Daolang hesitated for a moment, then spoke to us.
"In the past, my brother and I would track enemies or find our way out.
We had three ultimate skills: one was to smell, the second to discern temperature and humidity, and the third was to rely on intuition.
I think I can try to find our direction."
He crouched down, placing one hand on the ground, carefully sensing the surroundings.
After a moment, he said,
"It's very dry here, with little rain. We should be on the back of the mountain."
He closed his eyes and listened carefully to the wind blowing around them, then opened them slightly and said,
"It's a southeast wind, so we can be sure.
We are on the left side of the back of Mount Wangu."
"Amazing!"
It was the first time I had witnessed Daolang's incredible skills. They were truly remarkable.
"Naturally. Fei Xiong and Daolang are top-notch experts, aside from their martial arts,"
Liu Shinian praised, with a smug expression as if he were talking about himself.
"Hahaha, you flatter me. It's just that I can't sense any trace of Zhang Tianshi and the others.
I'm not sure which way to go for now."
Daolang also seemed troubled.
Liu Shinian patted his shoulder and said,
"It's alright. If it were that easy to find them,
what would be the point of us being here? Don't you think so?"
Daolang nodded slightly and confirmed,
"That's true."
However, this left us without any leads.
We could only stand there, each lost in our own thoughts.
Just as we were in despair, the thousand paper cranes we had released earlier,
fluttered back and landed on my arm.
Everyone was surprised and gathered around, full of curiosity.
"This little thing actually came back."
"It seems it received information from Tianshi and the others. Let's check it quickly."
With great surprise, I unfolded the paper crane. It read:
"We are in a cave where we can hear the sound of flowing water."
"That's great, they are all safe."
I was quite excited.
Ali, however, looked at the note with suspicion and worry, saying,
"The most formidable aspect of Mount Wangu Forest is its ability to bewitch the mind.
This paper crane was not affected. Could it be fake?"
The others thought about it and agreed with Ali's reasoning.
We had only just entered Mount Wangu Forest and were already lost. If we wandered aimlessly,
we wouldn't know what dangers we might encounter.
Although Ali's guess was plausible, it meant we had lost our clue again.
Daolang, unlike us, did not show much worry on his face.
Instead, he looked at Fei Xiong, having an idea.
"Third brother, it's up to you."
Fei Xiong understood and decided to use his special skill.
He suddenly lay on the ground, placing his ear against it, listening intently.
Daolang motioned for us to be quiet. After a moment, Fei Xiong got up.
He patted the dirt off his clothes and said,
"I hear the sound of water hitting rocks. It's coming from the right."
"Alright, then we'll head to the right,"
Daolang said.
The three of us had no other ideas and could only follow Daolang and Fei Xiong.
Wherever they went, we went.
Fei Xiong led us to the right. We hadn't walked far when
Ali, in a daze, heard a strange, mournful voice.
It sounded like a pitiable woman softly calling out,
"Ali... Ali..."
Ali felt confused and turned around. No one was behind him.
Instantly, goosebumps spread all over his body.
He swallowed nervously and followed closely behind us.
However, the voice seemed to have legs and kept following him,
calling out from behind, not too close, not too far.
Ali looked back several times, only to see a vast expanse of fog.
Ali asked us with some unease,
"Did you hear anything?"
"Hear anything? No, Ali. What did you hear?"
I turned my head and looked at him curiously.
Ali's expression darkened slightly, and he slowly said,
"I heard someone calling my name. It sounded like a woman's voice."
Everyone looked bewildered. Besides the occasional mountain wind,
and the faint rustling of falling leaves, there were no other sounds.
If there were truly a woman here, she must be suicidal.
However, looking at Ali's expression, he didn't seem to be lying.
Perhaps he had indeed heard a calling sound.
Everyone quieted down and listened carefully.
Yet, the surroundings were eerily silent; not even the sound of wind could be heard.
Even Daolang and Fei Xiong, who had the best hearing, heard nothing.
Ali sighed, thinking he must have misheard, and waved his hand, saying,
"I must have misheard. Let's keep moving forward."
Liu Shinian patted his shoulder and said,
"Perhaps you didn't mishear. This place, Mount Wangu Forest, excels at bewitching people.
If your mind isn't firm, you can easily be misled.
So, Ali, you must be extremely resolute and decisive."
Ali's slightly worried heart gradually cleared up under Liu Shinian's guidance.
He nodded gently, a smile appearing on his face.
Liu Shinian stroked his head and comforted him,
"Don't worry, we are here with you. Let's keep moving forward."
