Chapter 44: Danger

The jungle in Shanglin Park was deep and secluded, and the deeper they went, the more dangerous it became. Now that their party could encounter a big tiger, it showed that they were already deep in the jungle.

Liu Che had just hunted such a fierce beast, and the emotions in his heart were even higher. He waved his hand to signal two soldiers to check the tiger's situation, and if it was already dead, they would move this big tiger back.

Two little soldiers received the order, flipped off their horses to check the tiger's situation, and after confirming that the tiger was already dead, they ran back to report to Liu Che: "Reporting to the Empress, the tiger has stopped breathing."

Liu Che beamed and laughed heartily: "Good, you few quickly move this tiger back, hand it over to the imperial kitchen to handle, and the tiger's fur must be kept intact."

"Nuo." The soldiers were also very excited, and it took seven or eight people to lift this big tiger.

Liu Che still wanted to go forward to see what other rare wild animals there were. He drove his horse and was about to continue, but was stopped by Wei Qing: "Xiaojun."

Liu Che turned his eyes to look at Wei Qing, his eyes shining: "What?"

"We cannot go forward anymore. The dense forest is full of dangers, and the soldiers have already returned." Now only two soldiers and Wei Qing were left following Liu Che. Wei Qing felt that they couldn't go forward rashly, for fear of not being able to protect the Empress's safety.

Liu Che didn't care. He often led people to hunt in deep mountains and old forests when he was young, and didn't they all return safely in the end?

"No matter." Liu Che weighed the crossbow in his hand, his spirit flying: "The big worm was just shot and killed by Me. Are there any wild animals more fierce than this king of the mountains?"

For a time, Wei Qing couldn't refute, so he had to follow the "Empress's" wishes and continue forward.

The mist in the mountains and fields grew deeper. They walked another distance into the depths, and Liu Che hunted a few more elk, but just as they were about to go further, the Zhuifeng he was riding refused to go forward anymore.

The horse Wei Qing was riding was the same.

"Xiaojun, animals are the most capable of predicting danger. Now that the horses are unwilling to go forward, there must be fierce beasts in front. We might as well stop here and go back." Wei Qing frowned tightly and earnestly persuaded Liu Che to go back.

Liu Che looked at the results of his hunting trip and nodded slightly: "Very well, let's go back."

Saying this, he turned the horse's direction and prepared to return along the original path.

After a while, Liu Che suddenly called Zhuifeng to a stop. He looked at the surrounding dense forest with a solemn expression, his phoenix eyes gradually becoming sharp, and his lips gradually pursed into a straight line. After a while, he called out: "Wei Qing, have you noticed anything wrong?"

Wei Qing responded heavily: "Xiaojun, we seem to have been walking in circles." He also frowned tightly, having already noticed something wrong.

For the sake of safety, Wei Qing drove his horse to the front of Liu Che and instructed the two soldiers behind: "Protect the Empress."

The soldiers behind also tightened their voices: "Nuo."

Getting lost in the dense forest was not a lucky thing, so now they had to be twelve percent alert and find the correct road as soon as possible.

On the side of the hunting camp, the attendant followed A Jiao's instructions and carried the target from the drill ground over, preparing to let Huo Qubing show his martial arts.

Liu Li heard that Huo Qubing was going to perform riding and archery skills for A Jiao, and she stood beside A Jiao with great interest, very much wanting to exchange for a bench and melon seeds from the system mall, sit down, and watch little Huo perform while eating melon seeds.

Huo Qubing naturally also saw Liu Li following the Emperor, and his expression tightened even more.

Su Wen very thoughtfully arranged soft cushions for A Jiao and Liu Li at a high place, allowing them to sit and watch.

The targets on the camp side were all ready, and the maids and attendants serving here also gathered around to join in the fun.

Huo Qubing drove his horse into the field. He had a red cloth tied around his head and was wearing a black hunting outfit. His left hand held the reins, and his right hand held the crossbow, giving people a sharp and dashing feeling.

Liu Li watched such Huo Qubing from outside the field, secretly praising in her heart, what a heroic young man. At his age, if he were in modern times, he would probably just be an elementary school student.

