Chapter 536: Don't Save Me, Save Xiao Shitou

The river rushed violently; Xiao Shitou lost consciousness, how could he possibly swim?

He watched him being swept away by the water.

Shi Lin, panicked, leapt into the river, intending to swim over, seize Xiao Shitou, and bring him ashore, but realized his skill was far insufficient in such currents.

The more he tried to grab Xiao Shitou, the farther Xiao Shitou drifted.

He was so anxious he began to cry.

"Brother, you all come quickly!"

Shi Ren and the others had heard it early, but they had only just managed to escape.

When they arrived at the riverbank,

a glance at the river's condition made each of their faces change.

An Yi and the others could think of nothing else and leapt into the river one after another.

Shi Ren did not do so; he looked around, cut two vines he carried, ran while trying to toss them to Shi Jin for him to grab.

Shi Jin replied, "Elder brother, don't save me; I'm fine, save Xiao Shitou."

In fact,

he was on the verge of giving up.

Shi Ren tightened his grip, unable to name the feeling, yet he still ran to rescue Xiao Shitou.

Knowing rescuing in such a river was difficult, he tied the vine tips into a loop, chased while slipping, trying to encircle Xiao Shitou and pull him ashore.

An Yi and the others realized this rescue was foolish; after struggling in the water for a while, they finally leapt out.

Seeing Shi Jin gulp water a few times, his body sank.

An Yi ordered An Er to rescue him.

He and the others went to save Xiao Shitou.

An Er's Lightness Skill was decent; rescuing Shi Jin wasn't hard, and in about seven minutes he rescued him.

Because he had swallowed water.

Shi Jin's condition was poor; as soon as he surfaced he coughed violently, yet he didn't forget to save Xiao Shitou: "Uncle An Er, hurry and rescue Xiao Shitou."

What a rarity.

He called him uncle.

An Er sprang forward.

In the end they still couldn't rescue Xiao Shitou; the river didn't run far before it flowed into a hidden passage.

An Yi and the others jumped in.

Shi Ren stopped them: "Doing it this way might not save Xiao Shitou, and you could get trapped yourselves; since there's a hidden passage, there must be an exit."

An Yi and the others thought his words were right and began searching.

Three quarter‑hours passed.

An Yi launched a Signal Flare.

Shi Ren and the others still thought he had found Xiao Shitou, but it was only the exit; they followed the river for days yet never found Xiao Shitou.

Thus.

The scientific expedition also couldn't join.

Shi Jin, eyes reddened with tears, asked, "Could Xiao Shitou be stuck in the hidden passage?"

Shi Ren was now uncertain as well.

He turned and flew toward the passage entrance; Shi Jin tried to follow, but An Yi and the others blocked him.

They discussed briefly, sending one person to follow Shi Ren while the rest continued searching ahead.

An Wu followed.

Shi Ren had already entered the passage.

An Wu hurried down as well; the passage was pitch‑dark, but Shi Ren carried a luminous night‑pearl, otherwise nothing could be seen.

The passage contained many stones, yet after three thorough searches they saw no sign of Xiao Shitou, only one of his shoes.

Shi Ren clenched his hand; he dared not imagine Qiao Sheng's reaction if he learned Xiao Shitou might be gone.

All these years Qiao Sheng had truly cherished Xiao Shitou as his own son.

They emerged from the passage.

They kept searching.

But they didn't know.

Xiao Shitou had already been rescued.

He had indeed been stuck in the passage before.

He opened his eyes.

Xiao Shitou stared at the thatched‑roof ahead; before he could examine it, his head began to throb. (End of Chapter)