As I led the charge, everyone quickened their pace and rushed towards the paper figures.
As I was running, I felt a chill on my neck and realized that a snake was hanging on me. I slapped it off and then rushed to a paper figure.
"Pfft!"
With a single slash, I cut open the paper figure's head, spitting out ink-like blood.
After the paper figure collapsed, a small crack suddenly appeared in its lower back, and then all the other Gu creatures hidden inside it crawled out and disappeared into the darkness.
Seeing the fleeing Gu creatures, I shouted to the others, "These Gu creatures are very timid. If one of them is injured, the others will run away and attack the paper figure's hands, feet, and limbs!"
After hearing my words, everyone else split into pairs and rushed towards the paper figures.
These paper figures, controlled by the Gu, were not very powerful and could only use poisonous snakes and insects as their means of attack. So, after one round of our charge, they quickly fell into chaos and fled back into the forest.
I saw the paper figures run away and breathed a slight sigh of relief: "Heading towards the river, everyone watch out for traps!"
After driving away the paper figures, we quickly went to the riverbank and found an open space to rest.
After the fierce battle, I was slightly exhausted and asked breathlessly, "When people are in a state of adrenaline surge, they can't feel pain. Everyone, check each other to see if anyone is injured!"
"Duan Shenxing, your neck is bleeding!"
Jiang Man glanced at me, then quickly walked over and shone her flashlight on me: "There's blood on your neck, you were bitten by a poisonous snake!"
When I heard Jiang Man say that, I reached up and touched the back of my neck. Sure enough, I felt slippery blood and two small bite marks.
But I didn't feel any touch from your fingers on my neck at all; it was as if I were touching someone else.
I have lost consciousness!
This is not a good thing, because it shows that snake venom has a paralyzing effect.
I took out the antidote pill that Wang Qing had taught me to prepare from my backpack and swallowed it. I then asked Jiang Man, "What does the wound on my neck look like now?"
"That's normal, there are only two bloody holes!"
What color is the blood that flows out?
"red!"
Is the skin around it swollen?
"No, it's like there are two holes punched in it by a nail."
I frowned slightly when I heard Jiang Man's reply.
Based on her description, it didn't seem like I had been bitten by a venomous snake, but I still didn't dare to be careless. I took out a paper packet and handed it to her: "Help me squeeze out the blood from the wound, and then sprinkle this powder on it!"
We went into the woods to rescue people, but Qu Ruilin had called us in. When he saw my condition, he asked with some guilt, "Can you hold on?"
"The snakes here are strange. My wound doesn't hurt or itch, and I don't have any symptoms of poisoning. It's really puzzling!"
I stretched my body and found that everything was normal so far. My hands and feet were not numb. I nodded and said, "There are no problems for now. Now that we've reached the river, let's start the search and rescue as soon as possible! To improve efficiency, our three groups need to split up now. Jiang Man and Manjing will search upstream, while Monkey and Lin Que will search downstream. We'll return by daybreak, regardless of whether we've found anyone else!"
The monkey nodded: "Young Master Duan, where are you going?"
"Let's go to the other side of the river."
I explained, "Besides looking for people, we also need to look for traces left by Wei Shengnan and the others, so we can't just focus on one side. Qu Ruilin and I will be responsible for the other side, which will minimize any omissions!"
"But is your body capable of handling it?"
Jiang Man looked at the wound on my neck, her eyes full of worry: "How about we change the groups? Let me be in your group, that way I can take care of you!"
"Alright, we're short on time, let's not waste any more time and set off now!"
At this moment, I was also worried that something might happen to my body. If I really ended up in a group with Jiang Man, I would become a burden to her if we encountered any danger. Since I had promised Jiang Tianyi that I would protect her, I had to keep my promise.
Ignoring Jiang Man's advice, Qu Ruilin and I left the group first, crossed the river, and entered the woods on the other side.
To avoid attracting the attention of those paper figures, we left with our flashlights off. All the high-tech equipment prepared by the Wei family was in the hands of the scattered people, making it very difficult for Qu Ruilin and me to move forward in the dim moonlight.
Qu Ruilin walked ahead, using his knife to cut off the obstructing branches, and said, "The paper doll attacks we encountered earlier were much stronger than the ones we just saw. Moreover, those paper dolls only threw snakes, not poisonous insects. We were lucky. If we encounter those paper dolls again and I am attacked by poisonous insects, you don't need to worry about me; just run for your own life."
I raised an eyebrow at Qu Ruilin: "What do you mean by that?"
“You entered the jungle for our sake, there’s no need for you to risk your lives to follow. Even if you abandon me, I have nothing to say.”
Before I could ask anything, Qu Ruilin added, "Of course, if you were in danger, I would save you at any cost!"
Hearing his words, I was somewhat unhappy: "Qu Ruilin, I want to know, in your heart, which is more important, the Four Gates or hatred?"
Qu Ruilin glanced at me but didn't say anything.
I stared at my surroundings and continued, "Actually, in your heart, finding Duan Jinyan is the most important thing. For you, the Four Gates are just a force you can rely on, to the point that you've ignored me. I am also a member of the Four Gates, right?"
"I have no idea."
Qu Ruilin shook his head, remained silent for a few seconds, and then continued, "Don't you feel any sense of unfamiliarity with the Four Gates? We grow up in normal environments, and then one day, someone finds you, tells you that they are from the Four Gates, and asks you to revitalize this ancient alliance that you have never been in contact with before. Don't you find that strange?"
Although this is the foundation our family has upheld for generations, I know very little about it. My upbringing has made me stubborn and obstinate. To be frank, I cannot calmly consider anything until I avenge my father. However, I will not harm or betray the Four Gates; otherwise, the beliefs my father upheld with his life would be meaningless!
Hearing this fairly honest answer, I replied, "If we really encounter danger, I won't abandon you. I know you hate Duan Jinyan, but he is him, and I am me! And you don't need to feel indebted to me. I saved Wei Shengnan, not you!"
"Shh!"
Qu Ruilin suddenly interrupted me, making a shushing gesture and pointing with his chin to the bushes ahead: "There are people there!"
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