The howling gale outside the cave raged like a wild beast all night. Sand and gravel whipped against the rock face at the entrance, creating a sharp, staccato sound—as if fate were mocking their plight with heartless laughter. Shen Mingyue curled up beside Gu Jinghong, her heart constricting as she listened to his ragged, intermittent breathing, each shallow inhale and labored exhale a lifeline she desperately counted. When the first gray light of dawn bled into the sky, she pressed the last scrap of dried meat to his lips. Her fear threatened to spill over as she gazed at his face, which was pale as parchment. The wound on his left shoulder had festered, and purple veins spread like malignant vines beneath his skin, crawling toward his throat. Every difficult swallow was punctuated by violent coughing fits that made Shen Mingyue tremble. As he convulsed, sweat soaked the rough animal-hide bedding, rising in a thin, ghostly mist within the frigid cave.
"Two more days to the north, and we will reach Cangzhou Port." Gu Jinghong wiped a smear of blood from the corner of his mouth, his voice raspy yet imbued with an unquestionable resolve. A stubborn light flickered in his dark eyes. "Merchant ships gather there; perhaps we can uncover a clue regarding the Shennong Cauldron." He forced a smile to soothe her anxiety, though the expression was more painful to behold than tears. To spare her further worry, he used a trembling finger to gently brush back her tangled hair, despite th…
Chapter 46