Chapter 2: A Critical Moment

It turns out that all of this was just a dream, an ethereal daydream

Seeing the traces of grass trampled on a narrow path extending upward at the edge of the cliff, Du Feiyun's gaze sharpened, and without a moment's hesitation, he stepped onto the narrow path.

At the edge of the cliff before him, there was a pair of pale and slender little hands, the fair wrists covered in bloodstains, with veins prominently visible, desperately gripping a cluster of vines growing at the cliff's edge

Following the winding path to the halfway up the mountain, Du Feiyun gazed from a distance at the towering green boulder standing at the edge of the cliff, only to find that there was not a single person beneath the boulder

However, when Du Feiyun arrived at the end of this path and clearly saw the scene before him, he was instantly filled with rage, a surge of anger erupting from his chest.

However, his backpack has truly disappeared, and this matter is exceedingly strange

Worried about his sister's safety, Du Feiyun disregarded the danger and resolutely stepped onto this untraveled path.

Du Feiyun was instantly stunned, as images from the dream he had just experienced gradually surfaced in his mind. He recalled that he seemed to have entered a city.

This narrow path is situated on the side of the mountain, with a steep cliff covered in vines on the left and a several hundred zhang deep abyss on the right, where white mist flows gently, obscuring the view below the cliff and making it difficult to see clearly

Haha, this Baishi Peak is rarely visited by people; even if I were to kill you, no one would know. You might as well accept your fate

His entire body felt a slight prickling sensation in the pores. Du Feiyun looked up at the scorching sunlight in the sky and then noticed the large rock beneath him. It was only then that he realized he had actually fallen asleep on the rock and had slept until noon.

The owner of those bloodied little hands is a young woman of about sixteen or seventeen years old, dressed in a blue linen long shirt. Beneath a slightly disheveled head of dark hair, her pale face, devoid of any color, is marked by determination and resilience

After winding upward for approximately one hundred zhang, Du Feiyun's gaze suddenly fell upon a cluster of chaotic rocks ahead. Amidst the gray-brown jumble of stones, a strand of blue-green linen fabric stood out conspicuously.

She bit her lip tightly, stubbornly raising her head to glare at the man in purple on the path, her clear eyes filled with fury and a hint of despair

Clearly, under the forged long sword of tempered steel, the vine as thick as a thumb stands no chance of survival; equally doomed is the woman named Du Wanquing, who clutches the vine.

The young man, approximately seventeen or eighteen years old, held a finely crafted steel sword in one hand, his body slightly leaning forward as he gazed down at the cliff beneath him, the sword raised high in his hand, poised as if to strike.

He subconsciously looked ahead, but saw only the usual scene: the undulating peaks in the distance, the swirling mist nearby, and the thickets of thorny vines around him. Where could there be a city!

Having finished speaking, the man in purple suddenly tightened his grip on the long sword in his hand. In the next moment, he swung it down towards the vines at his feet with a sharp sound of slicing through the air

After running along the winding path for a while, I turned a corner and before me lay a stretch of path only a few dozen meters long; at this point, the path had reached its end

In the midst of his chaotic thoughts, Du Feiyun's mind was filled with legends of gods and spirits, and he recalled the strange occurrences happening to him. Despite the bright sun shining overhead, even the usually bold Du Feiyun felt a slight chill running down his back

He stepped forward to pick up the piece of fabric, holding it in his palm for a closer inspection, and soon realized that it was a sleeve made of coarse linen, seemingly torn by a sharp object. He distinctly remembered that this morning, when he left home, he saw his sister wearing a blue linen garment.

Sister! https://www.hetushu.com.com

The entire path is only slightly over 2 feet wide, and it is covered with slippery green moss, as well as various thorny vines. In some areas, rugged clusters of stones also emerge, making it extremely difficult to traverse.

The unease in his heart grew stronger as Du Feiyun clutched the fabric in one hand and hurriedly continued along the narrow path. He stepped over numerous slippery mosses, navigated through dense vines, and crossed over the abrupt, jagged stones, all the while focused solely on finding his sister, Du Wanqing, as quickly as possible

Oh no, I actually slept for such a long time. Today, I will collect one less pound of medicinal herbs and earn ten less wen!

The gentle mountain breeze brushed against his cheeks, and Du Feiyun's ears keenly caught a sharp sound mingling with the wind. His heart suddenly tightened, and without bothering to wipe the sweat from his face, he hurriedly moved forward.

Whether in another bustling and restless world or here, he has always been toiling for money and a living. It must be said that this is a very tragic matter

No, I have to change places to gather herbs tomorrow! Du Feiyun dared not think wildly any longer, quickly got up, jumped down from the large rock, and headed down the mountain.

A sharp pain surged from his face and arms, the burning and intense agony causing Du Feiyun to open his eyes and scramble up. Rubbing his aching cheeks with both hands, Du Feiyun gradually began to regain his senses

At the end of a path ten zhang away from him stood a figure dressed in purple satin brocade. This was a tall and upright man, with a face like a crowned jade and a jade belt hanging at his waist, exuding an air of elegance. However, the cold smile on the young man's face made him appear rather sinister.

Despite the many thorns growing on that vine, the delicate little hands were pricked, causing blood to flow continuously, yet the owner of those hands never let go. For beneath her was an unfathomable abyss.

Upon seeing this, Du Feiyun felt a sudden jolt in her heart, as an ominous premonition surfaced. The steaming dishes indicated that her sister had been there, yet at this moment, she was nowhere to be found

Arriving at the Listening Wind Rock, Du Feiyun looked around and was just about to leave the mountain when his gaze suddenly fell on a crevice not far in front of him. In the gap between two massive stones, some food was scattered, with two steamed buns rolling to the side, covered in numerous ants. An old black lunchbox had also shattered into several pieces, scattered haphazardly around.

Did my sister not come today? As Du Feiyun pondered this in his heart, he quickly walked towards the Listening Wind Stone. If Du Wanquing did not come, he would have to go down the mountain with the *illustrated* book and return home for a meal.

Feeling somewhat guilty for having dozed off in a daze, Du Feiyun turned to look for his backpack, intending to gather herbs, only to find that he was surrounded by nothing; the backpack had vanished without a trace

With anxiety in his heart, Du Feiyun shouted loudly, his eyes urgently searching all around. However, he did not see that graceful figure; only his voice echoed through the mountains.

At that moment, the man in purple, with a cold smile at the corner of his mouth, spoke. He looked down at the tragic figure of the woman at the edge of the cliff and, with a hint of regret, said: "Du Wanquing, it is your fortune that this young master has taken a liking to you. How many young girls in Baishi Town have sought to marry into the Qin family as the young mistress but have been unable to? I never expected you to be so stubborn. Since what Qin Shouyi cannot obtain, I will not allow others to have either. Today, do not blame this young master for being ruthless."

Sister

After calling out several times without receiving a response, Du Feiyun carefully examined the surroundings while continuously analyzing and speculating the reasons in his mind

On weekdays, he would usually return home at noon for lunch. If he did not come home for a meal, his sister would bring the food to the mountain. Thinking that his sister Du Wanquing might have been waiting under the scorching sun for a long time, Du Feiyun hurried towards the Listening Wind Stone halfway up the mountain