A few days later—
Within Leng Ruo Li’s portable system, after days of analyzing the toxins in her body, she now knew how to concoct the antidote for herself.
Among the medicinal ingredients she had prepared, she was still missing two herbs: Xianhecao and Jin Xian Lian. However, these two herbs were not difficult to find.
As far as she knew, both herbs favored cool, damp environments, especially growing in abundance in damp mountain ravines. Therefore, she had to go up the mountain today to search for them.
Subsequently, she changed into the men's clothing she had worn that day, put on the golden mask from before, and swiftly exited the system space. After a few words with her maid, Xing'er, she left the General's mansion.
After asking several passersby on the street, she learned that about a kilometer outside the city gate was a large mountain known as Houya Mountain, and at its base lay a deep mountain ravine.
To save time, Leng Ruo Li cleverly shook off the man tailing her. Then, she broke into a run, exited the city gates, and headed towards Houya Mountain.
The scenery along the way was captivating. The fields were covered with wild chrysanthemums as far as the eye could see. As the breeze blew, their fragrance filled the air, invigorating Leng Ruo Li.
Leng Ruo Li thought that someday, when she had time, she would bring Xing'er here to pick some wild chrysanthemums to dry and make tea. These wild chrysanthemums were treasures, possessing excellent heat-clearing and detoxification effects for those suffering from internal heat.
As she walked further into the mountains along the mountain path, the mist became more pervasive. Along the way, she discovered many rare medicinal herbs. Some of these herbs were almost extinct in modern times, such as: Xue Jie, Fang Feng, Huang Qin, Rou Cong Rong, Xi Xin, Zi Cao... and so on, which were found everywhere here.
However, what puzzled her was that it was already late autumn, yet the vegetation here showed no signs of shedding leaves. The leaves on the trees were still lush and dense, with no trace of autumn visible.
How strange!
Could there be hot springs here?
Unfortunately, she was not a geologist. Otherwise, she would have studied the area thoroughly.
Although Leng Ruo Li's purpose for going up the mountain this time was to find Xianhecao and Jin Xian Lian, she would stop to collect any rare medicinal herbs she encountered along the way, casually tossing them into her system space.
As she walked, she soon found a Jin Xian Lian in the bushes by a small stream. Not long after, she found Xianhecao in the grass on the other side.
Leng Ruo Li was overjoyed that she had found the herbs she needed so smoothly. She couldn't help but feel ecstatic that the dark toxin spots on her face could finally be removed as she wished.
Alas, the weather turned unfavorable as a heavy rain suddenly began to fall. With sharp eyes, Leng Ruo Li spotted what looked like a mountain cave not far from her location.
She hurried towards it. Upon closer inspection, she saw it was indeed a cave, its entrance concealed by branches. If she hadn't looked carefully, she would never have noticed the entrance.
The rain intensified, and Leng Ruo Li, without hesitation, stepped into the cave to shelter from the downpour.
The cave was vast. Leng Ruo Li took out her flashlight to illuminate the interior. Looking up, she saw many messy, large footprints inside. She cautiously ventured deeper into the cave, which was very deep. The ground inside the cave was emitting a stream of heat.
She speculated that there must be a hot spring inside.
After walking for a long time, she faintly heard voices speaking from the depths of the cave. As she moved forward, the voices became clearer. In the depths of the cave was a very large hot spring pool, bubbling with steam, and there was light emanating from it.
To avoid being discovered by the speakers, she turned off her flashlight and quietly hid behind a large rock. She casually took out a telescope from her system space and looked in the direction of the voices.
"Your Highness, regarding the black-clothed assailants who ambushed us, your subordinate has investigated their origins. They are all assassins from the Dark Night Pavilion."
A distinguished-looking man, dressed in black, form-fitting attire, bowed respectfully to the man and reported the situation.
"The Dark Night Pavilion again. It seems they are not at peace knowing this prince is still alive."
The man addressed as Prince in the cave spoke indifferently.
At this moment, he was facing away from Leng Ruo Li, dressed in a black, wide-sleeved white robe. His long, ink-black hair cascaded down his back. He appeared to have just finished bathing in the hot spring and hadn't had time to tidy his appearance, but he exuded an aura of royalty that could not be concealed.
Just as she was mesmerized by the handsome man—
Suddenly, a flying insect flew into Leng Ruo Li's nostril, tickling her nose, causing her to sneeze violently.
