Before she could react, Dandan's body "whooshed" and shrunk back to its original forearm length. Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang), losing her support, saw the opposite bank of the swamp within reach but found herself falling uncontrollably straight down.
Fortunately, Dandan had flown quite high earlier. She quickly used her spiritual energy to envelop herself and the now-smaller divine beast, pushing off an extended tree branch to barely land outside the swamp.
"Wuwuwu~ Mama, I'm sorry, Dandan didn't mean to~ Dandan didn't know the spiritual energy would deplete so fast!" As soon as she landed, the divine beast Dandan apologized tearfully, nudging its small head against her palm.
Despite its small size, the head was quite strong. Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) pushed away the little head that almost shoved her back into the swamp and comforted it, "Mama knows you didn't do it on purpose, Dandan, don't be sad!"
She stood up, patted her behind, and looked around, finding the surroundings somewhat unfamiliar. It seemed the final push had caused a slight error in her landing spot.
But this was not a major issue. As long as there were plants around, she could find her way back. She walked along, stroking various unknown flowers, grasses, and trees. Some, with directional awareness, could guide her, while others, with their simple spiritual intelligence, were unable to speak.
Finally, after walking for about fifteen minutes, Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) returned to the vicinity of the swamp where she had stopped earlier. But... where were the other demons who had come with her? Had they been reduced to bones by the miasma of the "Bone-Eroding Forest" because she had returned too late? However, a search of the surrounding ground revealed no new piles of bones.
With no other option, Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) could only follow the guidance of the plants and head towards the exit, all while searching for any trace of the other three demons.
Unfortunately, she found nothing along the way. It wasn't until she exited the forest that she realized the assembly point, where the disciples were supposed to gather after coming out, was also completely deserted. She started to feel a sense of panic. What had happened?
Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) hurried back to "Tongling Academy." As soon as she entered the main gate, she encountered a junior student who had joined the academy two years prior. Upon seeing her, he widened his eyes in surprise, then turned and shouted as he ran, "Senior Bai is back!"
Uh... this was confusing? Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) had been somewhat well-known in the academy before, but after four years of stagnant cultivation, her popularity shouldn't have been this high, right? Then what was with the excited reaction of that toad-like junior student?
While still bewildered and heading towards the "Beast Hall," Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) saw a familiar figure running towards her. Her face lit up with a surprised smile, and before she could speak, Mao Peilan enveloped her in a tight hug.
"Wuwuwu~ Sister Qiushui, I knew you wouldn't die so soon..." Mao Peilan buried her head in Bai Qiushui's shoulder, tears streaming down her face.
After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) was escorted into the main hall, a place she had never visited before, and was still in a state of confusion. Seated above her were two powerful cultivators, and standing around them were all familiar faces: Jin Lang, Mao Peilan, and Bai Ruzhen, all three demons. It was good! They were all alive.
"They said you were taken to the chaotic land across the sealing barrier by that traitor Yan Qinghuai. We all thought you were doomed!" The human cultivator Da Neng, Lü Jianshan, said with a smile, but his eyes were sharp.
"Why do you call Yan Qinghuai a traitor?" Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) feigned ignorance, asking, "Is there some misunderstanding?"
"Little Qiushui, you might not know, at that time..." Bai Ruzhen began to recount the events from their perspective.
At that time, Bai Ruzhen and the others were waiting on the bank of the swamp for Yan Qinghuai to pick them up. To their surprise, Yan Qinghuai suddenly attacked them upon his return. Jin Lang and Mao Peilan were caught off guard and quickly inhaled the knockout gas, falling uncontrollably to the ground and revealing their true forms.
Bai Ruzhen, who was the furthest away, reacted quickly. As the gas approached, she used her practiced "Breath-Holding Technique," pretended to be affected, and collapsed to the ground, transforming into her snake form.
Fortunately, Yan Qinghuai did not intend to kill them at the time, so he did not follow up with a finishing blow, merely incapacitating them. After Bai Ruzhen closed her eyes and fell, she heard several voices nearby.
"Young Master, why not kill them all? It would prevent them from waking up and reporting us?" one voice said.
"Never mind, my knockout gas lasts for two days. After all, we were classmates for so many years. Let's just leave them here and see what fate has in store for them!" Yan Qinghuai replied.
Even after they all flew to the other side of the swamp, Bai Ruzhen still dared not move. She lay there for nearly half an hour, and only after confirming they wouldn't return did she get up.
She checked on Mao Peilan and Jin Lang beside her, ensuring they were only unconscious and not in mortal danger, then carried them step by step back to the exit.
At the exit of the "Bone-Eroding Forest," she found the waiting others and reported the situation. The two powerful cultivators also entered the swamp to investigate the vicinity and confirmed that the sealing barrier between the two lands was directly above the swamp. Combined with the way those people addressed Yan Qinghuai, everyone now suspected he was either from the chaotic land or a traitor to the vast land.
"Little Rabbit, you were the first one he took. We thought you had perished then. Fortunately, you are still alive!" Jin Lang said emotionally. "You have no idea how many times the smelly cat cried for you when we woke up and learned about this!"
"Dead dog, weren't you sad too? Why are you only talking about me!" Mao Peilan said, a little embarrassed.
"This time, I really almost became a dead dog. Fortunately, Fellow Daoist Ru Zhen saved us!" Jin Lang said gratefully to Bai Ruzhen. So much had happened in just a few days, and they hadn't properly thanked her.
"Yes, yes! Thank you, Sister Bai!" Mao Peilan also bowed to Bai Ruzhen.
"We are fellow alumni of the same academy, no need to be so polite!" Bai Ruzhen waved her hand dismissively. "But the best thing is that Little Qiushui is unharmed. This is truly the best news I've heard in days!"
...
The few demons happily chatted, while the complexions of the two powerful cultivators above grew increasingly grim. Only when the demon cultivator Da Neng, Niu Yong, let out a heavy "hmph" did they stop.
"Brother Niu, don't be so loud~ Don't scare the juniors!" Lü Jianshan, the smiling tiger, stepped in again as the good cop. "However, we still have some questions. We wonder how fellow disciple Bai Qiushui returned? Did she encounter any other dangers?"
It was clear they harbored doubts about Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang)'s safe return.