QTROH Chapter 18

A month passed since Yu Chengyi returned. Facing the mission progress that was at a standstill, Yu Yingying was becoming increasingly desperate. It couldn’t go on like this. She had to find a way to get with uncle alone. Then she’d have a chance.

On this day, Marquis Zhenbei received an imperial decree to go to Blackwind Fortress and suppress the bandits. In actual fact, that was only for outsiders to see. The secret decree he received stated that the previous dynasty had left a treasure on Blackwind Mountain. He was tasked with cleaning up the bandits and tracking down the treasure.

Yu Chengyi set off with hundreds of soldiers, but he had no idea that Yu Yingying was among them. The young girl had changed her appearance, and her two buns were tightly wrapped up.

Blackwind fortress was only a day’s journey from the capital. Yu Yingying had never walked so far before. When she was resting at night, she had several blisters on her feet. She couldn’t go to Yu Chengyi yet because she would definitely be sent back home. She’ll go to his side and find a way to show herself to him as soon as they arrive at the fortress.

There were over two hundred people in Blackwind fortress, including dozens of old and weak people, women, and children, and only a little more than a hundred real bandits. After being surrounded, many people chose to surrender. Yu Chengyi did not kill innocent people indiscriminately. The bandits were apprehended, while the others were allowed to flee down the mountain.

After Yu Chengyi had fallen asleep, Yu Yingying used incense to knock out the guards guarding the door and sneaked into her uncle’s room. Yu Chengyi had noticed her as soon as she entered the room. The scent so similar to his niece’s threw him for a loop. When the person approached the bed, Yu Chengyi jumped up, grabbed the young girl’s arm, and with his other hand, seized her throat.

“Uncle Chengyi, I’m Yingying.”

Yu Chengyi let go as soon as he heard her voice, causing Yu Yingying to take deep breaths. Her uncle had just nearly strangled her to death. Yu Yingying took a handkerchief and wiped the powder from her face before letting her hair down.

Yu Chengyi’s face was livid with anger. This ignorant little girl was nearly killed by his own hands just now. He was terrified just thinking about it.

He wanted to send her back, but Yu Yingying started to throw a tantrum. In the end, he had no choice but to let her stay. However, she was not allowed to leave his side, which was exactly what she wanted.

Based on the clues given by the emperor, Yu Chengyi found a mechanism on a mountain wall of Blackwind Mountain. After activating it, he led the group into a cave.

Originally, he only intended to explore, but the cave proved to be far more dangerous than he had anticipated. Only he and Yu Yingying remained in the group at the end. The two finally found an exit after going through much toil. There was a river below and a dead end behind.

Although it was dangerous, there was always a chance of survival. The two jumped into the river. Yu Chengyi dragged Yu Yingying, who couldn’t swim, and managed to get ashore. He was exhausted, having already been injured and collapsed on the riverbank.

Yu Yingying half-dragged and half-carried her uncle on her back with all her strength and walked for a while. There were several mud-walled houses in front with no one around. Yu Yingying entered one and cleaned it up. Fortunately, the house was still intact and there were no holes. She dragged Yu Chenyi onto the bed and removed his wet clothes.

In the end, she exchanged a hundred points for a lighter, some food, and a worn-out quilt from the system. She also exchanged a hundred points for a bottle of healing medicine and fed it to Yu Chengyi. She gathered some firewood from around the house and built a small stove with stones. She piled all of the firewood into it and started a fire. A makeshift rack was erected next to it to dry Yu Chengyi’s clothes.

She then stripped naked and moved in close to Yu Chengyi until their bodies were touching. Covering them with that old quilt, Yu Yingying was really looking forward to her uncle’s expression when he awoke.