"The cart will straighten itself when it reaches the bridge. Let's not worry about the High Monk for now. Since we know it's Hua Jinlan, let's go find her corpse first. You need to make a trip to Miao Village anyway." Xiao Shu closed his book and carried a stack of volumes onto the library ladder, preparing to return them to their place.

"Oh, right, you forgot something. Did you find the information on the Ghost Infant? I suddenly remembered that when we came, we said we would look for data on both the Ghost Infant and the Ghost Possession. Now we've only found the latter, and you haven't mentioned the former. I thought you’d forgotten."

Who knew that upon hearing me mention the Ghost Infant, he glanced unnaturally toward the door, stammering that he would look for it next time, that Wang Jue’s matter was more pressing, and we should hurry back as soon as possible.

Thinking about the Ghost Infant during this time—it hadn't committed any serious mistakes while with Hua Gu, and the incident where it bit my finger had long passed—I didn't press further. I stood by the ladder, helping him pass the books up.

After returning every volume to its proper place, we reached the entrance hall and each found our shoes to change into.

While putting on my shoes, I recalled the scene of our arrival and a doubt surfaced. We had jumped down from an opening suspended in mid-air. How do we get back now? Could it be that we have to set up a ladder and climb back up through the exit the way we came?

"Heh heh, what are you spacing out for? Let's go," Xiao Shu nudged me with his elbow when he saw I hadn't moved for a long time, urging me on.

"How do we get back?" I asked, snapping back to awareness.

"Follow me. Getting back will definitely be easier than coming in," Xiao Shu said. After putting on his shoes, he pushed open the door, faced the clear lake water, took a deep breath, and plunged headfirst into the water, swimming toward the surface.

I followed his example, concentrating my breath and casting my body into the water. Compared to the villa, the water temperature was a bit lower, slightly chilly.

A minute later, Xiao Shu and I surfaced one after another. The surrounding environment was beautiful, and the air was fresh. I closed my eyes, drew a deep breath, and savored the tranquil, easy atmosphere.

"Xiaoyu, look, that’s where we came from," Xiao Shu pointed upward.

I looked up and sure enough, there was a dark little hole suspended in mid-air, exactly as I had imagined. Hanging in the void, if we wanted to return the way we came, we might truly need to find a ladder to set up.

"Are you sure we don’t need to look for a ladder?" I asked hesitantly.

"A ladder won't work. We are in the water; even if we could find one, where would we set it up?" Xiao Shu asked, his tone laced with teasing.

"Then what do we do now?"

"Waiting is a good habit." With that, Xiao Shu closed his mouth, treading water while vigilantly observing the surroundings.

Seeing his unusual expression, I knew he was waiting for something that could send us back to the corridor to appear, so I kept my mouth shut and watched quietly.

Not long after, ripples disturbed the calm surface of the lake. A strong wind swept from east to west, gathering up a wall of water, roaring like a rising tide with a deafening sound.

"Now's the time, get ready..." Xiao Shu grabbed my wrist, treading water and shouting, "When the wave gets close, straighten your body and let it lift us high. Seize the edge of the corridor then!"

I nodded, bracing for the challenge.

The wall of water ahead swept toward us like a thousand charging cavalry, like untamed steeds. Xiao Shu and I were like two warriors on a battlefield, hand in hand, awaiting the arrival of the critical moment.

The wave barreled toward us, fierce as wolves and tigers sweeping from east to west. At the precise instant it was about to reach us, we strained to keep our bodies rigid, allowing the wave to crash over us.