"Princess!"
Li Jin ran down from the pile of rubble, only to see Duoduo looking completely distracted and out of sorts.
He had just walked up a distance but didn't see anyone.
He had wanted to keep going forward, but he was worried about Duoduo staying behind.
So, Li Jin turned back.
Upon returning, he saw Duoduo sitting blankly on horseback, seemingly frightened.
He hurriedly ran down and called out to her.
Duoduo snapped back to reality and looked at Li Jin.
"Teacher, did you see anyone?"
Hearing her question, Li Jin assumed she was just scared from being left alone.
He shook his head.
"I walked a bit, but there was no one. I was worried you'd be scared, so I came back."
Duoduo looked toward the mountain and reached out her hand to Li Jin.
"We climb over!"
Li Jin hesitated.
He had seen it earlier; this mountain that had been split apart by the landslide was massive.
He didn't know how long it would take to cross it.
It was still raining. If there was another mudslide, it would be hard for them to escape.
Moreover, the sky looked grim, and it was getting dark.
If they couldn't make it across, they would have to spend the night in the mountains.
With such terrible weather, spending a night in the mountains would not only be freezing but also extremely dangerous.
"Princess, let's go back."
"We can have the Princess Consort go to the magistrate's office and have them send people over."
"There is strength in numbers, and the search will be much faster."
"No!"
Duoduo was very stubborn. She grabbed the horse's reins and prepared to slide down.
Li Jin hurriedly rushed over and caught her.
"Teacher, let's just climb over and look."
"If we climb over and don't see Father, I will listen to you and go back!"
Hearing this, Li Jin couldn't help but stare at her.
Did the Princess mean that the Prince and the others were on the other side of the mountain?
But how could she know?
He remembered Duoduo saying she had dreamt about it.
Li Jin gritted his teeth. What if Duoduo's dream was real?
Forget it, they had already come this far. It was just crossing a mountain, so be it.
Li Jin put Duoduo on his back.
"Princess, hold tightly to my neck. The mountain path is steep."
"Okay!"
Duoduo reached out her little hands and hugged Li Jin tightly.
Li Jin hoisted her up a bit higher.
Then, he patted the horse's neck and began to climb the mountain.
More than half the mountain had collapsed.
Trees, rocks, and mud were mixed together in a chaotic mess.
Li Jin carefully stepped on the rocks, not daring to step on the mud at all.
Because some of the mud was hollow underneath, stepping on it meant he could sink right in.
Coupled with the ongoing rain, Li Jin's progress was extremely difficult.
After walking for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, he had only reached the halfway point up the mountain.
Li Jin straightened his back. He could see his horse leisurely grazing at the foot of the mountain.
"Teacher, why don't you put me down so you can rest."
Duoduo could feel the heat radiating from Li Jin's body, and she was feeling incredibly hot on his back too.
"The ground is full of muddy water; it will dirty your shoes."
"Hold on tight, we'll keep going."
Li Jin caught his breath and continued climbing with his head down.
After walking for two hours, Li Jin finally reached the highest point.
By this time, the sky had begun to darken.
Li Jin looked down towards the bottom of the mountain.
He faintly saw what looked like flickering firelight at the base.
Was there really someone there?
Li Jin felt suspicious. Just as he wanted to confirm it, the firelight vanished.
Had his eyes played tricks on him?
Li Jin thought for a moment and began to descend in the direction where the firelight had been.
Going up a mountain is easy, but going down is hard.
Li Jin stepped on a rock, but unexpectedly, the rock suddenly slid down the slope.
Startled, Li Jin reflexively reached out to grab a nearby branch.
He was left hanging from the tree trunk, but Duoduo on his back was almost thrown off.
"Ah!"
Duoduo cried out in fear.
Only then did Li Jin remember he had someone on his back.
"Hold tight!"
Li Jin only had time to shout this one phrase.
Because the branch couldn't bear the weight of both of them.
It snapped!
The two slid down uncontrollably.
To avoid hurting Duoduo on his back, Li Jin managed to flip his body, turning his back outward.
He reached out his hands, trying hard to grab any passing rock or branch.
But because they were falling too fast, everything he grabbed was dragged down the mountain with them.
Using the resistance from grabbing branches, Li Jin continuously kicked his toes against the mountainside to slow his descent.
Finally, he spotted a large tree to his lower left.
Li Jin kept tapping his toes against the slippery slope, intending to move closer to the large tree.
On Li Jin's back, Duoduo could only see the dirt and gravel flashing past her.
She closed her eyes, not daring to look anymore.
She clung tightly to Li Jin's neck, intending to make herself feel lighter.
Seeing that he had reached the vicinity of the tree, Li Jin aimed for a protruding rock under his feet and stepped on it.
Fortunately, his luck was good.
The rock wasn't dislodged by his kick, and using the momentum, he grabbed the branch of the large tree.
With a swift flip, Li Jin vaulted up into the tree.
Only then did he have the time to check on Duoduo.
"Princess, are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
Duoduo's voice trembled with fear.
Li Jin carefully observed his surroundings from the tree.
On the other side of the mountain, because there was plenty of soil and rock, it had been easy for him to climb up.
However, because the rain was getting heavier, the soil on this side had turned into very soft mud.
A moment's inattention would send them sliding all the way down.
Going down the mountain like this was definitely not going to work.
Li Jin looked around, searching for a way to descend.
He noticed that there were many vines on the large tree.
"Princess, hold tight. I'm going to cut some vines."
"Okay!"
Duoduo didn't know what use Li Jin had for the vines, but she obediently agreed.
Li Jin carefully gripped the trunk and climbed toward the vines.
The trunk was also slippery, and Li Jin almost lost his footing. Luckily, he was quick to grab a branch.
Duoduo's heart leaped into her throat.
She felt her little hands getting so sore!
"Teacher, I can't hold on much longer!"
Duoduo was terrified she would be thrown off.
"Hold on just a little longer."
Li Jin untied the bundle on his chest and took out one of his outer coats.
He used the coat to wrap around Duoduo, tying the four corners into a knot at his chest.
Only then did Duoduo dare to relax.
Li Jin re-tied his bundle and grabbed the nearest vine.
He took out a dagger and began to cut.
"Teacher, what are you cutting this for?"
Having relaxed, Duoduo looked curiously at the vines overhead.
"To make a rope. With a rope, it will be easier for us to go down."
Li Jin chopped down the vines in a few quick strokes.
He tied all the vines together.
Then, he secured one end of the vine to the trunk of the large tree.
The other end, he tied around his own waist.
"Be careful, we're going down now."
Li Jin checked himself over to ensure everything was secure.
Holding the vine, he jumped off the tree trunk.
"Ah!"
Duoduo was still startled.
"I'm sorry, Teacher, I wasn't ready."
Duoduo felt very embarrassed.
"It's alright."
Li Jin focused intently on the path beneath his feet.
With the vines, the journey down the mountain was going to be much smoother.
Soon, Li Jin and Duoduo reached the level ground.
