Their experiences that day were nothing short of a rollercoaster, filled with thrills and dangers. First, they repelled an attack from a swarm of Scorpions by the creek. Just when they thought they could safely follow the creek out of the forest, it suddenly disappeared underground. Then, they stumbled upon the hidden Scorpion Tomb. To escape the Scorpion Swarm, they unexpectedly discovered a gap behind a rock wall. What lay before them was a secret that even the Scorpion King might not know—behind the cave of the Scorpion Tomb was a vast Underground Lake!
Driven by curiosity and the instinct to survive, the three friends squeezed through the crevice and finally beheld the full splendor of the underground lake. If the adjacent Scorpion Tomb, shrouded in mist and darkness, symbolized fear and evil, then this place, separated by just a wall, resembled a magnificent underground paradise.
The clear, transparent lake sparkled like a hidden gem embedded in the depths of the earth. Water droplets occasionally dripped from the cave ceiling, creating faint silver ripples on the surface. The lake was wide and calm, like a giant mirror, only disturbed by occasional bubbles rising from its depths.
Surrounding the underground lake were walls adorned with various shapes of Stalactites and stone pillars. Eroded by years of water flow and chemical deposits, they had formed bizarre shapes—some resembling towering spires, others like winding dragons, and still others like blooming flowers, quietly guarding this underground haven.
In the center of the lake grew a peculiar aquatic plant with long, resilient stems that had a semi-transparent quality. The edges of its petals shimmered with a faint purple hue, while its center concealed a soft glow that illuminated the lakebed in a dazzling starry sea. Among these mysterious plants, some aquatic creatures darted through the glowing pollen—whether they were Chong Chongs or small fish was unclear.
Xiao Zhuzi, Fei Bao, and Xi Xi stood at the Lake Side, deeply awed by this spectacular sight, momentarily speechless. After a while, Fei Bao murmured, "What kind of flower is this? It's so beautiful..."
"This is Mist Blossom," a strange female voice suddenly spoke beside them.
The three little ones were startled and huddled together on the ground. Xiao Zhuzi instinctively turned toward the source of the voice. Upon seeing it clearly, her fear intensified; she buried her head in Xi Xi's arms and trembled as she whispered tearfully, "Oh my gosh! A big rat! Xi Xi, help me... Waaaah..."
Xi Xi and Fei Bao were equally frightened by Xiao Zhuzi's words and turned to look as well. Sure enough, they saw a plump gray mouse with small ears and a short tail. Its soft fur was dense, its eyes large and bright; it looked somewhat displeased.
"Please take a closer look; I'm not just any big rat! I am Mother Mouse Rabbit! We Mouse Rabbits only eat plants, not bugs!" Mother Mouse Rabbit sighed in exasperation at the trembling trio before her and continued, "I noticed your strange group as soon as you arrived. How did you end up here?"
Having watched Animal Planet with her mother before, Xiao Zhuzi recognized what a Mouse Rabbit was. She quickly looked up to observe Mother Mouse Rabbit more closely; indeed, she looked quite different from a regular mouse—round and adorable with an amiable demeanor. Feeling somewhat embarrassed about their earlier reaction, Xiao Zhuzi and her friends hurriedly apologized to Mother Mouse Rabbit and briefly explained their journey to Baihua Island through Mistwood Forest.
Then Xi Xi softly asked, "Mother Mouse Rabbit, do you live here by this underground Lake Side? Is there no Purple Poison Fog here? And is that Purple Poison Fog really created by that Scorpion King?"
"Yes," Mother Mouse Rabbit replied. "Our family currently resides here at this underground Lake Side. We were passing through Mistwood Forest when we nearly got dizzy from the Purple Poison Fog and were almost eaten by Scorpions. Fortunately for us, we fell into a creek while escaping and found our way to this underground lake. After that experience with the poisonous fog, we didn't dare go outside anymore and decided to stay here instead. I must tell you—the Scorpion King is truly terrifying; every afternoon near dusk he releases that Purple Poison Fog. It disorients small animals passing through Mistwood Forest before dragging them into his lair for dinner."
At this point, Mother Mouse Rabbit shook her head as she gazed at the underground lake and continued speaking. "Those beautiful plants are called Mist Blossoms; they saved our family and Mistwood Forest. The pollen from Mist Blossoms is remarkable; it reacts with minerals in the lake water to produce a substance that neutralizes Purple Poison Fog. This means that this lake water has detoxifying properties. The water flows through an Underground Water network alongside plant capillaries to create a natural detoxification system for all of Mistwood Forest. That's why it hasn't become desolate; all the plants are thriving here too! This has provided our family with a natural sanctuary—my little ones were all born right here at this Lake Side; they've never seen the outside world."
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