Yellow Dragon River, the third largest river in the Southern Border, stretched over eight thousand kilometers. It originated from Huangguo Mountain and flowed through Xuanming Mountain, Guibei Mountain, Qing Mao Mountain, Baigu Mountain, Leici Mountain, and others before finally emptying into the sea.
If one looked at an aerial map of the Southern Border, the Yellow Dragon River resembled the character 几, cutting through more than half of the region's territory.
Several great loops howled as they churned sand skyward, roaring waves surging along their course. They split banks and carved through gorges that shook the earth, trailing clouds and spewing mist as they roared toward the heavens.
The Yellow Dragon River's current ran fierce, its yellow waters surging without end. Fish, turtles, snakes, and mussels thrived within, each with their own vitality. At this moment, on the river's surface, a bamboo raft bobbed and swayed amidst the waves.
This green-blue bamboo raft was quite dilapidated, scarred and battered. At its center stood a crude mast bearing a tattered white sail. Supplies were piled around the mast to stabilize the center of gravity, and the bamboo poles were lashed together with hemp rope. In several places the bindings had been reinforced again and again — evidence of repeated emergency repairs out on the water.
The river surged forward and the bamboo raft rode the current, drifting with the waves.
Every time the water slammed against it, the raft groaned under the strain, making one's heart clench with anxiety.
On this raft that seemed ready to fall apart at any moment rode two youths.
One was a young man with ordinary features, wearing a black robe, with black eyes and black hair. The other was a young woman in a white robe — blue eyes, silver hair, a peerless beauty with an almost ethereal bearing.
They were none other than Fang Yuan and Bai Ningbing.
Ever since the battle at Qing Mao Mountain, when Bai Ningbing had detonated her Northern Underworld Ice Soul Body to temporarily trap the Celestial Crane Immortal, they had fought their way free from the ice, cut down the Green Spear Bamboo to fashion this raft, and immediately fled into the distance.
Fang Yuan's Thousand-Mile Earth Wolf Spider was dead. Bai Ningbing's White Phase Immortal Snake had flown away on its own earlier, never to be heard from again.
Without Gu Insects to carry them, relying only on their own legs, they would be far too slow — the Celestial Crane Immortal would certainly catch up. So Fang Yuan had no choice but to resort to this method.
The Yellow Dragon River had tributaries near Qing Mao Mountain. That Fifth Transformation River-Swallowing Toad had once drifted along the Yellow Dragon River's main channel and ended up at the foot of Qing Mao Mountain by accident.
The bamboo raft flowed from the tributary into the main channel, riding the river downstream. Covering over a thousand li a day, its speed was naturally swift.
"Five days have already passed. It seems that old man isn't coming after all." Fang Yuan stood on the bamboo raft, glanced behind him, and murmured.
The raft's speed could never match the Iron Beak Flying Crane King. But the crane was, after all, a living creature — it had to rest eventually, unlike the bamboo raft which could ride the river's power without pause. The longer time went on, the safer Fang Yuan would be.
Moreover, Fang Yuan remembered: after the Celestial Crane Immortal had slain Gu Yue Yidai, he had returned alone. The Iron Beak Flying Crane King had very likely perished.
The river roared in his ears. Bai Ningbing glanced at Fang Yuan. Though she could not hear his words clearly, she understood his meaning.
She laughed heartily. "What is there to worry about? If that old thing comes after us, we simply turn and fight to the death. A battle on the Yellow Dragon River would certainly be quite spectacular. Though, if we die here, we'll probably end up as fish food. Heh — that would be rather amusing."
Fang Yuan ignored her, his gaze fixed on the distance instead.
Calculating in his mind, five days on the water should have brought them very close to Baigu Mountain.
In his memories, Baigu Mountain harbored a secret inheritance left behind by a pair of Fourth Transformation Righteous Path Gu Masters, waiting for those fated to find it.
"The inheritance in Baigu Mountain — I never experienced it myself in my previous life, only heard of it. But it is said that some of its trials require two people working in concert to pass."
At this thought, Fang Yuan subtly glanced at Bai Ningbing.
Though he was traveling with her, it was only because circumstances forced his hand — a powerful enemy bearing down on them. He himself was only at the First Transformation Initial Stage, and venturing into the outside world, he needed an ally. Furthermore, Bai Ningbing had become a woman. And with the Yang Gu in his possession, he held her greatest weakness, leaving her no choice but to compromise.
If they truly entered Baigu Mountain, could he and Bai Ningbing really cooperate in harmony?
That was a considerable problem.
Bang.
Without warning, a muffled explosion rang out.
"That's not good — the rope came loose again." The sound was all too familiar to Bai Ningbing, and she cried out in alarm.
The river's force was fierce. Over these five days, who knew how many times the hemp rope binding the Green Spear Bamboo had been torn away. Fortunately, Fang Yuan had prepared thoroughly before setting out.
"Get the rope — I've got this for now." Fang Yuan hurriedly crouched down, pressing both hands against the splitting section to keep the damage from spreading.
The river's force was tremendous. Holding the raft required enormous strength — far more than Bai Ningbing could manage. Only Fang Yuan, who possessed the strength of twin boars, could hold it.
Fortunately, this had happened many times before, and Bai Ningbing had gained experience dealing with it. She rushed to grab the hemp rope from the crude mast at the center of the raft.
"Coming, coming!" She hurried back and handed over the rope.
Fang Yuan deftly took it and began wrapping it swiftly, working up a sweat. He wound several layers before barely managing to secure the section.
"The raft is already in terrible shape. At this rate, it will last one more day at most. After that, we will have to go ashore." Fang Yuan sighed.
The Yellow Dragon River was not safe. Within those surging waters lurked countless unknown dangers. If the raft collapsed in the middle of the river and both Fang Yuan and Bai Ningbing fell in, the consequences would be unpredictable and deadly.
Tock.
A faint, muffled sound suddenly rang out.
"What was that?" Fang Yuan frowned immediately.
Bai Ningbing tilted her head, a puzzled expression on her face. "What sound? I didn't hear anything."
At that moment, fine root-like tendrils sprouted from the edges of Fang Yuan's ears. Almost immediately, the tocking sounds came in rapid succession. The bamboo raft shivered faintly in response.