"Ah!"
I screamed in terror, falling straight onto a pile of dead leaves.
It was pitch black all around, and I couldn't see a thing.
Thinking that Ali had also fallen, I didn't know where he had landed, so I had to call out to him.
"Ali! Where are you? Ali!"
A helpless and resentful response echoed in my ears.
"Stop shouting, I'm right beneath your feet."
I quickly got up and excitedly pulled him up.
"Ali, how are you? Are you alright?"
Ali clutched his slightly dizzy head, looking at the darkness ahead, and asked in confusion.
"Muye, where are we?"
I recalled.
"We were outside the cave just now, and it felt like I was suddenly pushed and fell.
I originally wanted to grab Liu Shinian, but I ended up pulling you down."
Thinking of this, I still felt a bit embarrassed.
Ali smiled helplessly, exhaled softly, and comforted me.
"It's okay, it's good that I can accompany you. If you were alone,
you wouldn't know what dangers you might encounter."
That's true, this way, it was rare to have alone time with Ali, without Liu Shinian.
Ali fumbled for a fire starter, opened the lid, and blew gently.
Instantly, a flame erupted, and the firelight gradually illuminated the surroundings.
Only then did I see that the surroundings were all incredibly hard stone walls.
Only in front was there a dark passage, leading to an unknown destination.
Ali walked ahead first, and I followed closely behind him.
I was still a little scared and unconsciously linked my arm through his.
Ali complained softly.
"How can I walk if you do this?"
I lowered my head and looked. I thought I had only linked my arm through his.
Unexpectedly, these disobedient legs and feet had somehow coiled around him.
My face instantly flushed with shyness, and I quickly let go of him.
For some reason, my mind suddenly recalled our first meeting.
The scene in the cave, where I was also hiding behind him like this.
"Do you remember our first meeting?
It was also a dark cave, but back then, you could emit light yourself."
I couldn't help but reminisce.
"Why are you bringing this up?"
It had been a long time ago, and Ali didn't know why I was mentioning it again.
"I just suddenly thought of it, so I mentioned it."
I replied, feigning nonchalance.
"This place doesn't look very safe.
We need to be careful. Stay close to me."
"Okay."
Although I said that, my hand was still restless, lightly tugging at him.
My excited face was filled with secret delight.
Moving forward, a faint sound of flowing water suddenly came from the dark cave.
A wave of dampness mixed with the air rushed towards us.
"There should be a river ahead,"
I said.
Ali nodded slightly and said.
"Yes, it looks like it's not far. Let's go and see."
"Okay."
So, the two of us walked forward again. The closer we got to the water, the louder the sound became.
It was a "whoosh, whoosh" sound, as if it was right in front of us, and it sounded like swift, surging water.
Ali blew on the fire starter, and it instantly seemed to absorb countless fire elements.
It turned into a huge flame half a meter high, instantly illuminating the surroundings.
Following the sound of the water, we saw a dark underground river directly ahead.
This suddenly reminded me of the note from before, so I said to Ali.
"The note mentioned that the place where Tianshi and the others were staying had the sound of water.
Could it be this river?"
"It's possible. Legend has it that there's a river in Wan Gui Mountain called the Luo Shui River.
It's said to flow down from Wan Gui Mountain.
It winds through Wan Gui Mountain and cannot flow out."
Ali told me what he knew.
"What a strange river. If we follow the river, we should find a way out."
"For now, this is the only way."
We walked along the river for an unknown amount of time.
The river was continuous, seemingly without end.
Ali and I walked for a long time, but we couldn't find an exit.
"This river is really strange, it seems to only exist underground."
After walking for a long time, I couldn't help but guess.
Ali also looked puzzled.
"Yes, but even a river must have an outlet."
"Indeed, wherever the river water goes, there should be an outlet."
Saying that, we continued to walk along the river.
At this moment, I suddenly noticed that the soil beneath my feet was black.
On the damp soil, there were even some claw prints that looked like those of a chick.
"Ali, look quickly, there are footprints on the ground."
I tugged at Ali and pointed to the ground ahead.
Ali looked closely and indeed saw the small claw prints left on the black soil.
He squatted down and looked closely, his mind filled with confusion.
"How are there footprints here?"
I also squatted down and looked closely, saying.
"These footprints look like a chick's."
"A chick?"
Ali was full of confusion. He had never seen what a chick looked like.
"What is a chick?"
I looked at him in surprise, wondering if there were no chicks in this world.
"You haven't seen a chick?"
"No."
He shook his head sincerely.
I guessed that he might really not have seen one, so I said.
"A chick is similar to a small bird. Do you remember the little white dove? It's similar to that."
