Chapter 274 Two Groups of People Meet
Shang Shaoyan was woken up by a sharp pain. When he opened his eyes, he saw a peerless face, and for a moment, he thought he was dreaming.
"Fairy?"
"Pfft"
Although Ye Shenge enjoyed compliments, being called a fairy was a first. This person was a bit foolish.
However, when Ye Shenge saw the man's deep eyes, she was indeed captivated. Fortunately, she was clear-headed and constantly remembered that she was already married.
"Cough cough, how are you feeling?"
Shang Shaoyan finally regained his senses, looking at the young woman beside him with a smile.
"Did you save me?"
Ye Shenge nodded, looking up at the sky.
"Mm, can you get up now? It's getting dark soon, and we must find a place to rest."
Spending a night in the grass here meant she would be eaten by insects before Han Yuyan could find her.
Shang Shaoyan sat up with difficulty, feeling that his arms and legs were splinted with wooden sticks. He smiled gratefully at Ye Shenge.
"My name is Shang Shaoyan. May I know the name of my savior?"
"I am Ye Shenge. I'll go find a thicker stick for you. Do not put any weight on your right leg. You need surgery as soon as you get out of the mountains, or you will be disabled."
"Thank you, Ye Shenge. I will remember this kindness."
Ye Shenge waved her hand carelessly. Once they left the mountains, they would be two strangers, and there was no need to remember any kindness.
Shang Shaoyan's eyes were filled with smiles as he watched the young woman's retreating back. Suddenly, as if remembering something, his face became gloomy.
Ye Shenge couldn't find a thicker stick, so she had to use a ladder to climb a tree and arduously chop one down with an axe. She found her actions amusing, never expecting to climb windows and trees.
Shang Shaoyan quickly put away his unpleasant expression as he watched Ye Shenge return, carrying the thick branch.
"You've worked hard."
"It's nothing. Everyone has their difficult times. I found a cave nearby earlier. Shall we go there later?"
Actually, Ye Shenge was reluctant. She had a spatial dimension but now had to sleep outside because she was saving someone. She really hoped Zi Yisheng and the others would find her quickly, as she didn't want to waste any more time in the mountains.
With Ye Shenge's support, Shang Shaoyan stood up, leaning on his left hand with the wooden stick. Without a fixed support, it was still difficult to walk.
Ye Shenge had to help him along slowly. The distance of less than a kilometer took over an hour.
Shang Shaoyan looked at Ye Shenge beside him, her face beaded with sweat, and felt more guilty.
"I'm sorry, I'm holding you back."
Ye Shenge carefully helped him sit down and wiped the sweat from her face indifferently.
"It's fine. I'm also stranded on the mountain. When you're rested, you can give me directions. We'll help each other."
Ye Shenge had previously taken a backpack from her spatial dimension specifically to store water and food, otherwise, there was no way to explain the source of the food. She took out a water bottle from the bag and handed it to Shang Shaoyan.
Shang Shaoyan was indeed very thirsty, his mouth filled with the bitter taste of medicine. He took a few sips of water and stopped, as one had to conserve all resources in the mountains.
Shang Shaoyan had been hesitant to ask why a young lady was on the mountain earlier. Now was a good time to bring it up.
"Miss Ye, did you encounter any danger?"
Mentioning this made Ye Shenge very depressed. She had been wary of Han Yuyan all along, yet he still managed to ambush her.
"I was kidnapped by someone I know. Fortunately, I escaped, but I don't know how to get out of here."
Shang Shaoyan felt a pang of discomfort seeing the dejected girl. Thinking of his own situation, he felt somewhat suffocated.
"We'll leave first thing tomorrow morning. It should take a few days to get out of the mountains. Once my people find me, they can safely send you home."
Ye Shenge nodded. What she wanted more was to be found by her family first, as assisting an injured person was truly exhausting.
As it grew dark, Ye Shenge took out a candle from her bag and lit it. The cave was dimly lit by the single candle.
Shang Shaoyan didn't expect the young lady to carry candles with her, but he didn't think too much about it.
If Ye Shenge knew what Shang Shaoyan was thinking, she would have roared. She didn't want to do anything suspicious either, but she genuinely didn't know how to start a fire. She even wanted to catch a wild animal and roast it.
But what could she do, being so useless? Her practical skills were so poor it was heartbreaking. She felt truly wronged.
Ye Shenge took out a pack of biscuits from her bag and handed it to Shang Shaoyan. She had initially wanted to give him buns, but they seemed more likely to arouse suspicion, so she settled for biscuits.
Shang Shaoyan didn't take the biscuits. He wasn't sure how much supplies Ye Shenge had left and couldn't possibly let the person who saved him starve with her.
Ye Shenge was too tired to argue with Shang Shaoyan and simply shoved the biscuits into his hands.
"If you don't eat, you won't have the energy to walk tomorrow."
Shang Shaoyan looked at the biscuits in his hand, lost in thought. Ye Shenge sat beside him, slowly gnawing on a biscuit, her whole demeanor deflated.
Han Yuyan also had a large search party, who were now scattered looking for Ye Shenge. He didn't believe Ye Shenge could escape the mountains on her own, and his eyes scanned the dark forest with a look of determination.
After a short rest, Han Yuyan decided to search through the night. He knew Ye Mu'en's capabilities and Zi Yisheng's manpower too well; any delay would mean losing the advantage.
Zi Yisheng could no longer maintain his composure and had not stopped searching. However, the police dogs kept losing the trail, only able to sniff Ye Shenge's belongings from time to time.
Only Ye Mu'en knew that when the police dogs lost the scent in one spot, it meant his sister had entered her spatial dimension. Therefore, by following the search, they could eventually find the correct direction of his sister's movements.
Just as Zi Yisheng and his group were struggling up the mountain, they suddenly heard the frantic barking of a police dog. Zi Yisheng's somber eyes immediately lit up, and he waved his hand.
"Advance quickly!"
However, upon reaching the location, they discovered a group of well-trained individuals holding firearms. Zi Yisheng's men also drew their guns, and the two sides were in a tense standoff.
Ye Mu'en observed the movements of the group in front of him and whispered into Zi Yisheng's ear.
"They should be people from our side, but I'm not sure why they're here."
Zi Yisheng glanced at Arong. Arong stepped forward, his attitude softening considerably, as he naturally held a sense of respect for people from their own faction.
"Brother, we are looking for someone. May I ask who you are?"
The opposing group was surprised to encounter armed men in the mountains. Although their expressions were serious, their demeanor was cordial.
"We are also looking for a friend."
"Then have you seen a girl in her early teens on your way?"
The other group shook their heads. It seemed there was no conflict of interest between them.
"Then let's help each other. We are looking for a man named Shang. If you encounter him, please have someone notify us at the southwestern foot of the mountain. Of course, if we find the person you're looking for, we will also send word."