It's so painful! So hard! So difficult!

After hearing this, although Bai Lin could see that the other party was very serious, she couldn't help but step back and laughed. This made Ling Qing feel a little puzzled, but Bai Lin quickly waved his hand and replied,

"I'm sorry, I don't know what the rumors say about me, but the truth is... what we excel at is challenging the impossible. Every time the locals consider things absolutely untouchable, we've taken them on. So, there's no need for you to worry."

"That is not the case, Holy Son. That is not within the scope of this world's understanding. That is absolutely not—"

Ling Qing was about to refute this, but the poet, surprisingly, stood up and replied to Ling Qing,

"But if we didn't come, you would have decided to go yourself."

"?!"

Shocked by the poet's words, Ling Qing immediately stopped talking. As for the poet, he slowly stated,

"Perhaps you're thinking that rather than waiting to die, you might as well give it a try on behalf of your people. Even if you fail, you'll still be fulfilling your duty. Regardless, I respect your willingness to face death alone."

"But that won't work. You know too little about it. If you go alone, you'll definitely die. There's absolutely no chance of survival."

The poet's words sounded somewhat dejected, but anyone could have known that there would be a turning point. She only sighed slightly and changed her tone to an upward one.

"Fortunately, you know too little about us."

It was as if one could clearly see the slightly raised corners of her mouth through the mask. This relaxed and comforting tone was exactly the same as Bai Lin's.

"You know we've solved a lot of problems, and you know we're great. But it seems like you don't know exactly how great we are."

"After all, I'm a fortune teller. I won't do anything that I can't achieve."

Chapter 960

"What makes you think we're here to make a great sacrifice for the impossible? We must be absolutely sure of our chance to conquer that place."

At this point, the poet raised his eyebrows slightly, well aware of the dusk sea breeze that brushed against her hair beneath her cloak. The slightly lingering twilight gradually brought the daylight into a mysterious inky color, just like the poet, who faintly exuded a mysterious color.

But this mystery is not "unknown" and does not make people feel scared.

"Dying here will do us no good. We have come here only to embrace the success that is entirely within our grasp, and for you, who share a common enemy."

"So, just trust us. Just focus on your work. Our only goal is victory."

"Yes, don't look at us like this, we can actually do it. We are capable of handling your affairs. Watch carefully, from now on, we will subvert your cognition and save your entire clan."

Inappropriately, yet seemingly perfectly timed, Bai Lin leaned over to the poet and spoke these words. The poet didn't say much; that was Bai Lin's style, after all. He didn't need to be overly serious, but his words were completely believable, a reassuring promise.

Ling Qing seemed to want to speak, to say something. Her expression was full of complexity, especially in her eyes, which were filled with immense disbelief and intense hesitation. But in the end, she said nothing, but sighed and nodded.

"Deeply grateful, and overwhelmed with...trepidation."

-

"And what are you going to do next?"

After so long, a person who seemed almost forgotten raised this question. This person was naturally Bai Lin's young apprentice, Xiao Nuo.

Ever since the fishmen had rushed in, Xiao Nuo had been assigned to lead the horses and confirm the residence, unimportant and sinecure duties. Although nominally an apprentice, Xiao Nuo usually performed the same duties as the poets, and this time, he actually did some of the things a young apprentice would do.

But, to put it bluntly, it's not surprising to be assigned any kind of work when following a poet, so she has no objection.

The two who had returned to the rest room also explained to Xiao Nuo,

"Rest for a while, we'll have to get back to work soon. Lingqing went to have the final meeting with her tribe and will be back soon. We just have to wait."

Bai Lin said so. Xiao Nuo was still confused and tilted his head.

"What kind of work?"

"You probably haven't heard about it yet. It's the place the poet told us about during our trip. It's a very dangerous place. We have to go there and take a look."

Bai Lin explained the destination of this trip, then he perked up a little and said,

"The specific location is right under that sea. It must be very deep, right? It's an ocean after all."

"Before we came here, the fishmen had actually considered going to that place to take a look. It's said that a great filth is sealed there. Although there's no sign that the seal has been loosened, it's likely that we'll be able to go there and take a look."

"But the risk is too great. The fishmen today can't afford such a loss. And crossing that ocean is also very difficult for them."

At this point, Bai Lin paused, took out some food and drinks from his bag, and complained with a sense of emptiness.

"Ah, I seem to have gotten used to eating the strange local food while traveling. There are no murlocs here. It really makes me feel like... something is missing."

"Don't worry, we will be able to eat it after the incident is over. It's just that for some reasons, we don't know yet."

The poet patiently said to Bai Lin as if to comfort him, while Bai Lin expressed his joy in surprise like a child.

"Really? That would be great!"

"Well, really."

Looking at these strange duo, Xiao Nuo couldn't quite associate them with those who "save the world." It was as if these two were born with a unified mindset, able to drift away from the world and indulge their thoughts, yet also ready to dedicate themselves to their work. This situation, applied to the individuals involved, might be called a "match made in heaven."

