yunjing, occasionally plucking a fruit to munch on as they walked.

「Three days later, the group finally came across a small village.」

When the villagers saw them, they were so scared that they slammed their doors shut.

Everyone frowned at this. We don’t look like bandits, nor do we appear fierce. Why are the villagers afraid of us instead of curious?

Something is definitely amiss.

Xiao Yunjing looked at Yun No. 20. Just as Yun No. 20 was about to step forward and ask, Wuyou stopped him. "Don’t go, let me."

As a woman, the villagers probably won’t be afraid of me, Wuyou thought.

Yun No. 20 nodded. "Be careful."

Wuyou rolled her eyes at him. In a small village like this, with all of us here? What danger could there be? Besides, am I that weak?

Yun No. 20 was dumbfounded by her glare; he had just casually expressed concern, and it had apparently offended her.

No wonder everyone says a woman’s heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea. They told me not to confess, or I’d just hit a wall.

Wuyou stepped forward and knocked firmly on the door of a house. A woman in her forties, wearing rather thin cotton clothes and with a weathered face, opened it. She stood shivering in the doorway, looking at Wuyou.

"Ma’am," Wuyou began, "we’re just passing through. Why does everyone react as if we’re harbingers of plague? Is there a reason? Or is it that you’ve never seen outsiders before?"

The woman glanced nervously at Xiao Yunjing’s group, then said cautiously, "Miss... we, we thought you were here demanding food."

"HAH!"

Wuyou laughed. "Do we look like people who are starving?"

The woman looked embarrassed. A few days ago, some other travelers had passed by. They looked presentable enough, but as soon as they arrived, they started demanding food.

Now, there are only a few dozen households left in the village, and every one of them is short on food. We had nothing to give, so those people started robbing us. They even injured several villagers, who are still bedridden.

It’s hard to say if they’ll even recover.

So when so many of you arrived today, what else could we do but bolt our doors?

"To tell you the truth, Miss..."

The woman recounted what had happened a few days prior.

"So that’s what happened," Wuyou said, her voice filled with sympathy. "Where are the injured? We know some medicine, and we have remedies with us. We can take a look at them."

She glanced around the village again. It’s obviously desperately poor. How can they survive if people still come to rob them of food?

The woman’s eyes flickered, and she said nothing.

Seeing her expression, Wuyou felt a pang of bitterness. She’s probably afraid we’ll use treating their injuries as an excuse to demand food or money.

Wuyou turned and walked back to Xiao Yunjing, relaying what the woman had said.

Upon hearing the story, Gu Qingli said, "Let’s give them some food." She couldn’t ignore their plight, especially since she had plenty of grain in her Space.

Besides, these people could be considered Xiao Yunjing’s subjects.

Xiao Yunjing rubbed her head and nodded.

The group moved to a secluded spot. Gu Qingli then brought out about ten bags of rice and flour from her Space, along with sweet potatoes grown in the Space and some dried meat.

The dried meat was from animals they had hunted on the Icefield and subsequently made into jerky.