Militärberaterin und Prinzessin

Kapitel 12

It seems that this delicious meal made everyone forget about motion sickness and even whetted their appetites. Thinking about it now, it's really unbelievable!

Lu Xiangxiang put down her chopsticks and asked, "Village Chief Zhang, the food in the village is quite good, but why are the houses in the village so..." Lu Xiangxiang didn't finish her sentence. This was also something that everyone was curious about. They had received such warm and generous treatment, but it was not appropriate to ask it directly.

"So dilapidated, isn't it!" Village Chief Zhang continued, then took a few puffs of his pipe, exhaled a deep cloud of smoke, and said thoughtfully, "Behind the village lies a primeval forest, teeming with wild animals and birds. As long as you have a hunting rifle, you won't go hungry! What a pity! What a pity..."

"What a pity..." Everyone was puzzled. Couldn't they have taken so many wild animals and birds to the market and sold them? These were all valuable items! They could have fetched a good price!

To everyone's surprise, Village Chief Zhang continued, "This place is remote and sparsely populated. Even the nearest village is 30 kilometers away, and the county town is even further away, more than 100 kilometers away. It would take a person more than ten days to walk here. Moreover, the terrain is complex and wild animals often roam around! Who would dare to go far from the village entrance?"

"This village was built by the Japanese, and it's been so many years since then, yet it hasn't been maintained or repaired at all. Just think! To be able to live in a house like this is already a testament to the Buddha's great compassion!"

"We can only live here in the summer, mainly for farm work! We grow rice. In the winter, we have to move to the forest, which will be our other home!"

After finishing speaking, Village Chief Zhang continued to smoke, the smoke rings he exhaled holding onto memories. His weathered face was etched with the marks of over sixty years as he told everyone a series of stories. The stories were clearly very captivating, leaving everyone speechless with surprise and moved to tears.

The Tomb of Qin Shi Huang, Volume 1: Life's Encounters, Chapter 32: The Old Man's Memories

Chapter word count: 2280 Update time: 08-02-29 17:54

After dinner, everyone sat down on small stools in the courtyard with Village Chief Zhang to rest and chat. His wife was clearing away the dishes. Lu Xiangxiang and Lin Xiang were about to help when Village Chief Zhang stopped them, saying, "We have a custom here: men are responsible for external affairs, and women for internal affairs. You two shouldn't meddle. Ce...sit down and rest for a while. There's no electricity here, and it's much cooler in the courtyard than inside!"

Indeed, a gentle breeze blows through the courtyard in the evening, bringing a pleasant coolness.

Lin Xiang carefully surveyed his surroundings. It was a courtyard, not very large, about ten meters long and wide. There was a low mud wall around the perimeter, so low that any adult could easily climb over it with a push of their hands. Although it was night, the moon was bright, and with the light from the car headlights and the oil lamp, he could still see clearly.

Directly in front of me was a mud door, or rather, a gap in the wall. There was no door panel; it was like a wall with a wide opening in the middle, about three or four meters wide. It seemed that no one in the village would steal. No wonder when I woke up in the village, I looked around and saw that the houses had unlocked doors. Now that I think about it, it all makes sense.

Suddenly, dark shadows flashed by. Upon closer inspection, they saw villagers carrying stools and baskets of fruit. The small courtyard quickly filled with people, and fresh fruit was piled up in front of them. Everyone looked surprised, but Village Chief Zhang said that it was a small token of the villagers' appreciation and hoped that everyone would not think it was too little.

Lu Xiangxiang was deeply moved. She never imagined that her parents were so great. However, when she thought of her deceased parents, she felt a pang of sadness and couldn't help but cry.

Village Chief Zhang was terrified. Not only Village Chief Zhang, but also the villagers and Lin Xiang and the others were stunned. Why did Lu Xiangxiang suddenly cry? Was she too moved?

Before anyone could react, Lu Xiangxiang realized her lapse in composure and quickly said, "Thank you everyone, I'm so touched by your kindness!"

Village Chief Zhang chuckled and said, "This is nothing. Back then, your parents saved the lives of our entire village!" The villagers sitting down echoed his sentiments. Judging from their demeanor, it seemed that the entire village, young and old, had come. There were about a hundred people in the village, which showed that this village was once a large one.

Village Chief Zhang paused for a moment, then asked, "I wonder how my parents are doing now?"

It would have been better if she hadn't asked. But now that she had, Lu Xiangxiang really didn't know how to answer. After a long while, Lu Xiangxiang replied with a sorrowful expression, "My father and mother have passed away."

"What?" A wave of surprise swept through not only Village Chief Zhang and his villagers, but also Lin Xiang and the others. They couldn't help but exclaim in surprise. They remembered seeing Lu Xiangxiang's parents at her birthday party not long ago. How could it feel like she had died just a few days ago? Lin Xiang looked at Liu Qingfang and Fang Yetong's expressions. It seemed that everyone had the same thought.

Village Chief Zhang was engrossed in smoking heavily, and a heavy atmosphere filled the courtyard. Suddenly, a loud crash broke the solemn silence. Looking in the direction of the sound, it turned out that Village Chief Zhang's wife, Su Miao, had come over with a plate of fruit. When she heard the news of her benefactor's passing, she was shocked and dropped the plate, shattering it on the ground.

Village Chief Zhang glared at his wife, and Su Miao hurriedly squatted down to pick up the broken pieces and fruit from the ground.

Village Chief Zhang sighed thoughtfully, "So that's how it is! It seems good people don't live long!"

The village chief was completely bewildered by Zhang's words, and then continued, "Miss Lu, you must have come here for the ancient tomb in Qianshan, right?" This caused a commotion. Lu Xiangxiang, Lin Xiang, and the others were shocked and blurted out, "How did you know?"

Village Chief Zhang exhaled the smoke from his mouth a long, long way, then his eyes seemed to freeze before he slowly said, "Back then, just over ten years ago, our village wasn't called the Lonely Village, but had a beautiful name: Phoenix Village. At that time, the village had several hundred people, and everyone lived harmoniously, happily enjoying family life. However..."

As he spoke, Village Chief Zhang's face turned extremely grim, and even the villagers showed expressions of fear. Lin Xiang wondered if something terrible had happened. Village Chief Zhang continued, "Then something terrible happened. On that night of the full moon, the village was attacked by a demon!"

"A devil???" Lin Xiang and the others were listening intently when they suddenly heard "devil." It was too sudden. How could there be a devil in this world? Even so, they couldn't help but blurt out, "What devil?"

Lu Xiangxiang had heard her parents from later generations say that, although she was mentally prepared, she still couldn't help but feel a chill!

“Yes! Demons!” Village Chief Zhang’s eyes were contorted with pain. He frowned, as if the world had stood still for a thousand years. He continued, “Demons have bodies like humans, but they also have claws and fangs like demons. They have extremely strong attack power and brutally kill and bite. In no time, two or three hundred people died in Phoenix Village. It was tragic! Living people were torn to pieces by demons, blood flowed like rivers, and intestines, lungs, hearts, and livers were scattered all over the ground as if they had been ripped open. It was impossible to tell whose internal organs were whose.”

At this point, Liu Qingfang couldn't help but feel nauseous and ran to the side to vomit. Lin Xiang quickly stepped forward and patted Liu Qingfang's back. However, Village Chief Zhang spoke in a ghostly voice, and a sinister aura enveloped the entire courtyard. Everyone felt goosebumps all over their bodies and could hardly stand up.

"Just when everyone was in despair, a sharp gunshot rang out, and the devils all fell down in an instant. In the darkness, we saw two young people, a man and a woman, walking towards us. Later we learned that the man and woman were national-level archaeologists, and their names were Lu Zhongqi and Tao Yanmei. They were a married couple. In this way, the village was saved. However, the remaining villagers spent a long night in fear!"

"The next day, the two archaeologists needed a guide, and to repay their kindness, I decided to lead them into this devilish forest to search for the legendary ancient tomb beneath the Thousand Mountains!"

"Devil's Forest?" Lu Xiangxiang stood up and asked. She had checked the information, and the geography book described this place as a primeval forest. How come it was called Devil's Forest by the local villagers? Could there be some unpredictable and terrifying creatures in it? Or ghostly phantoms? As for what happened in the forest, Lu Zhongqi and his wife hadn't had time to tell her, so Lu Xiangxiang didn't know.

"Yes! The Devil's Forest. On the second day after entering the forest, something terrible happened..." Village Chief Zhang looked bewildered, his eyes gleaming with a dull, sluggish light, as if he had seen the Grim Reaper.

The Tomb of Qin Shi Huang, Volume Two: The Devil's Forest, Surrounded by Enemies, Chapter Thirty-Three: Preparation

Chapter word count: 2190 Update time: 08-02-29 17:57

After hearing Village Chief Zhang's story, Lu Xiangxiang couldn't sleep. Although she was worried about the safety of her parents in the future, she also thought that her classmates and friends shouldn't lose their lives in vain. She struggled fiercely with this inner conflict.

I wonder what they're thinking? If anyone says they want to quit tomorrow, Lu Xiangxiang will decide to go home, cancel the plan, and find the burial site herself next year. With her mind made up, she felt much more at ease and closed her eyes to drift off to sleep.

Liu Qingfang looked up at Lu Xiangxiang. She had been moving around a bit just now, how come she fell asleep so quickly? Liu Qingfang was feeling dizzy and lightheaded. Speaking of vomiting earlier, she had thrown up her entire dinner. Now, at night, she was starving and, ignoring her dizziness, grabbed a basket of fruit next to her sleeping mat and started munching on it. She had completely forgotten about the scary story from Village Chief Zhang. The most important thing right now was to fill her stomach.

Bright moonlight streamed through the window. Although it was late at night, the dim light was enough for anyone with normal vision to see the room clearly. Lin Xiang rolled over, turned his head, and looked around. Huh? Why are these kids all quiet? They were just whispering to each other, but now their even breathing has drowned them out.

Lin Xiang felt uneasy, sensing that this operation was somewhat risky and might cost him his life. However, upon further reflection, he realized that since he had already promised Lu Xiangxiang, he couldn't go back on his word. Besides, Lin Xiang wasn't afraid of death; he was just worried about what would happen to his mother in the hospital after he died. Thinking of this, Lin Xiang couldn't help but want to cry, but he couldn't let it out loud. He remembered that loyalty and filial piety could not coexist, and what was coming would eventually happen.

Lin Xiang wondered what Lu Xiangxiang was thinking. He looked up at the door next door and saw that it was dark inside, so he couldn't see clearly. He figured it was because there were no windows. These were two adjacent rooms, separated only by a door.

Huang Hua was much more carefree, spouting grand pronouncements about killing gods and Buddhas alike. What were these little devils compared to him? Now, thinking about it, was he perhaps afraid? Whatever, he could deal with tomorrow's problems tomorrow. He had finally managed to pass the night.

Meanwhile, Yang Yingying, standing by the beautiful seaside, couldn't sleep. Facing the lonely night and the vast ocean outside her window, she felt a sense of loss, a feeling that something was missing. A soft sigh echoed through the night, repeatedly calling out: "Lin Xiang… Lin Xiang…"

A series of mournful and melancholy sounds drifted through Lin Xiang's dream. Who? Who is calling me? Lin Xiang looked up at the night sky in a daze, when suddenly a dazzling light shone down, so bright it was blinding. Lin Xiang rubbed his eyes and felt someone calling his name in his ear, his body swaying. He opened his sleepy eyes and saw that it was Lu Xiangxiang shaking him.

Lin Xiang exclaimed, "It's not even dawn yet! Why so early!"

"It's not bright yet? The sun's practically high in the sky!" Liu Qingfang reminded him, standing with her arms crossed.

Lin Xiang glanced out the window and saw the intense, blinding sunlight streaming in. "Ugh! How could I have slept so soundly?" He quickly got up and dressed. Thank goodness! Lin Xiang didn't have the habit of sleeping naked; otherwise, the sky would have fallen. However, his sexy briefs did elicit quite a scream from the two beautiful women.

A scream erupted, twelve decibels loud! No one could sleep anymore. Even a zombie that had been asleep for a thousand years would jump up. Liu Tao, Fang Yetong, and Huang Hua had already covered their ears with their hands, their eyes wide open, and they woke up at the same time with terrified expressions on their faces!

Village Chief Zhang thought something had happened and rushed into the house, only to find it was a false alarm. He breathed a sigh of relief and then called out, "Lunch is ready, everyone should get up!"

