Si Jiuyue set off on horseback that afternoon. Everyone watched her leave, their eyes filled with hope.
The weather was stiflingly hot. Even the underground tunnels had begun to heat up. During the day, standing in the sun for just a moment would make sweat pour down like rain. The village children could only roll in the river to escape the heat, but for the elderly, it was miserable. Every day, more people fell ill from the heat. The women of the Si family were forced to join the local wives at the riverbank at night to wash and cool off, but the river was infested with snakes, which had frightened them nearly to the point of fainting several times. When Si Jiuyue rode out on her horse, the villagers' eyes brightened. They all knew Jiuyue was going to find a way to make ice; once they could produce ice, the sweltering days would finally become bearable.
Si Jiuyue rode hard, not daring to stop for a second. She switched horses twice, spending a day and a night to reach the Third Prince’s mining site. She hadn't expected the gold mine to be humming with activity again. As soon as she reached the perimeter, she tucked her horse into her Dimension, retreated inside to get some sleep and a hearty meal, and then emerged once more. Stepping out, Si Jiuyue donned her Invisibility Cloak.
Chapter 477