Friend or foe, if there's only a glimmer of hope, keep it...

After seeing off Xu Jiaxuan and Lin Hanzhen, the team rested for a quarter of an hour before continuing their journey.

Liu Yufeng said that because of the detour, they would arrive at the ancient tomb two hours later than originally planned.

Wen Zichuan was sensitive to the lines and he paid attention to his wording. Even though his mother mentioned "Beiling Village" twice, Liu Yufeng still habitually said "ancient tomb".

This was the same reaction as Mo Ming. They didn't think that there was a village in the mountain and that the ancient tomb belonged to the village.

The last section of the journey almost challenges the limits of human beings. No matter how physically fit a person is, he has to bow to the wonders of nature. What's more, Cheng Sizhou, Wen Zichuan, and even the two police officers are not experts in this area.

Walking in the vast mountains is a double test for the body and mind.

After all, being trapped in the same colors and the same kind of scenery will only make the feeling of boredom and depression grow stronger.

Zhou Han was most worried about Cheng Sizhou's condition, so he comforted him, "Don't worry too much. As long as they return to the first platform, Da Liu's people will arrange for them to return to Mu Tao."

Cheng Sizhou wiped the sweat from his forehead, pursed his lips, glanced at the mountains in the distance, and asked, "Is the other side of the rope bridge where the truck fell off the cliff?"

"Yes." Zhou Han had analyzed the accident investigation report with him, so it was not surprising that he could guess it.

"So, we'll pass by there on our way back?"

"The terrain there is quite high, and in many places people have to be lowered down using climbing ropes. It's not suitable for going up the mountain, but the return trip is uphill, which is relatively easy."

"On my way back, I want to visit the place where I found my master."

It was natural for him to make this request. Zhou Han agreed to it on behalf of Liu Yufeng first. When they returned, the situation might have changed again. They would then see what happened.

After five o'clock in the afternoon, the sun seemed to have gone off work early, hiding in the thick clouds and refusing to show its face.

The mountain fog dispersed and gathered, and visibility was even lower than when they set out in the morning. The group was on high alert, fearing that something might go wrong at the most critical moment.

"Brother Zhou." Wen Zichuan shouted from behind.

Cheng Sizhou turned around: "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Wen Zichuan did feel a dull pain in the injured area near his hip, but what was more obvious was the muscle soreness caused by continuous walking on the mountain road, as well as the discomfort in his chest and stomach.

"Brother Zhou, I..."

"I'll call them and take a rest before leaving."

When setting out from the rope bridge, Liu Yufeng had instructed that no matter how difficult the afternoon's journey was, they had to reach the flat plain outside the ancient tomb before dark, and then make a fire and set up camp.

Because the conditions in the mountains at night are completely different from those during the day, no one can predict what will happen.

When Cheng Sizhou turned around again, his face changed completely. Wen Zichuan saw that he was holding a broken safety rope in his hand.

In this team, Liu Yufeng and Han Zhao were leading the way in the front, with them in the middle. Zhou Han and Liu Yufu were originally supporting at the back, but in order to talk to Cheng Sizhou, Zhou Han took a few quick steps and went to the front as well.

Wen Zichuan's face was full of surprise. He held the safety rope around his waist and pulled it back little by little. In the end, there was also a broken rope end - Liu Yufu was also missing!

Cheng Sizhou threw off the rope and almost instinctively grabbed Wen Zichuan's wrist!

"Could it be because... the fog is too thick..." Wen Zichuan had never encountered such a situation before, and a strong sense of fear filled his heart.

"I've looked at the map. If we continue in this direction, we should reach Beiling Village soon." Cheng Sizhou looked at him seriously. "Do you believe me?"

Wen Zichuan nodded: "I believe it."

Cheng Sizhou's judgment was not without basis. The terrain nearby was much flatter than before, and judging from the direction of the river, there should be a water source not far away.

