Li Lin and the other two members of the group were just getting ready to head down the mountain when, the moment he turned around, Li Lin spotted an unusual red glow at the edge of the cliff.
Driven by curiosity, Li Lin stopped in his tracks, couldn't help walking over toward the edge of the cliff, and called out, "Wait, let me go take a look. There seems to be something over there."
With that, he walked toward the cliff's edge. Li Tiansheng and Li Huahua were also stunned, completely baffled, and had no choice but to follow along to see what was going on.
When Li Lin reached the edge of the cliff, what came into view was a lush expanse of ancient forest. Far off at the foot of the mountain was actually that very pond—the place where they often grazed their cattle.
A little further away, a few scattered houses stood here and there, sparse and few in number. Li Lin squinted for a long time, unable to tell whether it was Li Family Village; anyway, he couldn't make out anything definitive. After all, this mountain seemed a bit too high, and distant places were all terribly blurry. Looking down from here, the pond appeared no larger than a fist.
After pondering for a moment in his mind, he immediately understood: this was the concave left side of Sunset Mountain, and right below the cliff was that recessed area. Looking toward the other side, a towering peak similar to this one must be the mountain on the right side of Sunset Mountain's concave section.
Below was a deep valley, entirely lush and green. Further out, things weren't very clear, but it looked somewhat like a patch of scorched black earth, as if it had been burned by something—though it was simply too far away to see distinctly through the haze.
Pulling back his gaze, he looked down at his feet. The object emitting the red glow was unexpectedly a small, unknown tree—or one could call it a weed. It was entirely emerald green, with its leaves surrounding it left and right, numbering only nine long leaves. Atop them sat a bright red, unknown fruit radiating a crimson glow. It was exuding an enticing, fresh fragrance that made one's mouth water and appetite stir.
Li Lin estimated that if he reached out with his hand, he could barely manage to pluck it, though it didn't look very secure. It was growing right on the sheer cliff face; if he were careless for even a second, he might plummet to his doom. It was far too dangerous. To take such a bizarre risk for an unknown fruit wasn't worth throwing away one's life.
Li Lin hesitated for a moment and decided it was better not to pick it and instead head down the mountain. For some reason, he felt a lingering discomfort and panic in his heart, as if some terrible event were about to happen.
Li Huahua also snapped out of her daze and said, "The scenery here is so beautiful, it just makes one feel so refreshed. And that flower is so pretty, too."
*Fine then, I call it a small tree or even a weed, yet you still insist it's a flower. I honestly have no idea how you can look at that and see a blossom.*
Li Lin said, "The cliff is too steep and a bit dangerous. I'm afraid I can't reach it; otherwise, I'd definitely pick that flower for you. Hahaha."
Spoken without intent, but heard with meaning.
Li Huahua's eyes lit up as she said, "Really? You're really willing to pick it and give it to me?" Stars practically flickered in her eyes.
Li Lin replied indifferently, "Of course it's real. But what a pity, it's just too dangerous, and I can't reach it."
*As if Big Bro is going to take stupid risks! Big Bro hasn't even taken a wife yet, I haven't lived enough yet!*
Li Huahua looked at the cliff, looked at the so-called flower, then looked at Li Lin, and finally turned her gaze to Li Tiansheng standing behind them.
Li Tiansheng immediately panicked and blurted out, "Why are you looking at me? I wouldn't dare reach for that! I'm afraid of heights—whenever I see a cliff, I don't dare get anywhere near it. Don't even think about dragging me into this." With that, he waved his hands repeatedly in refusal, wearing a look of *I'd rather die than comply*.
Li Huahua cast a look of disdain and said, "Tch, coward. I wouldn't want you to do it anyway. Untie your cow rope and give it to me."
Li Tiansheng asked doubtfully, "Erniu, what are you up to? I can hand it to you, but how am I supposed to lead my ox?" This ox that he had managed to catch with such difficulty must not be allowed to run off.
