Chapter Fourteen: Toward the Waterfall

“This place is not as simple as you think! If you’re not sure, I advise you not to seek death!” Wen’s figure had just vanished into the rainforest, yet his voice remained clear, carrying a certain weight of warning.

To me, it sounded like a caution, perhaps because of preconceived notions, I felt a surge of gratitude toward him. “Only the banks of the river are safe here. With two women in tow, entering the rainforest is a death sentence!” Though his tone was cold, it served as a stark wake-up call.

“The riverbank, the riverbank is the safest!” Hearing Wen’s words, I drew a sharp breath and murmured to myself, eyes sharpening as I scanned the surroundings. Danger seemed to lurk everywhere; everything appeared fraught with peril.

I didn’t believe he intended to scare us unnecessarily. In a place where hunger could truly kill, there was no point in wasting words. After all, the incident with Luo Wei had just unfolded before our eyes. Looking at Qiu Xiang and Lan Fang, I found myself momentarily at a loss for words.

I had wanted to ask them a few questions, but seeing Wen disappear into the rainforest, seemingly eager to distance himself from us, I felt a subtle pang of disappointment. Reflecting on his words, I clenched my fists so tightly my knuckles turned white.

“Ah Jing...” Suddenly, Qiu Xiang called out. I was surprised but also moved that they remained clear-headed. I sighed softly, understanding the meaning behind her call. I was holding the water Wen’s group had given me, and Qiu Xiang was staring at it expectantly.

I approached them again and handed the water to Qiu Xiang. “Xiang Xiang, drink some water, but slowly. Leave some for Sister Fang. Let’s not drink more than a third for now. This bottle is precious—we have to cherish it.”

Qiu Xiang’s eyes reddened slightly, but recalling the recent events and Lan Fang’s injured leg, she steadied herself and took the water, trembling as she sipped three small gulps.

Reluctantly, Qiu Xiang tried to pass the water to Lan Fang, but Lan Fang shook her head weakly. “I just drank a little. Save it for later.”

“Did you see? There are others here, and it’s truly dangerous!” I didn’t drink more water. Lan Fang’s words caught me off guard. Looking at her, I suddenly reassessed her; she was not as fragile as she appeared. To remain clear-headed in such an environment was no small feat—she was no ordinary woman.

Quickly diverting my attention, I raised my hand cautiously to glance at the steel bracelet on my left wrist, just taken from Luo Wei’s arm. I wasn’t sure if Wen’s group noticed, but for the three of us—especially me—this bracelet, resembling a steel ring, held some significance.

Seeing the two silent, I spoke in a low voice, “If we want to survive, we must be cautious and watch our backs from now on.”

“Do you believe what Wen said?” Qiu Xiang and Lan Fang exchanged glances. Finally, Lan Fang frowned, her expression darkening. Though still weak, she looked at me and spoke unexpectedly.

“Can’t I believe it? You saw the man in the river just now! This is real, not a movie. You should understand that!” Realizing this place was equally unsafe, I spoke as I moved toward the water’s edge, plunging in again to retrieve the trekking pole.

Due to the river’s bend and stones piled up, the current was less fierce, despite the splashing waves. Holding the trekking pole that made me uneasy, I understood its importance.

This multifunctional trekking pole was something only serious hikers would invest in. I wasn’t sure if Qiu Xiang and Lan Fang knew its worth, but gripping it firmly, I climbed ashore. “Wen didn’t say it outright, but he warned us there are others here. And they won’t be as friendly as him. Don’t forget Peng Qian and his group.”

“Yeah, but the man in the water... could it have been Peng Qian’s people who did it?” Qiu Xiang hesitated. Though Ma Zi and Old Ge had carried Luo Wei ashore from close by, she hadn’t dared to look closely, so she didn’t know how Luo Wei died.

Such horrors unsettle even men, let alone inexperienced girls.

“He said this area around the waterfall is their territory, so the range must be large. If there are others nearby, there must be more than one group like theirs...” Though Lan Fang appeared frail, her words brought clarity. For the first time, she looked directly at me, seemingly seeking to analyze the situation together.

“Indeed. He said this waterfall area is their turf. We don’t know what they do, but until Sister Fang’s injury heals, we can only linger nearby and find a way out later.” Qiu Xiang looked at me, clearly uneasy and worried.

“So, do we continue toward the waterfall or try something else for now?” Seeing my silence, Qiu Xiang apparently ceded the decision to me, possibly influenced by Lan Fang’s reaction.

Lan Fang said nothing further. After a moment’s thought, I replied, “Let’s follow the riverbank upstream toward the waterfall. Wen also warned us that the riverbank is the safest for now. Besides, this area belongs to them. Compared to before, they seemed somewhat less hostile toward us.”

“Okay.” The two nodded in agreement, reaching consensus instantly.

After discussing some details for the journey ahead, I had Qiu Xiang hold our precious water. I also found her a sturdy branch about the thickness of a fist to serve as a walking stick and means of defense. Then, carrying Lan Fang again, we proceeded upstream along the riverbank.

At that moment, I just wanted to leave this place, which felt eerie and oppressive. Qiu Xiang didn’t hesitate either, gripping the branch and scouting ahead.

“Xiang Xiang, how far are we from the waterfall?” Lan Fang, weak, didn’t ask me but turned to Qiu Xiang.

We had been walking for over ten minutes without seeing the waterfall. Hearing my labored breathing, Lan Fang seemed to struggle physically. Though she sometimes disliked me, she clearly felt a pang of guilt.