Chapter 114: My skirt is all dirty!

Early the next morning, the dawn light was faint, and the forest was filled with the fresh scent of plants and soil.

Xiao Er held Tuan Tuan steady in front of him, rode his horse along a babbling stream heading upstream, with several guards following on horseback behind.

The deeper they went, the denser the forest became, and bird calls rose and fell one after another.

"Miss, the horses ahead have trouble walking."

Xiao Er pulled the reins, dismounted, and set Tuan Tuan down.

The guards skillfully tethered the horses to the thick trunks by the stream.

Tuan Tuan curiously surveyed this unfamiliar place.

Here the air was more humid, and the ground on both sides of the stream was carpeted with fallen leaves.

"Footprints, footprints… where are the footprints?" Tuan Tuan lowered her head to search.

"Second Uncle, look! Over there!" Her eyes lit up, she pointed to a spot on a pile of fallen leaves not far away that looked like an animal footprint, and she ran over with her short little legs.

"Miss, watch your step!" Xiao Er's heart tightened, and he hurried after her.

This place was overly damp and muddy, making him instinctively uneasy.

But it was still a step too late.

As soon as Tuan Tuan's little boot stepped onto that patch of ground that looked no different from the surroundings, it suddenly gave way beneath her!

The seemingly solid ground, like a living thing, began to wriggle as she sank.

"Ah!" Tuan Tuan cried out, instantly losing her balance; her legs sank at visible speed, and the mire immediately submerged her calves!

That was not ordinary mud; beneath the thick layer of fallen leaves lay a swamp capable of swallowing a person whole!

A man on a distant tree revealed a smug smile.

"Miss!" Xiao Er's eyes nearly burst; he lunged forward, grabbed Tuan Tuan's arm in one grip, and stopped her from sinking further.

But he dared not pull hard, for in a swamp, the more one struggles, the faster one sinks!

The guards behind him also rushed forward at once, each face turning pale.

"It's a swamp!"

"Quick! Find branches! Pull vines!"

"Miss, don't move! The more you move, the faster you sink! Don't be afraid, I will never let go!" Xiao Er's arm muscles bulged, veins standing out on his forehead.

The suction of the mire was astonishing; he felt as if he were wrestling an invisible giant beast.

Despite his impressive arm strength, he could not pull her up; instead, his own body began to sink slightly as well.

Tuan Tuan, being tightly gripped by Xiao Er, lowered her head to look at the black mire that had already submerged her calves; her little face was full of disgust: "So dirty! You've gotten my skirt all dirty!"

She did not struggle, but simply stared quietly at the mire trying to devour her.

"All right, it's me! Let me out! Don't yank me hard!"

No sooner had she spoken than the originally powerful terrifying suction receded like a tide!

The wriggling mire seemed to lose its vitality instantly, gradually becoming gentle and loose.

Tuan Tuan stood still; the feet that had just sunk gradually rose, and finally she stood firmly on the ground.

Xiao Er, who had been pulling with all his strength backward, suddenly lost power unexpectedly, fell backward, and landed sitting on his buttocks.

The guards who had rushed back with branches and vines stared wide‑eyed, frozen in place.

Tuan Tuan lifted her little foot, looked at herself, and saw that the fresh outfit her mother had made for her that morning was completely smeared with black mud; she unhappily puffed out her lips.

"Miss, are you all right?" Xiao Er scrambled up, walked over, and squatted down to examine Tuan Tuan's two calves closely.

Tuan Tuan shook her head and looked around in all directions.

Suddenly, her eyes lit up, and she shouted toward the depths of the thicket: "Come out, all of you! Clean this place up! Isn't it unpleasant to live somewhere so filthy?"

"You've gotten my skirt and shoes all dirty!"

Xiao Er stood up, and together with several guards he followed Tuan Tuan's gaze into the woods, looking utterly bewildered: "Who is the miss calling? Besides us, there's no one else here!"

"Squeak—chirp!"

The sound grew louder and more numerous, coming from the trees!

"What is that!" Xiao Er and the guards all drew their sidearms, looked up, and formed a semicircle in front of Tuan Tuan.

The surrounding treetops suddenly shook violently, accompanied by an even more noisy, sharp clamor.

Hundreds of gray forest monkeys, like ghosts, poked their bodies out from among the branches and leaves.

They agitatedly leapt back and forth on the branches, scratching their ears and cheeks, their gazes fixed in unison on Tuan Tuan.

"Come down! You live here, why don't you clean up?" Tuan Tuan wore a displeased expression.

In the next instant, the monkey troop sprang into action!

They nimbly slipped down from the trees and rushed to the edge of the grassy patch where Tuan Tuan stood.

Countless sharp claws frenziedly dug up the fallen leaves and grass clumps on the ground.

Soil and grass bits flew up at once.

Xiao Er and the guards dared not leave, standing still in place, watching countless monkeys scurry about wildly under their feet, raising goosebumps on their skin.

The monkeys' movements were so fast they dazzled the eyes; they cooperated, layer by layer, swiftly clearing the fallen leaves and grass clumps from the ground until it was spotless.

After everything was cleaned, the entire swamp lay exposed.

The spot where Tuan Tuan stood was clearly manicured.

Someone had covered the swamp with fallen leaves and weeds!

Xiao Er sucked in a breath of cold air.

Who set this trap! It's practically flawless! They piled thick leaves and weeds on the swamp, then made traces resembling animal footprints on it.

"Miss!" Xiao Er was shocked and furious; this was clearly intended to take the miss's life!

Tuan Tuan lowered her head, looked, and also understood.

Which bastard dares to harm me? Wait till I drag you out!

She looked at the monkeys on the ground: "Who messed this place up like this?"

"Squeak!" The largest monkey, seemingly the king of this troop of forest monkeys, jumped in front of Tuan Tuan as if seeking credit, waving its arms and legs at her.

Tuan Tuan's eyes lit up: "He's still here?"

The monkey king nodded sharply, pointed toward the dense forest, bared its teeth, and let out an angry shriek.

Tuan Tuan followed the direction it pointed, her small face gradually tensing.

She looked at the swamp cleared by the monkeys, then at the direction the monkey king pointed: "Well done! Help me one more favor, find him out!"

The monkey king seemed to understand her praise, excitedly did a somersault on the ground, then

Let out a sharp, whistle-like long howl, and the monkeys behind instantly erupted!

Countless gray silhouettes, like arrows leaving the bow, leapt onto branches, tracing afterimages in the forest, and swooped toward the direction the monkey king pointed with lightning speed!

"Second Uncle!" Tuan Tuan shouted; Xiao Er understood instantly and immediately followed, "You few, stay and protect the miss!"

"Yes!"

The man on the tree saw Tuan Tuan step into the swamp, thought she was surely doomed, quietly slipped down the tree, and was silently planning to go back to report.

He didn't expect to suddenly hear a whistling wind above; his heart startled, he jerked his head up, only to see countless bright, angry eyes staring at him from all directions in the treetops!

"Monkeys? Where did they come from? Why are they following me?"

He thought "not good", turned and ran.

It's already too late.

"Squeak-squawk!"

The monkey troop poured down from the trees like a gray waterfall!

Some landed on his head, sharp claws fiercely raking his eyes; some grabbed his arms and bit; more clung to his back and legs, frenziedly tearing his clothes!

The man was clearly skilled in martial arts; as he swung his fists and kicks, several monkeys were flung away, emitting painful cries.

But the monkeys were far too numerous and incredibly agile.

They came wave after wave; as soon as one was knocked down, three more leapt at him.

The man's upper garment was quickly torn to shreds, his face and body instantly covered in countless scratches.

He tried to use lightness skill to escape, but several monkeys clung tightly to his legs, preventing any movement.

Just as he was worn out from coping, in a sorry state, a fierce blade-light sliced through the air!

Xiao Er has arrived!

He saw the scene of the "human-monkey battle" before him, was momentarily stunned, but his hand movements remained swift.

He raised the back of his blade and struck toward the man's knee.

"Ugh!" The man dropped to one knee.

Xiao Er pulled out a rope from his person and tied him up securely.

He stepped forward and kicked hard: "Speak! Who sent you to harm my lady?"