Chapter 7, The Mysterious Wooden Bridge

Seeing that Di Jiu had no interest in speaking, Yu Mu and Fang Xue also dared not say anything after finishing their dry noodles. In the forest illuminated by a hint of moonlight, only the sound of footsteps remained.

"I know, this forest used to be Wangchuan Temple..." Upon seeing Di Jiu take out the map, Yu Mu exclaimed in delight. Her joy lasted only a brief moment before she said somewhat dejectedly, "It's a pity we don't have a compass; we can only wait until tomorrow to set out."

Di Jiu carried Yu Mu on his back and walked directly towards the direction of Wangchuan Temple

"Here we will rest for half a day, and then continue walking." After a night, Di Jiu was already extremely exhausted.

The compass! Yu Mu and Fang Xue both stared excitedly at the compass in Di Jiu's hand. As long as they had the compass and the map, they were certain they could find their way out

Yu Mu continued with Fang Xue's words, "I saw Fang Xue running, so I ran after her. Fang Xue said there were several gray wolves. Although I didn't see them, I didn't doubt it in my heart. As a result, we lost all our bags and phones while running, and now we are completely lost. For the past few days, we have been eating wild fruits and roots, along with a few pieces of chocolate"

Because he also saw the shadow of the wooden bridge, he was certain that Fang Xue was not an illusion. Standing in this place, he always had a very uncomfortable feeling

Yu Mu could see nothing, and both of them could only wait for Di Jiu to speak. Although they both knew that the forest in the map of the Wangchuan Mountain Range was in the direction of Wangchuan Temple, they had never been there.

Fang Xue hesitated for a moment and then said, "At that time, I definitely saw it, but later I began to doubt whether I had seen it incorrectly. Wangchuan Temple is located on the outermost edge of the Wangchuan Mountain Range, separated from the dangerous areas of the mountain range. How could there be wolves?"

Yu Mu also sensed that something was amiss, her face turning pale. She did not see the wooden bridge, but vaguely felt a shadow disappearing in the direction of the thicket of thorns

Seeing Di Jiu frown, Fang Xue quickly said, "I went to Wangchuan Temple with Yu Mu and two other companions. I don't know what happened, but I suddenly saw a wooden bridge that I had never seen before. I have been to Wangchuan Temple a few times, and there was no such wooden bridge before. I thought it was a new attraction, so I stepped onto the bridge. Unexpectedly, just as I stepped onto the bridge, I saw several gray wolves, and I was so scared that I hurriedly ran away..." Unexpectedly, just as I stepped onto the bridge, I saw several gray wolves, and I was so scared that I hurriedly ran away...

... ...

As Di Jiu carried Yu Mu on his back, he felt two soft sensations coming at him, which brought him a sense of surprise. His surprise was not due to the softness behind him, but rather to his own physical strength

"Did you really see a wolf?" Di Jiu asked, somewhat puzzled. Logically speaking, since Wangchuan Temple is a tourist attraction, it should not be possible for several gray wolves to appear at the same time.

Ah..." As soon as Di Jiu finished speaking, Fang Xue gasped again and said in terror, "I saw the wooden bridge again, just over there."

"Brother Di, thank you. If it weren't for you saving me, I would surely have died in the Wangchuan Mountains." Yu Mu had rested on Di Jiu's back for an entire night and was now barely able to stand up.

I have a compass; if I cannot move, I will carry it on my back. We must leave now. If you do not leave, I will go first," Di Jiu said, taking out the compass and speaking without hesitation

"Brother Di, are you here for tourism as well?" The surroundings were too quiet, so Yu Mu took the initiative to ask a question

Due to his inability to practice martial arts, Di Jiu has been continuously studying various technological knowledge and the medical arts, resulting in naturally poor physical strength. This time, when he carried Yu Mu, he did not feel much strain. It now appears that his physical strength has more than doubled. Di Jiu looked down at his chest; he was certain that he had brought about a change in himself, which was still that gray stone.

I still can't see anything here," Fang Xue said with some concern, looking at the misty expanse in the distance

The items are in the backpack, we have discarded everything. Fang Xue's face flushed, as she realized that the reason she and Yu Mu had fallen to such a state was entirely due to her.

It was only that he had just undergone a change at that time, and was shocked by the news brought by Qu Xiaoshu, after which he fled from Jiguo

The three of them walked intermittently along the way, fortunately nothing happened during the night. Until the next morning, a ray of morning sunlight shone down as the three emerged from the forest, appearing on a mountaintop.

Di Jiu, who originally planned to rest here for a night, has now abandoned that intention. He sensed something strange about this place and did not believe that Fang Xue had suddenly mistaken the thicket of thorns for a wooden bridge.

Di Jiu smiled and said, "I happen to have studied some medicine and have seen the antidote for this type of snake venom."

Di Jiu nodded and said, "That's right, I am also lost. My name is Di Jiu, and you can call me by my name from now on. There is a lake not far from here; let us first go to the lakeside to stay for a night, get some food, and then continue our search for the way tomorrow during the day."

Fang Xue, who had swallowed a medicinal herb, gradually calmed down. She then said, "We can only rest for one more day before we leave; Yu Mu has no strength and simply cannot move at all"

"It is estimated to be two or three days. We have been running and living in fear during these days, and we are not particularly clear on how long it has been..." After answering Di Jiu's question, Fang Xue hesitated for a moment, looked at Di Jiu, and asked, "Elder brother, are you lost like us?"

The map that Di Jiu took out was a flat landscape view. Although it marked the cardinal directions of east, south, west, and north, Di Jiu was completely unaware of the forests, cliffs, and valleys depicted on the map.

Di Jiu and Yu Mu simultaneously looked in the direction pointed out by Fang Xue, but there was no bridge to be seen; the direction Fang Xue indicated was entirely a thicket of thorns

As long as Yu Mu is familiar with the directions on the map, he would rather travel through the night

Yes. Di Jiu replied casually and then fell silent.

No wonder I didn't feel much effort when I climbed up from that cliff

At this moment, Di Jiu began to be astonished by his own vision. Fang Xue and Yu Mu could not see anything, yet he could vaguely see several faint buildings in the distance. He was certain that his eyesight had not been this strong before, indicating that after being struck by that faint golden lightning, the changes to his body were comprehensive.

Di Jiu grasped Fang Xue's wrist, and he immediately felt the chill within it. Di Jiu took out a medicinal herb and handed it to Fang Xue, "Chew this herb into pieces and swallow it. Yu Mu, please help me take a look at this map."

How many days have you been here?

Di Jiuyi frowned; he did not continue to inquire how Yu Mu and Fang Xue had appeared here

"Brother Di, did you graduate from medical school?" Fang Xue looked at Di Jiu with some anticipation. Both she and Yu Mu were from medical school. However, when faced with that kind of snake venom, they were both at a loss. Di Jiu's treatment of Yu Mu's snake venom seemed to be quite simple.

Di Jiu's physical strength has improved significantly compared to before, and carrying Yu Mu continuously like this is starting to feel a bit overwhelming

After speaking, Di Jiu took out two pieces of dry bread and handed them to Fang Xue and Yu Mu

Thank you very much, Brother Di. Although it was their first meeting, Yu Mu understood that at this moment, there was no other way but to have Di Jiu carry her. As for the dry noodles that Di Jiu offered them, it was truly a timely assistance.

As soon as I left the forest, that uncomfortable feeling throughout my body vanished without a trace