The journey was incredibly slow, basically moving in fits and starts. After all, Ye Lu couldn’t have hurried even if she wanted to – the mountain climbing and fording streams were just too exhausting.

Third Young Master Jun would clear a path for several hundred meters ahead, then turn back to guide her forward.

The two of them would walk then stop, and in one day they only covered a distance of about ten kilometers.

As evening approached and the sun began to set, they didn’t dare to continue traveling. They found a flat and open area to set up a small tent, then used a portable gas stove to cook noodles with canned meat, eating hastily before resting.

Third Young Master Jun sprinkled insect and snake repellent around the site and built a campfire before returning to the tent.

He then took out some multivitamins and other health supplements, instructing her to take them: "In this kind of environment, it’s hard to keep up with nutrition through diet alone. Bear with it, take these and get some good rest."

Ye Lu looked at his hands as he held the medicine, noting numerous cuts from brambles and branches, with both large and small red streaks – probably from clearing the obstructive branches with a knife while leading the way.

She quickly took out a first-aid kit, disinfected the cuts with alcohol, and applied ointment to his hands.

Then she gave a faint smile: "You go sleep for a bit. I’m not tired yet; I want to watch the stars in the wild."

Even if she were somewhat slow to catch on, she knew that in these places, it was necessary to keep watch at night. After all, it was a primeval forest teeming with snakes and insects, and there was no guarantee that wolves and wild beasts wouldn’t appear. Therefore, they had to stand guard in turns.

He, she saw, though he did not voice his exhaustion, looked very tired. He had been leading the way all day, bearing all the burdens by himself, taking care of everything, and above all, trying to spare her from any discomfort or hardship. Such strain would drain even the most robust person’s energy.

If he didn’t get enough rest, how could they set off tomorrow?

"I’m not tired." How could he let a woman stand guard through the night, especially when it’s the woman he loves, who is also carrying a child?

Third Young Master Jun held onto this point with an absolute sense of masculine pride.

"Just lie down if I tell you to. No need for so much talk. Men shouldn’t nag," Ye Lu glared, pushing him down in the tent and pinning him with her hands and legs so he couldn’t move.

Third Young Master Jun stared back helplessly; he truly was exhausted and lacked the strength to resist.

"Do you feel sorry for me?" He said with a weary smile, rubbing her face.

"Yes," Ye Lu gazed deeply into his eyes, "So don’t push yourself too hard for my sake. I’m already a burden, and I don’t want to be a completely useless one. The night is so long, and I don’t need to sleep that much. Let’s take turns. Otherwise, even if you want me to sleep, I won’t be able to. That would just be a waste of time. We’re husband and wife; we need to work together. Moreover, you’re our main strength. If you collapse from exhaustion, how can we escape?"

"Fool." Third Young Master Jun did not object anymore. He really was tired and fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

But his alertness was high, waking up after only two or three hours to let Ye Lu sleep.

Although they took turns sleeping, Ye Lu ended up sleeping about half as long as he did.

The next day they continued on their way, but it seemed that they were still quite unlucky.

Not long into their trek the following day, Ye Lu twisted her ankle and could barely walk, hobbling along. She felt terribly ashamed and extremely anxious. How were they going to proceed with such a long journey ahead?

Third Young Master Jun also felt a headache coming on. Eventually, he set down the huge backpack he was carrying, cut a few smooth bamboo stalks, fashioned a sled, placed the luggage on top of it, then tied one end of a climbing rope around it and the other end around his waist, dragging it along the ground as they went.