Stockpiling for an Exiled General Through My Store's Back Door

Chapter 185: Chapter 185: Unlucky Constitution

They hadn’t ventured deep into the mountains, only taking a stroll around the lower slopes. Ling Qianjun looked up and decided to explore further inside. Although Ling Qianfan was afraid, he followed along anyway. The mountain path was rugged, and the lush, verdant trees on both sides blocked out most of the sunlight, making the trail seem somewhat eerie.

They walked carefully. The occasional strange noises made their hearts race. Suddenly, a wild rabbit darted past them, startling Ling Qianfan so much that he almost cried out.

Ling Qianjun comforted him. ”Don’t be afraid. It’s just a rabbit.”

Ling Qianfan patted his chest and lifted his chin in feigned relaxation. ”Qianjun, I’m not afraid. It just startled me, that’s all. It’s just a wild rabbit. What’s there to be afraid of, haha.”

Ling Qianjun didn’t expose his bluff. He merely gave him a glance before continuing to lead the way.

They continued onward. The deeper they went, the steeper the mountain path became, forcing them to use both their hands and feet to advance. Finally, they arrived in front of a cave.

Inside, it was pitch-black; they couldn’t see a thing. Ling Qianjun took out a flashlight and illuminated the cave. The flashlight Hua Buwan gave them was truly incredibly useful. Whether they were going up the mountain into caves, heading out at night to forage by the sea, or just walking in the dark, it came in handy anytime and anywhere.

They stepped into the cave but found nothing. Just as they were about to leave, they suddenly heard a low, rumbling growl. Turning around, they saw a massive beast emerging from the depths of the cave. Its eyes glinted with a red light, and hot breath puffed from its snout.

It was a bear!

Ling Qianfan slumped to the ground in terror. Ling Qianjun swiftly scooped him up and dragged him outside. They ran for their lives, their hearts pounding rapidly and their breathing turning ragged. They didn’t dare look back, terrified that the bear would catch up to them. The mountain path was rough and uneven. They constantly tripped over rocks and branches, but they couldn’t afford to stop and could only keep running forward.

Sprinting desperately through the forest, their hearts were filled with dread. Every step felt like a race against death, and they didn’t dare slacken their pace even for a second. They knew that if the bear caught up, the consequences would be disastrous.

Sweat soaked their clothes and drenched their hair. It stung their eyes, yet they didn’t even have the time to raise a hand to wipe it away. They didn’t dare stop, forcing themselves to keep running. Branches and thorns in the forest scraped across their skin, leaving bloody streaks behind, but they felt no pain. They had only one thought in their minds: they couldn’t let the bear hurt Xu Panqing and Ling Yunge.

Finally, they burst out of the forest and arrived by a small stream. Looking back, they saw the bear pacing at the edge of the woods, having given up the chase. Relieved, they quickened their pace and took a detour down the mountain. The bear probably didn’t dare leave the deep mountains. Unfamiliar with this terrain, it had hesitated. Still, they needed to get out of its sight immediately.

By the time they reached the bottom of the mountain, they were panting with exhaustion. They looked back one last time. Seeing no sign of the bear, their hearts finally settled.

Without resting for long, they circled back to where Xu Panqing and Ling Yunge were waiting. Fortunately, this spot was far from the bear’s cave, and the beast hadn’t wandered this way. The two girls were still safe.

As soon as Ling Qianfan saw them, he vividly recounted their terrifying encounter. Hearing the story, Xu Panqing and Ling Yunge felt a lingering wave of fear. They warned Ling Qianjun and Ling Qianfan not to take risks going up the mountain again to avoid any accidents. Ling Qianjun and Ling Qianfan both agreed to be much more careful in the future and promised never to venture deep into the mountains lightly, sticking only to the outskirts.