The huge expanse of the forest was lush. General Shen took a long breath in, savoring the clean fresh air that was way better than the polluted one in the city. It was relaxing. He was glad that he got time for himself and surveyed the area for potential routes for his group.
His peace, however, was short-lived. General Shen got the feeling that he was being watched.
It wasn’t a predatory one. He couldn’t sense any danger, and yet he felt that whoever it was stared at him with amus.e.m.e.nt and fascination. He quirked a brow. This area should be desolated from common people.
The border to the Western Province was inhabited by bandits. Merchants and commoners would naturally avoid this trail. The nearest village was miles away from his location. He had been alone for some time, and his men were probably surveying the other side of the mountain.
The General wiped his forehead with the back if his hand. The trek to the summit of the mountain was no simple task, and it would require him great stamina to reach it before the night comes. Pulling his horse into a stop, he went down to take a quick break. He turned to take his water container, only to halt as he realized that it was missing.
He narrowed his eyes. The sun was starting to blare, and the heat was still able to penetrate through his clothes. The air coming from the top of the mountain was the only one that could give him temporary relief.
His water was missing. It was impossible for him to miss it since he had always paid attention to his things and surroundings. His eyes found the familiar container at the rocky trail at the opposite side of the trail he was following. How did it end up there?
Curious, the general secured his sword on his side and went to take it back. He reached for it, but it rolled down the path as if taunting him—playing with him. He went down the path and stretched out his arm to reach it. It seemed that someone was playing a trick on him until he heard a girly giggle from somewhere.
So he was right. Someone was playing tricks on him.
He stopped when he reached the edge of the cliff and watched how his water container rolled down the steep. He turned around and placed a hand on the hilt of his sword.
“Who’s there?” he called out, his eyes inspecting the wild thick bushes while his ears tried to pick up sounds that weren’t part of nature itself. Suddenly, the ground started to shake. Was there an earthquake?
He quickly secured and knelt down to balance himself. The quake shouldn’t take too long, but what he didn’t antic.i.p.ate was the ground he was on crumbled and broke from the quake. Wide-eyed, he found himself falling from the cliff. His hands extended to grab something to hold. He grunted as he felt his hand stung from the pain as he held himself at the side of the cliff.
He refused to die in this situation! He was the general that led the nation’s army, proving that he was capable of protecting their lands! After this mission, a new life was waiting for him at the capital as his betrothed looked forward to his return. He hadn’t thought there was a possibility that he wouldn’t die on the battlefield but in an accident.
He looked down the way, his mouth parting slightly. If he couldn’t keep a strong hold, he would fall into the pointed rocks below. Refusing to give up, General Shen lifted his head and decided to climb up back to the cliff. This should be easy if not for the crumbling parts of the side of the cliff.
As he tried to lift himself up, a strong gust of wind smashed his body. The rock supporting his foot and weight gave way, making him lose his balance. He shut his eyes, knowing that this might be his end as his body fell once again.
Just before his body hit the pointed rocks waiting to pierce his flesh, another gust of wind swoop under him, flinging his body away from it. Though it wasn’t fast enough. His left thigh was lacerated by one of the sharp edges of a rock.
As his body continued to roll down and slam at the rocks, he grunted in pain and felt that the air on his lungs was constricting his chest. He could hear his bones breaking. He then felt his body thrown at the raging river below the cliff.
The general struggled to keep his head at the surface, gasping for air before the raging waters swallowed him again, pus.h.i.+ng him down the river. With his leg injury and broken bones, it was hard for him to move around. He could swim but not at this kind of waters.
His consciousness faded as the water below took his battered body somewhere. If he could survive this accident, it might take him a month or two to recover fully. He could only hope his subordinates would notice his disappearance soon.
He felt arms wrapping around his torso, but his consciousness couldn’t hold up any longer. Soon, he knew no more.