Lin Wan'er's cries echoed sharply through the air, only to be ruthlessly and swiftly dispersed by the howling gale. That mass of black smoke enveloping Zhang Zhi resembled a bottomless black hole, exuding a spine-chilling aura that filled hearts with terror and despair.
"Zhang Zhi! You mustn't be hurt!" Tears welled up in Lin Wan'er's eyes as she clutched the hem of her garment so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Her body trembled slightly from tension, and her heart felt as though it were gripped tightly by an invisible hand.
The middle-aged man furrowed his brow, his gaze burning like a torch as he fixed his eyes on the smoke, pondering inwardly, "I just hope this young man can pull through. With this beast being so formidable, if something happens to him, our hope of defeating it will become even slimmer." His expression was stern, the veins on his hand bulging from the force with which he gripped his blade.
Meanwhile, emboldened by Zhang Zhi's disappearance, the beast let out a deafening, head-rearing roar that seemed capable of shattering the very heavens and earth. The surrounding trees swayed violently in the sound waves, their leaves falling like a green rain while branches crashed against one another with a cracking racket.
Panting heavily, the young man wore an expression of rage and grievance. Flames of fury burned in his eyes as he roared, "Damn this wretched creature! We must avenge Zhang Zhi!" Sweat streamed down his cheeks, dripping onto the earth beneath his feet.
Biting her lips until they turned pale, Lin Wan'er said with firm resolve, "Right, we cannot let Zhang Zhi die in vain! We must make this beast pay the price!" Her eyes were filled with absolute determination, as if she were prepared to fight the beast to the death.
The middle-aged man raised his voice and said, "Everyone, don't act rashly just yet. Calm down. Impetuosity will only land us in greater danger. Let's think together about how we can effectively attack this beast." His voice was steady and powerful, attempting to calm the others.
Just as everyone fell into contemplation, the mass of black smoke suddenly began to churn, as though stirred by some mysterious force. The smoke swelled and contracted by turns, its shape shifting ceaselessly and defying prediction.
"What is happening?" someone cried out in surprise, their voice laden with confusion and dread.
Lin Wan'er's heart leapt straight to her throat. She stared unblinkingly at the smoke, subconsciously covering her mouth with her hands for fear that she might cry out.
Slowly, the smoke began to dissipate, and a blurred figure gradually emerged.
"Is that Zhang Zhi?" Lin Wan'er asked nervously, her voice trembling slightly with anticipation.
As the smoke cleared entirely, everyone finally saw that it was indeed Zhang Zhi. His clothes were in tatters, ripped to shreds and stained with blood and grime. His body was covered in wounds—some were deep claw marks, others burns from flames—yet his eyes revealed a determination never seen before, as though he had passed through a trial that had made him far stronger.
"I'm fine, everyone don't worry." Though weak, Zhang Zhi's voice was filled with strength, as if telling them he would not be easily defeated.
Lin Wan'er rushed over in agitation, kicking up a cloud of dust from the earth beneath her feet. "Zhang Zhi, you scared me to death!" Tears streamed down her face as her voice choked with sobs.
Zhang Zhi managed a forced smile, wanting to comfort Lin Wan'er: "Wan'er, I have great fortune and won't die so easily. This beast can't do anything to me."
The middle-aged man stepped forward, looking Zhang Zhi up and down before asking with concern, "Young man, what on earth happened? What did you encounter inside that smoke?"
Zhang Zhi took a deep breath and began to recount his experience within the smoke. It turned out that after being enveloped by the smoke, he had found himself trapped in a dark space where the surroundings were filled with an eerie aura. That aura seemed almost alive, relentlessly eroding his consciousness. "At first, I felt incomparable fear and bewilderment. Everything around me was pitch black, and I could see nothing." Zhang Zhi's voice trembled slightly, as if he had been transported back to that terrifying moment.
Yet, relying on his iron will and desperate desire to survive, he groped his way forward. In that ink-black smoke, Zhang Zhi first cautiously reached out his hands, attempting to touch the boundaries around him. However, wherever his hands reached, there was only endless void and heart-numbing cold. Not daring to halt his steps, he moved slowly forward, every pace fraught with unknown terror. His heart hammered wildly, and his breathing grew rapid.
Forcing himself to calm down, Zhang Zhi carefully sensed the subtle shifts in the surrounding airflow. Suddenly, he perceived a trace of extremely faint airflow fluctuation. This unusual fluctuation reignited hope in his heart, and following this wispy draft, he proceeded with even greater caution.
After numerous attempts and explorations, he finally discovered that this airflow underwent an infinitesimal turn at a certain spot. He realized this might be a flaw within the mysterious smoke. Relying on his strong will and survival instinct, he had unexpectedly discovered a crack in the smoke.
"I told myself I couldn't just give up like this, that I had to find a way out. Just as I was on the verge of despair, I sensed a faint current of air, and following the direction of that current, I finally found a way out."
"It seems this beast is not invulnerable after all," the young man remarked, hope reigniting in his eyes.
Zhang Zhi nodded. "That's right, and I discovered some secrets about this beast while I was in there."
Hearing this, the others instantly perked up and crowded around him.
Zhang Zhi continued, "This beast appears to be controlled by a powerful curse; although its strength is immense, it does have a weakness."
"What weakness?" the middle-aged man asked eagerly, his eyes filled with anticipation.
Lowering his voice as though afraid the beast might overhear, Zhang Zhi said, "Its eyes. As long as we can strike its eyes, we can temporarily rob it of its mobility. That may well be the key to defeating it."
"Good, then we shall all attack its eyes together!" the middle-aged man declared loudly, his gaze resolute.
Regaining their courage, the group prepared to launch a new round of attacks against the beast.
At that very moment, a sharp bird's cry suddenly pierced the sky. Lifting their heads, the group saw a gigantic white bird flying toward them. Its feathers were as white as snow, flashing with a dazzling radiance under the sunlight. Its wings were broad and powerful, each flap stirring up a gale that whipped everyone's garments into a furious flutter.
"What is this now?" someone exclaimed in astonishment and perplexity.
Zhang Zhi's heart was likewise filled with doubt, uncertain whether the appearance of this bird was a blessing or a curse.
The white bird landed before them, its eyes flashing with a mysterious light as if it could see through everything.
"Why are you here entangling with this beast?" The bird actually spoke in human language, its voice clear and ringing.
Stunned by this spectacle, the group looked at one another in dismay, at a loss for how to reply.
What on earth was the origin of this mysterious bird? Would it help them, or would it bring a new crisis? Everything remained unknown, filling their hearts with unease, just as their relationship with the beast remained shrouded in mystery.