Chapter 35 Warning Under the Eaves

Chapter 35 Warning Under the Eaves

There was only half a day left before the day we went to Huguo Temple.

In the backyard of the Regent's Palace, Tang Li was carrying out a rather peculiar "pre-departure preparation".

When other princesses went out to pray for blessings, their bundles contained fine silks, rouge and face powder, or copied Buddhist scriptures.

And inside Tangli's bundle was:

The items I swiped from Pei Yunjing last time included imperial wound medicine (for survival), a sharp dagger (for self-defense), two sets of dark men's clothing for easy escape, a flint, dry rations, and even a roll of clean cotton cloth to stop the bleeding.

"Wound medicine... Three bottles aren't enough, we need to bring five."

"Dried meat...it could be a lifesaver if I fall off a cliff."

Tangli muttered to herself as she frantically stuffed things into her bundle, looking just like a refugee on her way to escape famine.

It wasn't that she was a coward, it's just that this dungeon was too difficult.

Since the Empress Dowager dared to set up a trap at Huguo Temple, she must have been determined to kill them.

Pei Yunjing is a big shot, tough and skilled in martial arts, so he might be able to break through the encirclement.

But what about her?

She's just a fragile mage who can only talk to animals!

If a real fight breaks out, a single stray arrow could end her entire story.

"call……"

After packing her "escape kit," Tang Li wiped the sweat from her forehead and went to the corridor for some fresh air.

The sky was overcast, with low-hanging dark clouds and a sultry atmosphere in the air, as if an impending downpour was imminent.

"twitter--"

"Fluttering—"

Suddenly, a strange, noisy chorus of birdsong came from under the eaves above.

Tangli looked up.

The swallows that usually build their nests quietly are now flying in and out restlessly.

They don't look like they're foraging for food; they look more like they're... moving house.

Several adult swallows, carrying unhatched eggs in their beaks, were desperately trying to move them up to the higher branches of a tree.

Animals often have more acute intuition than humans.

Tang Li's heart stirred, and she immediately focused her mind, activating the communication magnetic field:

What's wrong? Is it going to rain? Why are we moving?

A lead black swallow perched on the beam, stamping its feet anxiously, its heart filled with terror:

[Run! Run! It's not safe here!]

[No, it's to the north! The large temple (Huguo Temple) on that mountain to the north is about to collapse!]

Tang Li's heart skipped a beat: [It collapsed? Why?]

The swallow tilted its head, as if trying to describe the feeling:

[The smell! It smells awful!]

Lately, a black, powdery smell has been emanating from the ground beneath that temple and from the ravines! It's pungent! It smells just like those loud, banging things we set off during Chinese New Year!

[There were also a lot of fierce-looking people, holding knives, hiding in the bushes! It was terrifying! The brothers were too scared to fly that way!]

boom--!

It was as if a thunderbolt had exploded in Tang Li's mind.

It smells like black powder?

What are those loud, "bang bang" things you set off during Chinese New Year?

That's... gunpowder!

That crazy old hag, the Empress Dowager!

She didn't intend to assassinate anyone; she wanted to blow up the entire Huguo Temple so that Pei Yunjing's body would be completely destroyed!

Tangli's back was instantly soaked with cold sweat.

In this era of cold weapons, even the most skilled martial artist is afraid of a kitchen knife, let alone a weapon of mass destruction like this.

Even if Pei Yunjing has profound internal strength and can withstand swords and blades, can he withstand an explosion?

If an explosion were to trigger a landslide, not only would Pei Yunjing be buried alive, but even a god would be buried inside!

"No...I can't go...I absolutely can't go!"

Tang Li's face turned pale, and she turned and ran towards the study in the main courtyard.

...

Inside the study.

Pei Yunjing was wiping his sword, "Zhanwang".

The sword's blade was like autumn water, its cold light chilling.

His expression was focused, as if he were about to attend not a deadly trap, but a long-awaited feast.

"Your Highness!"

Tang Li rushed in, panting, forgetting even to perform the proper etiquette, and cried out, her face deathly pale:

"We can't go! We can't go to Huguo Temple!"

Pei Yunjing didn't stop moving, not even lifting his eyelids, and said in a cold voice: "Reason."

"I...I had a nightmare last night!"

Tangli knew she couldn't talk about the swallows, so she could only bite the bullet and resort to feudal superstition:

"I dreamt that the Huguo Temple shook violently, with flames shooting into the sky! That's a terrible omen, Your Highness! Could we... could we feign illness and not go? Or... could we take more people? Take some soldiers and go check first..."

She was rambling incoherently, but the fear in her eyes was genuine.

Pei Yunjing finally stopped wiping his sword.

He slowly raised his head, his deep eyes fixed on Tang Li as if he were looking at an unreasonable child.

"Nightmare?"

He scoffed lightly and sheathed his longsword with a clang.

"Tangli, I thought you were getting bolder, but I didn't expect you to still be so spineless."

He stood up, walked step by step to Tang Li, and looked down at her:

"If the Empress Dowager sets this up and I don't go, wouldn't that be telling the world that the Regent is afraid?"

"But..." Tang Li was so anxious she wanted to stomp her foot, "This time is different! There really will be danger! There will be... there will be a fire!"

"fire?"

Pei Yunjing's lips curled into an extremely arrogant smile:

"My life has been a journey through fire."

"As long as the sword in my hand remains, nothing in this world can save my life."

"But..." Tang Li wanted to persuade her again.

That's enough.

Pei Yunjing coldly interrupted her, his eyes exuding an undeniable air of authority:

"We'll depart at dawn tomorrow. If you're afraid of dying..."

He paused, and just when Tang Li thought he would take pity on her and let her go, he smiled cruelly:

"Take this dagger with you. If you ever find yourself in a desperate situation, you can end your own life first to avoid suffering."

After saying that, he tossed a finely crafted dagger from the table into Tang Li's arms, then turned his back to her.

"go out."

Tang Li held the cold dagger, watching the man's resolute back, her heart sinking.

I couldn't persuade them.

This stubborn mule is impossible to persuade!

He had no idea how terrifying the power of gunpowder was!

Tang Li gritted her teeth, turned around, and walked out of the study.

Since we can't change the itinerary, we can only try to save ourselves.

She rushed all the way to the back garden.

On the grass, Big White is chasing butterflies.

"Big White!"

Tang Li rushed over and grabbed the tiger's large head, her eyes fierce and determined:

"Lend me something!"

[Huh? What do you want to borrow? No jerky, please!]

"I won't lend you dried meat."

Tang Li reached out and touched the necklace hanging around Da Bai's neck—

Those were trophies made from the bones of various ferocious beasts, among which the longest one was the fang of the former "King of Beasts," a tiger.

"Can I borrow your teeth?"

Tangli quickly removed the canine tooth and clutched it tightly in her hand.

This is a "tiger bone whistle" imbued with the scent of an apex predator.

As long as it is blown, all wild beasts within a ten-mile radius will be suppressed by its bloodline, either submitting or trembling in fear.

Huguo Temple is located deep in the mountains.

If it really comes to a last resort, this whistle can summon wild beasts from the mountains, perhaps...

It could become her last trump card.

"Pei Yunjing, I don't care if you want to die."

Tang Li carefully put the tiger bone whistle away from her body, looked at the dark, cloud-covered sky, and a resolute glint flashed in her eyes:

"But I don't want to die."

"Since you're going to your death, I'll stick by your side. You'd better pray your sword is fast enough to stop those explosives!"

"Otherwise... we'll just have to become a pair of doomed lovers!"