Having just defeated the monster, Zhang Yue, Lin Wan'er, and the old man barely had a moment to catch their breath before they were enveloped by a mysterious aura emanating from the depths of the valley. The aura felt like a heavy, dense haze pressing down upon their hearts, filling them with an inexplicable sense of oppression and unease.
"What's going on now? Could there be an even tougher monster out there?" Zhang Yue panted heavily, his voice laced with exhaustion and helplessness. His hair was disheveled like tangled weeds, stained with sweat and dust, making his normally handsome face look rather battered. His clothes were in tatters, covered in bloodstains, and his wounds were still throbbing with dull pain. Yet, his eyes remained bright and resolute, revealing an unyielding stubbornness that refused to admit defeat.
Lin Wan'er's delicate frame trembled slightly as she pressed close to Zhang Yue, as if drawing a shred of security from his proximity. Her face was as pale as paper, her lips devoid of color, and her voice quivered. "Brother Yue, I... I'm a little scared." Tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill over at any second. Her hands clutched tightly at the hem of Zhang Yue's robe, her knuckles turning white from the force.
Chapter 211