After Zi Yishan and Zi Tianhai could no longer see Zi Xunyang's retreating figure, they lay down on the spot.
Having traveled all night, they were exhausted and decided to sleep for a while before collecting nearby medicinal herbs.
Moments later, soft snores could be heard from the entrance. The two slept until the hour of Shen, which meant half the day had passed. In two more hours, night would fall.
Not good!
Zi Yishan and Zi Tianhai looked at each other, scrambled to their feet, grabbed their herb baskets, and ran inside.
Due to its closure to the outside world, Zhan Tian Peak boasted a wide variety of medicinal herbs that grew exceptionally well.
The two picked with great enthusiasm, unknowingly venturing three li deep into the mountain.
It was only when their baskets could hold no more that they realized they had ventured beyond the safe zone.
The sounds of beasts roaring echoed in their ears, turning their faces pale with fright.
"Brother, I'm a little scared!"
Zi Tianhai, carrying his full herb basket, clutched Zi Yishan's arm and said tremblingly.
Zi Yishan was also terrified, but to comfort his younger brother, he forced himself to say, "Don't be scared, little brother. We'll just be careful and retrace our steps!"
"Okay... Okay! Let's hurry then!"
Zi Tianhai shivered in response and urged Zi Yishan to leave.
Carrying their baskets, their hands clasped tightly, they followed the tracks they had left behind, heading for the entrance.
However, due to their fear, the difficulty of discerning direction in the forest, and the fading sunlight that cast the woods into darkness, they lost their way.
As a result, they changed direction, venturing deeper and deeper into the wilderness.
Night gradually deepened, and the forest became increasingly eerie, sending chills down their spines.
Zi Yishan and Zi Tianhai felt more and more unfamiliar with their surroundings, and their fear grew.
"Awoo~"
A wolf's howl sounded, alarmingly close.
Zi Tianhai shrieked in terror, clutching Zi Yishan and trembling violently.
"Brother, I'm so scared!"
"Don't be afraid, little brother. Brother will protect you!"
Zi Yishan was also deeply frightened but suppressed his fear, holding Zi Tianhai tightly in his arms to comfort him.
Suddenly, Zi Tianhai cried out, "Brother, look! What is that!"
Zi Yishan's heart lurched. Following Zi Tianhai's gaze, pairs of green eyes appeared in the darkness.
"Not good! It's wolves!"
He shouted and pulled Zi Tianhai, turning to flee.
Zi Tianhai's legs had already turned to jelly from fear, and he couldn't move. He simply let Zi Yishan drag him.
Consequently, his entire body weight bore down on Zi Yishan, inadvertently slowing him down.
More and more pairs of green eyes appeared behind them, indicating a growing pack.
Such a scene would make even cultivators retreat, let alone two ordinary children.
Soon, they were surrounded by a pack of wolves.
Zi Yishan shielded Zi Tianhai behind him, brandished the herb hoe he used for digging, and stared fiercely at the wolves before him, saying, "Don't come any closer! I... I will kill you!"
After all, he was just a child of about ten years old, and even as he uttered threats, his legs trembled uncontrollably.
The wolves advanced another foot. Zi Tianhai, terrified, collapsed onto the ground.
Though Zi Yishan was also scared, he did not give up resisting.
He wildly swung the herb hoe in his hand and yelled, "You beasts, don't come any closer! I... I..."