But in this era, a ten-year-old young man could hold a sharp blade and be proficient in all eighteen martial arts.

Huo Qubing drove his horse to move quickly while raising the crossbow in his right hand, aiming at the target in the distance. Only hearing a "whoosh" sound, a residual shadow passed by everyone's eyes, and the arrow hit the bullseye directly.

"Good!"

"Amazing!"

The maids and attendants applauded one after another, shouting wonderful.

Huo Qubing didn't stop, continued to drive his horse to circle in the camp, and then shot several more arrows. In such a situation, he could actually hit the target every time.

Until he shot all five arrows in his hand, he stopped, flipped off the horse nimbly, walked to A Jiao, knelt on one knee and said: "Your Majesty, please allow this little person to enter the forest to hunt."

A Jiao also had to admit that the little Master Huo before her was indeed very powerful. If this child was cultivated well, he would indeed be a good talent.

Liu Li rested her chin on her hand and looked at Huo Qubing, her heart moved slightly. She raised her eyebrows and said: "Actually, I think your performance just now is considered normal."

Huo Qubing looked at Liu Li, his dark eyes brightening: "Princess, what do you mean by this?"

Liu Li pursed her lips and said: "The target on the field is fixed. But if you want to go into the forest to hunt, those animals won't just stand there waiting for you to shoot them. Only if you can hit a moving bullseye can you be considered truly amazing."

Huo Qubing didn't make a sound.

Liu Li said: "If you can't even do this, then you'd better not go into the forest."

Huo Qubing sneered: "What's difficult about this? I just don't know how the Princess wants to make the target move?" Those targets weighed several dozen catties each, and it was hard for people to carry them, let alone carry them and run.

Liu Li thought for a moment and said: "You can let a strong person carry the target, ride on a horse, and then drive the horse to move. If Huo Xiaolang can still hit the bullseye like this, then you pass."

Hearing Liu Li's suggestion, Huo Qubing's eyes lit up: "Okay."

Su Wen on the side was also clever, hurriedly turning around and ordering people to arrange it this way.

Chen Fei, who was standing behind Liu Li, stepped forward and said: "Princess, this servant also wants to try."

Liu Li turned to look at him upon hearing this, surprised: "What do you want to try?"

Chen Fei said: "Compete with this little general."

Liu Li was excited upon hearing this: "You can also ride a horse and shoot arrows?"

Chen Fei nodded: "I can."

Huo Qubing saw that someone wanted to compete with him, and it was an eunuch, so he naturally felt a bit of contempt in his heart, but Liu Li had already nodded: "Okay."

Liu Li asked Su Wen to arrange it, prepare a set of riding and archery clothes and crossbow equipment for Chen Fei, and then let Chen Fei and Huo Qubing compete.

Whoever shot more arrows would be the one to go into the forest to hunt.

Chen Fei went to change clothes. Liu Li leaned close to A Jiao and asked in a low voice: "Mother, let's place a bet. Let's guess who will win in the end."

A Jiao smiled and said: "I think Huo Xiaolang is more likely to win." After all, Huo Qubing had been training in the military camp during this time, while Chen Fei had only been in the Qimen Army for two months.

Huo Qubing's performance just now was also very eye-catching, so A Jiao supported Huo Qubing more.

Liu Li pursed her lips and said helplessly: "Alright then, then I'll bet Chen Fei will win." After all, it was a bet, so she couldn't choose the same answer as A Jiao.

While speaking, Chen Fei had already changed his clothes and walked out of the tent on the side. Liu Li turned her head to look, and couldn't help but exclaim: "So handsome!"

A Jiao and Huo Qubing, who were close to Liu Li, both heard it. A Jiao was curious: "What does 'so handsome' mean?"

Liu Li clicked her tongue twice and pointed at Chen Fei, who was walking slowly toward them: "It means he looks very handsome."

Chen Fei, who was now only a seventeen-year-old young man, looked different after changing into the hunting outfit. With a pair of sword-like eyebrows and upright and heroic features, he looked radiant in the sunlight.

