As night fell, the lights in the farmhouse slowly went out. But Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze were not sleepy at all. They sat on the edge of the bed, silently thinking about their next plan.
"Aze, what do you think we should do next?" Xu Yuehuai asked softly.
Qi Guze pondered for a moment and said, "We must proceed with caution and avoid alerting them. We can send people to secretly observe the men lying in wait and see their movements and strength."
Xu Yuehua nodded: "That's what I think too. However, we still need to find someone who is good at swimming so that we can get into the cave."
Qi Guze smiled slightly: "Leave this to me, I'll send someone to find it."
The two discussed for a while longer before lying down to rest. Although they knew the road ahead would be even more difficult, they were prepared to face the challenges ahead.
The next morning, the birdsong in the farmyard was as melodious and clear as ever, waking the sleeping people. Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze got up early, their eyes sparkling with determination and anticipation. Standing in the courtyard, breathing in the fresh morning air, they began to plan their next move.
"Aze, we need to find out about the people lying in wait first." Xu Yuehuai frowned slightly, her expression serious.
Qi Guze nodded, his gaze sharp: "I have already arranged for several guards to keep a close watch. They will report back immediately if there is any news."
The two exchanged a smile, their understanding unspoken. Xu Yuehuai knew that Qi Guze would always stand shoulder to shoulder with her, facing all difficulties together.
Meanwhile, in a corner of the farm, Qi Ziang and Tie Chunsheng were also busy.
Qi Zi'ang was carefully bandaging the wounds of the injured guard, while Tie Chunsheng prepared tools and medicines nearby. Although they couldn't participate in the operation directly, they wanted to do their part.
"Zi'ang, how badly is the guard injured?" Xu Yuehuai walked over and asked with concern.
Qi Ziang raised his head and revealed a gentle smile: "Don't worry, his injuries have stabilized and will not affect his future actions."
Xu Yuehua nodded, feeling a surge of warmth in her heart. She knew that with them by her side, no matter how difficult the road ahead might be, she would have the courage to face it.
As night falls, the lights in the farmhouse come on again, like twinkling stars scattered across the tranquil courtyard.
Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze, along with several bodyguards skilled in swimming, quietly left the farmhouse and headed towards the northwest corner of the village.
They carefully avoided the men lying in wait, as if walking on a knife's edge, each step filled with caution and vigilance.
Arriving at the spring, one sees the water bubbling and shimmering with silver light under the moonlight, like a silver ribbon dancing in the night.
Xu Yuehuai took a deep breath, her eyes gleaming with determination, preparing to plunge into the bottomless spring. She knew she bore an important mission and could not afford to be careless.
Suddenly, a whooshing sound came from the air, and with a "whoosh," a hidden weapon flew over.
Qi Guze reacted quickly, immediately drawing his sword to protect Xu Yuehuai while cautiously looking around.
The surrounding guards also drew their weapons and stood ready, instantly creating a tense atmosphere.
"Who is it? Come out now!" Qi Guze shouted sharply, his voice echoing in the night sky.
However, all around was silent, and no one responded.
Qi Guze's eyes sharpened as he suddenly spotted a figure moving in the distance. Without hesitation, he gave chase, with Xu Yuehuai close behind.
The two chased him all the way to a dense forest, where they saw the figure standing under a large tree.
Moonlight filtered through the leaves, casting a familiar face on him—Lu Mu!
"Lu Mu, it's you!" Qi Guze roared, his eyes flashing with anger.
Lu Mu turned around, a mocking smile on his face: "Qi Guze, Xu Yuehuai, you two really aren't afraid of death. You actually dared to come here."
Xu Yuehuai stepped forward and looked coldly at Lu Mu: "Lu Mu, why did you do this? We used to be friends."
Lu Mu sneered: "Friends? Hmph, have you ever treated me sincerely? You've only ever used me as a pawn."
Qi Guze frowned and said, "Lu Mu, you've misunderstood. We've never treated you as a pawn."
Lu Mu sneered, "Misunderstanding? You keep talking about the well-being of all people, but you've never considered my feelings. I've had enough of your hypocrisy!"
Having said that, Lu Mu moved swiftly and attacked Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze.
Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze immediately drew their swords to meet the enemy, and the three engaged in a fierce battle.
Under the moonlight, swords flashed and figures crisscrossed, creating a breathtaking scene.
Xu Yuehuai was graceful and skilled in swordsmanship, with each move revealing a fierce offensive.
Qi Guze remained calm and composed, his swordsmanship steady and powerful. He and Xu Yuehuai worked in perfect harmony, one attacking and the other defending, gradually gaining the upper hand.
Although Lu Mu was brave, he was ultimately no match for the two. After a fierce battle, Lu Mu was finally defeated.
He was panting heavily, his eyes revealing resentment and anger.
“You’ve won,” Lu Mu said coldly, “but don’t expect to get away with this. I’ve already told the others, and they’ll be coming for you soon.”
After saying this, Lu Mu turned and left, disappearing into the dense forest.
Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze exchanged a glance, both seeing the worry in each other's eyes.
“We need to act quickly,” Xu Yuehuai said. “Lu Mu has already told the others about this, and we can’t delay any longer.”
Qi Guze nodded: "Yes, we need to hurry and get into that cave."
The two, along with their guards, quickly returned to the spring, preparing to dive into the water.
Xu Yuehuai took a deep breath and jumped into the spring. The icy water instantly surrounded her, but she was not afraid and swam forward with all her might.
In that deep, inky underwater world, Xu Yuehuai felt as if she were in a palace shrouded in mystery.
It was pitch black all around, with only the faint light from the guards' weapons guiding her. Her heart pounded like a drum, a mixture of tension and anticipation that threatened to tear her chest apart.
She knew that the hidden cave entrance was the ultimate goal of their expedition and the key to unraveling a series of mysteries.
However, when they finally reached the deep seabed, an indescribable resistance, like an invisible giant net, bound them tightly, preventing them from moving forward.
Xu Yuehuai felt an immense pressure surging from all directions, as if an invisible giant hand was tightly gripping her throat, making it difficult for her to breathe. She struggled with all her might, but could only spin around in place underwater, unable to move forward an inch.
Qi Guze hurriedly used his internal energy to protect her, but the effect was minimal.
"What...what exactly is going on?" Xu Yuehuai gasped for breath, turning to look at Qi Guze beside her. Her eyes were full of confusion, as if she had lost all sense of direction in the dark water.
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