Beneath the cliff, in the waters of the Ruo River—Xiao Xi was tightly holding onto A Jun, holding his breath while dragging his brother, swimming with all his might. Just moments ago, after the two fell from the cliff, A Jun had lost consciousness due to physical exhaustion and the impact of gravitational acceleration, causing his internal energy flow to reverse violently.
Originally, Xiao Xi had already been trying hard to reach him midair. Fortunately, at the moment they hit the water, he managed to grab A Jun's hand. Normally, such a fall into water wouldn't be dangerous with Xiao Xi around. But the spot where the children landed happened to be within the range of a massive whirlpool—a sudden natural phenomenon.
So Xiao Xi had no choice but to hold onto his brother tightly while resisting the whirlpool's pull… Gradually, there was a glimmer of hope. However, A Jun's condition worsened—his face turned pale, and his lips began to turn purple…
Xiao Xi quickly noticed this. Without hesitation, he gave up resisting the current and chose to stabilize his brother's condition, even if only for a moment. This was his mother's request—and his own resolve.
Xiao Xi's master had once said that his disciple had good talent and was a promising martial arts candidate, but lacked focus and didn't train diligently. The secret technique of the Duanmu clan—Jinglin—was the ability Xiao Xi now prepared to use. It could convert internal reserves to enhance strength, resistance, and endurance, and could also be transferred to teammates as energy support—like a power bank: optional, but best kept handy.
Of course, Xiao Xi wasn't yet proficient in this technique. Even his first success had been mostly luck. To achieve optimal results, more skill and training were needed.
But in this situation, there was no time to think. Xiao Xi had to activate the Phoenix Seal again… Soon, golden light flickered erratically in the river.
The first attempt failed due to incorrect technique. The second was slightly better, but only replenished himself. Several more attempts still failed—one even worsened A Jun's condition. Xiao Xi began to regret his past laziness, just as his master had warned.
Time ticked by. Xiao Xi grew anxious—A Jun's condition kept deteriorating, and his own ability kept failing. But the more anxious he became, the worse things got. Suddenly, a memory surfaced in his mind.
It was a fable… Once, a man was chased by a tiger and fled to a cliff with nowhere to go. He climbed a vine, only to be threatened again by a mouse gnawing at the vine. Looking down at the tiger and up at the mouse, he was trapped and panicked, his grip weakening. But then he noticed some shiny strawberries nearby. They looked sweet. Thirsty, he ate one, then another. As he relaxed, he forgot the danger—and when he remembered again, both the tiger and mouse were gone.
This was a lesson from his master. Xiao Xi began to calm down, recollect, and focus. The light on his forehead stabilized. He breathed evenly. Then, following his master's teachings, he activated the secret technique again—and finally succeeded!
Energy flowed. A Jun's complexion began to improve. At that moment, they seemed to have escaped the whirlpool's grip, drifting into a tranquil part of the river—safe at last. Xiao Xi summoned all his strength, relying on his swimming skills to head toward the surface… but reality was cruel. They were still sinking.
Xiao Xi, usually a strong swimmer, was stunned. How could such simple swimming become so difficult here? The two children kept sinking until they touched the riverbed. Xiao Xi tried everything to escape the situation—but it was futile.
Even with his excellent breath control, Xiao Xi was now helpless. As he neared his limit, he thought of the latest video game, trying to distract himself. Steam rose from his head.
Just as he had to breathe, he noticed something strange… A Jun was still breathing smoothly, his complexion improving, even blowing small bubbles from his nose. Xiao Xi couldn't hold it anymore. He exhaled and cautiously inhaled—oh? A miracle! He could breathe underwater!
At the same time, A Jun seemed awakened by Xiao Xi's cheers, squinting and confused—"How are we talking underwater?"
Xiao Xi explained their experience and his discovery. A Jun immediately understood. He checked their location on his wristband—just as he suspected. They had passed through the surface waters, likely pulled by the whirlpool to the riverbed beneath the cliff—deep within the Ruo River. The surrounding water was a special type—Weak Water. It had resistance like ordinary water, but otherwise felt like air. It had many unknown properties and could even be drunk like plain water to restore energy—though not very hygienic.
Understanding this, A Jun relaxed and began eating snacks to recover. Xiao Xi joined him, sipping Weak Water. He loved the treats made by A Jun's little sister—but rationed them, saving most for his brother.
