A Shocking Dream

Chapter 143 Encountering Poisonous Miasma Again

Lin Wunian trudged through the poisonous miasma, her vision gradually clouded by fog, and strange hallucinations overwhelmed her like a surging tide. At first, a magnificent palace rose from the hazy horizon ahead, its golden dome gleaming eerily against the murky green miasma. The palace's doors slowly opened, and strands of colorful silk wafted forth, a warm welcome. However, as she approached the seemingly real palace gate, the ground beneath her feet suddenly transformed into an endless abyss. Countless withered, twisted hands reached out from the darkness, their nails long and sharp, like black blades, madly clawing at her. From the depths of the abyss, shrill cries echoed, as if countless wronged souls were struggling in agony.

Instantly, a sharp whistling sound exploded in her ears. She looked up and saw dark clouds rolling in the sky, with gigantic black birds circling within. These birds were as massive as mountains, their eyes as red as blood moons, dripping with a foul-smelling mucus. They opened their bloody mouths, revealing jagged, toothy beaks, and let out a terrifying scream, as if they were about to swoop down and tear them to pieces.

Kanan's face was already terrified. She clung to Lin Wunian tightly, her voice trembling almost inaudibly, "Sister, there are so many monsters crawling around here... They're crawling towards us!" Lin Wunian glanced sideways and saw a dense swarm of poisonous insects of all shapes and sizes swarming from all directions. Some were enormous, their shells as hard as steel, gleaming with a sickening luster; some had countless long, furry legs, rustling as they scurried across the ground, like the whispers of death; others had transparent bodies, their internal organs visible, and wisps of green smoke emanated from their mouths, instantly withering vegetation wherever they passed. These venomous insects intertwined and clambered, forming a terrifying "sea of ​​insects" that rapidly spread towards them.

Lin Wunian forced herself to remain calm, steeling herself to cut her arm, using the excruciating pain to keep herself awake. But then, an even more horrifying vision overwhelmed her. She saw herself on a battlefield strewn with corpses, broken limbs scattered everywhere, blood pooling like a river, the stench thick with blood. The severed heads and torsos began to wriggle, forming into deformed monsters. They stared at Lin Wunian with hollow eyes, growling deeply. Then, dragging their mutilated bodies, they limped toward her, leaving a trail of gruesome bloody footprints with each step. In this endless, horrifying vision, Lin Wunian and Kankan were like a lone boat on a raging sea, teetering on the brink of collapse, yet still desperately struggling to escape this poisonous, miasmic lair.

Surrounded by these terrifying hallucinations, Lin Wunian was nearly consumed by despair. But deep within her heart, a powerful determination cried out: She must not fall. Kankan still needed her protection. She closed her eyes tightly, struggling to find a glimmer of clarity in her chaotic thoughts, recalling her medical knowledge, trying to find a way to control the poisonous miasma and hallucinations.

Suddenly, she remembered reading in ancient texts that the scent of certain herbs could dispel the mind-bending effects of poisonous miasma. She forced herself to keep her eyes open on horseback, ignoring the terrifying illusion around her, and carefully identified the plants around her. Fortunately, in a relatively sparse area not far away, she found several plants of angelica, emitting a faint fragrance.

Lin Wunian mustered her last bit of strength, dismounted, and ran toward the angelica. The ground beneath her feet felt like scalding lava, and every step was accompanied by piercing pain, but she didn't hesitate. When she finally reached the angelica, she quickly crushed it and applied it to her and Kankan's philtrum and temples.

Gradually, the delicate fragrance, like a ray of dawn light, pierced the darkness of the poisonous miasma and the fog of hallucinations. The terrifying scene around him began to recede like a tide; the screams of strange birds, the roars of monsters, and the wails of wronged souls slowly faded from his ears. Lin Wunian gasped for breath, watching his surroundings gradually return to normal, a surge of relief at having survived. Kanan also recovered from her extreme fear. Fear still lingered in her eyes, but more so, a reliance and trust in Lin Wunian.

As the hallucinations of the poisonous miasma dissipated, Lin Wunian and Kankan woke as if from a nightmare. Lin Wunian took a deep breath, the fresh scent of angelica filling her lungs, gradually clearing her foggy thoughts. She turned to look at Kankan, and seeing the lingering fear in her eyes, she reached out and gently patted her shoulder, saying soothingly, "It's okay, we've made it through."

Kanan nodded slightly, forcing a smile. Lin Wunian climbed back onto the horse, gently squeezing his legs against its belly, and the horse slowly moved forward. The jungle was still hot and humid, but after their life-or-death ordeal with the poisonous miasma, it seemed to have gained a hint of life. Sunlight filtered through the gaps between the branches and leaves, scattering onto the ground in patches of golden light.

They followed a winding path, the trees growing denser and denser along the roadside, and all sorts of exotic flowers and plants swaying gently in the breeze. Lin Wunian's eyes kept a vigilant eye on his surroundings, not daring to slack off for even a moment. Reaching a hillside, Lin Wunian reined in his horse and gazed down from above. In the distance, he saw rolling hills, shrouded in clouds and mist, a scene resembling a fairyland.

"Sister, the scenery over there is so beautiful," Wan Wan said softly. Lin Wu Nian frowned slightly, knowing full well that within this seemingly beautiful jungle, there might be hidden dangers. "Don't take it lightly," she whispered.

Continuing on, they heard the clear sound of birdsong. Following the sound, they saw a flock of colorful birds frolicking in the branches. Kanan was captivated by this lively scene, a long-lost smile breaking across her face. Lin Wunian, watching her, felt a small sense of relief.

Just then, a soft rustling sound emerged from the brush. Lin Wunian was instantly alert. She reached for the hilt of the sword at her waist, her gaze fixed intently on the source of the sound. A moment later, a fawn poked its head out from the brush, its bright, large eyes curiously observing them before bounding away.

Lin Wunian breathed a sigh of relief, mentally cursing, "Today was so damn thrilling." Recalling the desperate fight with the tiger and the terrifying experience of struggling in the poisonous miasma, she knew that this journey was full of dangers. One wrong step, even the smallest mistake, could cost her life.

She turned slightly to look at Qianqian, her eyes filled with both relief and fear. Her own life had been through many trials and tribulations, and she had long since become indifferent to life and death, but Qianqian was different. If Qianqian died because of her negligence, how would she explain this to her father, Old Liu?