Little Si Zhan shook his head apologetically. “We can’t. I hear rumbling nearby; following the water flow should lead to a waterfall.” He glanced around. “These mountains are steep. We’re trapped.”
Little Ning Wanwan didn’t believe this. She stood up, her head spinning, feeling a dull pain on her forehead. “Hiss—”
Little Si Zhan pressed her down. “Don’t move. Your forehead hit a hidden reef; the blood just clotted.”
Annoyed, Ning Wanwan pushed away his hand and glared at him. “I’m not afraid of pain. I’m going to find an exit.”
Looking around, she saw they were on a shallow beach; the river curved, and the terrain rose. Rumbling sounds came from downstream, indicating a waterfall. The water upstream was rapid, and the walls were slippery and steep, making it difficult to climb.
They were indeed trapped, surrounded by steep walls with jagged rocks covered in moss and grass.
Leaning against the mountain wall, Little Si Zhan watched her leisurely, showing no signs of frustration or panic.
Ning Wanwan circled the area, suddenly noticing thin vines hanging from a crevice. Her eyes brightened as she quickly pulled out the vines, trying to climb the wall.
Little Si Zhan, curious about her clumsy movements, asked, “What are you doing?”
“There are tree vines here. We can climb up using them,” Little Ning Wanwan replied as she climbed.
Little Si Zhan watched her struggling to stay in the same spot and shook his head, “These thin vines will break before you can climb up, and you’ll fall.”
As soon as he finished speaking, “Bang!” The vine broke, and Little Ning Wanwan fell on her bottom.
Startled, Little Si Zhan was about to help her, but she jumped up, patting her bottom and asking frustratedly, “What should we do now?”
“No choice. We can only wait to die,” he shrugged.
She refused to accept that. “As long as we don’t give up, we will definitely find a way out.” Then she continued trying to climb.
Vine after vine broke, and Little Ning Wanwan fell repeatedly. Little Si Zhan finally walked forward and caught her when she fell again.
“What’s your name?” he asked.
“Ning Wanwan,” she blinked, lying in his arms.
He put her down, furrowing his brow, “Who is the old madam of the Ning Guo Gong Mansion?”
