Hua Qianqian led Gu Jiangyue and Xie Jiuan to a suspension bridge. The bridge swayed precariously across the entire valley. Several boards, worn out due to years of disrepair, were haphazardly placed, and it seemed a few were missing. Even the iron chains that secured the bridge on either side were rusty.
"The Wood Spirit Moon Orchid is on the other side of the bridge. You can get it once you cross."
There was still a faint smile on Hua Qianqian's lips. Looking at the rickety suspension bridge, Gu Jiangyue followed her gaze. The end of the bridge was hidden in the thick fog, making it impossible to see where it led.
Xie Jiuan also seemed to notice the bridge with an unknown end. Without saying a word, he walked directly to Hua Qianqian's side.
Taking advantage of Hua Qianqian's moment of confusion, he struck her chest with a palm wind like lightning. Then, when Hua Qianqian opened her mouth in pain to catch her breath, he tossed a pill into it.
"What did you give me!"
No matter how calm Hua Qianqian usually was, she couldn't help but panic at this moment. She kept digging at her throat, trying to spit out the white pill, but to no avail.
"You'll die without my antidote."
Xie Jiuan just smiled faintly and didn't answer Hua Qianqian's question. Then he looked at Gu Jiangyue and said softly,
"Let's go."
After Gu Jiangyue nodded, he took her hand and led her carefully onto the suspension bridge.
One board seemed unable to bear the weight of two people. After pulling Gu Jiangyue onto the bridge, Xie Jiuan let go of her hand. He walked in front, paving the way for Gu Jiangyue.
The two walked carefully one after the other. Their figures seemed so precarious in the vast valley and on the dilapidated bridge. Hua Qianqian had already given up the idea of spitting out the pill. She could tell that Xie Jiuan must be highly skilled in martial arts.
Xie Jiuan would turn to look at Gu Jiangyue from time to time. The concern in his eyes made Hua Qianqian grind her teeth in hatred. A sarcastic smile appeared on Hua Qianqian's lips. She hated heartless men who feigned affection the most in her life.
Time passed by second by second. They had already walked halfway across the suspension bridge. Gu Jiangyue was swaying in mid - air, and all her senses were infinitely magnified. She was just a young lady from a large family, and every step she took was almost driven by her will to save Gu Yi.
Xie Jiuan was truly highly skilled in martial arts. Although the bridge swayed violently, he could still keep his balance.
But at this moment, a strong gust of wind blew through the valley. The already overburdened suspension bridge swayed wildly in mid - air. Gu Jiangyue and Xie Jiuan were standing in the middle and could only try their best to control their body balance.
"Go to hell, both of you!"
A shrill scream from a woman rang out. Gu Jiangyue quickly turned around and saw Hua Qianqian's red figure standing in front of the wooden stake that held the suspension bridge.
"Don't!"
Gu Jiangyue seemed to guess what Hua Qianqian was about to do. But before she could finish her words, she saw Hua Qianqian activate some kind of mechanism and pull out the wooden stake. Then Gu Jiangyue felt the already loose suspension bridge sway again and tilt violently to one side.
In that instant, Gu Jiangyue felt that the air around her was filled with the smell of death. She grabbed onto one side tightly with one hand and barely hung on. Once a wooden stake was pulled out, the bridge was bound to tilt.
Gu Jiangyue could only pray that the side she grabbed in a hurry still had a wooden stake. Otherwise, with such a strong wind, she would surely be blown away.
But in that instant, Gu Jiangyue felt her body constantly falling. Her heart sank. She knew she had made the wrong choice.
In the strong wind, Gu Jiangyue's white figure looked even more frail. She hadn't taken revenge yet, and Gu Yi's illness hadn't been cured. She couldn't die yet.
The desire to survive forced Gu Jiangyue to hold onto the chain tightly. The violent fall made her hand loosen for a moment, but she managed to grab it back firmly with the help of the wind.
"Quick! Give me your hand!"
Gu Jiangyue looked in the direction of the voice and saw Xie Jiuan holding onto the chain with one hand and reaching out the other.
Xie Jiuan's clothes fluttered in the strong wind. The wind was too strong, and they were still in the air. Xie Jiuan couldn't even use his light - body technique.
"I can't reach!"
Gu Jiangyue tried to climb up, but she was already exhausted. There was a distance between them. Gu Jiangyue was holding onto the chain with both hands. One careless move and she would fall into the abyss.
Xie Jiuan noticed that Gu Jiangyue's face was pale and there was a lot of blood on her hands from the friction. She would soon fall due to lack of strength. Xie Jiuan didn't have time to think. He had to take a desperate gamble.
Xie Jiuan let go of the chain and rushed towards Gu Jiangyue. In the strong wind, his body tilted for a moment but he quickly steadied himself.
The distance between them kept shrinking. Finally, Xie Jiuan grabbed Gu Jiangyue. With the help of the wind, Xie Jiuan tried to use his light - body technique. He put his arm around Gu Jiangyue, and after a thrilling moment, they finally landed on a board.
The sound of "crack, crack" rang out. Before Gu Jiangyue could catch her breath, she heard the sound of the board under her feet about to break under the pressure.
"Hahaha. You two are really deeply in love! Now this bridge can only bear the weight of one person. If you don't jump off one of you, you'll both die!"
Hua Qianqian stood on the edge of the bridge, laughing maniacally. She was about to pull out another wooden stake, which was still wobbling in the ground.
Gu Jiangyue finally realized that Hua Qianqian wasn't afraid of death at all.
"If you want to live, push him off. All men in the world are heartless! If you don't, it'll be you who falls!"
Hua Qianqian's words were obviously meant for Gu Jiangyue. Hua Qianqian had conducted countless tests on this bridge. Every time, those men who showed deep affection would always push the women off after she said those words to survive.
Gu Jiangyue frowned and looked at Hua Qianqian. It seemed that Hua Qianqian had been deeply hurt by a man, which was why she was like this.
"What should we do now?!"
As Hua Qianqian spoke, even the chain in Gu Jiangyue's hand started to sink. She looked at Xie Jiuan anxiously.
Xie Jiuan didn't say a word, as if he was thinking about something. But Gu Jiangyue reacted first.
"After you leave, please protect Gu Yi for me and kill Xie Chengrui. Only then can I die in peace."
Gu Jiangyue made up her mind. She was already exhausted, and Xie Jiuan had a greater chance of getting out. But as she looked at Xie Jiuan, her voice couldn't help but choke.
Xie Jiuan also saw what Gu Jiangyue was about to do. Without saying a word, he just glanced at the cliff and then immediately jumped off.
"Xie Jiuan! Come back!"