There's a custom in the village of eating breakfast and lunch together. This means that people go to work in the fields early in the morning, and then the women deliver their meals to the fields around 10 a.m. They eat and then work until the afternoon or even the evening before going home for dinner. This is how the farmers work from dawn till dusk, and that's how the tradition has been passed down.

As everyone ate their lunch, which was still mostly wild game and delicacies from the mountains, this time there were some wild mushrooms and green vegetables to help cut through the greasiness. Village Chief Zhang, who was sitting nearby, puffed on his pipe for a while, and then asked, "Hey Miss Lu! How's the discussion going?"

Lu Xiangxiang knew what Village Chief Zhang was referring to, and then said to everyone, "Behind us is the Devil's Forest, which is life-threatening. Think about it, if you want to back out, it's not too late."

At this question, everyone looked at each other in bewilderment. Huang Hua was the most straightforward. While eating, he patted the pistol at his waist and said, "What do I care about demons and monsters? I'll kill any god or Buddha I encounter. Besides, this gun of mine is no joke. Even if a dragon or a snake comes, I'll shoot it to its death!"

Fang Yetong chimed in from the side, "Hey! Huang Hua, what do you mean 'died'? With such powerful firepower on the vehicle, it should have blasted those monsters to smithereens and sent them to hell where they can never be reincarnated!"

Huang Hua wanted to say something, but he choked on the meat stuck in his throat.

Liu Tao chimed in, "Now that we're here, we can't leave empty-handed!"

Lin Xiang added from the side, "We don't ask to be born on the same day, month, and year, but we ask to die on the same day, month, and year!"

Liu Qingfang smiled, finding Lin Xiang quite adorable when he got serious. Village Chief Zhang, hearing everyone's words, knew further persuasion was useless and kept sighing, "Forget it! Forget it!"

He took a few puffs of his cigarette and continued, "You're all unfamiliar with this Devil's Forest. How about this? I'll get a few people to go with you, and they can act as guides. If we encounter any danger, they can look out for each other." Before anyone could speak, Village Chief Zhang called out into the house, "Big Brother!"

A voice responded and ran out. Wait, isn't that Zhang Village Chief's eldest grandson? He looked to be about twenty-three or twenty-four years old. Zhang Village Chief continued to shout, "Go! Call over the third young master of the Zhao family, Meihua of the Li family, Yuanzi of the Liu family, and Zhang Kui of the Zhang family."

Da Wa responded and was about to run away when Village Chief Zhang stopped him again. "Oh! Right, call your second uncle back too, and gather the whole village. Tell them we're sending our benefactor into the mountains. Bring five wolfhounds from the shed and six horses." Village Chief Zhang read out a long list of names as if checking goods in a warehouse, as if afraid of forgetting anything.

Da Wa ran out with lightning speed. Before anyone could figure out what was going on, Village Chief Zhang didn't say anything, just kept his head down and silently smoked.

The Tomb of Qin Shi Huang, Volume Two: The Devil's Forest, Surrounded by Enemies, Chapter Thirty-Four: The Great Wolfhound

Chapter word count: 2311 Update time: 08-02-29 17:57

And so, in a short while, Village Chief Zhang's courtyard became lively again, with a crowd stirring and carrying large amounts of supplies. They were alarmed to hear that their benefactor was going into the mountains. This was no ordinary place; the Devil's Forest was extremely dangerous. Without enough food, guns, and ammunition, it was a place of no return. Moreover, one had to know the way well. Come to think of it, it seemed that no one in the village had ever been deep into the Devil's Forest. Even Village Chief Zhang himself had only reached the edge of the forest before turning back.

The crowd at the door parted to let in the eldest son, who led in the third young master of the Zhao family, Meihua of the Li family, Yuanzi of the Liu family, and Zhang Kui and his second uncle from the Zhang family. Behind them were five large wolfhounds and six horses.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Village Chief Zhang immediately stood up and shouted, "Fellow villagers, our benefactor is going into the mountains. I've found a few kids from the village, my second son, and my grandson, Da Wa, to accompany them. Does anyone have any objections?"

The crowd below stirred. Everyone knew that going into the deep mountains was almost a one-way trip. Back then, Li Jia Meihua's father had accompanied two archaeologists with Village Chief Zhang, but he died before they even reached the depths. As for how he died, it was a very horrific story, so no one wanted to mention it.

