The moonlight was like a wash, sprinkled on the rugged mountain road. Mark was escorted by the pursuer and his guards, slowly moving along the mountain road. The night wind passed through the woods, bringing bursts of coldness and the unknown dangerous atmosphere in the distance. The pursuer walked in front, his figure cast a long shadow in the moonlight, and the spear in his hand was like a symbol of his authority, firm and inviolable.
Suddenly, a strange sound came from the bushes beside the mountain road. "Shua shua..." The sound was slight and short, but it was enough to alert the pursuer.
"Stop!" The pursuer stopped abruptly, raised the spear in his hand, pointed to the bushes where the sound came from, and whispered: "Who is there?"
The two guards also stopped immediately, gently put Mark on the ground, then quickly drew their weapons and looked around vigilantly. The mountain wind blew, the leaves rustled, and the surrounding bushes swayed with it, as if something was hidden in it. The pursuer held his breath, slowed down his steps, and slowly approached the bushes. He narrowed his eyes and carefully observed the movements in the bushes. The spear in his hand trembled slightly, ready to attack at any time.
A gray hare suddenly jumped out of the bushes and disappeared into the night. Seeing this, the pursuer's tense nerves relaxed slightly. He breathed a sigh of relief and whispered, "It was a false alarm."
He signaled to the two guards that it was safe. The guards then put away their weapons, lifted Mark again, and continued to move forward along the mountain road. The pursuer walked in front, looking back from time to time to check on Mark's situation, and vigilantly observing the surrounding environment. The mountain road was rugged and uneven, and they walked carefully, fearing that they would fall accidentally. The moonlight sprinkled through the dense branches, casting mottled light and shadows on the ground, making the surrounding environment look even more gloomy.
After walking for about half an hour, the pursuers came to a hidden valley. The valley was brightly lit, and a simple camp was located in it. Dozens of tents were arranged in an orderly manner. Outside the tents, some guards in black uniforms patrolled back and forth, vigilantly watching the movements around them. In the center of the camp, a bonfire was burning, and the firelight reflected on the faces of the guards, flickering, adding a touch of weird atmosphere to the silent valley.
"Finally here." The pursuer whispered, with a hint of fatigue in his tone.
He led the guards into the camp and went straight to the largest tent in the center. There were two guards standing at the door of the tent. When they saw the pursuer, they saluted immediately. "Leader."
The pursuer nodded and motioned them to open the tent. The guard lifted the curtain of the tent, and the pursuer led the guards to carry Mark into the tent.
The tent was spacious, with thick animal skins on the ground and a thick wooden stake in the center. The pursuer motioned the guards to tie Mark to the stake. The guards skillfully tied Mark's hands behind his back to the stake, and then tied his feet with ropes to ensure that he could not break free.
Mark's face was still pale, his breathing was weak, and his body was covered with dirt and blood, looking very embarrassed. The pursuer walked to the table beside him, picked up the kettle, and walked to Mark.
"Wake him up." The pursuer said to the guard with a cold tone.
The guard nodded, took the kettle from the pursuer, and then walked to Mark and splashed the water in the kettle on Mark's face.
"Um..." The cold water stimulated Mark's nerves, he groaned in pain, and slowly opened his eyes. His eyes were blurred, his consciousness was not fully awake, and he looked at the surrounding environment blankly.
"Awake?" The pursuer sneered at Mark, with a hint of sarcasm in his tone.
Mark's eyes slowly focused on the pursuer's face, and a trace of fear and confusion flashed in his eyes. "You... who are you? What do you want to do?" He asked weakly, his voice hoarse.
The pursuer could not understand Mark's language. Their languages were not communicable at all. He walked to the table, picked up a wooden cup, poured a glass of water, then walked to Mark, handed him the cup, and motioned Mark to drink some water.
Mark hesitated for a moment, but finally took a few sips of water. The cold water moistened his dry lips and throat, making him feel better.
The pursuer looked down at Mark for a while, turned around and walked out of the tent, and said to one of the guards
"John, watch carefully at night, and take him to the high priest tomorrow."
"Okay, chief." The guard named John answered loudly.