Gui Yunxi opened his mouth several times before finally speaking out, "Doctor Gu, let’s go back. They’ll be worried if we don’t return soon!"
Right, Jin Zijin and Searcy were still waiting. Gu Youyou paused and said, "You go back first, reassure them, and tell them I’m fine. I’ll look a bit longer."
The island was fraught with dangers. How could he let Gu Youyou search alone?
Reluctantly, Gui Yunxi could only continue following Gu Youyou.
They had already searched far along the beach when Gui Yunxi suggested, "Let’s search in the woods. Perhaps he went ashore and found a place to stay overnight."
Gu Youyou thought it made sense, so they plunged into the woods.
The woods of Fusang Mountain were bustling that night.
Perhaps due to an accident in a pit, those red rats had scurried out.
They dashed around the mountain, terrifying all the other creatures, creating utter chaos.
Fortunately, every creature was concerned with its own safety. Thus, no animal actively attacked Gu Youyou and Gui Yunxi.
In the woods, Gu Youyou’s voice carried far and finally got a response.
"Are you looking for me?"
On a large tree, Jin Ziyuan was sitting there.
His clothes were half-dry, his eyes seemingly lifeless.
Found him, and he’s alive?
Gu Youyou was both shocked and overjoyed, then immediately furious.
"Where the hell were you? We searched in the sea for half an hour, nearly swimming back into that cave. And look at you, back early but hiding in these woods like a monkey, I’m nearly hoarse from shouting and you didn’t respond? Have you got water in your brain?"
It was the first time in her life she had been so angry that she hurled swear words.
She was always a refined person.
Jin Ziyuan looked lost, jumped down from the tree, and waited until Gu Youyou had finished scolding before he slowly said, "I’m not one of you, so why should I respond?"
Gu Youyou, "... "Really want to slap this guy to death.
She coldly laughed and said, "Alright, I thought too much; we’re fools. You’re right, you’re not one of us. I must be crazy to be searching for you everywhere. Fine, go wherever you want from now on, whether you live or die, it’s none of my business."
With that, she turned and walked out of the woods, striding back the way they had come.
Gui Yunxi looked at Gu Youyou, then turned to Jin Ziyuan and said, "Doctor Gu was genuinely worried about you. We thought you hadn’t made it out and searched the sea for a long time. If I hadn’t stopped her, she was even planning to go back into that cave."
He glanced at the angrily departing Gu Youyou and added, "We’ve been looking for you for a long time. I tried persuading her to go back, but she wouldn’t. Searcy and the others are still waiting outside. You be careful; I’m leaving too."
Xiao Jinyan was completely devastated throughout. He was dragged onto a boat on the shore, still in a daze.
Jin Zijin had died just like that? His cousin, dead? He couldn’t believe it, how could he believe it?
To protect him, his elder brother endured that substitute, they supported Empress Guifei and the Second Prince against the Empress’s faction, all because his aunt’s son was still alive.
After surviving so much adversity, how could he die in such a strange place?
"General Xiao, please accept my condolences; the weather might turn bad in a few days. We must hurry back while the weather is still good, as we don’t have much food."