Chapter 23: Triple Mountain

  If it's said that normal people don't look very good - for example, having a headache or fever - basically can't be seen, then it's absolutely not the case for Mulin and Mulan.

  Like at the beginning when they fell to the mountain belly, Mù Lián used one of his hands that had transformed back into withered wood to maintain his other human form normally. Mù Hé directly fell into a coma (this was also a kind of self-protection mechanism), and Shí Sōng who had thoroughly transformed back into a horse-tail pine didn't even need to be mentioned.

  Now, even if Du Ying felt heartbroken that half of Mulin and Mulan's bodies had withered away, he also knew it was inevitable. If nothing unexpected happened, this would be the best outcome he could achieve ——

  Do your best and reach your destination, at least don't become a burden to others.

  "...You mean they climbed up by themselves?" Jing Sheng was shocked. "Mu Lian is still carrying Mu He!" It's simply an impossible task!

  At this time, Du Ying had already waded back to the original stone cave. "According to my understanding of her, it should be like this." He affirmed, "She and Muhe are not actually sisters, but better than sisters. Since they are both there, it means that Muhe has reached her own goal."

  The other three fell silent.

  The wooden spirit takes on a human form, and under normal circumstances, each one looks different. Mu Lian and Mu He have to wear the same face, which shows how deep their feelings are for each other.

  On the other hand, this also relieved them of pressure. Because even if Mù Lián was awake at this time, it would be impossible for him to take anyone up again.

  "I'm not worried about how we'll get up there," Jiang Si's eyebrows drooped, "I'm worried that even if we do get up there, we won't be able to solve the problem."

  How can a wooden spirit be saved? This proposition is too difficult, okay?

  Su You rarely frowned at this depressing remark, because he didn't understand it either. "I only know that I have to try to go out," he said truthfully, "but even if I do go out, Mu Lian and Mu He..." They also had no way.

  Du Ying completely understood Su You's implicit meaning. "This is our own business. For now, of course, we should go out first and talk about the rest later."

  Jing Sheng originally wanted to ask, you guys went through great difficulties to let us enter the refined and strange version of Paiyun Mountain's instance, just to have us help you solve the spiritual energy crisis; but from the Suspended Temple onwards, things started going off in an unknown direction, can this really work?

  Similarly, he also wanted to ask Jiang Siqi about his views on the role he played in this whole thing. Although Jiang Siqi was probably also very confused, but after all, he was a person who had personally experienced it?

  But neither of them is suitable for discussion at this time.

  Jing Sheng understood this, so he could only hold back these questions and said: "Then shall we go up now?" Since Du Ying confirmed that the person above was Mu Lianmuhe without a doubt, they should be careful, one by one climbing up, shouldn't be too much of a problem.

  "Let's go." Du Ying took the lead and got into the water. "One at a time," he said, looking over at Su You, "make sure to wipe off any sweat or whatever from your body, otherwise I won't guarantee your safety if you fall in."

  Su Yu suddenly recalled the scene of those fish flying up to grab food earlier, and his back felt a chill. At this moment, he couldn't help but feel grateful that he had taken care of their bodies in advance, otherwise it would be...

  The water is shallow and the journey is short, so the four of them quickly arrived at their destination.

  But after they went up, they found that the obstacle was two-way. From the outside, this is a lake island; from here, the surrounding area is a continuous mountain range with dense forests, and the sound of waves crashing against the shore can be heard in the distance. The scene is so realistic that even the light source above their heads has changed from pearl light to sunlight.

  Damn it!

  Su You, Jing Sheng, and Jiang Siqi couldn't help but curse in their hearts. This means they have to go deeper into the mountains?

  It has to be said that whenever anyone thinks they see the dawn, reality slaps them in the face with even deeper darkness, and most people won't be too happy about it.

  "The real inside story." Du Ying was absolutely the calmest among everyone, "The outside is just a shadow, the middle is just a framework, only the inside is real."

  Su You was already being messed up. "Can you speak human language?"

  Fortunately, Du Ying was very patient. "The legend of the three-layered cloud of Paiyun Mountain is famous, but in fact it has three layers of mountains. The outermost layer is what we saw when we just entered the mountain, which is the shadow; its eye is in the Qin Temple. Through the Jiuxiao Qin, we entered the inner mountain and saw the gate of the Qin Temple; it's like a skeleton. And now, we're standing on the eye that leads to the real inner mountain."

  Jing Sheng felt that he was already being driven mad by this broken copy. "Is it really just three layers?" he asked firmly, "Don't tell me that after finding this eye, you'll still tell me there's another layer?"

  "If that's the case, then it just goes to show that the legend is wrong." Du Ying wasn't angry at all. "I've said it many times before, even we haven't been in here."

  "Alright, let's just consider it that way then." Su You hastily came out to mediate and changed the subject: "What about them? Are we going to bring them along?"

  Du Ying shook his head. "If I'm not mistaken, the inner mountain will force us to show our true colors. This is the origin of the entire Paiyun Mountain Range, so we should be able to find the true bodies of Mulin and Mulian in the mountains."

  "Are you included?" Jiang Siqi asked cleverly.

  "That's right." Du Ying nodded, "Take a few more steps inside, and you'll probably see a tree talking to you."

  Three people imagined a tree on the edge jumping up and down, with different expressions.

  "What about us?" asked Jing Sheng.

  Du Ying glanced over and paused for half a second. "It may not work on outsiders."

  But what he was thinking in his heart was, if Jing Sheng came in alone, it would be fine, but with Su You and Jiang Siqi together... Firstly, Su You's evil energy could cover up; secondly, the illusion was used to conceal the master's whereabouts, where was the logic in forcing the master to reveal himself?

  Jiang Siqi was already laughing without knowing what was going on. "Are you kidding, Teacher Jing? We're all human, what other prototype do you want?"

  In response, Jing Sheng glared at Jiang Siqi and took the lead in stepping forward. At this time, he was only embarrassed by his own momentary impulsiveness, and didn't think about the possibility of it actually happening.