After eating and drinking, the two began an unexpected adventure. It was now evening, close to dinnertime. Xiao Xi carefully supported his recovering brother. Guided by the wristband, they followed the cliff wall, using Weak Water's gravity to search for a way out of the Ruo River.
But reality was harsh. Weak Water occasionally stirred up whirlpools to spook the children—playfully, like breezes brushing their cheeks. The small whirlpools were friendly. The earlier large one, however, had been less so. As long as the children behaved and avoided or followed its flow, they wouldn't be harmed.
Due to the resistance, they had to slow down and conserve energy. As darkness fell, underwater light faded. Fortunately, A Jun's charm attracted several beast-type lantern fish, gathering around to light their way.
But the brothers needed more than light—they were hungry. That was the real problem. Camping gear was useless here.
They walked and searched. Xiao Xi stared at the fish around them, swallowing hard. He knew it was wrong, but hunger made his imagination run wild.
Just when they thought they'd wander hungry all night, A Jun spotted a faint glow in the distance—a hopeful light. Supporting each other, the brothers pressed forward toward the mirage.
—Navigation complete. Destination reached…
After a short while, the wristband notified the children that they had arrived—but they kept walking, having found nothing. Just as they began to suspect the light they saw earlier was a hallucination, A Jun and Xiao Xi suddenly felt their bodies lighten… Hm? Where was the resistance? Had the Weak Water vanished?
Yes! Their persistence paid off. The children had finally found a place to take refuge—a strange yet friendly island hidden within the Ruo River: Peach Blossom Abyss. A beautiful, unique, and pristine place, like a paradise untouched by the outside world.
A Jun and Xiao Xi wandered as they had before, mouths agape in awe at this island that wasn't on any map, not even registered by their wristband, yet had saved them from danger. The island was covered in rare plants—species seldom seen on land. A Jun recognized a few, having read about them in books. The wristband excitedly began explaining to the children, like a summer camp guide—though it often fell silent due to missing data. The brothers chatted back and forth, amazed and delighted, completely forgetting their hunger and recent ordeal… After all, they were still children, full of curiosity.
Suddenly, Xiao Xi's nose twitched—he seemed to smell something delicious. He jumped up in excitement, analyzed the scent's components and origin, then pulled his equally hungry brother to search for food. A Jun sniffed too, but didn't smell anything.
Apparently, Xiao Xi's nose was sharper than his tongue. When it came to taste, the brothers were evenly matched.
They hurried forward. Soon, a uniquely designed town gate appeared. The walls were low and simple, more decorative than functional. The gate stood wide open, with no guards—welcoming all visitors, without a hint of defense. At the entrance stood a tall pillar, displaying the town's name and mascot: Cat's Peach Blossom Spring and the Catfolk.
Before entering this unfamiliar territory, A Jun paced outside, cautiously suggesting they investigate before going in—just to be safe. But Xiao Xi didn't care. He grabbed the still-planning A Jun and dashed in, following the scent. A beautiful scene unfolded before them—stunning!
The town's architecture was sophisticated and well laid out. Its exterior, however, was unusual—unlike any outside town, though somewhat reminiscent of Beast Town. It resembled the kind of place A Jun's kitten would love—every building had feline contours and features. The clearest evidence of this was the presence of not just townsfolk, but cats of all sizes—some ordinary, some upright.
—Could this be another Beast Town?
No, it was completely different… A Jun pondered carefully. He noticed another type of resident—few in number, with feline traits, but otherwise human in appearance. Yet one thing set them apart.
As Xiao Xi pulled him along, A Jun observed closely—these people had cat ears on their heads and tails behind them. No one knew how many secrets this place held.
Additionally, the residents had another subtle trait that A Jun noticed. By the time they reached the town, night had fallen. Though streetlights were on, the lighting was dim. With his sharp eyes, A Jun saw that their eyes were slightly different from ordinary humans. Hard to describe, but distinct—like luminous pearls in the night, glowing with a golden moonlight hue.
From this, A Jun deduced that this was likely a feline beast settlement. Besides humans, the few special ones were probably the "demon beasts" mentioned in books—the highest-ranked enemies, with near-human appearances and varying degrees of ancestral traits.
Of course, many pet cats lived here too—likely kept by the residents. But when A Jun raised his wristband for more information, it gave no response. Had it malfunctioned from water exposure? Was it really safe to stay here?
Doubt crept into the children's hearts. But they had no other choice. And from the residents' eyes, A Jun sensed no hostility—only mild curiosity, mostly warmth.
Still, caution was necessary. He had to ensure both his and Xiao Xi's safety. But Xiao Xi couldn't care less—tempted by the aroma, he charged ahead. Finally, they followed the scent to a small food stall.
—Mmm, smells amazing!
The stall owner was warm and welcoming, seemingly unconcerned about the two unfamiliar young guests. Xiao Xi pulled out some money, hesitated—unsure if human currency would work in a non-human town.
But the owner accepted it without issue, inviting the hungry children to sit. His wife brought out steaming hot food.
Under the owner's kind gaze, Xiao Xi began devouring his meal like he was at home. A Jun, more cautious, waited before picking up his chopsticks—he wasn't sure if the food was safe for him.
He carefully examined the stall and the couple. The setup looked legitimate, and the owner seemed sincere. As usual, A Jun asked a few questions about the food. Though slightly puzzled, the owner patiently answered.
After completing all checks, A Jun finally began eating—a bowl of rich, sweet black sesame paste. Smooth, fragrant, sweet, and comforting… Meanwhile, Xiao Xi had already finished two bowls and ordered a third.
As A Jun savored the flavor, he resumed observing the town—studying the terrain, scanning the surroundings, staying alert. He occasionally asked the owner about the area, since his wristband was now useless—though not broken.
The couple showed no suspicion toward the two outsiders. They kindly answered A Jun's questions. In this town, visitors were rare. The brothers were special guests. Here, as long as you weren't a bad person, you'd be treated with kindness.
At last, the tension in their hearts began to ease. A Jun was eighty percent full. Xiao Xi's belly was already bulging.
After asking around for sightseeing tips, the two decided to stay one night at the town center's Yue Lai Inn and figure out how to leave the next day. After all the twists and turns, the children were physically and mentally exhausted.
Once inside the guest room, A Jun carefully inspected everything before finally relaxing and getting ready to wash up and rest—while Xiao Xi had already fallen asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.
Early the next morning, A Jun woke up the still-dreaming, sleepy Xiao Xi, preparing to investigate how to leave this place. But just as they approached the inn's lobby, A Jun's sharp instincts sensed something unusual—a group dressed like officials or soldiers were at the front desk asking questions. His gut told him: something's up—retreat!
He quickly pulled the groggy Xiao Xi and slipped out through the back of the inn. They bought breakfast and quietly made their way to the outskirts of the town, spending the entire morning circling the area in search of a way out—but found nothing but beautiful scenery.
By lunchtime, Xiao Xi finally woke up fully. Moments ago he was still dazed, but now he was full of energy, dragging A Jun back to the same food stall from the night before to eat again. But A Jun was feeling anxious. After hesitating for a long time, he finally gathered the courage to quietly ask the stall owners how to leave this place.
The couple had lived here all their lives. Though they knew the town well, they had never left it, so they didn't know the way out. In this town, only the mayor—who was also their clan chief—might know the secret. The owner kindly told them where the clan chief's office was located. But A Jun remembered the group he saw at the inn earlier and felt it might be risky to go there directly.
—What now? Go or not?
The brothers discussed as they walked back toward the inn, strategizing. Xiao Xi's opinion was to just go and see. A Jun, however, still felt uneasy. Though the town seemed safe, he thought they should rest first and plan carefully. But just as they reached the inn's entrance, they saw that same group waiting at the door, looking anxious.
A Jun observed carefully. Just as he was about to warn Xiao Xi, the boy unknowingly walked right over—and both were invited into a vehicle. Turns out, it was a misunderstanding. In fact, the town's clan chief had sent people to escort them to his office.
The clan chief and the White Tiger County chief were old friends. Before A Jun and Xiao Xi even arrived, they had already exchanged messages, asking the old friend to look after the children. Seems A Jun had worried too much.
The exterior of the clan chief's office was unique—shaped like a squatting cat, with a sleepy look that felt especially cute and welcoming. Under the warm hospitality of the elderly chief, the children learned about the town and how to leave it. Then, A Jun and Xiao Xi began to stroll around with peace of mind.