Become a cat [Zhan Zhao]

Zhan Zhao calmed down after going around in the illusion for a few more times. He tried not to let himself think about Alan, but concentrated on thinking about how to get out of here.

The roads in this huge maze are intricate and seem to have no boundaries. If you want to find the highest point, you may not be able to succeed even if you turn to old age and death.Before, Zhan Zhao tried to judge whether the path was correct by following the ups and downs of his feet, but often after walking a few steps, he found that there was no way ahead, and he could only start to turn back.This kind of predicament made it hard for him not to recall the despair trapped in the Valley of Mysteries many years ago. Death, thirst, and hunger overwhelmed him even one step before the way out that he could not find anyway.

How can I get out of here?How can we find the "bitter fruit" that Chen Yin said grows on the highest place?

Suddenly, an idea flashed through his mind like lightning—Jun Dongwu once admitted that this maze was an illusion constructed. Does that mean that it is not the so-called jungle maze that traps him, but the so-called jungle maze? blindfold.

When this thought arose in his mind, Zhan Zhao didn't feel joy or excitement, but inexplicably recalled that evening.His master changed from his usual energetic appearance and fell weakly on his back.The road under my feet seemed to be endless, and was stained with bright red blood by the sunset.The wind howled helplessly and angrily in the valley, but couldn't blow away the deathly silence.

At that time, Zhan Zhao was tired, hungry, and thirsty. It seemed that the whole world had left him in the chaos, but he was still walking forward step by step in a numb and mechanical way, even if he would never stop.At this moment, he seemed to hear someone sighing in his ear:

"What can trap you is never the Migu, but your heart.

Now Zhan Zhao is standing in this jungle maze shrouded in night, but it seems that he has returned to that desperate dusk and heard that hoarse sigh.

He slowly showed a tired and sad smile, closed his eyes hard, and then took one step forward, another step forward.

If what traps him is blindfolds and his heart, then if he is blindfolded and gets rid of the demons, will Zhan Zhao still be trapped to death in a mere maze?

Thinking of this, Zhan Zhao raised the corners of his lips and took another step forward.

It is certainly not a pleasant thing to walk in the dark, especially in such a mysterious, dangerous, and unknown place.Every time he took a step, Zhan Zhao had the illusion that he would step on the ground and fall off the cliff.The wind beside the ear seems to have life, lingering around the ear like it can't go away, making mocking laughs one after another.And far away, perhaps in the depths of the jungle, the roar of wild animals seemed to shake the ground beneath them.

Zhan Zhao never stopped walking, but in just a few short steps, he was covered in cold sweat and breathed heavily.

What traps you is always your heart.

He takes another step.

Suddenly, a shout came from behind, as if it was not far away—"Zhan Zhao! Wait for me!" This voice contained anxiety, and seemed to be crying.Then came a series of footsteps, stumbling and stumbling. "Wait for me!" she wailed, "You promised never to abandon me again!"

Zhan Zhao gritted his teeth and continued to walk forward. He could already feel the terrain under his feet gradually rising.

"Don't you want me?" The voice was so low that it seemed to be far behind, whimpering.

Zhan Zhao's breathing became rapid, the urge to turn his head was almost uncontrollable, his heart was beating wildly, much stronger than before.

Have you been shaken?Has your heart been shaken?

"Why did you leave me? What am I doing wrong? Am I not good enough?" The voice was barely audible, and it seemed to have stopped crying vaguely, asking in a daze.

Zhan Zhao never imagined that the magical power of voice could be so powerful, even far stronger than seeing Alan in the illusion—the Alan who became his wife.

Cold sweat ran down his cheeks and dripped from his chin into his collar.The exposed skin was icy cold by the night wind, but it seemed as if hot magma had poured into his chest, slowly melting his internal organs.Zhan Zhao let out a trembling breath, raised his hands to block his ears, but couldn't block the vague voice.He finally stopped in pain, but he was still resisting the urge to open his eyes.He thought hard in his heart: what should we do?Who can help him?

This was a strange thought, since Zhan Zhao left Xuanji Valley, he never asked anyone for help.Because no one can help him, he only has himself.

"Alas." Suddenly, another soft sigh sounded beside his ears.Not long ago, this voice was weeping in the distance, but now it was so close that it seemed to be visible.

"In your heart, is this what I am?" She said, a little presumptuous, unusual tone, but it did not violate her innocent and straightforward character.

Zhan Zhao couldn't help being taken aback.

"I do long to be by your side, because you are strong and intelligent, and because you hide your kindness under the sneer." She seemed to be gritting her teeth to say these words, because she was not used to confessing her heart like this, nor I like to express such straightforward appreciation to anyone, so I feel like my teeth are gritting. "But I am not a dodder attached to you. I survived the ten years without you. I hope that one day you will understand that I am the same as you. When you need help, I will I will try my best to help you, just like you helped me back then. When one day you really don’t need me anymore and decide to leave, I will never kneel on the ground and beg you.”

