vrcanaries Chapter 1368 Dark River
Chapter 1368 Dark River
It was colder inside the cave than outside. The damp air, carrying a chill, rushed towards him. Lin Ran's wound was still bleeding, staining the bandages red. He was in so much pain that the veins on his forehead bulged, but he gritted his teeth and didn't make a sound.
"Search! Search carefully! Those two must have hidden in the cave!" The bandit leader roared from outside the cave, followed by the sound of chaotic footsteps.
Lin Yiwan's heart sank to the bottom. She subconsciously reached for her waist, only to remember that the secret guard token had been crushed. The secret guards should still be clearing out the remaining bandits in the valley, and they probably wouldn't be able to get here for a while.
Just then, Lin Ran suddenly grabbed her wrist. His palm was burning hot, but his voice was so low it was like a whisper: "Wan'er, don't panic. I came to this cave when I was a child. There's a side passage deep inside that leads to a secret passage in the back of the mountain."
Before the words were even finished, the light of torches shone from the cave entrance. The dim, flickering light cast long shadows of the bandits on the cave walls, making them look ferocious and terrifying.
"This way!" Lin Ran forced himself to stand up, pushed aside a loose rock beside him, and sure enough, a narrow opening was revealed, barely wide enough for one person to pass through.
Lin Yiwan didn't have time to think and helped Lin Ran inside. As soon as they were inside, they heard the thugs shouting outside: "Where is he? Where did he go? Did he sprout wings and fly away?"
"Boss, this hole is so deep, they might be hiding inside. Let's go in and search!"
"Search! Search thoroughly! Find that woman, and there will be a hefty reward!"
Footsteps sounded again, heading deeper into the cave. Lin Yiwan and Lin Ran held their breath and crawled into the narrow side passage. The side passage was full of gravel and mud, which scraped their hands and feet painfully. Lin Ran's wound was rubbed, and the pain made his vision go black, and he almost fainted.
Just as the bandits' torches were about to illuminate the fork in the road, the sound of flowing water suddenly came from the end of the fork. Lin Ran's eyes lit up, and he whispered, "It's an underground river! Beyond the underground river is the exit of the secret passage!"
With his last ounce of strength, he pulled Lin Yiwan and ran towards the sound of flowing water. The thugs behind them had already spotted the fork in the road and were yelling as they gave chase.
Looking at the dark river so close at hand, Lin Yiwan felt relieved. She knew that as long as they crossed this dark river, they would be temporarily out of danger.
The surface of the underground river gleamed with a cold, eerie light. The current was swift, crashing against the rocks on the riverbed and making a splashing sound.
A chill, carrying moisture, hit her face, making Lin Yiwan shiver. She glanced down at Lin Ran's bleeding wound, gritted her teeth, and said, "This river looks deep, and the current is strong. How are we going to cross it?"
"There are vines on the other side of the river!" Lin Ran panted, pointing to the opposite bank of the dark river. Sure enough, in the dim light, a patch of dark green vines could be seen clinging to the rock wall and winding down.
He said urgently, "Grab the vines and swing across!"
Before the words were even finished, the torchlight behind them pierced through the shadows of the side path, and the bandits' shouts and curses could be clearly heard: "Run! Let's see where you run! Surrender obediently, and we might spare your lives!"
Lin Ran's face turned pale, knowing there was no time to hesitate.
He unfastened the sword from his waist and handed it to Lin Yiwan. Then he tore off his outer robe, ripped it into several strips of coarse cloth, and quickly wrapped them tightly around his wound: "I'll go first, you follow me!"
After saying that, he took a deep breath and rushed toward the vines hanging down the rock wall.
The gravel under his feet was wet and slippery, and he almost fell. He staggered a few steps before regaining his balance and reaching out to tightly grasp the thickest vine.
The vines were covered in thorns, which instantly pierced his palms. Blood dripped from between his fingers, but he was completely unaware. He exerted force with both arms and swung forward.
The rushing river water swept past him, splashing water that dampened the hem of his clothes.
Using the vines as leverage, he traced an arc in the air and landed just in time on the rocks on the opposite bank. The impact was so great that his knees buckled and he collapsed heavily to the ground, the shock causing excruciating pain in his wounds, and cold sweat instantly beaded on his forehead.
"Wanwan! Hurry!" he roared as he turned around, his voice hoarse.
Lin Yiwan looked at her uncle on the opposite bank, then glanced at the approaching torches, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it would burst out of her chest.
She gripped her sword tightly and, mimicking him, charged towards the vines.
The thugs had already caught up to the riverbank. Seeing this, the bandit leader flew into a rage: "Fire! Fire arrows! Don't let them get away!"
The arrow pierced the air, grazed Lin Yiwan's hair, and embedded itself in the rock wall.
She was so frightened that her scalp tingled, and she dared not turn around, clinging to the vine with all her might.
Her fingertips touched the thorns of the vine, and she gasped in pain, but she dared not let go. She gritted her teeth and exerted force, and her body was instantly lifted into the air.
The roar of the rushing water exploded in her ears. She looked down and saw that the water of the underground river was murky, and she could vaguely see the jagged rocks underwater.
Just as she was about to swing to the other side, a sharp arrow struck the vine she was holding onto.
With a "crack," the vine snapped.
Lin Yiwan's heart suddenly stopped, and her body plunged straight into the rushing river.
"Wanwan!" Lin Ran cried out in fury, lunging towards the riverbank and reaching out to grab her.
At the critical moment, Lin Yiwan plunged her sword fiercely into a crevice in the rock wall.
The sword pierced the rock with a piercing sound, and the immense force nearly tore her arm off. Her body hung in mid-air, swaying back and forth with the force of the water.
"Grab my hand!" Lin Ran lay on the shore, reaching out his hand to her, the blood from his palm leaving a glaring mark on the rock.
Lin Yiwan gritted her teeth and desperately stretched her other hand upwards.
The moment their fingertips touched, Lin Ran gripped her wrist tightly and pulled her up with all his might.
The bandits continued to rain down arrows, and Lin Ran was accidentally hit in the back. The intense pain made his vision go black, but he gripped his hand even tighter and managed to pull Lin Yiwan ashore.
The two collapsed onto the rocks, panting heavily, their bodies soaked in cold sweat and river water, their lips turning purple from the cold.
The bandits behind him stomped their feet in anger at the sight of the swift-flowing underground river and the broken vines, but dared not attempt to cross it.
The leader glared menacingly at the two men on the opposite bank and roared, "Burn! Get me some dry branches and set these vines on fire! I don't believe they can grow wings and fly away!"
Upon hearing this, Lin Ran's expression changed drastically, and he struggled to his feet: "Quick, let's go! The entrance to the secret passage is behind the rock wall ahead!"
He pulled Lin Yiwan up and staggered towards the back of the rock wall. After only a few steps, Lin Ran could no longer support himself, his steps faltered, and he almost fell.
Lin Yiwan quickly supported him, and seeing his pale face and the bleeding wound, her eyes welled up with tears: "Uncle, it's all my fault. If you hadn't saved me, you wouldn't have been so badly injured!"