However, when Meihua grew up, she insisted on going into the mountains to find her father's remains, saying that she wanted to bring them back for burial so that he could return to his roots. Meihua's actions frightened her mother, who grabbed her and cried, telling Meihua not to go. Meihua's mother could no longer bear the blow of losing her husband first and then her daughter. After repeated persuasion from the villagers, she finally gave up the idea of the girl going into the mountains alone.

In order to one day be able to go into the mountains to find her father's terrifying bones, Plum Blossom has spent many years honing her skills in the forest, and has finally developed a set of excellent abilities. By this time, Plum Blossom had also grown up and become sensible, knowing that it was impossible for her to reach the deep edge of this devilish forest on her own. So Plum Blossom has been waiting for an opportunity.

Now, Village Chief Zhang finally remembered Meihua, who had lost her biological father. Thinking back, he felt guilty towards Meihua's father, as they went into the mountains together but didn't return together. This time, he was determined to help Meihua fulfill her wish. Upon further reflection, he realized that if he weren't so old, he would have accompanied everyone into the mountains, even if it meant abandoning his old bones there without batting an eye. But he couldn't let his emotions cloud his judgment! With so many people going into the mountains this time, and him being so old, he might as well die; he couldn't hold them back.

Going into the mountains is extremely dangerous, especially venturing deep into them, where the chances of survival are slim. Thinking of the pain of losing loved ones, Village Chief Zhang had no choice but to take his second son and eldest grandson with him. He couldn't possibly send someone else's child to their death! He pondered this for an entire night!

When the villagers saw that even Village Chief Zhang's second son and eldest grandson had accompanied him into the mountains, what objections could they possibly have? Besides, their benefactor had saved the entire village's lives! Even if Village Chief Zhang hadn't sent his own relatives, if their benefactor needed them, the whole village would have gone into the mountains together, and no one would have objected. Repaying a debt of gratitude was paramount in the simple, honest folkways of that time, and it was the first thing that mattered in their hearts and consciences!

Village Chief Zhang went to great lengths for this trip into the mountains. He brought five of the ten large wolfhounds that the village only kept and trained. Normally, these wolfhounds would stand guard in pairs in each of the four directions of the village, and the safety of the entire village depended on them.

The other two large wolfhounds went into the mountains with some villagers to hunt. The terrain of the primeval forest is complex and vast, and it is easy to get lost. Without the large wolfhounds by their side, they would not be able to get out of this primeval forest. Moreover, wild animals often appear in the forest. The two large wolfhounds can kill a golden bear, and they are more than capable of dealing with Shar-Peis.

Lin Xiang crouched down to take a look, and my goodness! What a huge wolfhound! When the wolfhound was on all fours, it was as tall as a person's waist. If it stood up, it would be almost as tall as a person. Lin Xiang was wondering if this wolfhound, which was so fierce, could run fast.

Standing to the side, Plum Blossom seemed to understand Lin Xiang's thoughts and said, "Don't worry! These wolfhounds are as fast as leopards. After my years of training, even if we encounter tigers or lions in the mountains, these five wolfhounds are enough to kill them!"

Huang Hua and the others were stunned. So powerful? Somewhat disbelieving, they stepped forward to touch it, only to see the large wolfhound open its blood-red mouth, full of sharp teeth, and with a pair of fierce eyes, which frightened Huang Hua so much that he quickly withdrew his hand.

"Don't worry! The big dogs won't bite people randomly." As Village Chief Zhang spoke, five big dogs circled around Lin Xiang, Lu Xiangxiang, and the others, which frightened Liu Qingfang so much that she closed her eyes tightly and trembled as she leaned against Lu Xiangxiang.

"The big wolfhound just sniffed your scent so it can identify enemies in the future. From now on, you are their friends." Lin Xiang looked at Village Chief Zhang, who nodded in agreement with Mei Hua's statement. It seems dogs are intelligent, even though this one is bigger than a dog and looks even fiercer.

Knowing the purpose of the large wolfhounds made everyone feel much safer entering the Devil's Forest. Then there were the horses, which were probably used to transport supplies. Although there was no shortage of food in the forest, essential equipment and supplies were still needed. Who knew what kind of difficulties they might encounter in the forest? If they were not careful, the whole army could be wiped out.