Zhan Zhao still closed his eyes tightly, but after hearing this, he suddenly laughed: "You are either a phantom in this illusion, or my own hallucination. Then do these words you said actually come from me?"

The voice had disappeared, as if briefly.The weeping not far away continued.

However, Zhan Zhao no longer felt that uncontrollable anxiety.He let out a breath slowly, and said with a light smile: "It seems that I am indeed too conceited, this problem needs to be corrected."

After he finished speaking, he took another step forward.

Then, he touched a tree. The rough texture and the fragrance of the leaves seemed to shatter the illusion in an instant.Zhan Zhao suddenly opened his eyes, and saw that the towering tree walls around him had disappeared, and he was still in the jungle, with a towering ancient tree in front of him.

And on the thick tree, leaning against a young girl.

He Lian.

"You actually used this method to break the illusion," she laughed. "It's really unexpected. But you can always surprise."

Zhan Zhao raised his eyebrows slightly, and said, "It seems that your brother is fine."

"Yeah." He Lian nodded slightly, "Thank you for your desperate efforts to save him that day. I thought I could reach the island safely, but this storm came too suddenly." She frowned slightly as she spoke, "I have lived in the sea since I was a child. It’s never happened before.”

Zhan Zhao smiled wryly, "In this case, once in a lifetime is enough."

"That's true." He Lian also laughed, but there was still a fine line between her brows, "Now that you have found this tree, you just need to wait for a certain bitter fruit to choose you."

Zhan Zhao couldn't help asking: "How can the bitter fruit 'choose me'?"

"They are arguing up there, can't you hear it?" He Lian smiled strangely, "All living beings have spirituality, and you still have to pick and choose when you buy groceries. Strange."

Zhan Zhao coughed lightly, and said, "I'm sorry, Zhan has never bought vegetables before."

As soon as the words fell, the leaves on the top of the head "cracked" and it really seemed like what He Lian said, there was a "bitter fruit" chattering on it.

Zhan Zhao couldn't help feeling his scalp tingle.He said: "Can you tell them to hurry up, I will rush to find Ah Lan."

"Alan is fine, Master has already sent her to the coast." He Lian said, the "Master" in her mouth obviously refers to Lord Dongwu.

Zhan Zhao was still worried: "I just met Lord Dongwu in the illusion, and while she was talking, her expression suddenly changed, as if she said that Ah Lan had gone somewhere she shouldn't be."

"Where you shouldn't be?" He Lian pondered, and suddenly changed her expression, "Could it be that you're under the black water?"

Zhan Zhao immediately asked, "Under the black water? What is that place?"

"It's a prison." He Lian said, "You can understand it this way. The person who suffered for himself was imprisoned there. I told you that I was the 'gatekeeper', and I guarded that door." Her voice gradually dropped , "Weird, this kind of thing shouldn't have happened."

Zhan Zhao didn't hear He Lian's last words, but asked her, "Maybe you lead me there?"

"Don't wait for your 'bitter fruit'?"

"No more." Zhan Zhao said, how could he delay because of this matter, what if something happens to Ah Lan?

"But since the master has already passed away, A Lan must be fine." He Lian seemed to want to persuade him, "You don't wait for 'Bitter Fruit' to choose you, then leave first, and come back at that time, maybe no 'Bitter Fruit' will be willing to choose you .”

Zhan Zhao wanted to say something more, but suddenly he felt a gust of wind above his head, and he stepped back instinctively, and saw a fruit that was as thick as thick ink and the size of a baby's fist falling rapidly, and fell to the ground with a "pop".

Seeing this, He Lian showed a toothache expression, and said, "Can't you catch it well? This fall is enough for it to hurt."

Zhan Zhao: "..." He leaned over to pick up the fruit, I don't know if it was an illusion, he seemed to feel a slight tingling sensation coming from his fingertips when he touched the fruit.

This fruit is slightly cool to the touch, and the weight is quite heavy, but the appearance still looks no different from ordinary fruits.I really don't know what Chen Yin asked him to do with such a small gadget, and what miraculous effect it had.Zhan Zhao frowned, looked at the fruit in his hand, and couldn't help but say, "It took a lot of effort, just for this thing?"

As soon as the words fell, the fruit suddenly vibrated, as if expressing protest.

Zhan Zhao silently closed his mouth.

He Lian said: "Since it has chosen you, let's go to Heishui as soon as possible." In fact, she was worried, so she led Zhan Zhao on the road.

The two used lightness kung fu to run in the jungle, and after a while, they left the jungle and arrived at the swamp.And the piece of black water that once surrounded Ah Lan was also approaching.

"Where's Ah Lan?" Zhan Zhao looked around, where was half a figure?

He Lian replied, "You have to jump under the water."

"Underwater?" Zhan Zhao couldn't help raising his eyebrows.

He Lian said: "There is another world under the water, just jump."

At this moment, Alan's exclamation was faintly heard from underwater.Zhan Zhao couldn't care less, so he jumped off the robe.

The author has something to say: miscalculation, sugar in the next chapter Orz

But this chapter is also a bit sweet, isn't it?