"Can we get out?" Mei Lin's main concern was this, and as for the talk about life and death, there was no time or place for such philosophical discussions.
Murong Jing He nodded, but there was no trace of joy on his face.
When the three of them stood at the exit of the stone forest, looking at the lush green bamboo forest bathed in sunlight, Mei Lin finally understood why Murong Jing He wasn't happy. They had simply returned to the entrance of the stone forest, retracing their steps. It truly was a cycle of life and death, over and over again...
Of the three, it seemed the Corpse Ghost was the happiest. After eight long years without seeing daylight, even though his eyes struggled with the brightness, the joy radiating from him was palpable to the others. This sense of joy was contagious, and since they had finally left that dark and oppressive place, both Murong Jing He and Mei Lin couldn't help but feel their spirits lift, even if only slightly.
The hawk that had been circling above was now gone, likely having lost track of them. Perhaps Murong Xuan Lie and the others, knowing they had entered the stone forest, decided it wasn’t worth pursuing further and had called it back.
The three of them entered the bamboo forest and rested by a stream. The bamboo swayed gently in the breeze, carrying the scent of wild chrysanthemums and pine needles. Seeds from plants drifted through the air, and sunlight filtered through the leaves, dappling the ground with patches of light. Everything was brimming with life and vitality, a stark contrast to the decay and gloom of the stone forest. It was like the difference between heaven and the underworld. Even Murong Jing He and Mei Lin, despite their hardships, couldn’t help but appreciate the beauty of the world around them.
The Corpse Ghost, knowing he smelled terrible, kept his distance from the other two. Then, at some point, he vanished from sight.
The two of them didn’t mind; they knew he wasn’t of much use anymore. Mei Lin used a few large leaves to form a makeshift cup, filling it with water to give Murong Jing He several sips. She also soaked a handkerchief in the water and wiped his face and hands, taking the opportunity to clean herself up a bit before considering what to do about food.
Murong Jing He insisted on accompanying her, despite Mei Lin’s assurances that she wouldn’t abandon him. Left with no choice, she dragged her cumbersome “bundle” with her as she foraged.
A wild rabbit sat not far away in the thicket, watching them approach without fleeing, continuing to nibble on the grass while cautiously observing their movements. It seemed to sense that these two were no threat, given their lack of mobility.
Mei Lin felt insulted and pulled out the dagger from her chest, hurling it—still sheathed—at the rabbit. She only intended to scare the little creature, but as luck would have it, the dagger struck the rabbit right on the head. With a thud, it collapsed, legs stiff, its life abruptly ended.
Mei Lin clicked her tongue in surprise, a smile breaking across her face. Even Murong Jing He couldn’t help but lift his head slightly, giving the unfortunate creature a peculiar look.
Carrying the plump rabbit, Mei Lin half-dragged Murong Jing He back to the stream, where she gathered firewood and started a fire. She then crouched by the water and began skinning and gutting the rabbit, preparing it for cooking.
The smell of blood made Murong Jing He feel nauseous again. He couldn’t help but say, “I’m not eating that.” It might be a long time before he could stomach any kind of meat again.
Mei Lin’s hands paused inside the rabbit’s belly. She turned her head to look at him, puzzled, but then it suddenly clicked, and she burst out laughing.
“So that’s why you insisted on coming along. You were afraid the Corpse Ghost would come back and eat you,” she teased.
Murong Jing He turned his face away, refusing to acknowledge her, but this action only confirmed her guess. Mei Lin, feeling a bit guilty for laughing at him, quickly finished preparing the rabbit. She skewered it on a stick over the fire and then gathered a few bamboo shoots, peeling them and placing them on the fire to roast as well.
Autumn bamboo shoots were nothing like the ones from spring or winter, and roasting them without any seasoning didn’t make them taste particularly good, but it was better than nothing.
Mei Lin didn’t have much of an appetite, but her hunger drove her to gnaw on two of the roasted shoots. As for the golden, fragrant rabbit, she didn’t touch it at all. It ended up being a feast for the Corpse Ghost, who suddenly reappeared out of nowhere.
The Corpse Ghost was soaked from head to toe, but much cleaner now. His long hair and beard, though still long, had been washed, revealing pale skin underneath. The foul stench clinging to him had diminished considerably. It turned out he had gone downstream for a bath, washing his clothes as well, and had even brought back a large handful of wild fruit.
Mei Lin didn’t hesitate to take some of the fruit and eat it, offering some to Murong Jing He despite the look of discomfort on his face.
“Why didn’t you leave?” she asked.
The Corpse Ghost, who hadn’t eaten hot food in a long time, wasn’t afraid of burning himself as he tore into the rabbit, getting his newly cleaned beard all greasy. He looked puzzled by Mei Lin’s question, mumbled an answer through a mouthful of rabbit, and asked, “Leave where?”
Mei Lin found it odd. “Why, wherever you want to go,” she said. She remembered that he had mentioned having a home, parents, and a wife. After being away for eight years, didn’t he feel a desperate urge to return?
The Corpse Ghost paused, his chewing slowing as a look of confusion crossed his face. “Didn’t… you capture me?” he asked, bewildered.
This time, both Mei Lin and Murong Jing He were left speechless. They never imagined that someone could be so straightforward.
“We’re going back into the stone forest. Are you coming with us?” Before Mei Lin could respond, Murong Jing He asked with a smile. He couldn’t believe that this man had the courage to return to that place.
Sure enough, as expected, the Corpse Ghost’s already pale face turned even whiter at the thought. His hand holding the rabbit trembled uncontrollably.
“You… you’re going back?” he stammered in disbelief.
Mei Lin’s heart skipped a beat, but she remained silent.
Murong Jing He nodded, his gaze resolute. Of course, they had to go back. He wasn’t just hoping to escape Zhongshan through the stone forest; he was also determined to uncover the truth about the hidden king.
The Corpse Ghost’s expression changed rapidly, shifting from fear to blankness. His face was like an open book, revealing his every thought.
Mei Lin suddenly found this man not as frightening as before, but rather straightforward to the point of being endearing. She was about to speak up to ease his dilemma, but Murong Jing He shot her a warning glance. Not knowing what he was up to, she held back.
After a while, the Corpse Ghost clenched his teeth, his face twisted with anguish as if he were making a life-or-death decision. He stared at Murong Jing He with a blank expression and said, “Of course… I’ll go with you…” After saying this, his eyes turned red, with a faint shimmer of tears.
Seeing him like this, Mei Lin felt an inexplicable pang in her chest, suddenly reminded of her own time at the Dark Factory. If it were her, she’d rather die than return.
Murong Jing He smiled faintly, seemingly pleased with the answer.
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