"Okay."
We continued to move forward.
Fei Xiong, following the sound of flowing water, led us to the entrance of a cave.
It looked dark and hollow inside.
Occasionally, cold winds would blow out, making it chillingly eerie.
Fei Xiong looked inside and said,
"The sound of flowing water is coming from within."
I cautiously peered inside, my brow furrowed in doubt.
"It's so dark and cold in here. Will Tianshi and the others be inside?"
Liu Shinian also became suspicious.
"If it were me, I'd rather lie in the woods outside
than enter this cold, eerie cave."
Daolang was also full of doubt. However, at this moment, this was their only clue.
If they didn't go in to check, where else would they find them?
"I'll go in and take a look. You all wait here."
With that, Daolang was about to enter the cave to investigate.
Liu Shinian stopped him, saying,
"Let me try first."
Daolang stepped back, making way for him.
He guessed that Liu Shinian had another method.
He took a step forward, drew his Willow Sword, and swung it into the cave.
The sword body flashed with silver light in the cave, spun a few times, and then flew back into his hand.
Daolang asked,
"Did you find anything?"
Liu Shinian shook his head, not entirely certain.
"This cave doesn't seem to have anything unusual."
Fei Xiong's ears twitched slightly, as if he had heard something. He suddenly said,
"I hear the sound of hurried footsteps from inside the cave."
"Are they Tianshi's?"
Ali asked.
Ali guessed that since Fei Xiong could discern sounds and locate them,
he would also be able to distinguish whose footsteps they were.
Fei Xiong listened carefully again and suddenly became excited.
"Yes, Tianshi's footsteps are in here.
From the sound, he's currently taking a headcount."
So impressive, he could even hear that.
"Fei Xiong shouldn't be mistaken. There should be someone inside."
Daolang was extremely confident in Fei Xiong's abilities.
"Then should we go in and take a look?"
I looked at the dark cave, still feeling a bit worried.
"That's the only option for now."
Since they knew Tianshi and the others were inside, they had to go in and see.
Daolang was about to enter when Fei Xiong suddenly stopped him.
Fei Xiong hesitated.
"Although I heard Tianshi's voice,
don't forget, this is Mount Wangu Forest.
If it were that easy, Tianshi and the others would have come out already.
This might be a trap. We should observe a bit longer."
Fei Xiong's words were not unreasonable. By normal logic,
who would choose to live in such a terrifying-looking cave?
Since Fei Xiong was also unsure, we were even less likely to venture forward rashly.
Our group stood before the cave, contemplating what to do.
Fei Xiong said,
"How about we just wait outside the cave for now?
When we think of another method, or have another clue, then we can act."
Ali said worriedly,
"Will this delay rescuing Tianshi and the others?"
Fei Xiong smiled.
"They are definitely somewhere. It's fine.
A little more or less time won't make much difference to them.
On the contrary, if we are too impatient, we will fall prey to the bewitching nature of Mount Wangu Forest."
Fei Xiong's words were true, and Ali also calmed down, no longer worrying.
Liu Shinian gathered some branches and started a fire not far from the cave entrance.
He stood up and called us,
"Come over here."
We then left the cave entrance and walked towards him.
Liu Shinian said,
"It's very cold here. It's better to warm ourselves by the fire."
Daolang leaned against a tree trunk and sat down, gazing at the blazing flames, and slowly said,
"Legend has it that the black mist of Mount Wangu Forest
is formed from the vengeful souls of the deceased Ghost Race soldiers.
Their resentment is deep and lingers for a long time. They say that places with heavy resentment become increasingly cold."
Hearing Daolang say there were many vengeful souls here, my heart trembled slightly.
Heaven knows I'm most afraid of ghosts. I was chased here by ghosts when I arrived in this world.
One ghost was enough to scare me, let alone a group of ghosts. It was truly terrifying.
Liu Shinian saw my slightly pale face and trembling lips.
He asked me with confusion,
"Muye, do you need to go to the restroom?"
I turned back speechlessly and retorted,
"You're the one who needs to go."
"Then what's wrong? Your face is so pale."
"I..."
If I told him I was afraid of ghosts, Liu Shinian would surely mock me.
I could already imagine his hateful smiling face.
"Hahaha, Liu Muye, I can't believe you're afraid of ghosts.
I've finally caught your weakness, hahaha."
Thinking of this, I felt uneasy. I couldn't let him know.
"Muye is afraid of ghosts."
Ali suddenly spoke up for me.
