nycdaug Chapter 136 Strange Insects
Chapter 136 Strange Insects
Over the next few days, Xu Xiaoxiao quietly recuperated from her injuries deep inside the cave.
The cave remained dark and damp, with the sound of dripping water. Occasionally, a gentle breeze would blow in from the cave entrance, carrying a hint of the outside world.
Xu Xiaoxiao sat cross-legged, closed her eyes and concentrated. Her face looked a little haggard and her lips were slightly pale, but her expression was focused and resolute.
Each time she used her internal energy to heal her wounds, her brows would furrow slightly, fine beads of sweat would appear on her forehead, and her body would tremble slightly involuntarily, clearly as she was enduring the pain of the wounds healing.
Her clothes were slightly disheveled and still stained with undried blood. She would occasionally raise her hand to wipe away the sweat, adjust her breathing, and try to make her spiritual energy flow smoothly within her body to repair the damaged meridians and muscles.
Qian Feng was also tending to his injuries, trying his best not to hold anyone back.
Although Sun Yao was afraid of danger, she knew that Xu Xiaoxiao needed someone to protect her while she was healing, so she sat five steps away from Xu Xiaoxiao and watched her, so that if anything happened to her, she could call for help in time.
Meanwhile, Lin Yu and Zhao Yu cautiously explored the area around the cave.
The environment of the ruins and wasteland is extremely complex and changeable. The land underfoot is dry and barren, and withered yellow grass shivers in the wind from time to time.
In the distance, jagged rocks, some resembling crouching beasts and others standing like giants, create a strong sense of oppression.
Lin Yu moved with agility and light steps, his eyes keenly observing the movements around him. He opened and closed his folding fan from time to time, as if he was using it to sense the fluctuations of spiritual energy around him.
His white robes fluttered in the wind like a floating cloud, creating a stark contrast with the desolate scene.
Zhao Yu followed closely behind, weapon in hand, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily. He took each step cautiously, afraid of triggering any hidden mechanisms or attracting unknown dangers.
His face showed caution, and he turned to talk to Lin Yu from time to time, his voice low and brief: "Brother Lin, something seems amiss here, we should be extra careful."
The two arrived at a valley filled with a light mist, and the surrounding vegetation had a strange deep purple hue, faintly exuding a mysterious aura.
Lin Yu stopped, a hint of doubt and curiosity in his eyes, and said softly, "This place is a bit strange; perhaps something is hidden here."
Zhao Yu nodded slightly, gripped his weapon tightly, and looked around warily: "Brother Lin is right, we must proceed with caution."
Just as they were preparing to explore further, they suddenly heard a slight buzzing sound, as if something was moving nearby.
The two quickly stood back to back, assuming a defensive posture, their eyes nervously scanning their surroundings.
A swarm of strange insects, resembling bees but the size of fists, emerged from the mist. Their bodies shimmered with a metallic sheen, and their stingers were faintly visible in the fog. Their buzzing instantly became deafening as they flew rapidly toward Lin Yu and Zhao Yu.
Lin Yu's eyes sharpened, and he quickly unfolded his folding fan, infusing it with spiritual energy. The ink bamboo pattern on the fan surface seemed to come alive, emitting a soft light and forming a barrier to protect the two of them.
He shouted, "Brother Zhao, be careful of these strange insects, they're poisonous!"
Zhao Yu brandished his weapon, trying to drive away the approaching insects, but the insects were numerous and fiercely attacking. A look of anxiety appeared on his face: "Brother Lin, this can't go on like this. We need to think of a solution!"
As they fought off the insects, the two slowly retreated out of the valley. The ground beneath their feet was rugged and uneven, and their steps were slightly hurried, but their eyes remained firm. They were determined to get rid of the dangerous insects and return to the cave as soon as possible to reunite with the others, so as not to cause trouble for Xu Xiaoxiao and the others.
Lin Yu and Zhao Yu, pursued by the strange insects, retreated with difficulty towards the outside of the valley.
With each step, one must dodge the strange insects that rain down upon them.
Sweat beaded on Zhao Yu's forehead, sliding down his cheeks. His eyes were filled with anxiety, and he struggled to wield his weapon. He shouted, "Brother Lin, there are just too many of these strange insects! If we keep retreating like this, we'll exhaust ourselves and get hurt sooner or later!"
Lin Yu's expression was also very solemn. He maintained the spiritual energy barrier while thinking of a solution.
His white clothes already had several marks from being bumped by strange insects, making him look somewhat disheveled.
Hearing Zhao Yu's shout, he responded loudly, "Brother Zhao, let's concentrate our spiritual power and break through in one direction!"
The two exchanged a glance, a resolute look flashing in their eyes.
Lin Yu took a deep breath and concentrated his spiritual power into the folding fan. The fan surface shone brightly, and a powerful wave of spiritual power surged out from the fan, blasting towards the swarm of strange insects in front of him.
In an instant, the strange insects in front were shaken apart by this force, creating a gap.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Zhao Yu shouted and swung his weapon forward, sending a sharp sword aura rushing towards the gap and forcing back the remaining monsters.
The two quickened their pace and rushed towards the gap. During their breakout, many strange insects still tried to attack them from the side. Lin Yu and Zhao Yu defended themselves from both sides, but they were still grazed by the poisonous stings of some of the strange insects, leaving red and swollen wounds.
Just as the two were about to exhaust themselves, suddenly, a purple light shot out from the side of the valley, and wherever the light touched, the strange insects fell to the ground.
Lin Yu and Zhao Yu looked over in surprise and saw a woman in a purple robe slowly emerge from the mist.
She had a graceful figure, a cold and aloof face, and a mysterious aura in her eyes.
The woman held a purple staff, the top of which was inlaid with a crystal-clear gem that emitted a soft light.
She gently waved her staff, and another beam of purple light shot out, dispelling the strange insects around her.
Lin Yu and Zhao Yu took the opportunity to stop, panting heavily, and looked warily at the woman who had suddenly appeared.
Lin Yu cupped his hands slightly and said, "Thank you for your help, young lady. May I ask who you are and why you are here?"
The woman frowned slightly, her gaze sweeping over the two of them. She said in a cold voice, "My name is Zi Ling, and I am also an explorer in this secret realm. I helped you when I saw you being attacked by strange insects. This valley is fraught with danger, so you'd better not venture too far in."
Zhao Yu wiped the sweat from his forehead and said gratefully, "Thank you for reminding us, Miss Ziling. If it weren't for you, we probably wouldn't have been able to get away today."
Zi Ling nodded slightly, a hint of curiosity in her eyes: "You two don't seem like ordinary adventurers. What brings you to this secret realm?"
Lin Yu glanced at Zhao Yu and slowly said, "To be honest, we entered this secret realm with a few companions, hoping to find some opportunities to improve our strength. We are currently staying in a cave nearby, but we are not very familiar with this secret realm, so we came out to explore it."
After listening, Zi Ling pondered for a moment and said, "This secret realm is fraught with danger. More people mean more strength. If you don't mind, I can travel with you and take care of each other."
Lin Yu and Zhao Yu exchanged a glance and saw agreement in each other's eyes.
Lin Yu smiled and said, "That's excellent. With Miss Zi Ling traveling with us, we have an extra layer of protection."
So the three of them headed toward the cave together, exchanging their knowledge of the secret realm along the way and keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings.