Rise of the Otherworld.

The beast collapsed with a crashing roar, and Zhang Hao and the herbalist collapsed to the ground, relieved. They gasped for air. It felt as if all strength had been drained from their bodies, and every breath was tinged with deep exhaustion. The air around them was filled with the scent of blood and dust, and the grass, soaked with their sweat, clung to the earth.

Zhang Hao's clothes were already tattered, covered in wounds of varying sizes, stained red with blood. Some were scratched by the beast's claws, others by branches and rocks during the fierce battle. His hair was matted to his forehead, and sweat streamed down his cheeks.

The herbalist's condition wasn't good either. His arms were covered in deep scratches, and blood oozed out, staining his sleeves red. His face was also covered in dust and blood, making his once handsome features look particularly disheveled.

"We...finally won," Zhang Hao said weakly, a hint of relief in his voice. His lips were chapped and painful even when he spoke, but the joy in his heart made him smile.

The herbalist nodded. "Yes, I almost lost my life." His voice trembled, but his eyes revealed a hint of determination. He looked at Zhang Hao, his heart filled with gratitude and admiration.

The two men lay on the ground, gazing up at the sky, letting the sunlight bathe their faces. The sky was a brilliant blue, like a jewel, with a few white clouds drifting leisurely across it. The tranquility of this moment stood in stark contrast to the fierce battle that had preceded it. After a long moment, they finally recovered and slowly sat up.

"I need to treat the wound first, otherwise it will get infected and cause trouble." Zhang Hao forced himself to stand up and took out some herbs from his pocket. He had specially collected those herbs during his previous adventures, and he didn't expect them to come in handy at this moment.

The herbalist also stood up and helped to look for some cloth to bandage the wound. They searched in the nearby grass and finally found some relatively clean cloth.

They found a relatively quiet place and began to treat each other's wounds. Zhang Hao skillfully chewed the herbs into pieces, applied them to the herbalist's wound, and then carefully bandaged it with a cloth strip.

"Bear with it, it might hurt a little," Zhang Hao said softly. His movements were gentle and focused, as if he were handling a precious treasure.

The herbalist gritted his teeth and said, "It's okay, just do it." He clenched his fists tightly, beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, but he never made a sound.

After treating the herbalist's wound, Zhang Hao began to bandage his own. His wound was deeper and more severe, and every touch made him gasp in pain, but he endured it and finished bandaging it.

After treating their wounds, they found some wild fruits to fill their stomachs. The fruits were sour and sweet, and although they couldn't fill their stomachs, they could provide some energy.

"I don't know how long it will take to get out of this damn place." The herbalist muttered as he ate wild fruits, his eyes filled with confusion and worry.

Zhang Hao looked into the distance and said, "No matter what, we have overcome so many difficulties and we will always find a way out." His voice was firm and powerful, as if he was cheering up the herbalists and himself.

After resting for a while, the two of them recovered some of their strength.

"Let's go, keep moving forward." Zhang Hao stood up and dusted himself off. Although his steps were still a little unsteady, his eyes were full of hope.

The herbalist also stood up and said, "Okay, I hope there won't be any danger ahead." He tightened his grip on the wooden stick and followed Zhang Hao.

They continued along the valley, cautiously moving forward, alert to the dangers that might appear around them. The road in the valley was bumpy and their steps became heavier and heavier.

Suddenly, they heard the sound of gurgling water, which was clear and pleasant, like the music of nature.

"Maybe we can find a way out somewhere with water," Zhang Hao said. His eyes lit up and he quickened his pace.

They walked in the direction of the sound and saw a clear stream in front of them. The water sparkled silver in the sunlight, and the stones beside the stream were round and smooth.

Zhang Hao squatted down, scooped up some stream water with his hands and took a sip, "This water is so sweet."

The herbalists also started drinking, and the cool stream water lifted their spirits.

"Let's follow the stream, maybe we can find some people there," Zhang Hao suggested.

The herbalist nodded and said, "Okay, I'll listen to you."

As they walked along the stream, the scenery around them gradually became more beautiful. The streamside was filled with colorful wildflowers, and butterflies fluttered among the flowers. But they didn't dare let their guard down, and remained constantly aware of their surroundings...