Li Huahua explained, "I'm just going to use it for a moment. Give me the rope, and you just hold onto the ox's nose-ring for a second. I'll return it to you right after I'm done."
Without any further suspicion, Li Tiansheng untied the cow rope and handed it to Li Huahua, while he stayed back holding the ox by its nose-ring.
Li Huahua took the rope, walked over to a nearby tree, tied it securely, and gave it a tug to make sure it was sturdy. Then she called out, "Li Lin, come over here and tie this rope around your waist. If you go over like this to pick it, there won't be any danger, hehe!"
Li Lin walked over, tested the rope with both hands, and felt it was solid and very strong.
So he said, "All right then. You stay on this end by the tree and watch the rope, and I'll go pick it for you."
With that, Li Lin tied the rope tightly around his waist and walked over to the edge of the cliff. Then he squatted down, quietly gazing at it first.
Li Lin noticed that the color of the fruit seemed even redder than before, as if it had fully ripened. It radiated a misty aura and a charming fragrance—alluring and intoxicating, making his mouth water.
Li Lin slowly reached his hand out, moving with extreme caution. He was just a tiny bit away from reaching it—just a tiny bit. Li Lin's middle finger had already brushed against three of the leaves.
In that instant, Li Lin felt his whole body clear up and his spirits soar. The physical exhaustion from chasing the ox all morning completely vanished. Instead, he felt surging with strength, as if he could beat down an ox, his body brimming with boundless energy.
Li Lin was startled. Why was all this happening? Was it an illusion? Or maybe a hallucination? He shook his head—anyway, as long as it wasn't a bad thing, that was fine. He simply continued reaching out to pluck it.
However.
What Li Lin did not know was that directly beneath that plant, there was a recessed deep cave that housed a Monstrous Beast.
Just as Li Lin's hand touched the plant's leaves, a terrifying aura suddenly emanated from within the cave.
Out bolted a massive black ape, leaping straight out of the cave and hurtling through the air directly toward Li Lin!
Before there was even time to blink, Li Lin suddenly saw something pitch-black, carrying a foul and pungent stench, lunging right at him. His foot slipped, and he plummeted off the edge.
Li Huahua and Li Tiansheng let out a cry of alarm and scrambled over to the cliff's edge to look, only to be struck with utter horror and tingling scalps. Li Lin had just fallen right down like that?!
They watched as Li Lin plunged straight down toward the bottom of the abyss, leaving the two of them completely helpless and at a loss. And for some reason, the thumb-thick cow rope had snapped cleanly in two!
What on earth were they supposed to do now?
Li Tiansheng and Li Huahua exchanged glances, both of them paralyzed with fright, standing frozen in place. How could something like this happen?
Peering down into the depths of the cliff once more, it was shrouded in thick mist, making it impossible to make out anything at all, nor could they tell how deep it was. They had no idea whether Li Lin was alive or dead. Terrified, the two of them backed away repeatedly until they collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath.
After quite a while, Li Huahua finally regained her senses and staggered back to the edge of the cliff.
Lying prone over the edge, she shouted at the top of her lungs, "Brother Lin! Brother Lin! Can you hear me?!"
But no one answered her.
Li Tiansheng glanced at the sun, which was already hanging low in the west. He estimated that if they didn't head down the mountain right away, they might not even reach home by nightfall.
He pulled Li Huahua up from where she lay slumped over the cliff edge.
With a sigh, he said, "Ah, nobody could have foreseen something like this happening. The cliff is so high, and there's simply nothing we could do."
"Brother Li Lin is probably in grave danger now. We'd better head back as soon as possible, tell Old Man Li the news, and let them figure out a way to send a search party."
Li Huahua burst into tears, weeping bitterly.
Crying as she spoke, she wailed, "Brother Lin, I'm sorry! It's all my fault for causing this. If I hadn't wanted that stupid thing, you wouldn't have fallen. It's all my fault, it's all my fault! I'm sorry, I'm truly sorry! Boohoo, wahh..."