Li Jin reached out and gently patted the horse's neck.
The horse turned its head, looking at Li Jin with large, dewy eyes.
Seeing the horse calm down, Li Jin assumed it had been startled by the sudden clap of thunder just moments ago.
However, looking at the torrential rain pouring down outside, Li Jin felt a bit worried.
If this rain kept falling endlessly like this...
It didn't matter much to him, but what about the Princess?
Li Jin looked up at the sky, silently praying for the rain to let up a little.
Duoduo was also looking at the sky.
In reality, she was looking at the golden words floating before her eyes.
However, the words simply hovered there without scrolling.
She had no idea under what circumstances new words would appear.
She could only wait.
Crack!
A bolt of lightning struck the distant sky, seemingly splitting the black heavens in half.
Rumble!
A deafening roar echoed from afar.
Neigh!
The horse beside them suddenly reared up on its hind legs and cried out.
Li Jin hurriedly pulled the reins to steady the horse.
Duoduo covered her ears, trembling with fear.
Teacher, what was that sound?
Li Jin looked in the direction of the sound, but unfortunately, he could see nothing but a vast expanse of white rain.
I don't know either.
An inexplicable sense of unease rose in Li Jin's heart.
The sound just now seemed a bit like a mountain collapsing.
He wanted to go check, but he couldn't feel at ease leaving Duoduo behind alone.
Li Jin hesitated.
Duoduo looked at the words before her, anxiously picking at the palm of her hand.
Teacher, the rain seems a bit lighter now. Let's hurry and get going.
Duoduo tugged at the hem of Li Jin's clothes.
Li Jin glanced at the sky. The rain had lessened slightly, but it was still pouring heavily.
Princess, perhaps we should wait a little longer.
It's too dangerous to travel right now!
Duoduo shook her head.
Was that sound just now a mountain collapsing?
Li Jin looked at Duoduo in surprise.
How did you know?
Duoduo had a serious expression. You guessed it too, Teacher?
Li Jin hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
I was only guessing. Besides, if the mountain has collapsed, it's useless for us to go.
Why don't we head back? If the road ahead is blocked, we won't be able to get through anyway.
No! We have to go right now! What if someone is trapped underneath? We can still save them!
As Duoduo spoke, she grabbed the horse's leg, trying to climb up.
To Li Jin's astonishment, his horse actually knelt on its front legs to make it easier for Duoduo to climb on.
Li Jin thought his eyes were playing tricks on him.
He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, he saw that Duoduo had already climbed onto the horse's back.
Teacher, hurry up and get on!
Duoduo turned her head and looked at Li Jin.
Li Jin couldn't help but study the horse. It stood there quietly, as if waiting for him to mount.
Li Jin vaulted onto the horse and carefully wrapped Duoduo's clothes tightly around her.
Then, he used his rain cape to shield her completely.
Princess, hold on tight.
Li Jin flicked the reins, and the horse galloped toward the direction of the sound.
Li Jin secretly marveled in his heart.
He had bought this horse from a down-and-out veteran.
At the time, the veteran was severely injured and in desperate need of money for medicine.
Seeing the man's pitiful state, Li Jin had felt a pang of compassion and paid silver to buy the horse.
The veteran had pleaded with him repeatedly, urging him to treat the horse well.
The old soldier had said that the horse understood human nature, and that warhorses were fiercely loyal.
After buying it, Li Jin hadn't noticed it being particularly human-like.
However, the horse was indeed very smart and obedient.
But this was the first time he had ever seen the horse kneel!
Li Jin raised a hand to wipe the rainwater from his face.
The rain was still heavy. Even wearing a bamboo hat, he couldn't fend off the torrential downpour.
Li Jin felt that he was already soaked to the bone.
He could only lean low over the horse, trying his best to keep the rain from soaking Duoduo in his arms.
Teacher, are we there yet?
Hiding inside the rain cape, Duoduo couldn't see anything.
I don't know either. We shouldn't be far now, right?
Li Jin wasn't sure either.
The sound from earlier had seemed loud, but it actually wasn't close to them.
They had already been riding for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, yet they still hadn't seen any collapsed mountain.
Of course, it was also possible that they had both misheard.
Princess, if we don't see anything at all, that will be a good thing.
Why? Duoduo's voice trembled slightly.
Because that would mean the sound we heard wasn't a landslide.
Li Jin was just making conversation to fill the silence; he was actually feeling quite anxious himself.
If it wasn't a landslide, what could it be?
Teacher, I want to come out.
Duoduo's vision was blocked, so she couldn't see the words in the air.
She wanted to know if those words had started scrolling.
Wait a little longer, the rain is too heavy right now. Let me find a place where we can take shelter.
As Li Jin rode on, he kept an eye on their surroundings.
The two people and one horse sprinted across the wilderness like a sharp sword piercing through the curtain of rain.
After riding for a full hour, Li Jin felt the rain finally start to lighten.
The raindrops hitting his face didn't sting as much anymore.
At that moment, he saw a mountain in the far distance that looked as if it had been cleaved by an axe.
More than half of the mountain was simply gone.
Oh no!
Li Jin couldn't help but cry out in alarm.
Teacher, what's wrong? Duoduo asked anxiously.
I see the collapsed mountain.
Li Jin held Duoduo tighter. Princess, sit tight. We are going to speed up.
Hyah!
Li Jin repeatedly spurred the horse, urging it to go faster.
Duoduo couldn't hold back anymore and poked her head out from under the rain cape.
As soon as she did, she felt the overwhelming rain lashing against her face like a whip.
Duoduo hastily shrank back inside.
At this moment, Li Jin's eyes were fixed solely on that mountain.
Hyah! Hyah! Hyah!
Li Jin wished he could sprout wings from his ribs and fly.
Finally, they arrived at the foot of the mountain.
Whoa!
Li Jin abruptly pulled the horse to a halt.
Duoduo eagerly poked her head out of the rain cape.
For some unknown reason, more than half of what was once a towering mountain had completely collapsed.
The road below the mountain was entirely buried under rubble and mud.
It was dead silent all around, save for the sound of the rain and their own panting breaths.
Li Jin adjusted Duoduo's rain gear.
I'll go down and take a look. You stay on the horse.
With that said, Li Jin dismounted.
Teacher, be careful! Duoduo looked at him with a worried expression.
Li Jin waved his hand, treading carefully over the rubble as he climbed upward.
Duoduo watched Li Jin's figure nervously, her heart in her throat.
Li Jin climbed higher and higher, until he clambered over a large rock and disappeared from sight.
Duoduo craned her neck, trying hard to look up in hopes of catching a glimpse of him.
However, it was as if Li Jin had vanished completely.
Duoduo glanced around uneasily.
The world was completely silent, as if she were the only person left in it.
Suddenly, Duoduo saw that the words floating before her eyes had begun to scroll.
