Numerous vines snaked all over, making it look like a cave tainted in blood. The vines were webbed together densely and shimmered with a red glow, as if blood was flowing through them. The effect was spine-chilling.
Gu Mengmeng frowned. She took a closer look at the throbbing vines and discovered that the pulses were confined to the plant veins, just like how blood flowed in the veins of the human body.
Gu Mengmeng instinctively shrank back and nestled into Elvis’ arms.
“Scared?” Elvis asked with concern.
Gu Mengmeng nodded. “This place looks like a wilderness survival version of a haunted house. It’s a little scary.”
“Then we won’t go in. Shall we turn back?” Elvis did not really mind whether they retrieved the Soul of the Forest.
Chixuan’s life was no longer in danger, and even if so, he would never let Gu Mengmeng endure her terror to retrieve that item.
But Gu Mengmeng didn’t feel the same way. She shook her head. “I must get the Soul of the Forest.”
“Why don’t you wait here with Lea. I will go in to get it for you.” Elvis offered another solution.
Gu Mengmeng circled Elvis’ neck with her hands and smiled. “But I don’t want to be parted from you.”
“Then…” Elvis met Gu Mengmeng’s bright eyes. His heart softened and he could only kiss her brow with doting and affection. “Be a good girl and hide in my arms. I will protect you.”
“Mmm.” Gu Mengmeng nodded obediently before resting her head on Elvis’ shoulder.
Elvis, Lea and Wabei exchanged glances, tacitly agreeing to be on their highest guard.
Nothing here was like anything they had ever seen. Stepping into such a strange world made them feel very insecure, especially when they were carrying a female whom they would never allow anything bad to happen to. Hence, their movements all became extra vigilant.
Lea led the way with Elvis in the center carrying Gu Mengmeng, and Wabei bringing up the rear. In case anything happened, he would use his snake tail to spirit Gu Mengmeng away.
Lea had just taken one step into the blood-red vines when the vines started squirming like countless slithering snakes. The rattling noises emitted made one’s hair stand on end.
Lea didn’t dare to move but just watched the movements of the vines warily. He waited for the vines to settle down and made sure that nothing dangerous happened, before lifting his other foot.
His second step made the vines writhe even harder. The rattling noises became louder.
Gu Mengmeng wanted Lea to retreat but before she could open her mouth, those vines came at Lea from all directions. He did not have time to duck and was suspended in mid-air by the vines, before being entwined into a ball-like chrysalis.
Gu Mengmeng felt a stinging pain on her left ear, and she knew Lea was gravely injured.
Elvis turned and handed Gu Mengmeng over to Wabei. Without a word, he leaped towards that chrysalis and reached out his claws to tear through the vines to save Lea. But his claws failed to even leave a single mark on the vines.
Not only did Elvis’ attack fail to cause any damage, it appeared to have incited those vines.
Before Elvis’ feet even touched the ground, he was entangled by the vines and subjected to the same treatment as Lea had endured.