Rise of the Otherworld.

Finally, they reached shore and collapsed to the ground, gasping for air. Each of them felt as if all strength had been drained from their bodies, their wet clothes clinging to their bodies, leaving them in a state of disarray. Zhang Hao lay on the ground, his chest heaving violently as he breathed deeply, each breath a precious gift. He stared at the sky, the once azure sky now blurred in his eyes. His heart was filled with gratitude for surviving the ordeal, but also with worry about the future.

The woman leaned against a rock, her hair disheveled and plastered to her face. Her once delicate features were now stained with mud and fatigue. She breathed in the fresh air, a look of shock still in her eyes, her hands trembling, as if she could still feel the thrilling moment in the river.

The old man held the little girl in his arms, gently patting her back to soothe her. The little girl sobbed, her body trembling, tears and fear covering her small face. She clung tightly to the old man's neck, as if it were her only support in the world.

The mysterious man sat aside, eyes closed, seemingly trying to regulate his breathing. His brows were slightly furrowed, his face pale, and it was clear that he had consumed a great deal of energy in this life-or-death ordeal.

The herbalist lay motionless on the ground, as if exhausted and unconscious. His face was pale, his eyes were closed, and only his weak breathing proved that he was still alive.

After a while, Zhang Hao struggled to sit up. "We can't stay here for long. Those men in black might catch up with us." His voice was weak, but full of vigilance. Every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, with a firm determination.

Everyone nodded and forced themselves to stand up, their bodies swaying as if they would fall down again at any moment.

"Let's find a place to hide and take care of our wounds," the woman said. Her voice was trembling, but she tried to remain calm.

Supporting each other, they walked into the woods on the shore. The air was filled with a damp smell, and the ground was covered with thick fallen leaves. Every step they took made a crunching sound, which was particularly clear in the silent forest.

They found a relatively secluded place and stopped.

The old man tore a piece of cloth from his clothes and bandaged Zhang Hao's wound. "Bear with it, young man." His voice was full of concern, but his hands were trembling slightly due to his old age.

Zhang Hao gritted his teeth and nodded. Sweat dripped from his forehead onto the ground, but he said nothing, letting the old man tend to his wounds.

The woman also helped, using magic to dispel the dampness from everyone's bodies. The magic light flickered, and warm air flowed around them, making them feel a little comfortable.

At this moment, the sound of a branch breaking came from not far away. "Crack!" The sound was particularly abrupt in the silent woods.

Everyone instantly tensed up. "Shh, don't make a sound," the mysterious man gestured for silence. His eyes sharpened, and he looked warily in the direction of the sound.

They hid quietly in the bushes, not daring to make a sound. The sound of their heartbeats seemed so clear at this moment, as if it was the only sound in the woods.

A dark shadow flashed through the woods at an extremely fast speed. It was like a ghost, making it impossible to see its true appearance.

"What is it?" the herbalist asked in a trembling voice. His voice was filled with fear, and his body involuntarily shrank back.

"I don't know, but it's definitely not a good thing." Zhang Hao clenched the sword in his hand, his eyes fixed on the direction where the black shadow disappeared.

The shadow lingered for a while before gradually moving away, but the mysterious and dangerous aura still lingered in the air, making people tremble with fear.

"No matter what, we have to get out of here quickly," the mysterious man said. He stood up and looked ahead with a determined look.

They stood up again and continued to grope their way through the woods. The fallen leaves under their feet made a rustling sound, as if telling of their difficult journey.

They walked carefully, not daring to make any noise. Branches occasionally scratched their bodies, leaving tiny wounds, but they were completely unaware.

Suddenly, a bird flew over their heads, scaring the herbalist so much that he almost screamed.

"Don't make any noise!" Zhang Hao scolded in a low voice.

They continued to move forward, their hearts filled with fear of the unknown and the desire to survive...