Chapter 68: I’m Just Confident

Chapter 68: Chapter 68: I’m Just Confident

After mulling it over, Gu Qingyin still couldn’t come up with a good plan. She clicked her tongue in annoyance and decided to just wing it.

"This way."

Most of the group followed without a word, but the cameraman just had to ask, "Why?"

Gu Qingyin’s lips twitched as she casually made something up. "There are footprints on the ground."

The cameraman looked down. All he saw were branches and leaves; he couldn’t spot any difference at all. After pondering for a few seconds, he said with admiration, "Teacher Gu, you’re so experienced. I didn’t see a thing."

Gu Qingyin lifted her chin, completely unabashed. "Of course. When you follow me, you don’t need to think."

The cameraman nodded in profound agreement.

Huo Xinghai: ’...He doesn’t look that young. How is he so gullible?’

Shan Zhu, however, gave Gu Qingyin a pensive look. She was starting to doubt whether Gu Qingyin actually knew the way. If they followed her, would they ever be able to find their way back?

After getting lost, Lin Xiaoyun had been wandering in circles, trying to find a way out.

Gu Qingyin, of course, had no intention of following her on a series of pointless detours. She chose a path that was practically a straight line. No matter how difficult the terrain, it was the shortest route.

For the rest of the journey, no one said much. They just trudged on in silence, occasionally responding to inquiries from the production crew.

But at some point, the walkie-talkies went silent. By the time they noticed, all their communication devices were dead.

Gu Qingyin wasn’t particularly surprised. For one, this area was remote, and the signal was weak to begin with. For another, the closer they got to the Barrier, the greater the effect on the magnetic field. Devices like walkie-talkies were bound to fail.

"Did we mark the path we took?" Shan Zhu suddenly asked.

Gu Qingyin, who was leading the way, paused and turned to look at her. "No need. I know how to get back."

A flicker of disapproval showed in Shan Zhu’s eyes. "You’re too arrogant."

Gu Qingyin found this amusing but patiently corrected her. "It’s not arrogance, just confidence." Before Shan Zhu could reply, she added, "Frankly, I never intended to bring you all along; the director forced you on me. If you don’t want to follow, feel free to head back. Just be careful not to get lost. I won’t waste time looking for you again."

This "you all" naturally included not only Shan Zhu but also Tian Gang and Huo Zhaohua.

Shan Zhu pressed her lips together. Her face was expressionless, but her displeasure was palpable.

"I trust you," Huo Zhaohua finally said, his tone cool but firm.

Tian Gang also spoke up. "You made it out last time, so you can definitely do it again!" He then turned to Shan Zhu, persuading her, "Doctor Shan, we need to trust Teacher Gu."

This made Shan Zhu even more displeased. ’What kind of "teacher" is Gu Qingyin, anyway?’

’Whatever,’ Gu Qingyin thought. ’I’ve said my piece. They can take it or leave it. Besides, with the whole production crew waiting outside, it’s not like anything truly dangerous will happen.’

Gu Qingyin shot Shan Zhu a cool glance and continued forward. ’Actually, I can kind of understand her,’ she mused. ’The way I’ve been leading them, it’s true I don’t look like someone with survival experience. It’s only natural that she’d have her doubts.’

Among the people here, besides Huo Xinghai who knew the truth, Shan Zhu was the only intelligent one of the remaining three.

That was rare.

After walking for just a few more minutes, Gu Qingyin led them to the edge of the Barrier, where she stopped with a frown.

’Lin Xiaoyun’s location... she’s inside the Barrier.’

This was completely unexpected. ’How did an ordinary person like Lin Xiaoyun manage to get inside the Barrier?’

The moment the thought occurred to her, Gu Qingyin realized—the crack in the Barrier.

’You’ve got to be kidding me,’ Gu Qingyin thought, completely exasperated. ’Just how unlucky can Lin Xiaoyun be? The crack in the Barrier is tiny, yet she managed to slip right through it?!’

