Erhe didn’t even bother wiping the sweat off his cheeks; he blurted out anxiously,“Sister-in-law, Aunt Hu from the Liu family is at our house, crying and looking for you. She said she needs your help—her head is even bleeding. Mother told me to hurry and find you. I don’t know what happened.”
So, though Yu Qiu had just set out, she hurriedly turned back with Erhe toward home.
The trip that usually took a quarter of an hour was cut down to nearly half the time.
Even from a distance, they could already hear a woman’s desperate sobs, drifting brokenly through the dusk.
As Yu Qiu stepped into the courtyard against the setting sun, Aunt Hu lunged toward her. Before she even got close, she dropped to her knees with a loud thud.
Yu Qiu quickly stepped aside and caught her up before she could knock her head again.
“Auntie, if you have something to say, just say it. No need for this. If I can help, I will. If I can’t, then I won’t.” Her brows pinched slightly, displeasure hidden beneath her calm tone.
She disliked being forced into things like this. If she hadn’t moved in time and accepted the kneeling, the whole matter would have left her no room to refuse. And she didn’t even know yet what had happened.
Madam Li shook her head toward her, indicating she also didn’t know the details.
Hu Qiao looked only in her thirties, yet her face was worn like a woman of fifty, proof of how harsh her days had been.
But before she could speak, her voice cracked and dissolved into sobs. Tears poured without stopping.
Yu Qiu sighed helplessly, guided her inside, and had her sit in the hall.
“Auntie, calm yourself, then speak.”
But the more anxious Hu Qiao grew, the less she could say. She just waved her hands frantically, trying to drag Yu Qiu along.
Seeing her like this, Yu Qiu knew the matter must be urgent. She turned to Madam Li and said,“Mother, stay here with Erhe and Sanya. I’ll go take a look. I’ll have someone bring you word.”
Hu Qiao, though mute with panic, hurried along at a desperate pace.
When they reached the Liu household, the place was in chaos. Villagers clustered at the gate, talking over one another.
Village head He was there too. Spotting Yu Qiu arrive with Aunt Hu, his eyes lit up and he rushed over.“So, your aunt explained things clearly to you?”
Yu Qiu shook her head.
He faltered, then shot Hu Qiao a glare before sighing, “Don’t blame her. She gets tongue-tied when she panics.”
Hu Qiao, meanwhile, had collapsed onto the ground, covering her face and sobbing softly.
“It’s like this,” the village head explained. “Liangzi and Xiaomi went out early to dig wild greens. When they came back, your grandmother Zhao scolded them for bringing too little and forced them deeper into the mountains. They’ve been gone since noon and still haven’t returned. They haven’t eaten a bite all day… no one knows if…” His voice trailed off as he turned away, unable to continue.
Yu Qiu’s heart clenched. Green Mountain Village was surrounded on all sides by mountains. Her own back mountain was one of them. The two children must have entered from another path, but it was the same range.
She remembered the two. Quiet kids. When they came to help at her house, they worked hard and ate with restraint.
Especially the little girl—so timid she could barely speak above a whisper, yet obedient and quick to learn.
Yu Qiu disliked Granny Zhao, but she did worry for these two.
And truly, there was no one more suited than her to search the mountains.
“Qiu girl,” the village head said gravely, “we had no other choice but to ask you. Only you can go in and come out again. Their father couldn’t wait—he already went in some time ago.” He paused, then added, “If you can help, please do. If you can’t, no one will blame you. Don’t force yourself.”
Yu Qiu’s brows eased a little, though her heart was heavy. “I’ll go. Where did they enter the mountain?”
Everyone feared these forests, yet for their children one man had rushed in heedless of danger, and one mother had bloodied her forehead begging on her knees.
But through it all, the children’s grandparents hadn’t appeared.
It was their family’s business, and Yu Qiu had no wish to meddle, but still—her chest smoldered with quiet anger.
“This mountain isn’t to be entered lightly. I survive it by skill, not luck!” she warned, before striding toward the direction the village head pointed.
Aunt Hu tried to follow, gesturing frantically, but Yu Qiu understood and shook her head.“If you come, you’ll only slow me down. Wait at home.”
“Sister-in-law, let us come with you!” Meng Ping, Da Niu, Guzi, and the three Yang brothers hurried up.
But Yu Qiu still shook her head. “I’ll go alone. Too many people and I can’t protect you all.”
The boys flushed with shame, but they knew she was right.
“Then we won’t add to the trouble. Be careful.”
Yu Qiu nodded. “Please, go to my house and reassure my mother. Tell her not to worry. Thank you.”
She could waste no more time.
Just then, Old Liu came stumbling out, clutching a freshly made torch and a woodcutting knife. Without a word, he shoved them into Yu Qiu’s hands.
She nodded deeply in thanks, took the torch and blade, and strode into the mountain.
In her heart, she thought—at least Old Liu showed some conscience.
His grandchildren had been driven into danger by a single careless word, his eldest son had gone in after them, their fates unknown—and yet Zhao Granny could still hide at home. Not even the children’s uncles or aunts had come forward. While the villagers gathered to discuss, the family itself stayed silent.
Truly chilling.
She followed the traces into the foothills. Darkness was falling. Holding up the torch was far better than stumbling in the dark.
She kept her basket with her. Inside were wild vegetable cakes and red fruits.
If the children were conscious, she could feed them right away. If not, she’d need to bring help to carry them out.
She didn’t dare call aloud, fearing to draw beasts. Instead, she cleared the brush with her machete, her powers guiding her.
She didn’t go deep—children couldn’t have gone that far. They were only digging greens, and fear would have kept them from venturing too long. Likely they’d fallen into a pit hidden under brush.
Following signs of movement, she soon came across Uncle Liu, collapsed on the ground.
She moved the torch closer. His head was bloodied, his breathing faint.
Yu Qiu’s heart jolted. She dropped down and laid hands on him, channeling her healing ability.
Color soon returned to his face, his breath steadied.
But he didn’t wake. She couldn’t heal his external wounds without raising questions, so she only stopped the bleeding and mended his internal injuries.
Rising, she held the torch higher. On the right, a slope was covered in flattened vegetation—clearly where he’d fallen.
Blood would attract beasts. She quickly dug a deep shelter into the earth, used plants to lift Uncle Liu inside, concealed the entrance, and cleaned away the bloodstains.
Then she pressed on, retracing steps, following another trail in search of the missing children.