The two men in the cave immediately detected her hiding spot, and four gazes, like sharp beams of cold light, swept towards her location.
The man in white spread his palm, and his internal energy instantly condensed into a palm strike. He sent it towards the rock where Leng Ruo Li was hiding, shattering the stone into powder.
Fortunately, Leng Ruo Li was quick to run, or she would have turned into powder like the large rock. The martial arts of these ancient people were truly terrifying.
Leng Ruo Li exerted all her strength and dashed towards the cave entrance. The two men pursued her closely, giving her no chance to escape into her system space.
But before she could get far, the man in the white robe, radiating an icy aura, effortlessly drew her to him with a powerful grip on her neck, nearly suffocating her.
Leng Ruo Li, mustering her courage, looked up at the man's face.
Damn it!
It turned out this man in the white robe was Jun Mo Han.
Wuwuwu—
She and Jun Mo Han were truly destined to cross paths in such an unfortunate manner.
She was doomed today.
She wondered if Jun Mo Han would retaliate for her spraying him with floral water last time.
However, Jun Mo Han didn't give Leng Ruo Li time to ponder further, as he pointedly struck her sleeping acupoint.
————
When Leng Ruo Li awoke again, she opened her eyes to find herself suspended in mid-air by ropes. Below her was a large pit filled with sharpened bamboo stakes.
If the ropes binding her hands broke, or suddenly loosened, she would be impaled the moment she fell into the bamboo pit.
Leng Ruo Li scanned her surroundings. She guessed she was likely imprisoned in some kind of cell.
Suddenly, she heard the sound of footsteps.
"Your subordinate pays respects to Your Highness."
"Hm, is she awake?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, she is awake."
At this moment, Jun Mo Han had changed into a deep blue robe embroidered with golden threads, featuring a four-clawed python, as if to flaunt his nobility and dominance. He strode closer to Leng Ruo Li's cell.
Seeing Jun Mo Han, Leng Ruo Li felt an urge to curse him loudly.
"Bastard, let this old lady down now!"
Jun Mo Han's sharp purple eyes scanned Leng Ruo Li, a hint of darkness flickering within them. He spat out two words through gritted teeth: "Seeking death!"
"Guards, lower this woman into the bamboo pit."
As soon as Jun Mo Han finished speaking, two individuals flew above Leng Ruo Li's head and began to turn the rope mechanism. The rope became longer and longer, and her body grew closer and closer to the sharp bamboo stakes that sent shivers down her spine.
"Stop! Stop right there!"
Leng Ruo Li shouted loudly. This Jun Mo Han was indeed as rumored—cold, merciless, and inherently cruel. Just because of a minor unpleasant encounter between them, he wanted to kill her.
"What exactly do you want, you man?"
As soon as Leng Ruo Li finished speaking, the man waved his hand, and the rope mechanism above Leng Ruo Li immediately stopped turning.
"Woman, this prince wants to know who you really are?"
Jun Mo Han’s cold purple eyes swept over her as he asked.
"Didn't you already investigate my identity?"
A flicker of surprise flashed in Jun Mo Han's narrow purple eyes, but it quickly returned to normal as he asked:
"How do you know I investigated you?"
"I've had someone following me these past few days. I guessed it was you who sent someone to track me. Didn't you have people investigate my identity before sending them to follow me?"
"You are not Leng Ruo Li, who are you?"
Leng Ruo Li rolled her eyes at Jun Mo Han and said, "Don't you see the black spots on my face? With such an obvious mark, why are you still asking? Who else could I be if not Leng Ruo Li? As for the black spots on my face, why don't you find someone to examine them for me?"
"No need."
While Leng Ruo Li was unconscious, he had removed her mask and discreetly examined her face for a human skin mask. As a result, apart from the ugly black spot on her face, he found nothing unusual.
However, the former Leng Ruo Li and the current Leng Ruo Li had too much of a difference in personality.
"The Leng Ruo Li in the rumors was a simpleton, not as intelligent as you."
"Don't you know that rumors can also be false? My mother died, and my father is not around. Can't I pretend to be foolish to protect myself?"
Jun Mo Han was rendered speechless.
Jun Mo Han: "Then why did you go to Houya Mountain?"
Leng Ruo Li: "If I said I went to dig for herbs, would you believe me?"
Jun Mo Han: "No!"
Leng Ruo Li: "Then that settles it. You don't believe me even if I tell you."
Jun Mo Han: "..."