Xiao Shu's behavior was a bit unusual. The army of spiders last night hadn't made him flinch, yet now after hearing the fairy music in this forest and seeing the mountain maiden, he stammered and wept uncontrollably. It was really hard to understand.

I nudged him with my hand and said, "What's wrong?"

He turned his head, about to speak when a sudden thunderclap roared overhead, startling us both badly.

"Is it going to rain?" Xiao Shu looked up at the sky, astonished, tears glistening in his eyes.

"Let's find shelter," I suggested, rising to call out the two people ahead. But they had vanished from the woods already, leaving only a few trees standing desolately.

"What happened? Where did they go?" My eyes wide as I scanned the surroundings, finding no trace of human presence.

"Search again!" Xiao Shu, agitated by their disappearance, stood up abruptly and ran into the forest.

I expected him to keep going deeper to find those two people. Surprisingly, he only stayed a few seconds before covering his eyes in retreat.

Curious, I followed closely behind - just like before, this grove blurred vision upon entry, as if my eyes were bewitched by the darkness beyond the trees.

We stood side by side outside, helpless under the eerie woodscape.

As we remained clueless, the scenery shifted again. With thickening clouds overhead, light in the grove grew darker and darker until it became a pitch-black abyss.

Suddenly, a woman's wail pierced through the darkness: "Aaaaaa-!"

Then an elderly voice, tense with urgency: "Push harder! Just a little more... It's coming out soon..."

"Ah..." Another scream echoed across the entire cliffside.

The old voice cheered up instantly: "It's here! A baby boy..."

So it was childbirth! I exhaled deeply, standing rigidly outside this living black hole like expectant fathers waiting for the newborn's cry.

But minutes passed - one, two, three... Besides the woman's labored breathing, no infant wails emerged.

We exchanged glances, utterly confused about what might be happening inside.

After a long pause, the weeping finally came through, but with an elderly voice: "Wu wu... Missy, I'm sorry... The child has no heartbeat..."

Xiao Shu slumped onto the ground, his self-control shattered as he sobbed uncontrollably.

"What's wrong?" I knelt down hurriedly, gripping his shoulders and staring at this out-of-control youth with utter bewilderment.

He just kept weeping silently, not uttering a word.

"Exactly what is going on? Men don't cry so easily!" I shook him repeatedly, trying to snap him from emotional paralysis.

After several minutes, he finally lifted his head, tears streaming, and brought his face close to mine. "Look," the boy sobbed, "how much do I resemble that man just now?"

The question struck me like thunder. I stepped back two paces, carefully examining Xiao Shu's face - those features bore striking resemblance to the long-haired man earlier, perhaps 80% identical. The scar slanting across his left cheek must have slightly altered what was originally a near-perfect duplication of nine parts.