Compared to Huo Qubing's still childish face, Chen Fei's face had already opened up.

Liu Li was a face-control, and she couldn't help but look at Chen Fei twice more, her eyes full of appreciation. On the contrary, Huo Qubing, who was standing on the side, frowned involuntarily.

"Princess, Your Majesty, this servant is ready." Chen Fei bowed to A Jiao and Liu Li.

Liu Li looked at him with bright eyes: "Great, Brother Chen Fei, come on, I'm rooting for you!"

Hearing the Princess's address to him, Chen Fei was stunned. The Princess actually called him... Brother? He lowered his head and lowered his posture: "This servant doesn't dare."

Liu Li didn't realize that her address was inappropriate, so she hurriedly said: "What dare or not dare, hurry up and start the competition, you must win."

Chen Fei: "Nuo."

Saying this, he stood up straight and walked toward Huo Qubing, who was waiting on the side, "Little General Huo, please."

Huo Qubing didn't know what was wrong, but he turned and walked away with a dark face, as if he didn't look at Chen Fei at all.

Behind, A Jiao was curious: "A Li, what does 'come on' mean?"

Liu Li smiled and answered: "Come on is a kind of cheering and encouragement. Mother, you support Huo Qubing, so you can say come on to Huo Qubing. I support Chen Fei, so I say come on to him."

"So that's how it is."

On the camp field, Chen Fei and Huo Qubing both rode over, and the moving target on the opposite side was also ready.

It was a groom with a target tied to his body, riding on a horse, and then moving on the field at an uneven speed.

Huo Qubing took the lead, drove his horse and rushed out. Chen Fei followed closely behind, and the two of them rode their horses on the field while looking for opportunities to shoot.

Their movements were very fast. Liu Li, as a bystander, couldn't even tell who shot first, but the first target was hit by both of them.

They shot all five arrows in a row. The groom who tied the target and a guard carried the target to the Emperor.

Huo Qubing and Chen Fei also got off their horses and waited here for the Emperor's judgment.

There were ten arrows on the target in total, which meant Huo Qubing and Chen Fei had all hit them. A Jiao praised: "Good, you two are both very amazing!"

In the case of the target moving fast, being able to hit it was indeed very amazing in A Jiao's view.

Liu Li said: "No, I think Chen Fei won."

Huo Qubing and Chen Fei looked at Liu Li together. Huo Qubing was unconvinced: "Jianling Princess, we both hit the target, why do you conclude that he won?"

Liu Li reached out and pointed at the arrows on the target: "The arrows shot by Chen Fei are all concentrated near the center, but the arrows you shot are relatively scattered, and two arrows are even close to the edge. If they were a little crooked, they would have missed the target."

Huo Qubing looked carefully, and it was really like that.

Chen Fei said neither humbly nor arrogantly: "Actually, this servant won by unfair means, because this servant often went into the mountains to hunt with people in the village when I was young. The moving target just now was a moving prey to this servant. If Little General Huo trains diligently, you will definitely be more amazing than this servant in time."

Liu Li suddenly realized. No wonder Chen Fei wanted to stand out and try it just now. It turned out he was a hidden expert. But no matter what, Chen Fei's riding and archery skills were indeed very amazing.

"Father, since Chen Fei won, why not allow him to go hunting." Liu Li looked at A Jiao and said.

A Jiao nodded: "Very well, Chen Fei, you go."

Huo Qubing on the side had a restrained expression, unhappy because he lost the competition, but he was willing to admit defeat and didn't mention going into the forest to hunt anymore.

Chen Fei was about to thank the Emperor, when an attendant ran over to report, interrupting his words: "Your Majesty, a great victory."

A Jiao looked at the attendant: "What is it?"

"The Empress shot a big worm in the forest, and now it has been carried back by the soldiers!" The attendant reported out of breath, listening to his excited and agitated voice, as if the tiger had been beaten back by him.

A Jiao's expression tightened.

Liu Li was also stunned: "Father... Mother killed a tiger?"

Good fellow, she exclaimed in her heart!

