The sixth night.
Using a hemp rope he had prepared in his bundle, Ruchen tied himself to a protruding rock, closed his eyes, and remained perfectly still.
He stayed that way until a large clump of snow fell from above and slammed into his face, jolting him awake. Roused, Ruchen's face twisted in alarm. "How did this Little Monk fall asleep! That was close, so close! Where's Brother Zheng?! He's still here, still here..."
Zheng Xiu was still lying quietly on Ruchen's back, held securely in place by cloth strips, sleeping soundly.
His expression was as peaceful as a sleeping baby's.
"Second Lady..."
The sleeping Zheng Xiu suddenly mumbled in a daze.
"Fifty-six times."
Ruchen wasn't surprised by this. After noting the number, he smiled and nodded, took a couple of messy bites of his rock-hard frozen rations, and continued his upward climb.
With every step, his feet left deep pits in the thick snow.
He would pull a foot out, take a step, pull it out again, and take another.
