Chapter 48: A heart that big, and you can still sleep?

Gu Tiezhu was shoved by Zhang Shen, and his crutch fell to the ground.

Fortunately, Liu Shi reacted quickly and steadied him, so he didn't fall.

Looking at Zhang Shen, she had already barged into the courtyard without a care, searching everywhere for someone.

"Gu Qingye! Gu Qingye!! Today you must come out and explain yourself clearly!"

Gu Tiezhu's face twisted with anger, his eyes seeming to be able to brew poison.

"Qingye is sick; she went home and went to bed, she can't come out to see you!"

"Get out of my house right now!!"

However, Zhang Shen acted as if she hadn't heard, bang! she kicked open the main room door, glanced at Gu Lao San inside, without a word she then went on to kick open the door of the side cottage.

Gu Qingye lay in bed pretending to sleep, listening to the door being kicked open.

She had no choice but to slowly sit up, feigning just having woken up, "What's going on? Who is it?"

Zhang Shen had no time for idle talk, she simply asked Gu Qingye why three people went into the mountains but only she returned.

Where did Gu Xixi and Chen Fang go?

Gu Qingye had intended to answer truthfully, but in the blink of an eye she saw Gu Tiezhu standing outside the door, his expression terrifying as if he wanted to eat someone.

Even Liu Shi gave her a look, secretly shaking her head.

Gu Qingye swallowed her saliva and, following the line Gu Tiezhu had previously taught her, said: "We came down the mountain together at that time."

"Gu Xixi sister and Chen Fang brother said they still had things to do, so we split up at the foot of the mountain."

Zhang Shen frowned, "They were carrying so much mountain produce; not taking it home first, where could they possibly go directly?"

Gu Qingye shook her head, mustering her courage to hide her guilt, she gave Zhang Shen a smile.

"I don't know that."

"What Gu Xixi sister wants to do, she wouldn't consult me about."

Zhang Shen, seeing she couldn't get anything out of them, gave the family a warning glare and hurried away.

At this time, Lao Langzhong hadn't gone to sleep either; he was waiting in the courtyard for Zhang Shen to return.

The two of them conferred again, both feeling that the Gu Lao San family was suspicious, and Gu Qingye seemed to be hiding something.

Lao Langzhong pondered for a moment and said, "If Gu Qingye is lying, Gu Xixi and little Chen might still be in the mountains."

"Ah?" Zhang Shen's heartfelt tears spilled out, "Wouldn't they freeze to death?"

Lao Langzhong comforted Zhang Shen, "It's only three or four hours until dawn; Gu Xixi knows some self‑rescue skills, Chen Fang is quick‑witted, together they should be fine."

"Besides, it's pitch black outside now, there's no way to go up the mountain to search; even if we're anxious, it's useless."

Zhang Shen wiped her tears and said, "Then what can we two do now?"

"Get some sleep to rest up." Lao Langzhong said, "As soon as it's light, go to the Village Chief's house, ask him to step forward and mobilize the whole village to search the mountain."

Lao Langzhong's words made Zhang Shen feel as if she had taken a reassuring pill.

She nodded, "Okay, I'll listen to you!"

The moon was high in the sky, just right to pour its silver light over the cave.

Mu Nan Zhao had already gotten up from Gu Xixi's leg on his own accord a moment ago.

He moved to another side, sat with his back against the cave wall, closed his eyes to rest, and hasn't spoken a word since.

Gu Xixi observed Mu Nan Zhao; he was still as aloof as ever, doing his own thing.

Moreover, he showed no sign of developing romantic feelings or a restless heart toward her.

Gu Xixi's taut heartstrings relaxed a little.

She knew Mu Nan Zhao wasn't actually asleep, "It's so cold I can't sleep, let's chat."

Mu Nan Zhao still had his eyes closed, "Let's talk."

Gu Xixi pondered a moment, then smiled and said, "I was just helping you circulate your blood and warm up; I also warmed myself incidentally. It's hardly a life‑saving favor, so don't take it to heart."

Better yet, don't even remember that this happened!