Sighing to herself, Gu Qingyin started to worry.

’The situation inside the Barrier is unknown. Just the things visible on the surface are terrifying enough, and everyone behind me is an ordinary person! If they go in, won’t they be scared half to death?’

’But Lin Xiaoyun and her cameraman are already inside. If I don’t find them soon, this day next year will be the anniversary of their deaths.’

"Why did we stop?" Tian Gang asked, confused. "Did you lose the trail?"

Gu Qingyin turned back, her gaze sweeping grimly over the group. "How brave are you all?" she asked. "The place we’re about to enter... it might be a little terrifying for a normal person."

Huo Xinghai’s heart tightened. He instinctively glanced at the space behind Gu Qingyin. It was a sight he was already familiar with, but at this moment, it sent a chill down his spine.

Huo Zhaohua also reacted quickly. He took a step forward and asked, "My mother... did she go into the place you just mentioned?"

Gu Qingyin nodded.

Huo Zhaohua’s thin lips pressed into a firm line. "I’m going in."

"What place?" Shan Zhu asked, her expression laced with impatience. "There are only trees here. Everything looks the same. Where is this ’place’ you’re talking about?"

Gu Qingyin ignored her question. "Anyone who scares easily had better stay put. If you faint from fright, I’m not responsible for dragging you out."

Having been ignored, Shan Zhu took a deep breath and fell silent.

After a few seconds, seeing that no one was volunteering to stay behind, Gu Qingyin clicked her tongue. She pulled a few talismans from her satchel and handed them out. "Hold on to these, and whatever you do, don’t lose them."

Tian Gang and Huo Zhaohua took them without a word, though a flash of surprise flickered in Huo Zhaohua’s eyes. ’Are these talismans real? Could Gu Qingyin actually be a Heavenly Master?’

At first, Shan Zhu didn’t want to take one. She coldly spat out two words: "Feudal superstition."

Gu Qingyin didn’t get angry, simply saying, "If you don’t take it, you stay behind."

Shan Zhu stared at her for a few seconds before finally accepting the talisman, her expression and movements filled with disdain.

Gu Qingyin scoffed. ’Do you have any idea how much one of these talismans sells for?’ she thought. ’You should be thrilled to get one for free.’

As for Huo Xinghai, Gu Qingyin didn’t give him a talisman. He was wearing the Jade Pendant and didn’t need one.

"Let’s go in."

Gu Qingyin once again took the lead. She walked forward about two meters, forming a hand seal as she went.

The Barrier opened in an instant, and a putrid, decaying smell accompanied by a bone-chilling aura washed over them.

Everyone felt it.

Acting on pure instinct, they all froze. They didn’t know what lay inside, but their intuition screamed that it was dangerous and that they should stay far, far away.

"Last chance. Anyone who’s scared can stay behind," Gu Qingyin said one more time.

When still no one spoke, Gu Qingyin stopped wasting her breath. She was the first to enter the Barrier, with Huo Xinghai right behind her, followed by Huo Zhaohua, Shan Zhu, and Tian Gang.

The moment Huo Xinghai stepped inside, his face went white.

The ground was covered in withered bones, like a chaotic, unmarked graveyard. ’How can a place like this exist on the island?!’ he thought, shocked and bewildered. But he didn’t ask. Instead, he brought up another matter.

"Mom!" Huo Xinghai sidled up to Gu Qingyin and whispered, "Is it really okay to let ordinary people in here?"

Gu Qingyin was busy observing her surroundings and performing a divination to pinpoint Lin Xiaoyun’s location. "It’s fine," she said offhandedly. "We’ll just erase their memories when we get out."

Huo Xinghai was stunned. "You can do that?"

"Otherwise, why do you think Heavenly Masters have never been exposed to the public?" Gu Qingyin chuckled. "Most ordinary people who encounter a Heavenly Master have their memories either erased or altered. Even some of our own clients aren’t permitted to retain their memories."