But Li Xi still decided to go and scout ahead first, and Hong Ying couldn't dissuade her, so she went with her.
She gripped her sword tightly and carefully parted the branches and vines in front of her.
In the dense forest, sunlight struggles to penetrate the thick canopy, leaving only dappled light and shadow dancing on the ground, adding an eerie atmosphere.
The air was thick with a damp and rotten smell, mixed with a nauseating miasma odor.
Li Xi took a deep breath and tried to hold it, afraid of inhaling too much toxic gas.
She could hear the calls of various animals from time to time, some of which were unfamiliar, and others were terrifying.
Walking along a winding path, with thick layers of fallen leaves and decaying wood underfoot, requires extra caution with every step to avoid slipping or getting stuck in the mud.
The surrounding trees were tall and dense, their branches intertwined to form dark corners, as if hiding endless secrets.
Li Xi remained vigilant at all times, fearing that something unexpected might happen.
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew in, bringing an even stronger, pungent smell; this must be miasma.
She felt short of breath after just one breath and felt as if she was expelling the miasma she had inhaled.
Li Xi quickened her pace, wanting to leave this dangerous area as soon as possible.
However, the dense forest seemed to have no end, and the paths became increasingly difficult to discern.
At this moment, the miasma in the air became even thicker.
It was as if a thick curtain had formed, enveloping the entire space.
These miasma swirled around Li Xi as if they were alive, making it increasingly difficult for her to breathe and blurring her vision.
She kept circulating her qi, trying to expel the miasma she had inhaled, but the effect became less and less noticeable.
These miasmas seemed to be eroding her body, gradually consuming her inner strength.
Faced with such a predicament, Li Xi knew she could no longer persevere.
So, with her last bit of strength, she used the surrounding branches and vines to leap with difficulty to the top of the tree.
Standing on high ground, Li Xi took a deep breath and then blew the whistle in her hand.
A crisp whistle echoed through the dense forest, carrying a hint of anxiety and anticipation.
Before long, a huge golden eagle appeared in response.
However, the appearance of the golden eagle did not make Li Xi feel at ease, because it was clearly also filled with fear of the pervasive miasma.
The golden eagle circled in the air a few times, but never dared to approach the area where the miasma was thick.
Its movements appeared somewhat restless, as if it was hesitating whether to risk moving forward.
Li Xi understood the golden eagle's worries, but she had no choice but to wait for it to take her away from this dangerous place.
Finally, the golden eagle mustered its courage and flew away from the miasma.
As they continued to ascend, the man and the eagle gradually moved away from the top of the dense forest.
Only then did Li Xi relax a little, and she felt her body gradually regain some strength.
It seems that she won't be able to get inside unless she finds a way to solve the miasma problem.
But would those people really be hiding in a place like this?
In such a harsh environment, I doubt anyone could survive.
Perhaps there are other passages here?
As Li Xi pondered these questions, she gazed down at the dense forest below.
She thought to herself: This forest is so vast, how easy would it be to find those people? Moreover, it's full of dangers and unknowns; a single misstep could lead to certain death.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but frown.
Just then, a gentle breeze blew by, bringing with it a faint smell of decay.
Li Xi's heart tightened; she immediately realized it was the smell of miasma. She quickly held her breath and urged the eagle to continue ascending. Fortunately, the eagle seemed to sense the danger as well, and with great effort, flapped its wings, flying towards higher skies.
Not long after, she returned to the Hidden Sect's stronghold. At this time, Hong Gu was still communicating with the animals, trying to find some useful clues.
She didn't disturb her grandmother, who was listening intently to a parrot cooing.
After a while, Hongying picked up the ceramic bowl placed beside her and carefully poured out two handfuls of its contents.
These things look like tiny particles, floating in the air and emitting a faint fragrance.
Hongying's movements were light and skillful, as if she had done this many times before.
As the sun was setting, Hongying finished her work and, seeing Li Xi standing to the side, asked in surprise, "When did you get back?"
"I just got back a short while ago." Li Xi looked at the various small animals in the yard: "Grandma, what are those little particles?"
Hongying gently patted the dust off her hands and explained, "This is special feed I'm preparing for the parrots. These pellets are carefully ground from various herbs and grains. I have to feed them well before they can work, otherwise they'll ignore me."
Seeing her downcast mood, Hongying asked with concern, "How are you? Did you find anything?"
Li Xi shook her head and told her grandmother in detail about what she had encountered in the forest.
Upon hearing this, Hongying frowned, clearly also worried about the dangers in the dense forest.
“It seems we need to send them to find other paths that lead to the depths of the forest, but these small animals are not capable enough to get in,” Hong Gu pondered.
Li Xi suddenly thought of the gas masks from later generations. If they could be made, they would surely be able to protect against the miasma.
Thinking of this, she hurriedly went to Elder Lin's courtyard.
He found some materials from various places, and after almost an afternoon, she finally made a gas mask.
Fortunately, tanned cowhide was quite common in those days, making it ideal for making bird beak masks.
She had previously read a book on Western medieval history, which contained many accounts of the devastation caused by the Black Death.
To prevent infection, doctors at the time wore linen or canvas shirts soaked in wax. They wore black hats and bird-beak-shaped masks that filtered the air, with their eyes protected by transparent glass.
Glass is not common here today, perhaps it has not yet been introduced to this continent.
So she used crystal instead, having it polished into crystal-clear lenses and inlaid in the eye area of the mask.
The bird's beak was stuffed with cotton cloth soaked in medicine to filter out the miasma.
This medicine was prepared by her maternal grandmother.
During the decades she suffered from amnesia, she learned a lot about pharmacology from an old doctor in the village.
We have encountered major disasters like plagues before.
Fortunately, they had medical books left behind by the old doctor to guide them, which enabled them to cope with the situation.
Although Hongying's medical skills are not as good as Meng Zhelan's, she still has thirty years of experience.
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