The news Sha Yi brought back was terrible.
The situation at the place he had gone to was far worse than here. Now, she could understand about eighty percent of what he said, so she had a fairly clear grasp of the conditions there.
The problem was that the forest was dark and gloomy, with relentless heavy rain, making it impossible for her to distinguish directions. She could only determine their position based on landmarks.
Taking their current location as the reference point, with the fallen tree serving as a bridge, the place Sha Yi had just returned from was the endpoint. Roughly, it could be considered a straight line connecting three points.
They couldn’t cross because the water level was abnormally high, the terrain was extremely low-lying, and the current was dangerously swift. Logically, it didn’t make sense, but that was the reality. Additionally, the riverbed was littered with dark, indistinct objects, and the river was too wide to risk crossing.
According to Sha Yi, the endpoint was an upstream area with higher elevation. There had once been a natural embankment, but it had now disappeared. After investigating, he concluded that the embankment had been washed away rather than submerged. The water conditions there were no better than at their starting point.
If the downstream branch’s water flow was caused by the terrain, then the water conditions at the endpoint were due to the collapse of the main river channel.
At the moment, the place they were facing was likely the best option. It was separated from the collapsed embankment by a curved buffer and was some distance away from where the giant tree had been swept away. Though the water level had risen, it wasn’t as extreme as the conditions upstream or downstream.
Yet, she couldn’t help hesitating—not for any other reason but the series of eerie events she had encountered here before.
The strange, infant-like cries, the stinging pain in her feet, the inexplicable ripples in the water, the unnaturally drowned figure reduced to charred remains… All of it filled her with dread.
Faced with Sha Yi’s decisive and unwavering choice, her mind was in complete turmoil.
She had thought she had escaped this sinister place, only to end up back here—and now, they had no choice but to wade through the water.
If it hadn’t been for the sheer terror of this place, she would never have fled to that bloodsucking vine tree, nor would she have ventured into the opposite forest to find an antidote. It was like suffering in circles!
Had she known things would come to this, she wouldn’t have run away the previous night. Maybe she could have escaped this damned place that very day.
But there was no turning back now. She had no choice but to press forward.
Sha Yi had already retrieved their belongings and was slowly stepping into the water. The spot he entered was exactly where she had judged to be the deep section—the water reached up to his armpits, far deeper than the single step she had tested before. Sha Yi’s height was around two meters, so if she went in, she’d be completely submerged.
Sha Yi noticed the problem too. He turned and said something to her.
The rain was pouring harder now, and through the dense curtain of water, she could barely make out his face, let alone hear his words over the downpour. He struggled to speak, and she strained to listen. Eventually, he gave up and simply gestured to his back, signaling for her to climb on.
After a brief hesitation, Sha Yi finally climbed onto his back.
If they didn’t move now, fear would be the least of their problems. If this rain continued for another full day, the entire forest would likely be submerged, leaving them with no chance of survival.
Still, she couldn’t shake her unease.
If the danger was visible, she could at least prepare. With Sha Yi here, she wouldn’t be completely helpless. But the heavy rain and roaring water drowned out all other sounds, including the strange noises she had heard earlier. It was impossible not to panic—especially since Sha Yi was unaware of these hidden dangers and had no way to prepare.
Just as she was thinking this, Sha Yi suddenly stopped in his tracks. Before she could ask what was wrong, he uttered her name in a low voice. Then, in an instant, his body lurched violently.
Caught off guard, Sha Yi instinctively tightened her grip around his neck. But Sha Yi did the opposite—he immediately released one arm supporting her and instead grabbed the hand she had wrapped around him.
For a split second, she was stunned. In that moment, he ruthlessly pried her hand away, spun around, and lifted her—half-submerged in the water—out of the surface before shoving her toward the shore with tremendous force.
Sha Yi’s strength was astonishing. Despite being six or seven steps from the bank, he hurled her through the resistance of the rain and water.
The damp, rotting leaves covering the ground weren’t particularly hard, but the sheer force of his throw still scraped the skin off her palms and knees. A sharp, burning pain mixed with the icy rain sent a wave of dread through her. Instinctively, she turned back—only to hear a muffled splash.
Now, the water’s surface showed nothing but the ripples from the rain. Sha Yi was gone.
Panic seized her. She screamed his name, scrambling to her feet, desperate for any clue. But they had been in the water—unless she went back in, there was no way to discern anything from the churning surface.
She was frantic, but no matter how desperate she felt, she couldn’t think of a solution.
She had known there was something in the water, but she never imagined it could be something massive enough to drag Sha Yi under. And when he had stopped earlier, he must have stepped on something—just like she had. Maybe that was what pulled him down.
But… before he stopped, his body had jerked violently. Then, without hesitation, he had pushed her to safety. Did he know what was lurking beneath?
Had he been confident he could escape? Or had he sacrificed himself to save her?
Fear gripped her. She couldn’t bear the thought of the latter. If that was the case, she would rather he had abandoned her—because with his strength and skill, this depth of water should have been nothing to him.
But… Sha Yi, who always put her first, who was so gentle and considerate—how could he have chosen anything but the first option?
Her vision blurred. Her nose stung. Cold and warmth mingled on her cheeks—she couldn’t tell if it was rain or tears. Sobs wracked her body, completely beyond her control.
She couldn’t imagine surviving without Sha Yi.
Before, it had just been a passing thought. That time they shared mushroom soup, she had only felt moved and reluctant. But this time was different—he had vanished completely from her sight, his fate unknown.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage