The day after bidding farewell to Yan Zhu and the others, we finally encountered the thick fog of the Misty Forest!
The entire world had dissolved into a hazy grey!
Within ten meters, one could barely make out the vague shapes of figures! This situation was eerily similar to our time in the Dragon World, with the key difference being that the Dragon World was an open wilderness. Here, however, it was a dense forest packed with silver pines!
Even though the members on this expedition were all unparalleled experts! Visibility had plummeted drastically nonetheless! And the Ice Wolves serving as our mounts began issuing uneasy howls! They seemed deeply uncomfortable with the dense fog blanketing the area! Oddly enough, the larger creatures appeared completely unaffected! But naturally, I couldn't leave everyone behind to track them alone, so I had no choice but to dismount and proceed on foot.
“From this point onward, the fog extends north for a thousand li,” Luoye continued. “Besides the endless mist, this area is infested with terrifying snakes, insects, ferocious beasts, and treacherous swamps and cliffs—a single misstep here can cost you your life.”
Everyone nodded in solemn agreement!
“Up ahead lies the Swamp of Mist!” Luoye announced. “Everyone must follow Big Eye’s footprints (Big Eye is Luoye’s mount, an Ice Wolf, yet he is intimately familiar with everything in the Misty Forest). Make absolutely sure not to step wrong.”
Hearing the word ‘swamp,’ I immediately tensed up. No matter how strong one's skills, being caught in a swamp renders all strength useless! In my past life, I’d seen far too many movies depicting the dangers of swamps! It was impossible not to feel nervous!
Luoye and his mount were clearly masters of this terrain! Before crossing the swamp, he made sure everyone donned specially made, flat-soled, wide shoes! Not just the people, but the mounts were also fitted with these specialized shoes! Although movement felt slightly cumbersome! this design increased the surface area bearing weight! Even if one accidentally sank into the mire, there would be ample time to react and pull free!
Furthermore, as an added precaution, everyone was roped together. If someone stumbled into the swamp, the others could immediately haul them back! This was also the most common technique used for traversing swamps!
After completing these preparations, our party finally stepped cautiously into the mist-shrouded Swamp of Mist! The uneven, muddy, wretched ground churned up a thick, fetid stench of decay, assaulting us head-on. Thank goodness everyone’s helmets were equipped with gas-filtering masks, or we would have been overcome on the spot! But the sensation remained indescribably heavy and oppressive! Coupled with the utter obscurity all around, it bred an inexplicable sense of dread and unease!
For safety, we were forced to leave our mounts and proceed on foot! Fortunately, the journey so far had been eventful but without major incident! The sky gradually began to darken.
Luoye halted, saying, “We will rest here for the night.”
I nodded slightly, instinctively surveying the immediate surroundings! Though still within the swamp, this spot seemed comparatively drier and firmer. Within ten meters, only sparse, small trees and withered grass were barely visible! Occasionally, strange noises echoed through the air! Sending shivers down our spines!
Long Xin beside me also appeared tense, clearly dissatisfied with this campsite! But we all knew this was hardly the time to be selective!
“Everyone be careful, watch your safety,” I cautioned instinctively, though I had repeated the phrase countless times already.
“This cursed place is truly not meant for humans to inhabit,” Matcha mumbled indistinctly while leading his Ice Wolf.
“And we haven’t seen any other creatures along the way,” Mo Hui added, casting curious glances around. “I don’t see any particularly dangerous spots here.”
“If Luoye didn’t know the path, do you think we’d have gotten this far so smoothly?” Wufeng snapped impatiently.
“You cannot see during the day,” Luoye stated calmly. “The swamp at night and the swamp during the day are two entirely different worlds. Tonight, you will learn what the true Swamp of Mist is.”
“Ah!” Everyone gasped in surprise.
“This swamp spans a thousand li, and we have traversed less than a tenth of it so far!” Luoye explained. “If I’m not mistaken! once we exit this swamp, we should be able to catch up with Yue Che and the others.”
“En,” I nodded slightly, fully aware that Luoye’s words were directed at me, intended to reassure me. “Let’s find a suitable spot to settle down first!”
“Yes!” Luoye replied, leading his Ice Wolf and cautiously probing ahead! Although this area was within the swamp, a few scattered small trees were visible. Of course, these ‘small trees’ were only small relative to the other trees in the Mafa World. Each one stood at least ten meters tall and was as thick as a person’s torso.
Luoye, walking ahead, drew a small, pistol-sized staff from his waist, carefully scanning the surroundings! He appeared extremely vigilant and cautious! This was the first time I had the chance to examine Luoye’s weapon up close! It was hard to imagine that this unassuming object could unleash such astonishing power in Luoye’s hands! And Long Xin, being a mage, involuntarily widened her eyes, meticulously studying the little thing in Luoye’s grip!
I instinctively tapped Long Xin’s head! This snapped her out of it; this was hardly the time to indulge curiosity! She let out a slightly awkward, light chuckle!