Only then did Ali imagine what a chick looked like. So, a chick was equivalent to a little white dove.
How strange, why did Muye call the little white dove a chick?
He didn't think too much about it and focused his attention back on the footprints.
"Looking at these footprints, something must have lingered by the river."
"It seems that Wan Gui Forest is inhabited by other living beings that we don't know about."
"Yes, but it's better to be careful. Let's keep moving forward."
"Okay."
So, Ali and I walked along the river again.
After walking for a long time, there was still no sign of an exit.
My legs felt weak from exhaustion, and I called out to him.
"Ali, let's rest for a while. We probably won't be able to get out anytime soon."
"Yes, it seems this river is complex and winds underground.
It will take some effort to get out."
I looked back and saw a rock leaning against the stone wall.
I walked over slowly and sat down.
I sighed, feeling a bit dejected.
"Alas! When will we be able to get out of here?"
"We will get out."
Not long after I sat down, a damp, cold air blew from ahead.
Sitting on the rock, I felt a bit sleepy.
In a daze, I heard a faint voice calling out.
"Muye, Muye."
I mumbled a response.
"I'm here."
Hearing my response, Ali turned his head in confusion.
He saw me leaning askew, as if I had drunk more than a dozen bottles of aged wine.
Exhibiting a drunken state.
"Muye, what's wrong with you?"
Ali grabbed my shoulder and shook me, asking.
With a heavy head, I looked towards the water surface.
In a daze, I saw a person with half their head showing, calling me from the water.
"Muye, come here quickly, come here quickly."
Hearing this, my mind instantly became empty, a blank slate.
I only remembered that faint call.
"Come here quickly, come here quickly."
I got up, swaying, and walked towards the water. Ali quickly grabbed me and said.
"Muye, what's wrong with you?"
But I ignored him, as if possessed.
Listening to the call from the water, I mechanically repeated.
"Come here quickly, come here quickly."
Seeing that the situation was not good, Ali pulled me back and,
with a swift blow, knocked me unconscious, catching me in his arms.
Immediately, his eyes were filled with confusion as he looked into the river.
He couldn't help but wonder.
"Could it be that Muye also heard that voice?
But that only happened on land, how can it be in the water?"
A series of questions, but he couldn't answer any of them.
He casually picked up a small stone and threw it into the water.
The splashing water hinted that it was just an ordinary river.
Ali became confused again.
"Could it be that the voice isn't coming from the water?"
He then shook his head and said.
"No, Muye's expression just now clearly indicated he was heading towards the water.
So, it can be confirmed that the voice is indeed coming from the water.
It seems there's something strange about this water, it's best to leave quickly."
Thinking this, he picked me up and hurried away.
After walking for a long time, we still hadn't gotten out of this desolate black river.
Ali had no choice but to put me down on the ground and shake me vigorously, then pinch me.
After shaking me again, I slowly woke up.
Mumbling, I said.
"I, what happened to me?"
I only felt a throbbing pain in my head.
Ali said.
"You seemed possessed just now, you kept going towards the water.
Fortunately, I grabbed you in time."
"Oh, why does my face hurt so much?"
I suddenly noticed the pain on my face.
Ali looked at my slightly swollen face, feeling a bit guilty.
"Well, to wake you up, I might have been a bit heavy-handed."
"Oh, you meant well. But can I see it? Why does it feel so strange?"
Ali quickly said.
"Still, it's better not to look. Let's find an exit quickly.
It seems it's not very safe in here."
"Yes, I'm fine now. Let's go."
"Okay."
Ali's worried heart finally settled. He thought.
"If Muye saw her face, which was pinched by me, with red, swollen patches like dense red bumps,
she would probably kill me."
But fortunately, Muye didn't know yet.
After walking for an unknown amount of time, Ali suddenly heard that eerie and resentful voice.
"Ali, Ali."
Ali knew this was the bewitchment of Wan Gui Forest. He pinched himself hard.
To stay awake.
"Muye, did you hear a strange voice just now?"
Ali suddenly asked.
Only then did I recall that this had happened.
"Yes, that voice seemed to be coming from the water.
It kept calling, Muye, Muye.
Then, I felt like I was being controlled and gradually lost consciousness."
It was exactly as he guessed, Ali told me.
"Muye, this voice is the bewitchment of Wan Gui Forest.
If you can't stay awake, you will fall under its spell."
"Then what should we do?"
I became worried.
"It's okay, as long as you pinch yourself when you hear this voice, you can stay awake."
"Oh, okay. I can't let it succeed."
"Yes."
We walked forward while talking. We thought we wouldn't find an exit.
However, in this confusion.