I was instantly filled with dread, my panicked eyes fixed on Liu Shinian.
I fearfully awaited his merciless mockery.
Unexpectedly, Liu Shinian said,
"Muye, why didn't you tell me?"
My mind went blank. He, he only said that?
"Muye, why didn't you tell me?"
Liu Shinian looked at me with a resentful expression.
"I..."
I was momentarily speechless. I had prepared all sorts of retorts,
but now I didn't know how to respond.
Ali said,
"Muye probably didn't tell you because she was afraid you'd laugh at her, right?"
"Alas, you really are like that. Am I that kind of person?"
Liu Shinian looked resentful. I had thought too ill of him.
Daolang comforted me,
"Muye, vengeful souls are not frightening. What's frightening is the heart.
If you are afraid in your heart, then it will always hide there.
If you are not afraid in your heart, no matter how substantial they are, they cannot harm you."
Yes, Daolang was right. Ghosts are formless, but the heart is tangible.
As long as I'm not afraid of them, no matter what they look like, I won't be scared.
Thinking this, I felt much better. I let out a soft sigh and said,
"Yes, I'm much better now. I'm not as scared."
Fei Xiong smiled slightly and began to tell us about his childhood.
"I remember when I was little, I was also afraid of something.
In the village where I lived, there was a very tall and strong uncle.
Everyone called him Uncle Qin. Uncle Qin didn't like to smile.
His face was always stern, full of tough flesh.
When he walked down the street, everyone who saw him felt a bit scared.
I was the same. As soon as I saw him, I'd run like a mouse seeing a cat.
Later, after running away many times, I was caught a few times.
Each time, I'd be lectured. But I was still afraid of him.
I hid for many years until I grew a bit older.
Then, one day, he came to our house as a guest.
I expected him to lecture me again.
However, to my surprise, he rarely praised me.
From that day on, I was no longer afraid of him."
Daolang summarized the story, saying,
"This is what happens when a mental barrier is broken.
It means that when you are particularly afraid of a person or a thing,
it's actually because you don't understand them. Not understanding leads to assumptions, and assumptions lead to fear.
Therefore, the best way to overcome fear is to try boldly, to try to connect and communicate."
To try to connect and communicate, I seemed to understand something more.
Indeed, listening to your words is better than reading ten years of books.
I never thought that my own inner turmoil, which I considered terrifying,
was merely a trivial problem in front of Daolang and Fei Xiong.
Perhaps ghosts weren't that scary after all.
If you think of it as a flower, it's a flower.
If you think of it as grass, then it's grass.
Liu Shinian suddenly asked me,
"Muye, are you still scared now?"
"No longer."
I smiled foolishly, much of my fear having dissipated.
Liu Shinian nodded with satisfaction. He thought that Jin Yu Lan had finally chosen the right people,
choosing Daolang and Fei Xiong to come.
Ali looked at the hazy gray sky above, unsure if it was day or night.
"Is it day or night now?"
Ali murmured to himself.
Liu Shinian told him,
"Mount Wangu Forest has no distinction between day and night; it's just an endless gray haze."
Daolang said,
"Everyone has traveled a long way and must be tired. If you want to sleep, then sleep."
Liu Shinian stretched and said,
"I'm going to sleep."
With that, he was about to lie down and sleep.
Suddenly, a "thump-thump-thump" sound came from the cave.
We all immediately became alert, stood up, and walked towards the cave entrance.
Liu Shinian looked inside with great confusion.
"The sound seems to be coming from inside."
"Yes, but we don't know if anyone is actually inside."
Daolang added.
"Should we go in and take a look?"
Ali asked.
Fei Xiong said,
"Let's observe a bit longer."
It seemed everyone was still uneasy about this cave.
Suddenly, an inexplicable cold wind blew through the forest.
I looked back and felt as if an invisible person had appeared behind me.
With a sudden push, I was shoved inside. I instinctively came to my senses, intending to grab Liu Shinian,
but instead, I grabbed Ali. Ali, along with me, fell into the dark cave.
It turned out this was not a cave at all, but a bottomless pit.
Fei Xiong's guess was indeed correct. This was a trap.
Liu Shinian reacted and tried to save me and Ali.
Suddenly, a long vine shot out, tightly wrapping around Liu Shinian and dragging him into the forest.
Daolang and Fei Xiong drew their weapons and rushed forward, hacking wildly.
But it had no effect. They could only watch helplessly as Liu Shinian was dragged away.
When they turned back, they suddenly realized that
the cave behind them had vanished without a trace, as if it had never existed.