[GL]Whose Wife Is Always Acting Pitiful? Oh, It Turns Out It’s Mine 94

Chapter 94: Miaofu’s Disappearance

Xue Mu walked upstream along the stream, but Diwu Miaofu’s figure was nowhere to be seen. Her mood grew heavier.

Did Sister Miaofu run upstream by herself? The slope of this valley isn’t gentle, and the valley floor isn’t wide. If she ran to a high place, was it to find a clean water source? So she shouted loudly, “Sister Miaofu!”

The four words “Sister Miaofu” echoed in the valley. The echo in Xue Mu’s ears faded from four words to one. Diwu Miaofu still didn’t respond. Xue Mu placed her right hand on the sword at her waist, her heart tightening with worry that something had happened to Diwu Miaofu. She held her breath and concentrated, listening to the sounds in the valley so as not to miss any cry for help.

The vegetation by the stream was extremely lush. The soles of Xue Mu’s boots stepped on the moss on the ground, soft, wet, and slippery, which she wasn’t used to. Several unknown wild flowers bloomed in the crevices of the rocks. The surroundings were so quiet that only the sound of the stream flowing down echoed in the valley.

Her gaze scanned the surroundings. The slope of the mountain path under her feet became steeper and steeper, the moisture in the air heavier, and the soil under her feet softer. As Xue Mu walked further up, the mist became denser. Walking further to the midstream section, the terrain became gentler. The stream flowed slowly, the sound of water soft and pleasing. The pebbles all over the stream bed were round and smooth, with relatively rich colors.

Xue Mu saw a wine jar placed on a rock by the stream and rushed over hurriedly. A few drops of liquid flowed down from the mouth of the jar, running down the edge, creating a layer of dark water stain on the rock surface, but Diwu Miaofu was nowhere to be seen.

Xue Mu gripped the hilt of her sword tightly, looking around. She walked along the stream nearby, searching for a while, but still didn’t find any trace of Diwu Miaofu. If someone had taken her away, there should be signs of struggle.

“…Sister Miaofu?” Xue Mu shouted again. Her voice echoed in the mountains. The wind swept through the bushes in the mountains, rustling sounds rising gradually, but still no one responded.

Xue Mu frowned deeply. She had already walked far enough. Yuan’er was still outside the valley, her old illness unhealed. Staying alone in the carriage was prone to accidents. If Miaofu was missing and she didn’t return for a long time, wouldn’t Yuan’er be even more worried?

Thinking of this, Xue Mu hesitated slightly, ultimately daring not go deeper. She bent down to pour out some water from the wine jar, turned around, and walked back the way she came. Everything in the valley gradually disappeared behind her. Xue Mu returned to the outside of the valley with the wine jar, suppressing the heavy worry in her heart, and ran to the carriage. “Yuan’er!”

Dugu Yuan’an lifted the curtain. Seeing Xue Mu return alone, she was a bit surprised. “Where is Miaofu?”

“I don’t know. I shouted and searched, but I just didn’t hear anyone respond.” Xue Mu sighed. Dugu Yuan’an was startled. “She’s missing?”

“I don’t know.” Xue Mu repeated. “Yuan’er, Sister Miaofu shouldn’t be in any trouble. She traveled in Jiangnan by herself. Earlier, Miaofu helped us find shortcuts on mountain roads. She should have been to this place too, right?”

Dugu Yuan’an pondered, “She disappeared suddenly. I noticed her expression had been a bit strange, but didn’t think much of it. If she disappeared suddenly like this, she must have discovered some problem and couldn’t stay with us anymore.”

“You mean someone is hunting her down?” Xue Mu asked puzzledly, then suddenly realized. “Ah, you mean that woman she poisoned with Gu appeared?”

Dugu Yuan’an smiled and said, “It’s possible.”

Xue Mu wondered, “How can there be such a coincidence? I saw no trace of anyone having been in the valley. I walked to the midstream of the stream and found the wine jar, but Miaofu was missing.”

“That means she discovered something in the midstream of the stream and left the wine jar in a hurry.” Dugu Yuan’an comforted her. “Don’t worry too much. Miaofu being alone outside might be smoother than being with us.”

“Then should we wait for Miaofu here at the valley?” Xue Mu asked.

Dugu Yuan’an thought for a moment and said, “A-Mu, you just went to the valley. Are there places the carriage can’t reach?”

“It’s okay. The mountain road is a bit slippery. We can walk from below; the stream is not deep.” Xue Mu said.

Dugu Yuan’an took a bowl, ladled some water, and drank slowly. Xue Mu said, “Yuan’er, drink less cold water lest you get a stomachache. I’ll go ask that old uncle for some more hot water.”

“It doesn’t matter. Let’s set off first.” Dugu Yuan’an said, “Today is the seventh of the tenth month. We have to speed up to get to Huangding Mountain.”

These days, Xue Mu often felt that she was making Yuan’er suffer with her, her heart aching endlessly. She said gently, “Yuan’er, it’s really hard on you.”

“I am very happy.” Dugu Yuan’an smiled. “I haven’t been out for a long time. After marrying you, I came out to experience a lot of scenery, my heart sweet beyond words.”

“Does being with me make your heart sweet beyond words?” Xue Mu asked, leaning over to kiss the corner of her lips. “Who would have thought you wanted to marry me long ago.”

Dugu Yuan’an laughed. “I only regret not marrying you sooner.”

After resting for a while, Dugu Yuan’an sat on the board in front of the carriage, pulling the reins to drive the horse forward. Xue Mu rode a horse alone following behind. They entered from the mountain path and proceeded along the relatively flat small road at the bottom of the valley. The mountains gradually approached, the cliffs on both sides like the open mouth of a beast, slowly swallowing the sky in front of them.

The sound of water became more distant. The wind was confined by the mountain walls, leaving only echoing low murmurs. The originally open shallow valley had turned into a cool deep valley. Fortunately, although there were accumulated water and silt on the road surface, they didn’t stop the carriage wheels from rolling forward.

After walking for about two or three miles, the cliffs gradually opened to both sides. Xue Mu knew in her heart that they had walked out of the deep valley. Ahead was an open valley land. The two of them didn’t need to stay in the valley overnight and could proceed smoothly.

The two bypassed the cliff. There was a gentle stream at the bottom of the valley. Xue Mu drove the horse across the stream and forward, but saw the carriage stopped. She rushed to the front of the carriage and said, “Yuan’er, are you tired?”

Dugu Yuan’an shook her head and pointed to the right. Xue Mu looked in that direction. Nearby were all steep mountain walls. She asked puzzledly, “What’s wrong?”

“Look carefully again.” Dugu Yuan’an said.

Xue Mu had to examine it carefully. Many twisted trees grew on the cliff on the right. Vines entangled in a large patch, hiding one gnarled tree extremely secretly. Xue Mu glimpsed a flash of red amidst the green leaves and vines, admiring Dugu Yuan’an’s eyesight.

“Yuan’er, do you want to see what fruit grows on that tree?” Xue Mu said.

Dugu Yuan’an said, “No other trees have fruit, but this one does. Aren’t you curious?”

Xue Mu jumped off the horse and smiled. “If you want to see, I’ll get one for you.”

Dugu Yuan’an thought for a moment and shook her head. But Xue Mu naturally didn’t want her wife to be disappointed. Coming to this valley, she had to bring back some trophy. This red fruit was the best gift. So she grabbed the vines and climbed up along the cliff!