Chapter 1843: Chapter 1831: The Terrifying Echoes

Now, he couldn’t help with anything else, but Wang Yongzhu instructed him to ensure that the supplies needed for the mountain expedition were well-prepared.

Thinking this way, Gu Zikai had no intention to busy himself with other matters, and hurriedly ordered someone to go and procure the necessary supplies without mentioning it.

It is said that Wang Yongzhu led her team straight to the mountain valley, and initially, they could still ride horses. But, the deeper they went into the mountains, the more rugged the path became. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Eventually, they couldn’t ride horses anymore and had to dismount and walk.

Wang Yongzhu’s group left one person to watch the horses, while the rest of them carried simple backpacks and walked step by step.

This area is lined with mountains, and although it is spring now, the snow on the mountains has not thawed yet. At first glance, it’s either the vast white snow or the gray rocks. Occasionally, a hint of green can be seen under the snow; these are evergreen pines scattered across the mountains, the only bright color in the winter.

The cold wind was sharp, causing clothes to flap loudly. If one’s physique was somewhat frail, they might risk being blown off the cliff by these mountain winds.

Wang Yongzhu was prepared ahead of time, wrapped in a coat and pants made with fox fur, and wore boots crafted in the style of snow boots, made of genuine fur-lined leather. Walking in the mountainous terrain, her feet remained warm.

The others also wore similar boots, and although their coats were not made of fox fur, they were thick coats made of sheep’s wool, each still wearing fur cloaks.

Moreover, all of these people were personally selected by Wang Yongzhu, not only physically robust but also enduring hardship. Even while walking, their pace did not slow significantly.

Initially, everyone was worried about Wang Yongzhu’s well-being. They were rough men, mostly accustomed to life in the Northwest, but his own Madam, coming from privilege, was usually unaccustomed to hardships.

Unexpectedly, the one they were most concerned about, Wang Yongzhu, didn’t utter a word of complaint throughout the journey. Even when dismounting to walk, while climbing the snowy mountains proved challenging, these big men had to use both hands and feet with difficulty.

The Madam seemed quite easygoing, even managing her own luggage without their help.

At night, everyone merely found a wind-shielded cave, gathered a few dry twigs to light a fire, not only to fend off the cold but also to ward off the dangerous beasts of winter.

One must know, throughout this prolonged winter, the birds and beasts barely endured. Now that spring is showing some signs, and the sensitive creatures are already on the move.

Especially at this time, the wolf packs, starved for a whole winter, are the most ferocious. Hence encountering them might result in dire consequences.

Therefore, these people were very experienced; before nightfall, they found a suitable resting place, cleared the snow, and dragged out some logs and branches.

Though they carried dry rations, some could not remain idle; when they encountered snow hares or roe deer foraging for food, they conveniently brought them back.

As for the drinking water, it was sourced locally. They would toss the pot into the snow and scrub it clean with snow, then fill it with snow, return to the cave, and boil it over the fire for drinking.

The cave was first checked with burning twigs to prevent poisonous insects and then sprinkled with insect-repelling medicine.

Captured rabbits and roe deer were slaughtered from afar, innards buried deep under snow to conceal the smell of blood.

When night fell, everyone huddled in the cave. The entrance was blocked halfway with rocks to guard against nighttime animal attacks, and also to allow fresh air inside amid the all-night bonfire.

All of this was arranged before Wang Yongzhu entered the cave; her subordinate had already prepared everything.

As she entered, several bonfires were lit inside, and around the largest fire there were flat stones laid out.

Above the bonfire hung a big pot where the snow water had already boiled. The person responsible for cooking was throwing in jerky and several dried mushrooms. Soon, the cave was filled with the aroma of salty meat and mushroom soup.

The rabbit and roe deer were also skewered and roasted over the fire. The watcher occasionally cut the meat in thick places and sprinkled a layer of seasoning powder.

This seasoning powder was concocted by Wang Yongzhu later on, containing ground chili and various spice powders. At the end, when the meat was roasted golden brown and sizzling with oil, cumin powder was sprinkled, enticing appetites with its aroma.

The cumin powder was brought back by Jinhoo from the Western Region, treasured by Wang Yongzhu, ground into powder, and there’s only a small bottle of it. She never forgets to carry it whenever she’s out.

Walking against the cold wind in the mountains was exhausting, making everyone very hungry. The enticing aroma made them swallow hard.

When it was finally announced that they could eat, everyone gathered around.

The cook first served a bowl of steaming hot mushroom and salty meat soup, then took a piece of crisply baked bread, with a rabbit leg and the most tender meat from the roe deer, all saved for Wang Yongzhu.

Only then did the others swarm in, devouring the hot soup, accompanied by bread and roasted meat, eating to their heart’s content with grease dripping from their mouths, feeling utterly satisfied.

After finishing the meal, hot water was boiled again, and tea bricks were thrown in, instantly filling the air with tea aroma, overshadowing the meat scent.

These tea bricks were produced at the tea factory in Qili Slope, made from medium-grade tea leaves, durable for storage and easy to transport.

The people in Northwest favor this tea brewed from tea bricks. Now there’s a shop in Chicheng City selling it, but most of it is stored to be sold on the grasslands once trade routes open.

Having indulged in oily food earlier, a hot bowl of tea cleared the grease at once. The group talked and laughed together, listening to the biting wind outside the cave, while inside it was warm and cozy.

Ahead of time, someone extinguished the innermost firepit in the cave, spread the burnt ash across, and now the ashes were swept aside, warming that spot. A thick mattress was laid there, where Wang Yongzhu would sleep tonight.

Wang Yongzhu sat on it, and soon the residual warmth seeped through the mattress, comfortably warm.

Given the simple conditions in the cave, such a setup is rare. The other guards lay on the ground, wrapped in their fur coats and cloaks, stoking the fire up a bit more before sleeping back to back.

Having traveled all day, everyone was exhausted. One guard stayed awake, watching the fire, listening for outside sounds, naturally switching shifts in the middle of the night.

Wang Yongzhu had faced some hardships in Qilidun before, but over these years, though mentally more drained, she hadn’t faced such physical challenges.

With the warm mattress beneath and the crackling fire beside her, she couldn’t help but feel sleepy. However, as soon as she closed her eyes, a chorus of snores arose around her.

Some sounded like whistling, others like thunder, it varied greatly.

That would be tolerable, but the snores seemed to compete, each louder than the last, creating a never-ending cycle.

Worse still, there was an echo inside the cave! Layer upon layer, it was too terrifying!

Wang Yongzhu found that being perceptive was not always beneficial, of course, in this cave, anyone who wasn’t deaf would risk losing their hearing after a night of snoring bombardment!

Wang Yongzhu anticipated hardships and potential obstacles along the road, but she never imagined she would be defeated by snores after a few days!

Any amount of sleepiness was driven away by the snores and echoes in the cave, so she simply turned over and sat up.

Startling the guard keeping watch, he looked up to see Wang Yongzhu approaching, and hearing the ongoing snores inside the cave, he felt awkward: "Madam, shall I kick them awake?"

Wang Yongzhu waved her hand lightly and said, "It’s okay, they’ve been weary for days; let them rest well! I can’t sleep anyway, I’ll take over the watch; you should get some rest or you’ll have no energy for the journey tomorrow."

The guard was about to decline but was glanced at by Wang Yongzhu, obediently shifted aside, and soon fell asleep, joining the snoring symphony.