CHAPTER 409: CHAPTER 262: I SWEAR TO GOD, NEVER HESITATE

The other three were also anxious, but they felt helpless and could only sigh and blame themselves. This atmosphere of helplessness and anxiety was suffocating and unsettling for everyone.

Carefree Meng Lan took a deep breath, trying to steady her emotions. She knew that someone had to step up and lead everyone out of this mist at this moment. So she straightened her back and said loudly, "Everyone, don’t worry, let’s split up and look for him. Perhaps he wandered off while playing and got lost temporarily."

Her words seemed to inject a dose of courage into everyone, who all nodded in agreement. Luo Chen also pulled himself together, knowing that now was not the time for panic. He quickly stuffed the pancake in his hand into his pocket, then strode over to Carefree Meng Lan and said, "You’re right, we mustn’t lose our heads. We should split up, and we’ll definitely find the Golden Soul Coins’ Xi Bi."

Under the leadership of Carefree Meng Lan, everyone began to split up. Luo Chen and Carefree Meng Lan formed a group, searching east along the mountain road; while Golden Soul Coins’ Si Dun and the other two headed west and north, respectively. They agreed that whether or not they found anything, they would return to the original spot before nightfall.

As night gradually fell, the Xingdou Great Forest was shrouded in a mysterious and eerie atmosphere.

Luo Chen nodded in agreement and said, "Sister is right, we should split into three groups to find the Golden Soul Coins’ Xi Bi, and shout loudly when we find him. Remember to mark the path along the way so we don’t get lost." His voice was firm and strong, bringing a trace of comfort and confidence to everyone.

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement. At this critical moment, Luo Chen’s suggestion was undoubtedly the wisest choice. They quickly formed groups and prepared to take on the responsibility of searching for the Golden Soul Coins’ Xi Bi.

However, at this critical moment, a chilling scream suddenly echoed through the jungle, slicing through the quiet night sky like thunder. The sudden scream made everyone’s hearts skip a beat, and they rushed toward the source of the sound.

Amid the frantic footsteps and rapid breathing, they made their way through the dense forest and finally reached a rocky slope. In the center of the slope lay a man with blood all over his legs, clutching his wound in agony, his face twisted in a grotesque expression of pain.

Everyone descended the slope carefully and approached the injured man. Golden Soul Coins’ Si Dun squatted down and asked in a calm voice, "How are you?" His voice was filled with concern and worry.

The man gritted his teeth, his body trembling slightly. The pain contorted his facial features beyond recognition, and he managed to utter a sentence with difficulty, "My leg, my leg was bitten by a monster!"

"A monster?" Carefree Meng Lan exclaimed, looking around suspiciously. Yet the surroundings were empty, not a shadow in sight. She couldn’t help but question in confusion, "Where is the monster?"

The man’s face was as pale as paper, his hands tightly clutching the wound on his leg, and beads of cold sweat the size of peas dripped from his forehead. He explained with a trembling voice, "It was about to eat me, but was scared away by your footsteps!" As he spoke, a hint of relief survived a crisis appeared on his face.

However, the sharp pain from the wound struck again, causing him to groan involuntarily. He clutched Golden Soul Coins’ Si Dun’s arm tightly, pleading, "Please save me, I’m in so much pain!" His eyes were filled with a longing for life and a hope for rescue.

Golden Soul Coins’ Si Dun glanced at Carefree Meng Lan, who pondered briefly and then nodded. Upon seeing this, Golden Soul Coins’ Si Dun bent down and lifted the man onto his back, saying, "Hang in there, brother, we’ll find a safe place to bandage you." His voice was strong and reassuring, bringing a bit of solace to everyone.

With caution and vigilance, they quickly left the dangerous place. The moans of the injured man faded into the distance, and everyone’s mood grew heavier. They knew that in this perilous forest, they could never let their guard down for a single moment.

After some trekking, they finally found a relatively safe spot—an open space surrounded by dense trees. The terrain here was flat and relatively open, allowing for good observation and response to sudden situations. Golden Soul Coins’ Si Dun carefully laid the injured man down, letting him lie on the soft grass.

Luo Chen and Carefree Meng Lan quickly set to work treating the man’s wound. They first used clean water to carefully wash away the blood and dirt around the wound, then cautiously applied ointment and bandaged it with a clean cloth. Throughout the process, the injured man clenched his teeth, enduring the severe pain, but his eyes were filled with gratitude and respect.

After treating the wound, Luo Chen and Carefree Meng Lan carefully checked the man’s physical condition. Once they confirmed there were no other major issues, they breathed a sigh of relief. By now, the sky had gradually darkened, and they decided to rest here for the night before continuing their search for the Golden Soul Coins’ Xi Bi.

As night fell, the sky was dotted with stars. Everyone sat silently around the campfire, watching the flickering flames.

Behind a lush tree, four dark shadows stood silently, seemingly merging with the surrounding shadows. The afterglow of dusk pierced through the treetops, casting dappled light at their feet, yet making their silhouette appear even colder and more somber, like ghosts in the night.