"Hn." Mu Nan Zhao grunted, his tone giving nothing away.

The eastern horizon glimmered with a jewel‑blue hue.

The bronze bell's clamor shattered the thin dream of dawn.

Lao Qian pounded the bell with all his might until the villagers hurriedly gathered, then he stopped.

"Our village's Gu Xixi and Mr. Chen went into the back mountains yesterday and have not been heard from since."

"Everyone, go home, grab ropes and hatchets, and come with me to search the mountain!"

The villagers sprang into action without a word.

Huachi Du Cun leans against the big mountain; whenever someone gets lost in the hills, the whole village turns out to look for them—a tradition passed down through generations.

Lao Qian walked on, complaining to Zhang Shen, "My niece Gu Xixi and Mr. Chen are missing; you should have told me this morning!"

Zhang Shen sighed, "It's my carelessness; I thought Gu Xixi still had other things to do."

"When they didn't return after dinner, I sensed something was off and ran to ask at Gu Lao San's house."

Lao Qian exclaimed angrily, "Damn that Gu Lao San! If I find out his family is lying and playing tricks, I'll definitely settle the score this time!"

"What a joke! Gu Xixi is the military advisor he stumbled upon by sheer luck, and Chen Fang is the teacher he's long hoped for, indispensable for setting up a private school."

"If anything happens to those two, he feels like wiping out the entire Gu Lao San family!"

At the break of dawn, all the able‑bodied people of Huachi Du Cun surged toward the mountain path.

Only the Gu Lao San household was nowhere to be seen.

When the bell was rung, Liu Shi happened to appear at the village entrance.

But when she learned they were going to search the mountain for Gu Xixi, she immediately pretended to feel dizzy.

Liu Shi said her daughter Qingye might have offended the mountain's flower spirit yesterday, then been frightened by Zhang Shen at night, after which she ran a persistent fever and babbled nonsense.

She looked after her daughter all night without sleep, and now she also feels terrible all over.

At that time everyone else was busy going home to prepare supplies for the mountain, and no one had the leisure to judge whether what Liu Shi said was true or false.

Liu Shi returned home, her whole family shut the doors and stayed inside, beginning to feign illness.

After going up the mountain, the villagers split into four groups to search.

Zhang Shen and Lao Qian were in the same group, with Zhang Shen responsible for guiding the route that Gu Xixi often took.

A sliver of morning light shone into the pit, and Gu Xixi blinked open her eyes, dazed, "Is it daylight?"

Mu Nan Zhao's voice came from across, sounding much clearer and stronger than last night, "You slept from the latter half of the night until now—aren't you afraid of being carried off?"

Gu Xixi slept a spell, felt much more refreshed, and jumped up to stretch her limbs.

"What's there to fear? Wolves, jackals, tigers and leopards wouldn't be so stupid as to jump into a visible pit unless they were starving mad."

She looked at Mu Nan Zhao, her smile bright in the morning light, "Besides, isn't there still you?"

Mu Nan Zhao was about to speak, but suddenly his expression turned solemn and he fell silent, listening intently for a moment.

"Someone's coming this way, and there are several of them."

Gu Xixi's eyes lit up, "At this time, it can only be people coming to find us!"

Mu Nan Zhao raised his hand, the words of warning still unspoken, when Gu Xixi already shouted at the top of her lungs:

"Hey, somebody!! Help!!"

"I'm Gu Xixi! Chen Fang and I are both here! Help!!"

Mu Nan Zhao closed his eyes in defeat, "Fine, I've never been this embarrassed in my life."

Lao Qian lowered the rope and personally pulled Gu Xixi and Mu Nan Zhao up.

"Everyone alright?"

Mu Nan Zhao clasped his hands, "No problem, thanks to all of you for the rescue."

Gu Xixi laughed, "We're not hurt, just a bit hungry."

Zhang Shen came over with red-rimmed eyes, handing over a soft noodle pancake and a jar of water.

She knew the two children had been hungry all day, had prepared food and drink in advance, and brought them up the mountain this morning.