Now everyone's attention was attracted by this tiger. When the soldiers carried the big tiger to the camp, A Jiao had already brought everyone here to watch.

Fierce beasts, no matter when, were a very rare existence for humans. Just like in modern times, people wanted to see tigers, not on TV, but in the zoo.

Liu Li looked at the dead big tiger with great shock. She felt that this tiger was bigger than two of her. And the color of this tiger was very beautiful, especially the white spot on its forehead.

The soldiers praised the "Empress's" bravery to A Jiao, and their words were full of admiration for the "Empress."

A Jiao looked at the tiger lying on the ground, and the picture of her body fighting with the big tiger surfaced in her mind. She curled her lips helplessly.

Liu Che, oh Liu Che, you really can save face for me.

Liu Li approached the tiger cautiously, very much wanting to reach out and touch it, to feel the feeling of rua-ing a tiger. She knew clearly that the tiger before her was already dead, but she was still very nervous.

Just as she reached out to touch the tiger, the tiger suddenly moved, and Liu Li jumped up and screamed: "Mom!"

She subconsciously hid behind Chen Fei, who was standing beside her: "This, this tiger is resurrected from the dead!"

Chen Fei protected Liu Li behind him. After confirming that the tiger was not resurrected, he hurriedly comforted the frightened little master: "Princess, don't be afraid, you must have seen it wrong just now."

"Is that so?" Liu Li tilted her head and looked at the tiger again, as if she had really seen it wrong.

A Jiao was amused by her daughter's cute action. She directed the soldiers to send this tiger to someone special to handle, and then asked: "Where is the Empress?"

A soldier replied: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Empress should still be in the forest, with Wei Daren following."

A Jiao nodded slightly: "Hmm." If he didn't let Liu Che hunt to his heart's content, he wouldn't come back.

Afterward, the ministers and marquises who entered the forest returned one after another. Everyone's harvest was not bad, some hunted rabbits and pheasants, and some hunted deer and wolves.

But when everyone knew that the Empress had hunted a tiger, they fell into silence one after another.

The sky gradually darkened, and bonfires were lit at the hunting camp. On each bonfire, there was an animal they hunted today being roasted.

The grease that was originally on the animal was roasted out, making a "sizzling" sound. The fragrance of roasted meat drifted to everyone's nostrils with the air, and everyone swallowed their saliva involuntarily.

However, at this time, Liu Che hadn't returned yet.

Seeing that it was about to get dark, A Jiao's brows furrowed tighter and tighter. The soldiers who had followed Liu Che before also worried: "Your Majesty, let us go in and look for the Empress and Wei Daren."

If they didn't come back at this time, could it be that they encountered danger? If they really waited until dark, it would be even harder to find people.

A Jiao nodded and instructed: "You take more than a dozen people and go in quietly. You must find the Empress and bring her back safely."

"Your Majesty, let this servant go with you." Chen Fei said: "This servant has experience in entering the forest."

A Jiao nodded: "Very well, Chen Fei, you go in with everyone."

Liu Li was also very worried about Liu Che. Seeing that Chen Fei was going to go in with everyone to find people, she hurriedly pulled Chen Fei to the side, and then quietly stuffed the compass she had just exchanged from the system mall to him: "Take this, maybe it will be useful."

Chen Fei looked at the compass in his hand, curious: "Princess, what is this?"

"This is called a Compass. If you take this thing, no matter where you face, its needle will point to the north and south." Liu Li explained simply: "With this, you shouldn't get lost when you enter the forest."

Chen Fei put the thing away and said solemnly: "Thank you, Princess, for bestowing the Compass. This servant will definitely find the Empress."

Liu Li nodded: "Then hurry up and prepare."

Speaking of Liu Che, he had been lost in the forest for the whole afternoon. They seemed to have encountered a ghost wall. No matter which direction they walked, they would turn around and return to the original place.

The more uncertain factors there were, the more panicked people became.

Because they really couldn't find the way, Liu Che had to order everyone to rest on the spot and think of a way to get out after preserving their strength.

Liu Che got off the horse. Because he had been riding for most of the day, his legs were a bit weak when he landed, and he almost didn't stand steady.

