Rise of the Otherworld.

Zhang Hao held on tightly to the herbalist, struggling to steady himself in the turbulent stream. The roaring water soaked their clothes, and the coldness of it made their bodies tremble uncontrollably.

"Don't panic, walk slowly!" Zhang Hao shouted, his voice mostly drowned out by the sound of the rushing water. His face was tense, his eyes revealing determination and calmness. Despite the dire situation, he told himself to stay calm and lead the herbalist out of danger.

The herbalist's face paled as he nodded, trying to keep up with Zhang Hao's pace. The stones beneath his feet were incredibly slippery, as if coated with grease. Every step was filled with uncertainty. His heartbeat quickened, and his breathing became rapid.

Suddenly, the herbalist slipped and was swept away by the current.

"Ah!" he screamed in terror, his voice filled with despair and fear. He waved his hands wildly in the air, trying to grab something to stop himself from being swept away.

Zhang Hao was quick-witted and rushed forward, grabbing the herbalist's arm again. His fingers clasped the herbalist's sleeve tightly, as if it were his last straw.

"Hold on tight, don't let go!" Zhang Hao gritted his teeth and used all his strength to pull the herbalist toward the shore. His muscles were tense, veins bulging, and every inch of his strength was exerted to the extreme.

After much effort, they finally reached shore. They collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. Their chests heaved violently like bellows. Sweat, mixed with stream water, streamed down their foreheads and cheeks, dripping onto the ground beneath them.

"It was so dangerous, I almost got swept away," the herbalist said with lingering fear. His voice trembled, and the shadow of fear still lingered in his eyes.

Zhang Hao stood up and looked at the rushing stream ahead, his brow furrowed. The surging water was like an angry dragon, terrifying.

"The stream is flowing so fast, we can't go any further along it," he said, his voice low and serious, as he pondered his next move.

The herbalist sighed helplessly: "Then what should we do?" His eyes were full of confusion and helplessness, like a lamb that had lost its direction.

Zhang Hao thought for a moment and said, "Let's see if we can get around it." His eyes were determined as he began to observe the surrounding terrain, looking for a possible way out.

So they began to search for a way around the shore. The terrain along the shore was complex, with thorns growing everywhere. The sharp thorns were like the devil's claws, scratching their skin from time to time. Their clothes were torn, leaving tiny wounds on their bodies.

After walking for a while, Zhang Hao found a steep slope ahead.

"Be careful, this slope is very steep," Zhang Hao warned. His voice echoed in the empty valley, carrying a hint of solemnity.

They climbed the steep slope carefully, each step filled with difficulty. The soil under their feet was soft and they could easily slip down if they were not careful. When they finally reached the top of the slope, they found a deep valley on the other side.

Zhang Hao took a breath and said, "This is not an easy way to go." His brows furrowed even tighter, and the scene before him made him feel despair.

The herbalist looked at the valley, feeling a surge of despair in his heart: "Are we trapped here?" His voice was filled with tears, as if he was on the verge of collapse.

Zhang Hao gritted his teeth and said, "Don't lose heart, there must be a way." His eyes remained firm, unwilling to give up easily.

At this moment, Zhang Hao saw what seemed to be a narrow plank road on the mountain wall in the distance.

"Look over there, maybe that's our way out," Zhang Hao said, pointing at the plank road. A glimmer of hope flashed in his eyes.

The herbalist looked at it and hesitated: "That plank road looks very dangerous." His voice trembled and he was full of fear of the plank road.

"It's better to try than to wait here and die," Zhang Hao said firmly. His tone left no room for doubt, and he decided to take the risk.

They walked towards the plank road, each step filled with uncertainty and fear. The road under their feet was bumpy and their hearts were in their throats.

When they finally reached the plank road, they discovered it was in disrepair, with rotten planks and rusted chains. A gust of wind blew, and the road creaked, as if it would break at any moment.

"This... Can we walk like this?" the herbalist asked tremblingly.

Zhang Hao took a deep breath and said, "There's no other choice. Be careful and take it one step at a time."

They stepped onto the plank road, taking every step carefully, fearing that they would fall into the abyss if they were not careful...