Chapter 1336 - 1012: Why Are You Searching for the Left General’s Tomb?

Shang Ruyi turned her head and saw a few Turkic soldiers behind her with pale faces.

The guards she brought along were still the same as when they set out, half opening the road ahead and half guarding behind, isolating the Turkic people from them. Ashina Zhuxie and his men remained at the back all along, not because they were "useless," but because the Turkic people grew up on the grasslands, and some might not have seen such high mountains in their lives. So, while they might be formidable on horseback, climbing mountains is truly a challenging task for them.

Having just navigated a somewhat perilous curve, Shang Ruyi, Lu Xiao, and the others were fine, but a few Turkic soldiers glanced down subconsciously, and upon seeing the bottomless abyss, they cried out in fright.

Even Ashina Zhuxie was struggling and didn’t look well. At that moment, he scolded sternly, "What are you shouting for!"

Upon his words, they promptly shut their mouths tightly.

Though they dared not speak, their hearts still harbored some trepidation, and the path grew steeper the higher they went. Shang Ruyi and her party had long prepared their mountain climbing clogs, but the Turkic people only had soft leather boots, which were fine on grass but uncomfortable on hard rocks. At first, they only felt a sharp pain in the soles of their feet, but gradually it felt as if their bones might break, and every step became a torment.

Each of them was drenched in sweat, panting heavily.

After walking for most of the day, they finally reached a relatively gentle spot — the two peaks’ fork. Because of its sunny location, the area was covered with grass and various trees, and two faint white paths stretched towards the two mountain peaks.

The path that led towards the lower peak was a bit smoother.

Ashina Zhuxie, already exhausted and sweating profusely, gasped and asked, "Which path should we take?"

Shang Ruyi looked around and then pointed to the smoother path, "Let’s go this way first."

Seeing her decision, Ashina Zhuxie raised an eyebrow slightly, showing a strange expression, while Wang Shaoqiu behind him let out a sneer and said, "Is Princess Qin so certain because she already knows where the Left General’s Tomb is, or is she deliberately leading us somewhere else?"

He was already weak and sickly, and climbing the mountain for half a day left him short of breath, his face pale as paper, and his lips bloodless.

Even so, his gaze remained cunning and sharp, and his biting words were uncomfortable for others.

Upon hearing his remarks, Lu Xiao instinctively turned her face away, while Shang Ruyi looked at him—the first time they confronted each other on this journey. Earlier in Taiyuan, under Shuishen Mountain, they were at each other’s throats, and although they hadn’t fought on this journey, both knew it was merely a temporary arrangement. Hearing him speak first, Shang Ruyi’s gaze turned cold, and she said flatly, "If you don’t want to go, you don’t have to."

Ashina Zhuxie’s expression changed, and Shang Ruyi added, "I brought you here, but I’m not forcing you to come."

"..."

"Since it’s called the ’Left General’s Tomb of Doubt,’ naturally no one can be sure where it is. I’m merely speculating based on some rumors. Besides, if I indicated the other path, wouldn’t you still be suspicious of me?"

Hearing her explanation, Ashina Zhuxie and Wang Shaoqiu glanced at each other, momentarily speechless.

It was Lei Yu who stepped forward and asked, "Then how did you deduce we should take this path?"

Shang Ruyi looked up and said, "The high peak over there is too steep. Climbing it costs life alone, let alone constructing a tomb, transporting a coffin, and Duke Xiao Shan’s burial goods up there. It’s really difficult. So, I assume the tomb is more likely on this side."

"..."

"Of course, this is just my guess. If it’s not on this side, we’ll take the other path later."

Lei Yu nodded, glanced back at Ashina Zhuxie, who had quieted down with Wang Shaoqiu.

Shang Ruyi’s reasoning was plausible, and her plan was indeed more logical.

So Ashina Zhuxie said, "Rest for a moment, and then we proceed."

Shang Ruyi nodded in agreement, allowing the guards to rest on the spot. She also gave a couple of orders to Wo Xue, who nodded and brought back several long sticks, handing them to Shang Ruyi, Lu Xiao, and then Lei Yu.

One stick remained.

Ashina Zhuxie asked, "What’s this for?"

Shang Ruyi replied, "The path up the mountain is in the shade, overgrown with weeds with plenty of snakes and insects. I specifically had some sticks prepared so that when going up, everyone can use the stick to tap around the grass to avoid snake bites."

Saying this, she glanced at the extra stick in Wo Xue’s hand, "Does the Khan need one?"

Ashina Zhuxie said, "Of course."

Shang Ruyi motioned Wo Xue to hand the stick over to him, but instead, Ashina Zhuxie looked at the stick in Shang Ruyi’s hand, "I want yours."

Shang Ruyi raised an eyebrow at her stick and said, "Does the Khan suspect I would tamper with something so trivial?"

Ashina Zhuxie said, "You can think so if you like."

Shang Ruyi thought about it briefly, handed over her stick to Wo Xue for Ashina Zhuxie, and took the rejected stick without another word.

Thus, the group rested in the mountain pass.

Wo Xue promptly fetched water and provisions. After climbing for half a day, Shang Ruyi was famished. Though the dry cakes seemed unappetizing, she swallowed down half with water. Lu Xiao couldn’t eat, choosing only to drink some water, then sat beside Shang Ruyi, whispering, "Are you really here to find the Left General’s Tomb?"

Shang Ruyi, leaning against a large rock for shade, turned and asked, "Why do you ask?

"You’re not unfamiliar with the terrain here and know this path is shaded and full of snakes. You seem prepared beforehand."

"How could I not prepare for something like this?"

"So, you’re not only bringing them here to relieve Xiazhou’s siege but genuinely want to find the Left General’s Tomb?"

Shang Ruyi’s lips curled slightly, "What, you think my trip is solely for solving Xiazhou’s dilemma? Once here, why leave a treasure mountain empty-handed?"

Lu Xiao could hardly believe her ears, "Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why are you looking for the Left General’s Tomb?"

"..."

Seeing her ask, Shang Ruyi chuckled silently, "Do you think I’m someone who treats wealth as dirt?"