Rise of the Otherworld.

Zhang Hao was the first to step onto the plank road. The rotten planks creaked unnervingly beneath his feet, as if protesting his heavy steps. He gripped the rusty chain tightly with one hand and tentatively advanced with the other, taking each step with extreme caution. From the abyss beneath his feet, mist rose, as if hiding countless unknown horrors.

The herbalist followed closely behind, his breathing rapid, his heart pounding like a drum, his eyes afraid to glance at the abyss below. His hands tightly grasped the chain, his knuckles white from the strain.

"Slow down, hold steady!" Zhang Hao turned around and warned. His voice was a little weak in the whistling wind, but it was full of determination.

The herbalist gritted his teeth, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. "Zhang Hao, I... I'm a little scared." His voice was trembling, as if he would burst into tears at any moment.

"Don't be afraid, look ahead and take it one step at a time." Zhang Hao tried to make his voice sound steady, to give the herbalist some comfort and courage. His eyes were fixed on the front, not daring to be distracted in the slightest.

Suddenly, a wooden board couldn't bear Zhang Hao's weight and broke with a "crack". His foot stepped on empty air and he fell down.

"Zhang Hao!" The herbalist was horrified. His voice broke the silence of the valley, full of fear and despair.

At the critical moment, Zhang Hao grabbed the chain tightly with his other hand, his body swung in the air a few times, and finally stabilized his body. His heartbeat accelerated rapidly, as if it was about to jump out of his throat.

The herbalist quickly reached out and pulled Zhang Hao up. "I was so scared! I hope nothing happens to you." His voice was tearful, and his hands were still shaking.

"Be careful, this plank road is too dangerous." The herbalist's voice changed, his legs became weak and he could hardly stand.

Zhang Hao gasped, "Keep going, we have no way back." There was no trace of retreat in his eyes, only firm determination.

They continued to trudge forward on the plank road, each step a dance with death. The wind grew stronger, making their clothes rustle.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, they finally saw the end of the plank road. It was a seemingly safe flat land, but in their eyes it was like heaven.

"We're almost there, keep going!" Zhang Hao shouted excitedly. His voice was filled with hope, as if he had already seen the dawn of victory.

However, just as they were about to reach the end, a sudden downpour came pouring down. The rain instantly soaked their bodies, making the already slippery path even more difficult to walk on.

"Be careful, don't slip!" Zhang Hao shouted. His voice was drowned out by the sound of rain, but the herbalist still understood his meaning from his expression.

The herbalist slipped and fell forward. Quick-witted and quick-handed, Zhang Hao grabbed him. The rain blurred their vision, making everything blurry.

"Hold on, we're almost there!" Zhang Hao pulled the herbalist up with all his strength. His arms ached from the effort, but he didn't give up.

The two supported each other in the torrential rain and finally reached the end of the plank road. They collapsed on the ground, gasping for breath, letting the rain pour down on them. The rain flowed down their cheeks, as if it was the tears of their arduous journey.

"Finally I'm here," the herbalist said weakly. He was exhausted to the point of fainting at any moment.

Zhang Hao stared at the sky, his heart filled with emotion at having survived a catastrophe. "Let's rest for a while, then we'll set off again." His voice was particularly firm in the rain.

The rain continued to fall, as if testing their will. The surrounding mountains were shrouded in mist, hazy and foggy. They lay on the ground, feeling the baptism of the rain, their hearts filled with hope for the future.

After a while, the rain gradually subsided. Zhang Hao stood up and pulled the herbalist. "Let's go. We can't stay here for too long."

The herbalist struggled to get up and continued walking with Zhang Hao. Although their steps were heavy, they did not stop.

After walking for a while, they saw a cave.

"Let's go in to avoid the rain and take a rest." Zhang Hao said.

They walked into the cave, which was dark and damp, but compared to the wind and rain outside, it was a good shelter.

"I don't know how long it will take to get out of this damn place." The herbalist sighed.

Zhang Hao comforted him: "Don't be discouraged, as long as we persist, we will definitely find a way out."

In the cave, they lit a fire, dried their clothes, and ate some dry food. The warm firelight made them feel a little more relaxed.

"Let's set off after the rain stops," said Zhang Hao.

The herbalist nodded and closed his eyes, hoping to recover his strength as soon as possible...