The most obvious thing is the surrounding trees. If a place wants to build a village, the most primitive way is to cut down trees, build houses and bridges, and make farm tools. Therefore, with the village as the center, the trees will be distributed sparsely inside and densely outside.

Moreover, Cheng Sizhou firmly believed that although the mountain fog was thick, it would not cut the safety rope. If it was not accidental, it must be a human-induced inevitability.

A name was about to come out of his mouth, but he had to go to Beiling Village first before he could settle it with him.

The two walked together for about ten minutes, the fog was left behind, and the view suddenly became wider.

A winding and clear stream gurgles along the river, with a trapezoidal wooden bridge on it. The afterglow of the setting sun casts a shy hue on the distant mountains and the nearby water.

Wen Zichuan ran to the water's edge. He knew he had arrived at Beiling Village. He was pleasantly surprised and a little astonished. The scenery here at dusk was exactly the same as what he had seen in his dream!

Cheng Sizhou didn't dare to be careless and followed him immediately.

Wen Zichuan turned around and saw Brother Zhou running towards him, so he opened his arms and threw himself into his arms.

Cheng Sizhou was caught off guard and was hit in the chest: "We're here, right?"

Wen Zichuan closed his eyes, feeling that this journey was not easy: "Well, we are here."

"On the other side of the river...is that Beiling Village? Should we go there first, or wait for them?" Cheng Sizhou asked.

"Let's wait for them to come together. It's safer with more people." Wen Zichuan let go of him.

All in all, they traveled for two days, and when they were most tired, they had to rely on one breath to hold on.

Now that I finally feel a little better, the back pain comes back again.

Cheng Sizhou found a small stone block for Wen Zichuan, sat on the ground himself, then lifted one of his legs and slowly massaged his calf muscles.

This reminded Wen Zichuan of the day when he first moved to Yangliuan. Brother Zhou was the same, worried that he was tired and in pain. He always hid his concern everywhere, but refused to say it out loud.

"Have you wanted to pursue me since then?" Wen Zichuan pretended to ask, but in fact he already had the answer in his heart.

"Yes, from that time on, I fell in love with you." Sure enough, Cheng Sizhou answered exactly.

"Then why didn't you tell me?" Wen Zichuan avoided his burning gaze, his face burning in the sunset.

"I'm afraid that you'll dislike me, that you won't want me, that you're used to being the center of attention and will think that the little bit of inferior love I give you is not worthy of being shown on the stage." Cheng Sizhou pinched one leg and then switched to the other.

Wen Zichuan leaned over and held his hand: "The jade pendant has been taken away, so we don't want it anymore. I will give you another gift when I get back."

Cheng Sizhou looked up and kissed him between the eyebrows: "Okay, I like anything you give me."

The two leaned against each other, ate some food and drank some water. Not long after, there was movement in the woods behind them.

"Brother Zhou?" Cheng Sizhou asked.

"Is it them?" Wen Zichuan felt something was wrong.

Cheng Sizhou stared at the woods, his hands quickly packing his things. When the shadow of the tree flickered, he immediately slung his bag over his shoulder, took Wen Zichuan by the hand, and ran while whispering, "It's not a human, hurry up."

Wen Zichuan just ran after him: "What is it? A beast?"

Cheng Sizhou hummed, "I can't tell if it's a bear or what."

If we really wait until they see clearly, it will be too late to run away.

Cheng Sizhou originally wanted to cross the wooden bridge and run into the village. If there were people in the village, maybe they could unite to fight the beast first.

Unfortunately, there were bushes beside the bridge, and the black shadow had only half appeared when Cheng Sizhou immediately changed direction.

He observed the terrain and walked upstream against the river. The river channel upstream was relatively narrow. If all else failed, they could swim across the river and then run back to the village from the high slope on the opposite bank.

But the two of them had very little strength left. Although they ran as fast as they could, they could still hear the increasingly frequent sounds of animals chasing them from behind.

