The Mountain Road

Chapter 49: The Mountain Road

"Skree—"

The screech of brakes and the sudden jolt sent Bai Yanliang lurching forward.

Though his eyes were still closed, he could tell he was aboard some kind of vehicle.

"Damn it, it broke down."

A curse in a thick local accent came from the front.

At last, Bai Yanliang regained control of his body and opened his eyes.

Li Mu, Lin Yan, Yu Hanzhou, Huang Yourong, Su Qian, Yu Sheng, and Bai Yanliang himself were all seated on the long-distance bus.

There were other passengers as well.

"Everybody off! Get off!"

The short, stocky driver shouted from outside the bus.

"The bus is broken. Hurry up and get down!"

"What? Out here in the middle of nowhere? Where are we supposed to go? The sun's almost down." A fashionably dressed young woman glared at the driver, clutching a corgi.

"What the hell do you expect me to do? If you can get it moving, I'll leave right now!"

The passengers watched the two argue with different expressions.

It seemed this bus was full of people hurrying home to their hometowns.

"Come on, let's get off. It's not easy for anyone..." an old man urged.

Li Mu and the others exchanged glances, then got off too.

With Su Qian's help, Yu Sheng managed to get down without too much trouble.

The bus had been traveling along an old mountain road. It was dusk, and gloomy, wan sunlight shrouded the trees around them. The shadows cast on the ground looked strange and misshapen.

The area was so quiet it seemed devoid of life, and the silence felt uncanny.

Before long, everyone was off the bus.

The driver counted them, then said, "It'll be dark soon. We can't spend the night up here. Let's walk ahead. I think there's a village nearby."

"What? You expect me to sleep in some rural village?" The young woman shrieked, clutching her dog.

"If you want, you can sleep on the bus. Let's see who'll keep you company!" The short, stocky driver was exasperated with her. He shouted, "If you're so damn picky, why'd you take a bus? You should've flown!"

The woman's face turned red, then pale. Clutching her dog, she trembled and didn't dare talk back.

They were deep in the mountains, the bus had broken down on a mountain road, and there wasn't even a phone signal. If the fat driver decided to do something to her, she'd be the one who suffered.

The more she thought about it, the less safe she felt. The trees, the mountains, the nameless insects, the dusky sky, the shadows stretching out like claws—everything seemed to have become strange and ominous.

"Um... sir, when will the bus be running again?" the old man who had spoken earlier asked.

"I don't know. I can't fix it by myself, which is why I said we should head to the village. We'll need to find a phone signal somehow, damn it." As he spoke, the short, stocky driver glared at the woman.

"If you don't want to go, then get back on the bus and rest. If anything happens, don't expect me to be responsible. Let's take a vote now. Raise your hand if you're willing to come with me to the village!"

The driver had made himself clear. After glancing around at one another, everyone agreed and raised a hand.

Besides, the ancient trees in these mountains soared skyward, blocking out the sun. The forest looked gloomy, terrifying, and mysterious.

It was still daylight. If it got completely dark, who knew what frightening things they might encounter? Who would dare spend the night on the bus?

As for Bai Yanliang and the others, they had no other choice. If they didn't go to the village, Mist Gathering would certainly judge them as slacking off.

What would happen then was anyone's guess.

The young woman with the dog stopped arguing and obediently agreed to go.

Including Bai Yanliang and his six companions, there were thirteen people in all.

The short, stocky driver figured out which way to go, then led everyone into the dense woods.

"I've only heard about that village from some guys who drive this route. It's around here, but I don't know the exact spot. Keep your eyes open and help look for it."

The driver's words made everyone uneasy. What if it got dark before they found the village? What would they do then?

The group entered the woods. It was dim inside, with tall, straight trees blocking most of the daylight. Only sparse patches of light filtered through their branches and leaves.

Rotting, damp leaves and dead branches made the ground treacherous underfoot, with the earth giving way at unpredictable depths. The women let out startled cries now and then.

Yu Sheng had an even harder time moving her wheelchair under these conditions.

"Hey, is she your friend?" The short, stocky driver stopped and frowned.

"What's wrong?" Li Mu looked at him and replied calmly.

"She's too slow. This won't work. One of you carry her. Leave the wheelchair here and come back for it when we leave."

There was something strangely commanding about the driver's tone, and it made everyone uncomfortable.

Everyone's eyes turned to Yu Sheng, their thoughts unclear.

If they agreed to this now, they'd be responsible for looking after her for the rest of the mission.

In the real world, the men wouldn't have minded showing a little courtesy. After all, although she was disabled, she was beautiful and had a gentle bearing.

But... this was Mist Gathering.

Just imagining the trouble of bringing along such a helpless burden was enough to give them a headache.

Li Mu looked Yu Sheng squarely in the eye, but made no move.

Yu Hanzhou hesitated and started to step forward, but a hand gently tugged at him from behind.

He turned slightly and saw Su Qian give a small shake of her head.

Huang Yourong didn't even look at Yu Sheng. He was frowning, as if deep in thought.

Yu Sheng's gaze swept over the group, but she said nothing.

She lowered her head and sat quietly in her wheelchair.

The golden dusk filtered through the leaves and fell across her, making her look especially lovely, but also like... a useless object abandoned in the woods.

"I can carry you. Would you be willing?"

Just then, a voice that still felt somewhat unfamiliar spoke from behind her.

Yu Sheng turned around and realized it was Bai Yanliang, who had been walking at the very back.

She looked at him. The man was looking right back at her, his face expressionless. He didn't even offer a polite smile.

But... she seemed to lose herself in thought for a moment, then nodded and said softly, "I'm sorry for the trouble."

Bai Yanliang crouched and lifted Yu Sheng onto his back without any effort. Li Mu and the others watched with varied expressions, seeming to ponder something.

There was something odd about him, but he was still an innocent young man who hadn't lost his naivety.

Bai Yanliang had no idea what the others thought of him. Carrying Yu Sheng, he walked at the back of the group. She tilted her head slightly and studied his profile, wondering what he was thinking.

"I have a question."

Bai Yanliang suddenly spoke in a low voice.

Yu Sheng quickly realized from his tone that he was speaking only to her.

"What is it?"

Bai Yanliang slowed his pace slightly and asked, "I want to know... what are you hiding in the sleeve of your right hand?"

After he said this, Bai Yanliang felt Yu Sheng's body stiffen. Then came a long silence.

"Never mind. I was just curious." Bai Yanliang didn't press her. He soon changed the subject and caught up with the others.

"Hey! Is that the village you mentioned?"

An excited man's voice rang out.

Everyone looked where he was pointing. On the opposite mountainside, a cluster of low buildings was blurred by the thin evening mist. Through the indistinct tangle of mountains and trees, shadowy human figures seemed to move in the fog. But... the pallid mist looked deeply unsettling, like a layer of... dead skin.