But from Xiao Nuo's perspective, she was always not so used to it. It was fine when there were more people, the poet and Bai Lin would not be so close, but if there were only three of them, she felt that she was just here to suffer. Maybe it was because of this that Xiao Nuo frowned, and she also gently slapped the table and asked,

"Can you explain why you're being so difficult? It sounds like you knew what we were going to encounter but didn't tell me."

"Why are you in such a hurry? You should eat something first. You have to work late. I'll explain while you eat."

Bai Lin calmed Xiao Nuo down with a single move. She also pressed food into her hand with a caring gesture. It was unclear whether she was simply "devoting herself to her career," comforting her colleague and making her feel reliable, or simply being relaxed and at ease, naturally interacting with her companion.

But in short, after a slight pause, Xiao Nuo put away her vague anxiety. She seemed to like this and lowered her head, tacitly accepting this behavior, feeling the slight warmth brought to her by the food she had taken in. And Bai Lin, as she said, explained,

"To put it simply, there are some sea monsters, but they're just mermen transformed, and their size is about the same. Of course, they seem to be much more dangerous than the usual mermen in the water, as they've been strengthened somewhat by the pollution. There are probably more than ten of them."

"Under such circumstances, they naturally wouldn't dare to go into the water, let alone those who are sick. Even we have to make some arrangements to get through. After all, the real fun is down there, and overexerting ourselves on the road is not a good idea."

Bai Lin's explanations were always very brief. At this point, she added,

"But there's no need to think too much about it now. When Lingqing arrives, we'll make arrangements based on what she has to say. Now, let's eat."

The rational arrangements had been made, and Xiao Nuo had no further objections. This seemingly chaotic journey actually had a habitable, appropriate sense of routine.

Although saying this sounds like cursing every race to have trouble every day, this kind of life doesn't seem bad, right?

Chapter 961 Another Portal

Xiao Nuo shook his head, casting aside the meaningless thought, whether intentional or not. Humans are creatures that seek peace of mind. It's possible to seek temporary peace of mind amidst the hustle and bustle, but if it leads to getting lost or forgetting the ultimate goal, that's definitely not good.

Be sober and don't get too carried away.

Just as Xiao Nuo was thinking about this, there was a sudden commotion outside the door. Then, there was a knock on the door. After a while, Ling Qing walked in from the outside. She raised her hand to signal the guards at the door to go back outside, then walked in and sat down.

"Did the conversation go well? Why do you look so serious?"

Bai Lin seemed to ask such a question without any care, and the other party glanced at her unhappily and replied,

"Although with the fortune teller present, a successful outcome is foreseeable. However, as someone in a high position, personally involved in such a risky undertaking, how can I not be serious? Even if I believe the divination will come true, the residents here won't be completely reassured if they lack outside support for a long time."

"Besides, I can't be... 100% sure that it will succeed."

Ling Qing, however, expressed this point very frankly, although there was a little hesitation in her words. However, the poet had already anticipated this, so she did not reveal too much, but only asked,

"Then how much can you trust me?"

"Uh, about 80 or 90 percent."

Facing the sudden question, Ling Qing responded instinctively. The poet nodded and replied,

"I don't have much to say, but as for you, the more you trust me down there, the easier it will be for you. So, you can try to trust me a little more, just so that you can return to continue to shoulder your responsibilities and work hard for the people."

Facing the poet's advice, Ling Qing nodded, as if she believed it.

"My temporary replacement has been decided, and everything has been agreed upon. After all, you said you didn't need too many people, and even my presence is just a matter of procedure, which makes the situation quite convenient."

"You can start the operation at any time. The clan won't interfere too much, and to avoid affecting you, there won't be a big scene. However, we have arranged a temporary special medical team. If anyone is injured, they will provide immediate assistance on shore."

"That's enough."

If more men were needed, the poet wouldn't have brought just two. Although the remaining Dark Knights were assigned to other tasks, her arrangements were always precise and accurate. She had her own reasons for planning this way, so she had no objections.

"So, Lingqing, are you tired? If you can, let's get started."

Bai Lin asked this question, and Ling Qing immediately replied,

"Hmm? I'm not too tired, but don't I need to prepare anything?"

"What do you think of a fortune teller? She's already made all the necessary preparations for me. You don't think we're coming here empty-handed, do you? Once you've reached an agreement, we can set off immediately."

Bai Lin smiled and responded, and Ling Qing also had a new view of the fortune teller's swift and decisive methods. She nodded and replied,

"Understood, let's set off immediately."

The night sea was incredibly oppressive. Everywhere one looked, the dark, dense tide filled the air, a feeling of immense oppression surging into everyone's heart. Even the normally refreshing sea breeze took on a chilling, cutting edge.

Today, there was no moonlight to speak of. The only contrast to the depressing sea was the still-lit, living town of Cheongdam. Unfortunately, the four people on the shore were about to leave the human habitation behind and head into the terrifying water.

Although the night action was indeed due to coincidence, and they did not need much sleep, so it looked rather strange. But Bai Lin still looked at the scene in front of him and inexplicably remembered a sentence:

"We are the protagonists of horror games. We only go into messy places at night. That's our motto."

Bai Lin seemed to be able to sense the abnormal malice of the polluted and mad mermaids lurking in the abyss, even across the ocean, and could faintly see their vicious red eyes - it was really creepy. Being torn and bitten by the mermaids, even if the other party was originally a beauty, was really something she didn't want to accept.

Of course, Bai Lin was not afraid of this.

"So, they're going to be very fast, right? Much faster than you? If you were to swim normally, you'd be quickly surrounded and attacked by a group, and you'd be in a very difficult situation, right?"

Bai Lin put his hands on his hips, looked down into the water, and asked Ling Qing. Ling Qing nodded and replied,

"Indeed."

"So, how far is it from here to the bottom of the sea?"

"It's not too deep, just over ten thousand meters. However, the water pressure here is completely different from that outside. Although I can see that your physical strength is extraordinary, you might not be able to withstand it if you descend directly."

Ling Qing commented to Bai Lin.

Bai Lin could probably guess what Ling Qing was referring to. In reality, deep-sea divers also had to adapt to the pressure before ascending or descending. In many places, directly increasing or decreasing altitude would be tantamount to suicide. Of course, Bai Lin just waved his hand and replied,

"Maybe, but I don't think I'm that fragile. Of course, now that you say so, it's something I have to take into consideration."

Obviously, even though the water pressure here is more special, she is not worried.

"Besides, there's a relatively narrow strait on the road leading to the other side. No matter how you get there, at most two people can pass through at the same time, and you'll need to slow down."

Ling Qing added this, and Bai Lin complained when he heard it.

"What the hell is this? Why is it so troublesome? Then just crash into it."

"It is said that there is another portal leading to the other world, so please be careful..."

Ling Qing replied with a bit of weakness, as if that belief was not so firm for her. Bai Lin immediately realized that she seemed too impulsive. She scratched her head awkwardly and looked at the poet next to her. The poet nodded.

"Although you can think of it, Holy Son, the calculations are still a bit of a headache for you, so I'll do it for you. I've already planned how to get through."

Chapter 962 Crossing

Arranging plans well was always something the poet was good at, so handing this over to her directly was a matter of each doing their part.

Although it seemed that the fishmen in the sea were beyond saving, in reality, in an incident like this, it would be better to keep them alive and wait for a turnaround. Therefore, Bai Lin and the others had to consider avoiding harm to the other party as much as possible while avoiding danger, which was a bit difficult.

A single attack from the enemy would likely infect him. Putting aside Bai Lin's resistance, if Ling Qing were scratched, she would be assimilated into the same enemy while underwater, which would be a real headache. It's hard to say what would happen if the remaining two were to be hit, but it's unlikely to be optimistic.

Therefore, the poet's policy is "quick battle and quick decision".

First, according to her, once they crossed the strait, the frenzied fishmen would cease their pursuit. For a distance of approximately 10,000 meters, racing was a good strategy, though one that required careful consideration.

Underwater, the fishmen, as creatures naturally inclined to live in the water, naturally have the upper hand. As a land-based people, can Bai Lin really be faster than them? A simple race would seem like a death wish.

Unfortunately, Bai Lin is indeed not an ordinary land creature.

She is probably a creature that is actually a "cannonball".

Bai Lin hugged the poet tightly and kicked the shore with his feet. In an instant, a huge splash of water exploded on the land, as if the impact force split the sea surface in two. With such momentum, he dived deep in an instant.

This time, it seems like they are here to fry fish again.

If the frantic fishmen still had the urge to attack at this rate, they would likely be crushed. Their bodies weren't strong enough to withstand such a high-speed collision without being crushed.

Faced with this sudden threat, even the frantic fishmen didn't seem to want to rush forward. Bai Lin only managed to discern their distorted forms, etched with the black marks of corruption, and wasn't overly impressed by their aggressiveness or speed.

However, the number is really large.

Then, Bai Lin felt a growing sense of unease within this deep, dark sea. The further she moved from the surface, the further away from the light, the stronger this feeling became. The pressure wasn't just mounting physically, it was also weighing on her mind.

She couldn't help but feel a little worried about the poet at this moment. She cast her eyes over, but the masked man was unusually calm and quickly shook his head.

It seems that the water pressure has little effect on her.

Soon, they arrived at the strait, the place known as the "Gate." Beyond the twisting cracks lay a spiral of darkness, completely obscuring what lay within. It was as if a vast scar had been forcibly carved into the earth. It seemed as if the strait shouldn't exist here, as if the depths beyond were untraceable.

Without giving it much thought, Bai Lin accurately crossed the strait and then released the poet's body. In an instant, a strange feeling as if she had crossed a boundary appeared beside her. She glanced at the poet uneasily, and the poet patted his scabbard in front of Bai Lin, as if to express,