"Let’s hurry up and get to Elder Dao quickly to avoid any more trouble," Jing Li said.
Li Xiu nodded and left Yanbo Pool with them.
He couldn’t tell if it was an illusion, but ever since he swam across Yanbo Pool, Li Xiu had a constant feeling that sothing was watching him.
But after paying close attention for a long ti, he couldn’t find anything. After he inford Jing Li, she couldn’t find anything following them either.
Ever since they passed Yanbo Pool, the journey had been unusually calm. Even in the places marked on the map where magical creatures might appear, they didn’t encounter any.
"The Single-log Bridge is just ahead. Once we cross it and head that way, it’ll be much safer," Li Xiu said, looking ahead.
Though it’s called a Single-log Bridge, in reality, it’s a round jade pillar as thick as a bucket, extending into the cloud-like mist, and its length is unknown.
Jiuxiao Yun examined the bridge and said, "It’s said that this Single-log Bridge originally leads to the road of ghosts, with endless Hell on either side. Once you fall off, there’s no rebirth. I wonder if that’s true."
"Whether it’s true or not, as long as we cross using the thod annotated on the map, we should be fine," Li Xiu said, looking at the map. "It’s very clear; this bridge can only be crossed with closed eyes. On the bridge, you must never open your eyes; even a glance will cause you to fall instantly, and no power can save you. Once we’re on the bridge, no matter what you hear or feel, absolutely do not open your eyes."
"Got it." Jiuxiao Yun was proactive, closing his eyes and, surprisingly, being the first to step onto the Single-log Bridge. He likely knew the story of the bridge beforehand, aware that as long as he didn’t open his eyes, it should be safe.
Sha Chu was next, Li Xiu third, and Jing Li at the back.
After stepping onto the Jade Bridge, the feeling of being watched from behind intensified, making him want to turn around and look.
Li Xiu forced himself to suppress this urge, following Sha Chu forward, knowing Jing Li was behind him, so if there was anything, it would have to pass Jing Li first.
The jade pillar wasn’t wide, and with its smooth arc, crossing with open eyes would be difficult for most, let alone with closed eyes.
But for them, it wasn’t much of a problem. With a bit of caution, they wouldn’t fall off.
As Li Xiu walked, he suddenly felt a heaviness on his back, as if sothing was pressing against him. He quickly reached out to grab it but caught nothing but air.
He didn’t make a sound, fearing that if he did, Jing Li behind him might be tempted to open her eyes and check his back.
Li Xiu kept quiet, continuing forward with the weight on his back, which felt like carrying a person.
More terrifying than anything, Li Xiu seed to hear breathing by his ear, as if he truly was carrying soone whose head was right next to him, breathing.
But when he reached out to grab, he found nothing; there was only emptiness behind him.
"Commander, what’s wrong?" Jing Li heard Li Xiu’s unusual movent and asked with closed eyes.
"It’s nothing, just a discomfort in my back." Li Xiu felt a bit uneasy but casually brushed it off.
Jing Li gave a soft acknowledgnt and didn’t say more but stepped ahead, closing the distance to Li Xiu.
The breathing continued, haunting Li Xiu as he silently wondered, "Could it be I’m really under so curse?"
With no solution, Li Xiu could only bear the discomfort and keep walking.
As he walked, he suddenly felt sothing sticky and wet slide over his face, like a cold tongue, making his hairs stand and goosebumps form.
Slap!
Li Xiu slapped his own face but touched nothing but his own skin.
"What’s the matter?" Sha Chu and Jiuxiao Yun halted ahead, not daring to open their eyes, and turned to ask Li Xiu.
"Nothing, it felt like there was a mosquito. Didn’t you feel it?" Li Xiu said.
"Nonsense, there are no mosquitoes here. If there was one, it would be a magical creature," Jiuxiao Yun said, continuing forward.
"I didn’t feel anything." Sha Chu sensed sothing off with Li Xiu but truly hadn’t felt anything herself.
"Let’s keep going." Li Xiu urged Sha Chu forward, following her.
Li Xiu walked with his head down, the breathing by his ear becoming more pronounced, and the cold tongue-like thing constantly sliding across his cheeks and neck, causing his skin to erupt in goosebumps.
Having a particular dislike for such softness, and unable to see or touch it, made Li Xiu even more uncomfortable, involuntarily conjuring various images in his mind.
Yet each ti he reached to grab, he found nothing, making him doubt whether he was hallucinating.
"Could it be that the black lotus was poisonous, and the toxin has influenced , causing hallucinations?" Li Xiu could only guess this.
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