Chapter 5: Deeper into the Forest

“Aiyo! Didn’t I tell you two to bring her back? How did Xiaozhe end up going too…” Madam Ji collapsed into the bamboo chair, slapping her thighs and wailing in despair.

Ji Jingxuan anxiously grabbed Ji Jinglan’s arm. “Come on, take me there quickly!”

“Sigh…” Ji Jinglan set down the basket on her back and ran with Ji Jingxuan toward the courtyard gate.

Just before stepping out, Ji Jingxuan suddenly remembered something and turned back.

He dumped out the herbs from Ji Jinglan’s basket onto the ground, tossed in a coil of hemp rope hanging on the wall, picked up a hatchet from the corner, slung the basket over his back, and ran out the gate.

On Yama Mountain

Chu Xiaoqi had already disappeared from view in just a short time. Ji Jingze ran for a long while before finally catching up to her. “Sister-in-law, wait up…”

“What are you doing here? Didn’t I tell you and Xiaolan to go back?” Chu Xiaoqi turned around, looking at him with confusion.

Ji Jingze turned his head away, his face red and his voice stiff. “If you die, I’ve got to bring your corpse back to give the family an explanation.”

Seeing his awkward manner, Chu Xiaoqi couldn’t help but find it funny. This kid was clearly worried about her safety but still insisted on being stubborn and saying nonsense.

“Fine then. But stay close and don’t cause me trouble!” Chu Xiaoqi turned and continued walking deeper into the woods.

Ji Jingze followed behind, muttering under his breath, “You’re the one who causes trouble…”

Chu Xiaoqi didn’t bother arguing. The original host really was a burden—always eating, drinking, and causing problems for the family.

No matter what she said now, it would only seem like she was making excuses. Better to save her energy and focus on finding food.

After walking for about fifteen minutes, they reached an area where a faint mist drifted among the trees. Ji Jingze quickly stopped Chu Xiaoqi.

“Sister-in-law, that’s Yama Mountain ahead. We can’t go any farther!”

Chu Xiaoqi paused and looked into the forest, then turned to Ji Jingze. “Xiaolan said anyone who gets close ends up either dead or seriously ill?”

Ji Jingze nodded. “Uncle Kun tried going in a few years back. As soon as he got close, it felt like something was choking him—he couldn’t breathe. Not long after he came back out, blood started pouring from all his orifices.

He was with some villagers at the time, so they carried him back and got a doctor.

He lived, but ever since then he’s been bedridden, can’t eat or drink or do anything on his own. Just a complete invalid.

After that, a few people who didn’t believe in the rumors tried to enter—but they either died or were half-dead by the time they came out.

Then people started saying Yama Mountain was haunted by demons, and no one dared go near again.”

Chu Xiaoqi lowered her head in thought. How could it be so supernatural?

If it wasn’t a physical attack, then the only explanation was some sort of unseen harmful substance…

She looked up, narrowing her eyes at the faint mist swirling near the forest entrance. If people start dying the moment they get close, could it be the mist that’s the problem?

She’d have to get closer and take a look.

“Sister-in-law, what are you doing?” Ji Jingze saw her about to move forward and, forgetting all propriety, grabbed her arm to stop her.

“I don’t believe in ghost stories or monsters.

You stay here—I’m going to check it out…

Don’t worry. I won’t do anything reckless unless I’m absolutely sure.”

With that, she shook off Ji Jingze’s hand and walked forward.

Ji Jingze watched her resolute figure disappear into the mist, feeling like she had completely changed—more courageous, more confident…

Still just as fierce as ever, but somehow… he liked her more this way.

Ji Jingze liked his sister-in-law even more now.

Chu Xiaoqi didn’t get too close to the mist, but she could vaguely feel a sense of dizziness and nausea.

Sure enough, there’s something wrong with this mist.

If it wasn’t man-made, then the soil and rocks in this mountain area might contain heavy metals or toxic radioactive substances.

She turned back, and along the way, dug up a few licorice roots, washed them clean in a nearby puddle, and stuffed them into her pocket.

When she spotted a large patch of King Kong Vine (Jingang Teng), she waved at the curious Ji Jingze, “Don’t just stand there like a fool—come help.”

“O-okay… coming!” Ji Jingze didn’t know what she was up to, but obediently ran over to assist.

Half an hour later, each of them sat on an open patch of ground, holding a thick bundle of King Kong Vine.

Chu Xiaoqi took out the licorice root and chewed a piece, then tied all the vines together into a long rope.

She handed one end to Ji Jingze and tied the other end around her waist.

“You wait here. I’ll go in and take a look. If I don’t come out in an hour, pull on the vine and drag me out.

Remember—no matter what, even if you can’t pull me out, don’t go in on your own—”

“Sister-in-law, let me go in! You stay here and wait!” Ji Jingze interrupted anxiously.

Chu Xiaoqi shook her head. “You’re not going.

Don’t worry. There are no wild beasts or monsters in there. I’ll come out alive.”

With that, she spat out the chewed licorice and popped in a fresh piece, then turned and walked into the mist.

Ji Jingze gripped the vine tightly, his face full of worry as he watched her disappear into the fog.

Chu Xiaoqi passed through the poisonous mist in less than ten minutes. Other than a headache and a bit of nausea, she was mostly fine.

