Chapter 150: The Beast Tide Triggered by the Wooden Tablet

Upon hearing the sound, Xie Yingying was startled for a moment, but after considering the circumstances, she quickly felt at ease. It must have been either Bai Shengyun or Bai Qirui who had broken the seal. With that thought, she felt a sense of relief and stopped worrying.

She continued forward, hoping to catch sight of Bai Shengyun and the others, but a sudden, violent gale blocked her path. "Good grief, this wind is too strong!"

Sand and gravel swirled through the air, creating a chaotic scene of destruction wherever it touched. Xie Yingying was bewildered; this was clearly an unnatural, demonic wind, strange and inexplicable. Shivering with cold, she had no choice but to brace herself and press on.

It was the dead of night. Though she was exhausted, the gravity of the situation allowed for no mistakes. She remembered a river nearby and planned to splash some water on her face to wake herself up.

The wind had formed a small vortex, much like a tornado. As she drew near, a powerful suction caught her off guard. Fortunately, her reflexes were sharp, though she shuddered at the sight of the howling gale.

She looked up, and for a moment, her heart skipped a beat. The surrounding flora—the leaves, the grass—remained completely unaffected! Her pupils contracted as she scanned the area again. Everything else was still, yet the wind seemed intent on pulling her in. Realizing this, she turned and sprinted.

As if to confirm her fears, she looked back to see the vortex slowly pursuing her. Xie Yingying gritted her teeth, cursing the wind under her breath. She wondered if the wind was triggered by her presence or if it was specifically targeting her.

Lost in thought, her foot slipped on the muddy ground, slick from the previous day's rain, and she tumbled down the hillside.

"Ah!"

Panic washed over her. Bai Shengyun and the others were already struggling to find her, and if she kept moving, she might never be reunited with them. With her spiritual energy already running low, she feared she was doomed. Fortunately, the wind seemed to have a boundary, and it eventually stopped its pursuit, allowing her to catch her breath.

Her nose stung, and a wave of tears threatened to spill over. She knew she couldn't cry; she was the weakest of the group, and since she had chosen to follow them, she couldn't afford to be fragile. Wiping her eyes until they were red from the friction, she sniffled and began to climb back up.

Unfortunately, her hands had been injured in the fall, and she lacked the strength to continue. Halfway up, she slipped and tumbled back down.

With a dull thud, a sharp, burning pain radiated across her back. She gasped, her legs weak and numb. Sighing, she sat down where she was.

"This weather, this wind, this streak of bad luck!" Xie Yingying felt she was going mad. They always said girls who smiled had good luck, so why was she so cursed? She tugged at her hair, feeling utterly drained.

She rested her chin in her hands to analyze the situation. Picking up a small twig, she began to draw in the dirt. "Now, I am here... actually, I have no idea where I am."

She was beyond tears. After about an hour, feeling slightly recovered, she stood up to stretch, intending to leave. Just as she began to feel a sense of relief, she lost her footing and fell again.

"Ouch!" She winced at the volume of her own cry, glancing around nervously to ensure she was alone before relaxing.

She patted her chest, exhaling. "Thank goodness, if anyone saw that, my reputation would be ruined."

In truth, she had no reputation to speak of. After sitting quietly to reflect on life, she prepared to leave once more when she noticed something by her side.

"What is this? It feels like a stone." She pushed the debris aside and picked up a wooden plaque, examining it closely.

The plaque was pitch black and worn, its markings illegible. She deemed it useless. She tapped it with her finger. "It’s peach wood, too."

She wasn't actually sure, but she had seen others do it and decided to mimic them. Just as she tucked the plaque into her waistband to leave, the ground began to tremble, and the cries of a hundred beasts echoed from the distance.

The sound startled her. *Surely not, they aren't coming for me, are they?*

Anxious, she quickly found a hiding spot. No sooner had she concealed herself than the beasts surged into the cave. She felt lucky to be hidden, though she couldn't fathom what they were doing. As long as they provided her an opening to escape, she didn't care.

Amidst the chaos, she slipped out of the cave and let out a sigh of relief. She found a path leading upward and, at that moment, sensed a faint signal from Bai Shengyun.

She walked for what felt like ages, her body drenched in sweat and her forehead slick under the scorching sun. It was grueling. Then, the beasts returned. As if fate were mocking her, they caught her scent. Startled, she stumbled and fell again, her body aching and her spirit trapped in a dead end.

*Is this it? Am I going to die young?* In that moment, she remembered the treasures Huo Tianqing had given her.

Desperate, she closed her eyes and pulled out one at random, regardless of what it was. A blinding light erupted as she activated the protective artifact. It was nearly blinding, but remarkably effective.

With a moment to breathe, she realized how powerful the artifact was. She then retrieved an offensive one from her storage; she was stingy with her treasures, but with the beast tide blocking her only path, she had no choice.

With a thunderous boom, a pile of beast carcasses appeared before her. She continued to sense the faint presence of Bai Shengyun and his group, desperately searching for them while using her artifacts. But in the end, the trail went cold.

"Bai Shengyun!"

Only her own voice echoed through the valley. Sighing, she threw another artifact behind her to shake off the tide and, though utterly exhausted, finally managed to escape them.