Chapter 17: A Strange Encounter While Traveling

  The bus was empty in the morning, and it drove slowly on the road. Some tourists got on one after another. The atmosphere on the bus became more lively, and Huang Xiaoyu didn't stop chattering with her cherry-like mouth all the way. However, Ji Suyan, who usually loved to fool around with her, was quiet today, shrinking into her seat and dozing off, as if she had never slept enough in her life. "Bang!" Ji Suyan rubbed her forehead and opened her eyes, ouch!

  The car stopped again, and several high school student-like boys got on. Huang Xiaoyu excitedly checked them out, saying that the one with brown hair in the middle was handsome and so on. Ji Su looked dazedly out of the window as the car started moving again, and the scenery and people flew by. Her scattered thoughts gradually returned, and Ji Su stared blankly for half a day before searching her pockets and pulling out a small object.

  Stroking the bright yellow satin, on which intricate floral patterns are embroidered with colored threads. Can't tell what the embroidery is supposed to be. Looks very delicate, like a small sachet, with tassels hanging below. Bringing it close to my nose, there's no particular scent.

  What did Zixiu give her this for? It's simply inexplicable, she wouldn't think that this is a token of affection from Zixiu or something, and the act of drawing her blood is also very strange, making it seem like some kind of scientific experiment.

  But it really hurts! Ji Su touched the band-aid on her left index finger gently, geez! She must have had a grudge against him in her past life, or else why would she be so unlucky every time she met him? After thinking about it randomly for a while, Ji Su shook her head and decided that it's better to keep a distance from Qi Xiu from now on.

  She stuffed the small purse into her pocket, and Ji Su continued to lean against the car window to take a nap. At noon, more than 12 o'clock, several people arrived at their destination, first went to the hotel they had booked in advance to put down their luggage, and then searched for delicious restaurants on Meituan. Finally, they decided to go to the Korean barbecue restaurant on the next street, 38 yuan per person, self-service, as long as you can eat, it's a good deal, and the lemonade there is very good. In the morning, I was afraid of getting carsick, so no one ate anything, now everyone was starving.

  Excitedly rushing to the street next door, several people chatted and looked around, the streets were very clean, with green bricks paved, wet and moist in the summer, with a strong flavor of Jiangnan water town. The shops on both sides had uniform wooden retro doorways, with palace lanterns hanging, although they couldn't see much during the day, but also had a strong ancient charm.

  Ji Su was very happy, from the start of school to now, for more than a month, this is the first time she felt so relaxed and carefree. She even slept well in the car and her energy levels have improved greatly, so she can now argue with Huang Xiaoyu with all her might, competing to see who has the sharper tongue.

  As soon as they entered the Korean barbecue restaurant, the fragrance of meat almost killed the four of them. They chose a private room, which was separated from the outside by a bead curtain. From inside, they could see the outside, but from the outside, it wasn't clear what was going on inside. As soon as the waiter left, the group let their guard down and turned into gluttons, each grabbing a tray to pick out dishes they liked from the shelves.

  The seasonings for the barbecue were also prepared by themselves. Ji Suyan liked it lighter, while the other three preferred spicy flavors. Ji Suyan prepared a lot of green vegetables and fish meat, Huang Xiaoyu prepared a lot of pork, mutton, and beef, Ji Huali chose expensive dishes, and Yan Fen'er had a balance of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food.

  Preparations were complete, and several people started roasting with great enthusiasm. While eating, they chatted randomly, and when thirsty, they drank beverages. The lemonade here was indeed famous for its good taste, and Ji Su Yin had drunk seven or eight cups in a row, her belly bloated with water. They hadn't eaten much, and the other three people also drank a few cups. After eating their fill, the four of them strolled back slowly, considering it a digestive walk.

  Back at the hotel, it wasn't even one o'clock yet. They each washed their faces and started taking a nap. They had booked a double standard room with two beds, one for each pair of people. Ji Suyin and Huang Xiaoyu shared one bed, while Yan Fen'er and Ji Huali shared the other. Lying in bed, they chatted for over half an hour before finally falling asleep after Ji Huali ordered them to quiet down.

  When they got up, it was almost two thirty in the afternoon. They planned to go sightseeing on a nearby mountain in the afternoon and then go to a farther place tomorrow. They would take the 2 o'clock bus back in the afternoon and should arrive at school before 7 o'clock in the evening. When they went out, Ji Suoyun and Huang Xiaoyu carried large backpacks, Yan Fen'er wore a side bag, and Ji Huili only held a small blue handbag containing their allocated travel essentials. Ji Huili's bag only contained several packs of tissue paper for wiping her mouth!

  For such an arrangement, several people have long been accustomed to it and have no opinion. As soon as they left the hotel, there was a bus stop, and several people took the No. 11 tourist bus, which could reach their destination in 20 minutes. After getting off the bus, they looked around, because it was not the peak tourist season, so there were only a few scattered tourists, and the four of them were very satisfied. Who wants to travel in crowded places? They came to see mountains and rivers, not people!

  The long staircase winds its way up, with a few scattered tourists climbing tirelessly. Ji Su-yin and Huang Xiao-yu hold onto their backpack straps, mouths agape as they gaze upwards - this mountain is still pretty high! As they climb higher, they take in the majestic mountains, the clear sky, the lush trees, and the emerald green grass. Ji Su-yin's good mood is simply indescribable! But just as they've reached halfway, something that was expected to happen occurs. Ji Hua-li can't walk anymore and shouts for a rest.

  The other three people had no objection and sat down to drink water. Ji Huali frowned and tapped her leg, Huang Xiaoyu couldn't help but curl up her mouth, who would wear two-inch high heels to climb a mountain? It's really unknown whether she was saying that she didn't have common sense or loved beauty too much! Ji Suyin sat with her knees crossed, gazing up at the azure sky, the gentle breeze blowing her thick bangs, feeling so refreshing! She couldn't help but turn her head and found that the staircase railing not far away was broken off, as if it was intentional.

  The broken place is a flat land, with small yellow flowers and purple flowers everywhere, it's very beautiful! Huang Xiaoyu also saw it, calling Yan Fen to take pictures, spreading out the picnic mat. Ji Suyin patted her clothes and strolled over leisurely.

  She didn't like taking pictures, so she bypassed a few people and walked forward along the flowers and grass, brushing against them as she went. The sound of laughter in her ears gradually faded away. After crossing a row of waist-high wild grass, Ji Su stood on a flat piece of land, which wasn't very big, about five square meters. The trees around it were all equally tall, large and sturdy, with dense leaves that almost blocked out the light.

  Suddenly, she felt a chill on her back, and she shrank her shoulders, looking around. Slowly, Ji Su detected that something was off, how could the temperature be so low here, and also, even the cicada's chirping sound couldn't be heard, the scene was eerily quiet.

  Suddenly, a rustling sound came from the front left, as if some large bird had flown by. Ji Suon's conditioned reflex made him look up, but the branches were too high, and he strained his neck until it hurt.

  But the light was insufficient, and it wasn't clear, only feeling like there was a black shadow crouching there. Ji SuYin stared for a long time, suddenly seeming to realize something, looking forward, and in the distance, something flashed by, moving so fast that Ji SuYin thought his eyes were playing tricks on him, a quick flash of white, and when he looked up again, the black shadow on the tree was gone. Ji SuYin was shocked!