Suddenly, we saw faint lights emanating from the end of the river.
"It's an exit."
I exclaimed excitedly.
Ali looked closely, and it did seem like an exit, so he also said excitedly.
"Let's go quickly."
"Okay."
So, the two of us took off and ran towards the front.
After finally reaching the light, the result was extremely disappointing.
At the spot of light, there was a waterfall a hundred meters high.
The flowing water formed a pool.
Around the pool, on the rocks, were faintly glowing minerals.
"What should we do? It's a dead end."
I was greatly disappointed.
Ali had no other options, so he could only say.
"No choice, we have to turn back."
"Alas!"
I sighed helplessly.
Just as we turned to leave.
A black shadow suddenly flew out of the water and was about to hit Ali.
Ali reacted quickly and dodged.
The black thing fell directly into the pool.
"What is that!"
I exclaimed in terror.
"This is a Luo Shui Ghost, formed from the resentful souls in Wan Gui Forest."
"Ah? Is it that fierce?"
"Legend has it that the Wan Gui King had immense demonic power, and even after death, he could still influence his surroundings.
It seems these resentful souls, influenced by the Wan Gui King, have become so fierce."
"Then what should we do?"
I looked at the water in terror. I saw large bubbles rising from the calm surface.
Then, I saw black heads emerging from the water.
"No choice, since we've encountered them, we have to face them head-on."
"Okay, do we have any tools?"
I thought, there must be something.
"Here, take this."
Saying that, Ali took out a leaf from his embrace and threw it to me.
As the leaf fell into my hand, it instantly transformed into a large wooden stick.
"Will this do?"
I was full of worry. Could a wooden stick kill them?
"Yes, when they come, you just use the wooden stick to fend them off."
"Okay."
As soon as I finished speaking, a Luo Shui Ghost flew out and lunged at Ali.
Ali held the leaf, which transformed into a wooden stick.
With one blow, he sent it back into the water.
So, this is how it's used.
Suddenly, a Luo Shui Ghost lunged at me.
I found the right angle and swung the stick, hitting it back into the water.
"Muye, be careful!"
"Oh!"
As I responded, before I could even get into position.
Suddenly, a large group of Luo Shui Ghosts attacked like flying insects.
They were all dark, with long, slender claws, baring their teeth.
They looked a bit like the water monkeys from legends, except they had no tails.
"Careful!"
Ali shouted.
I hurriedly swung the wooden stick in my hand, like playing baseball, hitting one with each swing.
Fortunately, I had learned badminton for a while in school.
I could still steadily catch and hit them.
Ali was not to be outdone, hitting one that came at him, jumping, flying, and striking from the side.
His cool and imposing posture stunned me.
Seeing that their plan had failed, the Luo Shui Ghosts in the water seemed to have reached a consensus.
They stopped attacking actively and instead stayed in the water, suddenly emitting a ghostly cry.
"Muye, Ali, Muye, Ali."
The entire cry sounded like a bizarre duet, echoing throughout the river.
My head instantly felt like it was splitting, and I clutched my head with one hand, pinching my arm with the other.
Ali also felt groggy, staggering left and right, his head pounding.
Suddenly, a Luo Shui Ghost seized the opportunity.
It flew out quickly and headbutted Ali in the chest, trying to knock him off the waterfall.
Fortunately, I reacted in time, came to my senses, and quickly reached out to grab Ali.
Only then did I prevent him from falling off the waterfall.
"Ali, hold on, I'll pull you up."
Just as I was about to pull him up, at this moment. The Luo Shui Ghosts slowly crawled out of the river.
"Muye! Be careful behind you!"
Ali shouted.
I turned around in terror.
And saw the dense Luo Shui Ghosts, like dark stones, crawling up.
Ali knew I had no magical powers and couldn't fight them.
If he stayed, it would only be a dead end, so he shouted.
"Muye! Let go! You run!"
"What nonsense are you talking about? How can I let go of you? I'll pull you up."
Saying that, I pulled him with all my might, trying to drag him up.
Suddenly, a Luo Shui Ghost that had been waiting for a long time pounced.
It grabbed my back, flipped me over, and I fell into the pool.
Fortunately, I had good self-control, otherwise, I would have been pushed into the water.
Then, several black hands grabbed my feet and pulled me backward forcefully.
I was immediately pulled back and fell face-first into the mud.
Ali, seeing my perilous situation, shouted anxiously.
"Let go quickly! Go!"
I shook my head.
"With this little bit, you want me to let go?
Impossible. Without you, who will light the way for me!"
Ali looked at me with deep emotion, his slightly reddened eyes filled with tears.
He never expected that he could be so important to someone else.