Wei Qing on the side was quick-witted and hurriedly reached out to support the "Empress," and then let go as if he had been electrocuted.

Liu Che didn't notice. He turned his head to look at the surroundings and said in a low voice: "It's getting dark, we must leave before dark."

"But, we have been walking for a long time and haven't found the way out." A soldier said, his voice sounding like he was crying.

Liu Che scolded: "As a man, what's the point of crying?"

The scolded soldier closed his mouth immediately.

Just then, I don't know from which direction came a howling sound. Several people held their breath instantly, wanting to judge what animal's cry this was.

There was some movement in the grass in front. Everyone stood up slowly, protecting the Empress involuntarily. Wei Qing stood at the very front and lowered his voice: "You help Xiaojun onto the horse."

As soon as the words fell, they only saw countless pairs of emerald green eyes appearing in the jungle, blinking, making people feel panicked in their hearts.

It was a wolf pack!

Suddenly, a head wolf walked out slowly, followed by the second, the third... These wolves didn't know when they appeared. Perhaps they appeared when they were resting, or perhaps they had walked into the wolf pack's encirclement from the beginning.

"Wei Daren, what, what should we do now?" Soldier A asked with a trembling voice: "We are surrounded."

Wei Qing gripped the crossbow in his hand and said in a low voice: "Prepare to mount the horse, we will rush out on horseback."

Soldier B: "But there are so many wolves here, what if they pounce on us?" If they were pounced on by so many wolves, they would probably be dismembered.

Liu Che reached out and drew Wei Qing's long sword from his waist. His face carried a sharp, murderous aura: "Being so cowardly, how can you protect the Great Han's rivers and mountains in the future?"

Both soldiers stopped talking.

Liu Che gave a cold, sneering laugh: "The wolf pack is also observing us. Once we relax, they will pounce on us immediately, so we cannot be cowardly."

The warm light of dusk shone on his face, making Wei Qing feel that the sharp aura on the "Empress" was not inferior to a man's, and even had a feeling that made people want to submit to him.

The head wolf standing in front of them actually took half a step back at this time.

Just then, Liu Che stabbed Wei Qing's horse with a sword. The horse screamed in pain, raised its hooves, and rushed straight into the wolf pack like this.

Wei Qing: "?"

The horse's blood splashed on Liu Che's hand.

Facing the horse rushing over, the wolf pack swarmed and pounced on the frightened horse. It was also at this time that Liu Che seized the time and flipped onto Zhuifeng: "Go!"

The two soldiers also reacted. When they were about to mount the horse, they found that Wei Qing's horse was already gone.

Soldier B: "Wei Daren, my horse is for you, this little person is willing to stay behind!"

Wei Qing gripped the crossbow in his hand and smiled: "You protect the Empress and go first, I will stay behind." Saying this, he looked at the "Empress" who had flipped onto the horse for the last time, his heart already holding the determination to die, and he had to protect the Empress and send her out.

Liu Che rode over, threw the sword back to Wei Qing, and reached out to him: "Where did so much nonsense come from? Wei Qing, mount the horse."

Wei Qing was only stunned for a moment, then reacted. He discarded his nervousness and panic, and with the help of the "Empress's" hand, he sat on Zhuifeng with a little force.

Liu Che gripped the reins and rushed into the wolf pack on horseback. And Wei Qing, sitting behind, slashed at the evil wolves pouncing over with his long sword. Hot blood splashed everywhere, staining their clothes red.

The soldiers who rushed over to find the "Empress" happened to see this bloody and beautiful scene. ===== CHAPTER 45 =====

Wei Qing was stunned for only a moment before reacting. He cast aside his nervous and flustered heart, and with the help of the "Empress's" hand, he used a little force and sat onto the horse, Zhui Feng.

Liu Che gripped the reins and charged straight into the wolf pack, taking the lead. Wei Qing, sitting behind him, held his sword and slashed at the vicious wolves lunging toward them; hot blood splattered, staining their clothes red.

The soldiers who had rushed over to find the "Empress" happened to see this bloody yet beautiful scene.