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Xiao Yi and his group arrived at the bottom of the cliff as quickly as possible, by which time the sun had already risen.

However, they searched the entire bottom of the cliff but did not find Tao'er and Ayan.

"Brother Shi Qi, could it be that Sister Tao'er and the others have already...?"

There are probably quite a few wild animals in these mountains...

Dongkui glanced at the dense forest at the bottom of the cliff.

"Don't talk nonsense if you haven't seen a body."

Xiao Yi's voice was hoarse, clearly because he had used too much force when calling his name earlier.

"I'm...I'm sorry, I misspoke."

Dongkui quickly apologized in a low voice, her voice trembling with tears.

The wind at the bottom of the cliff carried the smell of damp, decaying leaves, making one feel very uncomfortable.

Xiao Yi and his group had been searching at the bottom of the cliff for two whole hours.

As darkness fell completely, everyone held torches, their flames flickering in the night wind.

The wind at the bottom of the cliff grew stronger and the temperature dropped.

Everyone looked exhausted.

"Young master, there is a cliff ahead, and the river rushes down from here."

There's a deep pool below; should we take a detour and go down to take a look?

A gentle breeze, carrying a lantern, turned back from the front, its hem half-wet.

He cannot reveal his master's identity in front of outsiders.

Xiao Yi stood by the river, the firelight reflecting on his face and illuminating his bloodshot eyes.

He didn't speak, but just gripped the plum blossom hairpin tightly in his hand, the red plum blossoms at the tip of the hairpin as red as blood in the firelight.

Those are Tao'er's things.

The only thing he found at the bottom of the cliff must have fallen from above.

He remembered the hairpin.

The plum blossom on the hairpin was made of coral seed beads pieced together bit by bit. Tao'er loved it very much and wore it every day.

Dongkui's tearful voice came from behind, "Brother Shi Qi, I've been looking for Tao'er and the others all day, but I still can't find them. I'm really worried about them!"

"It's all my fault. It's all my fault for not being on guard against the Third Master and his gang."

Xiao Yi didn't turn around, but his voice was as cold as ice, "Enough, now is not the time to cry."

"We need to find the person alive or dead. Not finding them yet might not be a bad thing."

Dongkui choked on her words, but her tears fell even more fiercely.

The First Madam's maid, Xiaohe, quickly stepped forward to support her, whispering, "Sister Dongkui, don't be too sad. The young master is right, he didn't see him..."

As long as we haven't seen them, there's still hope.

There is still hope.

Xiao Yi silently repeated the sentence to himself, as if trying to convince himself.

Is there really any hope after falling from such a height?

He closed his eyes, and the moment before Tao'er fell off the cliff flashed through his mind.

She and Ayan must have been terrified when they fell!

He ran towards her desperately, but could only watch helplessly as they disappeared into the clouds.

He never wanted to experience that feeling of helplessness again in his life.

Rather than being angry that Dongkui didn't have a good eye for Ayan, he should be more upset that he wasn't fast enough!

Qingfeng spoke again, his voice low, "Our people searched the woods, but there was no blood, and no... no remains."

Perhaps, just perhaps, they really were swept away by the river, and maybe if they went downstream, they could be rescued by the fishermen along the banks.

Xiao Yi opened his eyes and looked at the rushing river in the darkness.

He had considered Qingfeng's words as well.

But reason told him that the chances of survival from such a fall were extremely slim.

But he couldn't believe that such a vibrant life had simply vanished.

He didn't want anything to happen to either Tao'er or Ayan.

He tucked the plum blossom hairpin into his pocket, his voice hoarse, "Everyone has worked hard, but we must continue the search."

"We'll follow the river downstream until we reach its end; we won't return to the mountain stronghold until we find the person."

Qingfeng responded and turned to call for everyone to continue on their way.

Just then, a mournful and long cry of an owl suddenly came from deep in the mountains and forests.

Dongkui shuddered in fright and instinctively grabbed Xiaohe's arm: "What if...?"

Could it be a wolf or something...?

Will Sister Tao'er and the others be...?

"Shut up!"

Xiao Yi turned around abruptly, his eyes sharp as knives, silencing Dong Kui's last words.

"If I hear you spouting nonsense again, get out of here..."

Dongkui turned pale and dared not utter another sound.

She realized she had said the wrong thing and slapped herself hard.

Xiao Yi withdrew his gaze and took a deep breath.

He knew he was taking his anger out on others, but so what?

All he wants now is to find Tao'er; nothing else matters.

"Qingfeng, come with me into the woods."

The others continued searching along the river; I wanted to turn this entire area under the cliff over before dawn.

Xiao Yi strode into the depths of the mountains and forests.

The firelight gradually faded into the distance, but the river continued its ceaseless flow.

Meanwhile, the person they were desperately searching for was safe and sound in a strange space.

In the instant she fell, Tao'er had only one thought in her mind: to hold onto Ayan.

Almost instinctively, she activated her will, and the moment her body touched the protruding cliff face, she and Ayan flashed into the space.

The world spun around.

When Tao'er came to her senses, she was already lying on the grass in the space, with several round pebbles pressing against her back, and her arms were still tightly wrapped around the unconscious boy in her arms.

"Ayan..."

Ah Yan…”

Ignoring her own aches and pains, Tao'er sat up, laid Ayan flat on the grass, and reached out to check his breath.

Thankfully, he's still breathing, but he's passed out.

She breathed a sigh of relief and finally had time to look around.

The space remained unchanged, with the spiritual spring gurgling and the herbs in the medicinal field growing lushly, and the small wooden house standing quietly in the distance.

She was surprised to find a small wooden cabin there; she had no idea when it had appeared.

Anyway, it wasn't here when we planted ginseng last time!

Tao'er belatedly realized that her hands were trembling.

She had lived two lives, and this was the first time she had ever fallen from such a height.

If it weren't for this space, she and Ayan would probably already be...

Tao'er dared not think any further and looked down at Ayan.

The little boy's eyes were tightly closed, his face was frighteningly pale, and cold sweat was pouring down his forehead.

He is five years old this year, but he has experienced several life-or-death situations, but none of them have been as thrilling as today.

It's impossible not to be afraid of such a high cliff.

"Sister Tao'er..."

Let me go...

Ayan was having nightmares and talking nonsense.

Although it was nonsense, every word revealed his concern for her.

"Don't be afraid, Ayan, your sister is here."

Tao'er spoke softly, took out a handkerchief from her bosom to wipe his sweat, then got up and went to the spring to fill a bamboo tube with water, feeding it to him little by little.

After an unknown amount of time, Ayan's eyelashes finally trembled.

"Ayan?"

Tao'er quickly leaned closer, "Ayan, can you hear your sister?"

Ayan's eyelids twitched, and he struggled to open them a crack.

What came into view was a hazy green, with light shining down from above, but it wasn't sunlight; rather, it was a soft, warm glow.

A sweet fragrance wafted in the air, like the scent of flowers or medicine, and it felt incredibly pleasant to inhale.

He blinked, his vision gradually cleared, and then he saw Sister Tao'er.