Tian Qi stroked his hawk lovingly and softly asked Wei Dongling, "Young Mistress, why are you here?"
Wei Dongling spread her hands and pointed at the underground river not far away, shouting, "I didn't find the waterfall you mentioned. Instead, I was washed here by the water."
Tian Qi's face darkened. He quickly stepped forward to look around and then turned back to ask, "Young Mistress, are you sure that underground river led here?"
Wei Dongling replied crossly, "Otherwise? Did I fly here?"
Tian Qi excitedly looked around the underground river again and again, then shouted urgently at Wei Dongling, "Young Mistress! This underground river seems to lead to the desolate area in the west. I haven't explored this area yet!"
Wei Dongling sighed and said, "I'm hungry. Let's get something to eat first and then continue searching."
Tian Qi quickly took out the two green pears from his robe and handed them to her. He looked up at the star - filled sky, shook the hawk on his arm to let it fly away, and said to Wei Dongling, "It's getting late. I'll send you back to rest first. Let's come back and search tomorrow, shall we?"
Wei Dongling wiped the pear on her sleeve and took a big bite. She grumbled discontentedly, "We should just finish the search today. Who would want to come all the way here again tomorrow? Do you want to freeze me to death?"
Tian Qi was left speechless. This young mistress seemed kind and polite to everyone, but ever since their conversation in the morning, she had been quite rude to him. The way she looked at him was like looking at a traitor.
Tian Qi silently shed tears in his heart. Who on earth had he offended!
Fortunately, his hawk soon returned. There was a struggling green snake in its claws, which made Wei Dongling scream for a while.
Tian Qi quickly stepped forward, gutted the snake, and roasted it. He then took out a small packet of salt from his robe and sprinkled it on the snake carefully. The fragrance instantly wafted far away.
Wei Dongling asked in surprise, "Do you carry seasonings with you when you go out?"
Tian Qi smiled bitterly and said, "I live on the road and eat whatever I can find. Carrying these seasonings makes the food much more palatable than the dry and tasteless ones."
Hearing this, Wei Dongling felt a twinge of pity. She changed the topic and asked Tian Qi some interesting stories about Cui Huan when she was a child. They both laughed so hard that they were almost in stitches.
Tian Qi was a good cook. The snake meat roasted to a crispy and fragrant state was actually quite delicious! Wei Dongling ate three pieces in one go and wiped her mouth contentedly with a handkerchief.
After putting out the fire and tidying up, they mounted their horses and rode westward along the river.
The moonlight was dim, and the night wind was blowing. They rode forward along the riverside path. They didn't know how long they had been riding when they saw the candlelight of a house in a nearby village in the distance.
Wei Dongling was overjoyed. She galloped over and knocked on the big door of the house.
"Who is it?" The male host got up and opened the door. In the dark night, he saw a delicate young girl standing outside.
Wei Dongling quickly curtsied and said, "I'm really sorry to bother you so late, big brother! I want to ask you something. My elder brother was playing around and drowned in the river some time ago. I heard that someone found a drowning person near here. I've been searching all night and finally came here. I wonder if you've heard about this?"
The male host was a rough - looking man in his forties. Seeing that Wei Dongling spoke softly and politely, and didn't seem like a bad person, he felt a bit fond of her. He nodded and said, "I do know about this."
Wei Dongling asked tremulously, "Really?"
The male host nodded. "My wife heard from someone when she was doing laundry. Last month, people from the neighboring Xu Village fished out a dying young man from the water and sent him to Dr. Xu's place. He was barely saved."
"Xu Village?" Wei Dongling was extremely excited when she heard this. She hurriedly asked, "Excuse me, big brother, where does Dr. Xu live?"
The man pointed to a desolate mountain in the distance and said slowly, "Dr. Xu lives on that hillside! However, it's not very appropriate for you to go there at night. The roads in the mountains are not easy to walk on. Why don't you rest at my place for the night and leave tomorrow morning?"
Wei Dongling was so excited that she was trembling all over. She was not willing to stop and rest. She thanked the man repeatedly, stuffed some silver into his hand, and turned to leave.
The male host couldn't refuse, so he had to accept the silver. He went back, lit a lantern, and came out to see Wei Dongling off.
Wei Dongling and Tian Qi rushed towards the hillside one after another to inquire about Dr. Xu's residence.
The mountain road was winding. Although the hillside seemed close at hand, by the time they reached the foot of the mountain, the eastern sky was already faintly turning white.
Wei Dongling had been exposed to the mountain wind all night. She felt a splitting headache and was swaying on the horse. She almost fell off the horse several times.
Tian Qi quickly stepped forward to support Wei Dongling. He simply tied the horses at the foot of the mountain and carried her up the mountain on his back.
When it was broad daylight, Tian Qi finally arrived at the house on the hillside out of breath, carrying Wei Dongling on his back. He knocked on the shabby wooden door.
The elderly Dr. Xu came out tremblingly to open the door. Seeing the almost unconscious Wei Dongling, he quickly welcomed them into the house and felt her pulse.
Tian Qi couldn't help but look around. There was no one else in this remote small courtyard except Dr. Xu.
Did they find the wrong place?
When Dr. Xu put down Wei Dongling's wrist and got up to prepare the medicine, Tian Qi quickly followed him to inquire about Yu Zixi's whereabouts.
After listening to Tian Qi for a long time, Dr. Xu hesitated and asked, "Do you mean that young master from the capital?"
Tian Qi quickly replied, "Yes! I heard that he was sent here for treatment last month."
Dr. Xu nodded and said, "He was seriously injured. He lay in bed for more than half a month before he could barely get out of bed. It took me a lot of effort to save his life."
Tian Qi bowed and thanked him repeatedly, then asked, "Where is he now?"
Dr. Xu replied, "A few days ago, he said he felt much better and insisted on leaving. I couldn't persuade him to stay, so I had no choice!"
Tian Qi asked anxiously, "Did he say where he was going?"
Dr. Xu shook his head to indicate that he didn't know, then turned around to decoct the medicine for Wei Dongling.
The clue was broken again.
Looking at the haggard - looking Wei Dongling, Tian Qi secretly regretted it. If he had jumped into the underground river to search immediately, he might have been able to find the young master in time. And he wouldn't have let this weak young mistress suffer like this.
After Wei Dongling finished drinking the medicine, Tian Qi left a sum of silver and thanked Dr. Xu again and again. He asked Dr. Xu for a blanket, wrapped Wei Dongling tightly, and took her back.
They rushed all the way. By the time they got back to the inn, it was almost dark.
Jingzhe had already closed the milk tea stall and had been waiting at the inn gate anxiously. Seeing them coming back, he quickly stepped forward to carry Wei Dongling down from the horse and asked anxiously, "What's wrong with Miss Wei?"
Tian Qi sighed with a look of guilt on his face and said, "She didn't eat well and caught a cold. I've got some medicine."
Jingzhe said nothing and carried Wei Dongling back into the inn.