Wu Xiaolan, still shaken after being rescued onto the steps by Gu Qianying, watched in horror as her friend Wu Lei fell.
Fear and shock gripped Wu Xiaolan as she gazed at the spot where Wu Lei had plummeted. Tears welled up and streamed down her face as she whispered, "Wu Lei..."
Gu Qianying glanced at the abyss where Wu Lei had disappeared, then listened to Wu Xiaolan's soft sobs and calls, sighing.
Su Cheng and Xiao Yihao, witnessing Wu Lei's swift fall, exchanged grave looks, their brows furrowed and lips pressed together at the disappearance of another member of their party.
Gu Qianying slowly approached Wu Xiaolan, who was seated on the bone steps, and crouched beside her, speaking softly to avoid further distressing the already fragile young woman.
"Wu Xiaolan, none of us wished for this to happen. Please don't let the loss of Wu Ming and Wu Lei overwhelm you to the point of collapsing."
After a brief pause, Gu Qianying continued, considering their current predicament. "Since ascending the mountain, we've had no peace. The path ahead is likely fraught with even greater peril. If you no longer have the strength to continue, I can escort you back to a safer location, and you can descend the mountain from there. Su Cheng, Xiao Yihao, and I are sufficient to rescue Saintess Lu Zhu."
Gu Qianying spoke these words directly to Wu Xiaolan.
Wu Xiaolan wiped the tears from her eyes with her sleeve and gently shook her head, refusing Gu Qianying's offer of safety.
Her eyes still red, her voice hoarse and choked with emotion, Wu Xiaolan replied to Gu Qianying, "Thank you for your kindness. I understand the situation, and who knows what else might happen as we go further. However," Wu Xiaolan's gaze grew resolute, "I can still press on. Please allow me to join you in rescuing the Saintess. I am not a burden; one more person means another mind and another pair of hands."
Hearing Wu Xiaolan's words and seeing her determined expression, Gu Qianying understood her conviction to continue up the mountain. She therefore abandoned her intention to dissuade Wu Xiaolan or send her back.
However, Wu Xiaolan failed to notice the deeper meaning in Gu Qianying's eyes.
Gu Qianying helped Wu Xiaolan to her feet and addressed the remaining members of their group, "Let's continue. We must be more cautious than ever. I do not wish to see anyone else disappear from our party."
The remaining members, Wu Xiaolan, Su Cheng, and Xiao Yihao, all nodded in agreement.
Without further incident, the four of them traversed the bone steps built across the vast chasm.
Continuing along the path ahead, they ascended the mountain, and a thatched cottage appeared before them.
It seemed remarkably strange. Wu Yin Mountain was originally a desolate peak, and in recent years, due to the young master of Wu City, it had become a forbidden zone. How could a thatched cottage suddenly appear?
Furthermore, the cottage was situated directly in their path. Though its construction was simple, its ability to withstand the harsh conditions of Wu Yin Mountain was peculiar, tinged with an eerie quality.
However, they were prepared for whatever lay ahead. A mere thatched cottage would not impede Gu Qianying and her companions from continuing their rescue of Lu Zhu.
Gu Qianying led the way, with Su Cheng and Xiao Yihao close behind. Wu Xiaolan followed at the rear of the group as they entered the small thatched cottage.
Upon entering, Gu Qianying observed the interior carefully. It was not the dusty, cobweb-filled scene they might have expected.
While not pristine, it was not dirty either. The cottage contained a bed with bedding, a wooden table in the center with tea utensils, and by the window, a desk with paper, ink, brush, and inkstone.
"It seems someone lived here not long ago?"
Su Cheng surveyed the scene and voiced his speculation. Gu Qianying nodded, agreeing that the cottage had a former occupant.
However, the cottage's location remained somewhat unsettling. Beyond these visible items, they wondered what else might be hidden within.
Gu Qianying therefore cautioned the others, "Be extra vigilant. We cannot act carelessly within this small cottage."
Just then, Wu Xiaolan, at the rear of the group, suddenly collapsed onto the cottage floor.
Gu Qianying, Su Cheng, and Xiao Yihao, startled by the sound, turned back.
They saw Wu Xiaolan clutching her stomach tightly, her face contorted in pain as she writhed on the ground, trying to alleviate her discomfort.
Gu Qianying rushed to Wu Xiaolan's side, crouching down to examine her condition and asking, "Wu Xiaolan, what happened? Can you still speak?"
However, Wu Xiaolan was in too much agony to do more than whimper, unable to answer Gu Qianying's questions.
Seeing this, Gu Qianying began to check if Wu Xiaolan had touched any of the items around her, looking at the things on the table and the tea set.
Wu Xiaolan suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood. Gu Qianying quickly took out a silver needle, intending to alleviate Wu Xiaolan's suffering.
But before Gu Qianying could administer the needle, Wu Xiaolan's eyes rolled back, and she fainted completely.
Before losing consciousness, Wu Xiaolan extended a finger, pointing in a particular direction.
Gu Qianying put away the silver needle and looked in the direction Wu Xiaolan indicated. It was the wall by the cottage door, where a scroll was hanging.
The scroll appeared to have been undisturbed for a long time, covered in a thin layer of dust.
However, in one corner of the scroll, the dust was significantly lighter than elsewhere.
Connecting Wu Xiaolan's recent distress and actions, Gu Qianying immediately understood. It was likely that as Wu Xiaolan entered, her finger had brushed against the scroll, and she had been poisoned by the potent toxin on it, causing her intense pain, vomiting blood, and fainting.
Witnessing Wu Xiaolan's state, Gu Qianying dared not touch the scroll directly.
She first signaled Su Cheng to move the still-lying Wu Xiaolan onto the bed inside the cottage. While Su Cheng was transferring Wu Xiaolan, Gu Qianying took a thick handkerchief from her satchel, wrapped it around the scroll, and brought it to the cottage's desk for examination.
After placing Wu Xiaolan on the bed, Su Cheng quickly joined Gu Qianying.
Su Cheng took Xiao Yihao's hand, covered the child's mouth and nose, and held his breath, waiting for Gu Qianying to unroll the mysterious scroll.
Gu Qianying, through the handkerchief, untied the scroll and gently unfurled it.
As the scroll opened, Gu Qianying and Su Cheng were presented with a depiction of wild geese, formed entirely from human bones.
However, this bone depiction of wild geese was incomplete. Whether due to a lack of bones or an intentional artistic choice by the original creator, the depicted goose was only half-formed, only flying halfway.