C360 (1/2)

The river gurgled and gurgled, making sounds as it flowed. The occasional sounds of insects and birds could be heard, and the riverbanks were filled with unknown wild flowers. On both sides of the river were mountains. It seemed desolate and barren.

”Dad, be careful.” After a long time, the voice of a young man finally sounded.

”Don't worry. Even though your father is in his sixties, I've been on this river for decades. I can walk across it with my eyes closed.” Then, there was the sound of a healthy old man, laughing as he spoke.

He saw that the father and son were walking towards the river with baskets on their backs and sticks in their hands. It seemed that they had just come down from the mountain and were preparing to cross the river and return to the other side.

The father and son duo were both dressed in azure clothes, plain and clean.

When they reached the river, the old man turned around and said to his son, ”Nan'er, put down the basket, take out that McDong, wash him and bring him home.”

”Yes, Father. Please sit by the side.” The young man called Nan'er moved a rock for his father to sit on before taking out a basket. He took out some of the herbs and started washing them by the river.

After washing up, the smile on his face disappeared, and his face slowly turned pale. His hands trembled, and he plopped down on the ground.

Ah!” He screamed out in fear as the medicinal plant in his hand fell to the ground.

”Nan'er, what's wrong?” The old man quickly stood up.

”Father, blood, blood …” He pointed at the river in front of him, his voice trembling. The river in front of him had turned red and was emitting a fishy smell. If it wasn't blood, then what was it?

The old man's heart sank. ”It really is blood!”

The hearts of the father and son were suddenly lifted by the slow flowing blood. They couldn't help but look up —

”Father!” Do you think there are two people there? ”

The old man looked and indeed, there were two people lying by the river. It seemed that they had rushed down from the upstream. The water was shallow here. They only stopped after they collided with a rock.

”Quick, let's go take a look!”

”Alright.” The father and son hurriedly walked over and saw a man and a woman hugging each other lying on the riverbank.

The old man squatted down to talk about their breathing. ”They're not dead, they're still alive. The men's breathing is weak, the women's are better. Hurry, Nan'er, carry them back.”

”Yes, Father.” Li Nan bent down with the old man and planned to carry the man and woman home.

However, they discovered that even though this man was unconscious, he was still holding the little girl in his arms, protecting her. His arms were tightly wrapped around her, and he was actually unable to pull her away.

Li Nan knelt beside him and used all his strength to pry open his ten fingers one by one.

There was blood on his head and face, and there was also a pool of blood on his body. As for the little girl, her hair had scattered, her face was scratched by several thorns, there was blood at the corner of her mouth, and one of her hands was limp, probably broken from the fall.

”Dad, this person seems to have been poisoned. Look at the blood on the arrow, its color is dark.” Li Nan turned around and said to his father.

The old man lifted his hand and opened the man's eyes. He looked at his pupils and said with a dark expression, ”Bring them back first. We'll talk about it after they wake up.”