"Zichuan, listen to me." Cheng Sizhou ignored the pain in his lungs that felt like they were exploding. "Do you see the narrowest part of the creek ahead? Jump in. You're from Fengbo, so you can swim, right? Swim to the other side and ask for help..."

"What about you?!"

"I won't go in the water, I'll lead them away!"

"No! No way!"

"It's too late! If I escape danger, I will come to find you!"

Wen Zichuan looked at him hatefully. Why did he have to be sacrificed to save himself every time he was in danger?

If something happens to him, can I live happily for the rest of my life?

Seeing that the narrowest part of the river was getting closer, Wen Zichuan suddenly threw out the broken safety rope and quickly fastened the two of them together.

"……what you do?!"

Before Cheng Sizhou could struggle out, Wen Zichuan had already grabbed him and jumped into the river.

They were both tall and the river water was less than waist-deep. Even though they kept stumbling and struggling in the water, Wen Zichuan firmly pulled him forward.

Water does indeed scare animals. After they went into the river, the footsteps behind them stopped.

Soon, a whistle was heard in the woods, and the group of wild beasts seemed to have heard the call and jumped into the water with a "splash".

After swimming ashore, Cheng Sizhou and Wen Zichuan no longer had any strength left, but the "pursuers" were approaching, and they could not sit and wait to die.

"Tian Liang, I know it's you! Before driving us away, at least make sure whether you are an enemy or a friend?" Cheng Sizhou didn't care whether he could understand or not, but since he knew how to train dogs, he was definitely not a complete fool.

Wen Zichuan didn't see Xiao Liang, but he understood why Brother Zhou didn't run away. The "beasts" chasing him were not bears or other ferocious beasts, but dogs, very thin dogs.

The reason why Brother Zhou couldn’t see clearly just now was because those dogs were covered with rags like Xiao Liang, with only their eyes and mouths and noses exposed.

The dogs did not receive any instructions from their owner, so they didn't know whether to go into the water to chase. They went into the water when they heard the whistle. The rags became very heavy after being soaked in water, and they could not run anymore.

"Xiao Liang, we mean no harm. My mother used to live in the village. She was a good friend of Chief Wu Heng and a colleague of Captain Na Zhaohuan. We just want to visit them and find out what happened back then."

Wen Zichuan held on to a glimmer of hope when talking to him. Judging from Mu Tao's situation, Xiao Liang might listen to some of his words.

It turned out that the skinny wild dogs were bluffing. Cheng Sizhou took out a few sausages and threw them to them. They were immediately attracted by the aroma of the meat and started to eat them with a "huffing" sound.

But where is Xiao Liang?

He has to keep watching in secret and causing trouble endlessly, which is quite a headache.

"Who?!" Someone patted Wen Zichuan on the shoulder. He turned around suddenly and saw a face covered with rags and a pair of cold eyes right in front of him!

He opened his mouth, but before he could make a sound, Xiao Liang suddenly reached out and pushed him!

Wen Zichuan always believed that Xiao Liang had his own reasons. Even if he was stupid and bad-tempered, it was because of fate that he was tortured into this state. His nature was not bad.

It was not until the moment he fell that he realized how wrong he was.

There was a hillside under their feet. Cheng Sizhou wanted to protect him, but was knocked over by the huge force. In desperation, the two of them could only grab each other and roll down the hill together.

He didn't know how many times he rolled over, but the dizziness made Cheng Sizhou gradually numb. The sky, trees and land originally had their own functions, but now they were like an overturned palette, all mixed together.

Not long after, they seemed to hit something and thought they could finally stop, but unexpectedly they fell into a strange pit!

Dizziness and weightlessness made all the questions about life and death run through his mind.

Finally, he gave up the futile struggle and used all his strength to protect Wen Zichuan's vitals, praying that he could support him like a cushion.

If there is only one chance of survival, he would like nothing else but to leave it to the one he loves most.