They hadn't expected that Gu Qingcheng and her companions would have a fortuitous encounter after entering the cave, finding the bandits' hidden treasures and provisions.
Led by Wang Dapeng, Gu Qingcheng and Du Lanyue successfully exited the cave. The complexity of the exit route was beyond their imagination, and Wang Dapeng and his men only felt confident in their safe return thanks to the guidance of the ropes tied to their waists.
The remaining rice, cured meat, and the two chests of gold were carried out by the helpers.
It was past three in the afternoon when Gu Qingcheng and Du Lanyue finally returned to the inn. After washing up, they immediately regained their spirits. In fact, apart from being trapped in the cave, they had not endured any further torment. Being confined in the cave also didn't require excessive energy, so their spirits quickly recovered. All in all, Gu Qingcheng and Du Lanyue's trip was not without reward; they had gained "two chests" of gold.
Wang Dapeng and his men also learned that their being trapped in the cave this time was the wicked doing of Young Master Li. Wang Dapeng was furious, clenching his teeth. Gu Qingcheng was the hope of the villagers of Phoenix Village; if anything were to happen to her, the entire village would lose its hope. This wasn't just an attempt on Gu Qingcheng's life; it was an attempt on the lives of the entire village! For villains, it was only right to retaliate in kind.
The next day, Young Master Li received a report from Gousheng, stating that a beautiful young wife of a wealthy merchant was planning to visit the karst cave with her servants the following day. Upon hearing this, Young Master Li became excited. Early in the morning, he tidied himself up, gathered his scoundrel friends, and headed to the karst cave.
As expected, after being led into the cave, Young Master Li saw the incredibly beautiful young wife. However, this beauty, surprisingly, was none other than Du Lanyue. After being led into the cave, Young Master Li pursued the woman, grabbed her shoulder, and forced her to turn her face for him to admire. To his utter shock, when the woman turned, it was Du Lanyue.
"A ghost!" Young Master Li was terrified, believing it was the ghost of Du Lanyue seeking revenge. After his accident, he had inquired and learned that Young Master Gu and Du Lanyue had entered the karst cave and never emerged. So, what else could the woman before him be but a ghost?
Du Lanyue gave a cold smile, her face pale, and her voice a low murmur, "Young Master Li, you scoundrel of a scholar, come and pay for my life!" Her voice was mournful, her movements ethereal, terrifying Young Master Li and his companions. They fled in all directions, pursued by her. By the time they realized it, they had unknowingly run deep into the cave, scrambling left and right, up and down, unable to find a way out.
Du Lanyue and Gu Qingcheng exchanged a knowing smile outside the cave. Du Lanyue said, "I didn't expect them to be such cowards. A bit of ghostly pretense scared them so much. Now they're trapped in the cave."
"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth," Gu Qingcheng thought, her mood greatly improved.
Outside the cave, Gousheng looked pleadingly at Wang Dapeng. "Sir, what about my son? You promised that if I led them here, you would let him go."
Wang Dapeng sneered, "He's already been sent back home. Go back and check." Gousheng immediately ran home as fast as he could.
Gu Qingcheng then took Du Lanyue's hand and said, "Let's go, we'll prepare and head back tomorrow."
Young Master Li and his group, trapped in the cave, initially held onto hope and searched everywhere for a way out. But how could they possess the same confidence as Gu Qingcheng? Gu Qingcheng had the Mountain Cat Supermarket; even if trapped in the cave for a lifetime, she wouldn't lack food and drink. But for them, trapped in the cave with no food, only water, they began to turn on each other by the eighth day. Half a month later, someone accidentally stumbled into the cave and discovered seven or eight mangled human remains inside.
Gu Qingcheng, Du Lanyue, and their party left Peach Blossom Island the next morning. Du Lanyue had originally planned for their trip to last at most three days, but she never expected to be trapped in the karst cave, delaying their journey by over half a month. On the way home, although Du Lanyue was anxious, she did not show it on her face. She hoped Du Lanxing would help cover for her, hoping to conceal the truth. Because she was so good at hiding her feelings, Gu Qingcheng didn't notice anything.
When their boat docked, Du Lanyue asked Gu Qingcheng's carriage to take her to the manor in the countryside. "Aren't you going straight home?" Gu Qingcheng asked, puzzled.
"Lanxing is still waiting for me there. We'll meet up, and then we'll go home together," Du Lanyue replied, her face still calm, but her heart pounding with nervousness. Gu Qingcheng agreed. Having gone through the life-and-death ordeal in the cave together, their bond was now extraordinary, and they were at ease in each other's company. However, Gu Qingcheng couldn't shake the feeling that as they approached the manor, Du Lanyue became increasingly uneasy. Her body was slightly tensed, as if she were anxious about something.
"Sister Lan Yue, is something wrong? You can tell me," Gu Qingcheng asked with concern.
"Nothing, I just haven't seen my sister in a while and I'm a bit excited," Du Lanyue reassured Gu Qingcheng. The carriage dropped Du Lanyue at the manor gate. She didn't invite Gu Qingcheng in for tea, and Gu Qingcheng was also in a hurry to get home, so they parted ways. Before leaving, Gu Qingcheng invited her back to the city to visit her home, promising to have Mi Guo make delicious food to treat her. Du Lanyue readily agreed.
After watching Gu Qingcheng's carriage depart, Du Lanyue hurried into the courtyard to find Du Lanxing. To her surprise, Du Lanxing was indeed still at the manor. "Sister, you're really enjoying yourself! How could you be gone for so long?" Du Lanxing exclaimed, embracing her sister.
"Alas, it's a long story. Have Mother and Father noticed?" Du Lanyue quickly asked.
"No, you're lucky. Father went out sailing just then, and you left the third day after he did. Mother asked about you, and I told her you were studying dyeing and printing at the manor. I went back every three to five days to pacify her. Mother even blamed you for being too engrossed and not coming home for so long. I managed to get by," Du Lanxing replied.
"That's wonderful! I thought they would definitely find out. You're so clever," Du Lanyue sighed with relief. She never expected her sister to cover for her so well. Indeed, sisters were the best support in times of crisis.
"Sister, have you and Young Master Gu made any progress?" Du Lanxing asked curiously. "Why did you stay away for so long? Didn't you say it would only be for three days?"
"Alas, many things have happened. Let me catch my breath first," Du Lanyue said, unsure of how to begin.
They had "slept" together and hugged, but had there been any substantial progress? Not really. By Gu Qingcheng's side, she felt an intimate connection, but once away from him, their relationship felt like an illusion, leaving no trace. Seeing her sister's hesitant expression, Du Lanxing felt an unbearable itch, urging her, "What happened? Tell me quickly!"
"Ah? This..." Du Lanyue didn't know where to start, so she finally said, "Then sit down, and we'll talk slowly." Thus, Du Lanyue sat in her own living room, sipping the hot tea served by the maid, and leisurely began recounting their story from the moment they separated and boarded the large ship. The journey was full of twists and turns, more exciting than any storyteller's tale, causing Du Lanxing to exclaim repeatedly, both worried and thrilled.
"Sister, I really wish I could have gone on this trip too! Young Master Gu is so capable. With him, you always manage to escape danger." Du Lanxing said with a face full of envy.