She looked around and noticed that the vegetation inside was more lush and diverse than outside, but nothing else seemed unusual.

“Sister-in-law! Sister-in-law! Are you still alive?”

Just as she was about to take another step forward, she faintly heard Ji Jingze’s voice calling.

She smirked. That little rascal’s asking for a beating!

Taking a deep breath, she shouted back in the direction she came from, “Still alive!”

Then she turned and continued deeper into the woods.

But just a few minutes in, the vine around her waist tightened.

Looking deeper into the forest, she decisively untied the vine and secured it to a large tree before continuing onward.

“Xiaoze! Xiaoze!”

“Chu Xiaoqi! Chu Xiaoqi!”

The voices of Ji Jingxuan and Ji Jinglan came echoing from not far behind Ji Jingze.

“Brother! Xiaolan! I’m over here!” Ji Jingze quickly turned and shouted back.

Before long, Ji Jingxuan and Ji Jinglan came running over.

“Why are you alone? Where’s Chu Xiaoqi?” Ji Jingxuan grabbed Ji Jingze, visibly anxious.

Ji Jingze held up the vine in his hand. “Sister-in-law went in!”

“What?! Why didn’t you stop her? She’s not right in the head—are you not either?” Ji Jingxuan scolded with frustration.

Ji Jingze hung his head, staring at his toes in guilt. “I… I couldn’t stop her…”

“Sigh…” Ji Jingxuan pointed a finger at him, looking like he hated iron for not becoming steel. He flung his sleeve angrily. “How long has she been inside?”

“About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea!”

“You two wait here. I’ll go in and find her,” Ji Jingxuan said, turning toward the forest with the basket on his back.

Ji Jingze quickly grabbed his arm. “Big Brother, you can’t go in. Sister-in-law said, if she doesn’t come out in an hour, I’m to pull her out with this.” He shook the vine rope in his hand. “And she strictly said we’re not allowed to follow her in.”

Ji Jingxuan frowned deeply and looked at the vine Ji Jingze was holding. He pressed his lips into a tight line. “And you just listen to whatever she says? You know how dangerous Yama Mountain is.”

Ji Jingze pouted and mumbled, “I told her all of that already, but she insisted on going. I couldn’t stop her…

But earlier I called her, and she answered me. She said she was still alive. Should I try calling her again?”

He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted into the forest: “Sister-in-law! Are you still alive?”

This time, no matter how many times he called, there was no response. He began to panic. “She’s not… already… dead, right?”

“Maybe she’s just walked too far and can’t hear you anymore?” Ji Jinglan murmured just as Ji Jingxuan turned around.

“Right! She can’t have just stood in place all this time—she must’ve gone deeper in…” Ji Jingze quickly added, afraid Ji Jingxuan would charge into the forest.

He scratched his head and said quietly, “Sister-in-law’s been really impressive since she woke up. She even beat up Ji Yanyang and dared to cut down a beehive.”

Ji Jingxuan looked surprised. That was the second time he’d heard someone mention Chu Xiaoqi beating up Ji Yanyang today. Could it be…

Could it be that she’s regained her memories?

Inside the forest, because no one had disturbed the area, wild grass grew uncontrollably—some even taller than a person.

Chu Xiaoqi stuffed dry grass into her pant legs and socks, tied them off tightly with straw rope, and carefully stepped into the overgrown weeds. She used her knife to clear the way as she walked, cutting a narrow path for herself.

When she finally pushed through the “grass cage,” she saw a field of tilted, fallen logs covered in moss. Scattered across them were black fungus, shiitake mushrooms, termite mushrooms, and the occasional lion’s mane mushroom.

She didn’t rush to harvest anything but kept cautiously moving forward.

This mountain forest was clearly an ancient and untouched ecosystem. Who knew what hidden dangers might be lurking inside? She had no intention of dying here.

Farther ahead was a thicket of sugarcane-like stalks, and in the distance, she could hear the faint sound of running water.

She cut one stalk with her knife, peeled it, and stuck it in her mouth.

Juice burst into her mouth through her teeth—sweet and refreshing, instantly lifting her spirits and filling her with joy.

She nibbled as she walked, eventually reaching the bank of a wide river. The water wasn’t deep, and it was crystal clear—she could see the fish swimming beneath the surface.

Seeing the fish made Chu Xiaoqi tear up with excitement. Finally, I don’t have to starve to death!

But she didn’t immediately take off her shoes and socks to catch fish. Instead, she chose to keep exploring deeper into the forest.

After just a few minutes, she came across a few hawthorn trees.

But raw hawthorn was far too sour to eat on its own, and the Ji family didn’t have the supplies to preserve it, so she had to leave it for now. Once she figured out a way to process it, she could come back for more.

Just as she was about to take another step, something bumped against her foot.

She moved her foot aside and saw a brown, spiky little ball—about the size of a chicken egg—rolling out.

A chestnut?

She bent down, picked it up, and peeled it open. Inside were three plump, shiny chestnuts.

She cracked one open and popped it into her mouth. It was sweet, crisp, and quite fresh.

Looks like there were chestnut trees nearby. If she could gather enough, they’d at least have enough to fill their bellies for a while.