The Secret of the Mysterious Man
Lin Yu tried hard to calm his rapidly beating heart, pretending to be calm, and asked with a slightly trembling voice: "Who are you? Why are you here?" He held the branch tightly in his hand, as if it was his only support, and stared vigilantly at the mysterious figure in front of him.
The mysterious man was silent for a moment, the fog around him seeming to grow thicker as he remained silent. Slowly, he began to speak, "I am the guardian of this forest. You have trespassed where you are not allowed to." His voice was low and hoarse, as if it came from the distant past, filled with endless vicissitudes and fatigue.
Suna's body trembled involuntarily, and her teeth chattered as she said, "Guardian? Then what is hidden here?" Her eyes were full of fear and curiosity, and her hands tightly grasped the corner of Lin Yu's clothes, as if this could give her a sense of security.
The mysterious man sighed deeply, a sigh that seemed especially heavy in the silent forest. "This is not a truth you can bear, but since you've come this far, I will tell you." His gaze grew deep and distant, as if he had traveled through time and space. "This forest is cursed, and the human-shaped tree is the source of the curse."
Lin Yu frowned, his doubts growing stronger. "Curse? Why would there be such a curse?" His mind kept flashing back to the horrific scenes he had encountered in the forest, trying to connect them with this mysterious curse.
The mysterious man gazed into the distance, lost in deep recollection. His eyes grew hazy, as if glimpsing a distant past. "Long ago, in pursuit of endless power, the people here overexploited and destroyed nature. They cut down precious trees, dug for hidden treasures, and hunted rare animals. Their greedy desires robbed them of their reverence for nature. The gods, enraged, sent down this curse, plunging the land into chaos and fear. The human-shaped tree is a symbol of the gods' wrath, its existence a warning to humanity of their sins."
Suna opened her eyes wide in horror and said in a tearful voice, "Then what should we do? How can we lift the curse?" Her heart was filled with despair, as if she had already seen the inevitable tragic ending.
The mysterious man slowly shook his head, his black robe swaying gently in the breeze. "Lifting the curse is no easy task. You must find three sacred artifacts, each located in three dangerous locations within the forest. Each location is filled with unknown challenges and deadly dangers." His gaze fell on Lin Yu and Suna, a tinge of pity and concern.
Lin Yu took a deep breath, his eyes revealing a firm determination. "No matter how dangerous it is, we are willing to try." His voice was not loud, but it was full of power. He knew that this was their only way out and a responsibility they had to bear.
The mysterious man nodded slightly and pulled out an ancient map from his pocket. The paper was yellowed, the edges frayed, and intricate lines and symbols were drawn on it. "This map marks the location of the holy relic, but the journey is filled with unknown dangers and trials." He gently ran his finger over the map, as if reminding them of the difficulties and obstacles ahead.
Lin Yu and Suna took the map and looked at each other. In each other's eyes, they saw fear, but more of it was determination and courage.
Lin Yu said: "Thank you, Guardian. No matter what the outcome is, we will do our best."
Suna also mustered up the courage to say, "Yes, we won't give up easily."
The mysterious man waved his hand and said, "Go ahead. I hope you can succeed and save this forest and yourselves."
They turned and left, following the map's instructions, heading towards the location of the first relic. The fog in the forest grew thicker, and the path became increasingly rugged and difficult to navigate. The trees on either side seemed to transform into hideous monsters, extending twisted branches to block their path.
Lin Yu walked in front, using a branch to push away the thorns blocking the road. "Suna, be careful, follow me closely." His voice echoed in the silent forest.
Suna followed closely behind, breathing rapidly. "Lin Yu, I feel like this place is getting more and more scary."
"Don't be afraid, we will definitely find the holy object and lift the curse." Lin Yu comforted her and encouraged himself at the same time.
Suddenly, a chilling wind blew, bringing a chill. Eerie laughter could be heard all around them, as if countless ghosts were mocking their presumptuous behavior.
"Who is it?" Lin Yu shouted loudly.
However, only laughter echoed in the forest, getting farther and farther away.
As they continued to move forward, the ground beneath their feet became muddy and each step required great effort.
"Lin Yu, I can't walk anymore." Suna's shoes were covered in mud and her steps were heavy.
Lin Yu stopped and looked back at Suna. "Come, let me help you."
Hand in hand, they trudged through the mud. After walking for an unknown amount of time, they finally saw the first spot marked on the map—a deep valley.
The valley was filled with thick fog, and the bottom was unclear. "Is this the first dangerous place?" Suna's voice was filled with fear.
Lin Yu looked at the valley and gritted his teeth. "No matter what, we have to go down and take a look."
They walked down the hillside carefully, and every step was full of danger. Suddenly, Lin Yu slipped and almost rolled down.
"Lin Yu!" Suna screamed.
Lin Yu grabbed a branch in time and stabilized his body. "I'm fine, be careful."
Finally, they reached the bottom of the valley. It was dark, damp, and filled with a foul odor. It was eerily quiet, with only the sound of water dripping down the stone walls.
"Where is the holy object?" Lin Yu held the map and looked for clues everywhere.
Just then, a huge bat flew over their heads, making Suna scream.
"Don't be afraid, it's just a bat." Lin Yu comforted.
Suddenly, they heard a low roar coming from the darkness in the distance...
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