Retreat blocked

When something happens, there is always a reason or cause, but the current situation was overwhelming for this healer.

Was there ever such a thing called a coincidence?

He truly felt tempted to accredit the current situation as such. Even though he knew there was a reason for it, he could not pinpoint what it truly was. He felt he was lacking a crucial hint for him to understand this, but then again, would that even solve the problem?

This was clearly related to the poison. Something he could not see or explain had somehow sped up the rate at which the poison affected Bai Ming and even Mu Bai.

He wondered if this was a special characteristic of the poison that would take effect after a certain amount of time, but there was a contradiction with this line of thought.

As the first to be affected, Mu Bai should have been the only one to be affected and the rest would know this to be a natural progression of the poison's activity but now everyone who had been infected by this poison had its rate of activity sped up.

Considering the fact that Bai Ming, Si Niang, and Cui Rong had been affected a bit later than Mu Bai, then it should not be the case.

Many thoughts passed through Chi Huo. Some followed common sense, and some did not, but he could not get anywhere closer to the truth of the matter. He felt like his mind was about to break down. The others could also see this healer was no longer himself, but they did not interrupt him.

Since time would not allow him to have his way, then Chi Huo chose to follow the most logical theory among all the reasons he could think of, which was this dead land.

Everything had been fine along the way. The medicine he had given Si Niang to help alleviate Mu Bai's state had been effective. From the moment they took off, Bai Ming, Si Niang, and Cui Rong had not shown any adverse effects from this poison. Their bodies had shown signs of weakness and decline, but this did not affect their ability to walk.

But the moment they stepped into this frozen land, it felt as if something had started acting without them being aware of it. 

Yes, it had to be this wasteland.

Chi could not explain the specifics, but he felt that somehow this environment complements this poison, and given the fact that this poison had originated from this place, he became increasingly sure of his theory.

Looking at it this way, he quickly organized his thoughts and spoke out.

"This place is strange, though I can not explain it, I have reason to believe that it has somehow affected not just the three of you but all of us."

Everyone who heard this couldn't help but sigh. They felt like this healer had reached a dead end, but they also couldn't help but think that his line of thought seemed logical.

Chi Huo did not stop and made his thoughts plain for all to see, "I don't have anything else that can help him, but I suggest that we take him inside this castle. It doesn't seem like the owner of this residence is home, so if we search inside it, perhaps we may find something that can help him."

Bai Ming and Cui Rong, who were coughing up blood, looked to the entrance and looked at each other in thought.

Everyone could now understand their situation more clearly. There was no need for someone else to explain it.

They had come to find the source of the poison, and they did find it, but the source was not a plant species as they had hoped instead a predator, which ruled this frozen land. Just thinking of the beast corpse that was near its body sent shivers running down their spine.

It was clear that they could not contend with it in any way. Simply coming close to it as that beast's body could kill them.

These serpents did not return to their original positions. Instead, they waited at the edge of the ice floor as if waiting for them to return. This meant that the path to retreat had been blocked, and there was only one path forward.

It was this strange door.

They had to admit Chi Huo's suggestion had made them realize this truth.

Si Niang also heard this and knew that this residence was as unpredictable as the rest of this land, but at this moment, what other choice did they have?

Chi Huo was right about this environment not being favourable to Mu Bai. As a patient, he needed a warm place to settle down, and this frozen land was clearly not it.

The fact that the serpents did not dare to step closer to this ice floor made them fear this residence.

As hunters, they knew better than most people. In the wild, each powerful beast marked its own territory. Once one stepped into this territory, they would be in danger. The other beasts in the surrounding would also be aware of this and would avoid coming closer to the borders of these territories as that would put themselves in danger.

There was a high chance that this residence was home to an even bigger menace, but there was no other way around their current situation.

They had to take this risk.

Bai Ming thought of the promise his mother had made before he left the village. Unlike the rest, he chose to take a step forward. He was not willing to die here without a fight. He had to live through this nightmare, go back, and see his mother no matter the cost.

Everyone was surprised they did not expect the first person to step through would be Bai Ming.

He came and stopped in front of it and put his right hand on it. The moment his hand came into contact with the entrance, a few ripples appeared. He slowly pushed his body forward. It seemed as if it was sinking into some unknown place. 

In no time at all, he had already passed through this entrance.