I am the Holy Poisoner, the Empress advised me to calm down

"Yes, I've walked this path with my father before. It's difficult to walk on, but it's definitely hidden," the young man answered firmly.

"Okay, we'll do as you say." Lu Yining nodded in agreement and turned to Lin Hao for his opinion.

"I agree," Lin Hao said after looking at the surrounding environment. "Since there is no better choice, we might as well try his suggestion."

The other members of the team also expressed their agreement, especially the villagers, who seemed even more confident after learning that someone was willing to lead the way. "Great! With a guide, we should be able to get through the dense forest smoothly!" said an older villager happily.

"But be careful," Lu Yining added, "Don't let your guard down under any circumstances."

After saying this, she instructed everyone to quickly gather their equipment and prepare to depart. Just then, faint footsteps could be heard in the distance. "Oh no! Someone might have discovered our location!" a vigilant soldier whispered.

"Everyone keep quiet and proceed according to the original plan!" Lu Yining ordered, and the entire team quickly entered a tense state.

Deep in the dense forest, shrouded in darkness, only the occasional chirp of birds and the buzz of insects broke the silence. Using moonlight and the faint glow of their flashlights to guide them, they carefully navigated through the trees. The young villager led the way, while Lu Yining and Lin Hao followed closely behind to ensure everyone's safety.

After walking for about an hour, when everyone was beginning to feel exhausted, the young man leading the group suddenly stopped and pointed to the left. "That's where I'm talking about. Please follow my lead."

Everyone followed the instructions and found that there was indeed a seemingly ordinary but hidden path ahead. "Wow, this is really a way out!" The crowd cheered softly.

Just as they were about to embark on a new journey, an old man gently patted the shoulder of the young man next to him. "Thank you, young man, for giving us hope," his tone was filled with gratitude.

The young man smiled shyly and replied, "You're welcome, old man. This is what I should do."

As time went by, the outside world seemed to be shrouded in a mysterious veil, and they continued to move forward like explorers looking for a way out. From time to time, they could see some small animals running away in fear along the way, but it did not affect their speed.

Just when everyone thought everything was going smoothly, the previously peaceful road suddenly became incredibly narrow. The trees on both sides seemed to form a natural barrier, leaving only a small gap wide enough for one person to pass through. "This place looks dangerous," Applejack whispered.

"That's true, but we have to take the risk and give it a try." Lu Yining analyzed calmly, "Otherwise it will be difficult to find a safer path."

At this moment, the usually silent Lin Hao stepped forward again. "Leave it to me," he said firmly. "I'll scout the route first to confirm the situation before deciding whether all members should pass."

After saying this, he quickly moved forward. A few minutes later, good news came: "This road is passable, but everyone needs to be careful with their steps."

So, all the members followed the pre-arranged order and slowly crossed the steep path one by one. No accidents happened during the whole process, but everyone held their breath and was very careful, fearing that even the slightest sound would attract potential threats.

Finally, after a difficult trek, the team returned to a relatively open area. "Huh, we're finally through," someone exclaimed with relief.

Just as everyone was about to take a break, the young villager suddenly stopped and looked into the distance with a frown on his face. "Strange, why is there a figure over there?" he asked in confusion.

"Where is it?" Lu Yining immediately became alert and followed the young man's gaze. He saw a few faint lights flickering not far away. "It seems we are not the only ones who noticed this place."

"Could it be that the enemy has found another route to this place?" Lin Hao analyzed.

A thick tension filled the air, everyone aware that every step at this moment would determine their ultimate fate. Lu Yining took a deep breath and turned to face the group. "No matter what difficulties we face, we must not give up. I believe we will find a solution. Now, please maintain formation and be ready to respond to any situation."

"Yes, no matter how big the difficulties are, as long as we unite as one, there will be no difficulties that cannot be overcome." The child said firmly.

Just when the atmosphere reached its climax, a clear sound of footsteps suddenly came from the distance... "Who is it? Come out and see!" Uncle Li shouted.

"Don't panic, keep calm." Lin Hao comforted everyone and asked the team members to prepare for defense.

As they drew closer, the outlines of the incoming forces gradually became clear. Unexpectedly, they weren't enemies, but the aforementioned friendly reinforcements! "Haha, that's great! We've arrived just in time!" the enemy leader laughed excitedly as he stepped forward to greet them.

"Is it really you? I thought..." Lu Yining responded in surprise.

"Yes, we know you are in trouble so we came here to help." The leader of the support team explained.

Upon hearing the news, everyone present smiled with relief. Even the frightened children smiled brightly, saying, "That's great! There are more brave adults helping us face this difficult time together!"

"So what should we do next?" Ajie asked impatiently.

"We already have a preliminary plan," the commander of the support force replied, "but the specific details still need further discussion to be finalized."

Just as everyone was immersed in joy, it suddenly began to rain again, as if nature itself was cheering for the encounter. "It seems like even the heavens want to help us," Lin Hao joked with a smile.

"That's right," Lu Yining said, "No matter how many unknowns are waiting for us ahead, we must work together!"

"Well said. Let us start a new chapter together." The commander nodded in agreement.

And amidst these words full of hope and courage, a new adventure is quietly beginning...

"But first, we need to find a place to shelter from the rain." Lu Yining said as he looked at the raindrops that were becoming increasingly dense.

"There is a cave here where we can take shelter temporarily," a villager suggested.

"Okay, let's go in." Lu Yining nodded and led the team towards the cave.

The moment I stepped into the cave, a gunshot was heard in the distance...