Next came the introductions. The girl who had spoken earlier was Meihua. She gave off a very strong and assertive vibe, like a modern-day career woman. She seemed no less capable than a man, and perhaps even more so. Meihua was primarily a trainer of large wolfhounds and was very skilled at commanding them.

There was another girl named Yuanzi. She was called a girl because she was the youngest. We wanted to call her Little Sister, but we were afraid she wouldn't agree, so we could only call her a girl for now. According to Village Chief Zhang, Yuanzi was the best swimmer and could dive for three minutes. Moreover, we relied on her for daily life. Lin Xiang thought about it, smiled with everyone, and didn't say anything.

Next up were Da Wa and Er Shu. Da Wa was the eldest grandson of Village Chief Zhang. He was very fast and strong, so he was perfect for carrying supplies. Er Shu was familiar with the terrain around the Devil's Forest and had plenty of wilderness survival experience, so he was the best choice to be their guide.

Next up are the third young master of the Zhao family and Zhang Kui of the Zhang family. Their marksmanship is excellent; they can hit even the smallest targets within 30 meters, like bees. They never miss a shot. Speaking of marksmanship, Liu Tao blinked, wondering who was better or worse between them and himself.

And so, regardless of whether Lu Xiangxiang and the others agreed or not, they insisted on bringing these people along so that they could look after each other on the road. Lu Xiangxiang and the others looked at each other, but there was nothing they could do. When it came to danger, the locals should know better than anyone else. Since they were willing, there was no point in Lu Xiangxiang refusing.

Lu Xiangxiang, Liu Qingfang, Lin Xiang, Fang Yetong, Huang Hua, Liu Tao, along with local villagers Da Wa, Er Shu, San Shao, Zhang Kui, Mei Hua, and Yuan Zi, a total of twelve people, are packing their bags and preparing to set off into the mountains.

The Tomb of Qin Shi Huang, Volume Two: The Devil's Forest, Surrounded by Enemies, Chapter Thirty-Five: Entering the Mountains

Chapter word count: 2406 Update time: 08-02-29 17:56

The supplies on the truck were piled up, and Huang Hua had already loaded several heavy boxes into the back of the truck without anyone noticing. It would be exhausting to carry them all. Lu Xiangxiang pulled Village Chief Zhang aside and said softly, "I say, Village Chief Zhang, let's just go into the Devil's Forest ourselves. I don't think we need to go in with them!"

It would have been better if he hadn't mentioned it, because once he did, Village Chief Zhang got angry. He glared at them and said, "How can we not go? It's better to have more people to take care of them. Besides, they've been in the mountains all year round and have experience. You don't need to worry about them." That's what Village Chief Zhang said, but what he really wanted to do was send some people to protect his benefactor and these young people. If they weren't protected, they might have been wiped out within a few days of entering the mountains.

Given the circumstances, Lu Xiangxiang had no choice but to come over and help, shouting, "Bring everything, tie up the horses, check the equipment, and then count the number of people. We need to set off before noon."

Everyone kept stuffing bundles into the two large baskets beside the horse's back. Huang Hua called Da Wa over to help. It seemed that Huang Hua wanted to lift all the boxes into the baskets. Da Wa pulled one up and found it quite heavy. He asked, "Brother, what's in these boxes? Why are they so heavy?"

Huang Hua smiled mysteriously and whispered, "I'm telling you, this is full of bullets."

"Bullets?" Big Brother laughed heartily. "I know, it must be steel balls!"

Huang Hua was taken aback, then shook his head and said "NO" several times in English, leaving Da Wa dumbfounded. Huang Hua knew that the mountain people were not worldly-wise. Besides, the country strictly prohibits illegal firearms and ammunition, and they are confiscated in almost every village and household. Perhaps it is because of the special geographical environment here that the mountain people have homemade hunting rifles filled with steel balls.

Speaking of the weapons in the car, Huang Hua was very proud. If it weren't for his connection with the black market arms tycoon and Liu Qingfang's tempting money, hehe... how could he have gotten such excellent equipment? This time, he was going to show off his skills and let these demons and monsters know how powerful he, Young Master Huang, was.