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Xiao Zhuzi and Xi Xi immediately tensed up. Although the drop of Little Waterfall was not significant, if they lost control, it could still capsize their Raft. Fei Bao had already flown ahead to examine the surroundings and the water flow, and upon returning, he said to Xiao Zhuzi and Xi Xi, “I found a relatively safe path, but you need to control the speed and direction of the Raft.”
Prepared in advance, Xiao Zhuzi took out a Grass Rope, tying one end to the Raft and the other around Fei Bao. This way, even if the Raft went out of control, he could provide timely assistance.
As the Raft gradually approached the waterfall, the water flow became increasingly swift. Xi Xi decisively positioned the wooden paddle horizontally, carefully wedging it against a nearby Stalactite. She gripped the paddle tightly, slowly moving it to help maintain the Raft's balance. Meanwhile, Xiao Zhuzi focused intently on following Fei Bao’s instructions, using another paddle to adjust and steer the Raft.
“Xiao Zhuzi, a little to the left!” Fei Bao shouted. “The whirlpool there is smaller; it’ll be easier to pass through!”
Xiao Zhuzi immediately adjusted their course, and the Raft slowly veered left. The roar of the waterfall grew louder, and splashes of water sprayed onto their faces.
“Now!” Fei Bao commanded.
Xi Xi quickly withdrew her paddle and, together with Xiao Zhuzi, paddled vigorously. The Raft surged toward a relatively calm area at the edge of the waterfall. After a thrilling jolt, they finally glided safely over the waterfall and into the waters below. The three friends let out a collective sigh of relief and exchanged smiles.
The next stretch of river was wide and deep with a steadier flow, allowing their tense nerves to relax slightly. Xiao Zhuzi scooped up some icy river water with her hand and splashed it on her face, feeling immensely refreshed. Just then, she exclaimed, “Look! There are fish in the river; they’re transparent!”
Xi Xi and Fei Bao leaned in closer to take a look. Indeed, in the dim waters swam a school of peculiar little fish. Their bodies exhibited an astonishing transparency; their scales were as thin as gossamer, allowing faint glimpses of tiny blood vessels and internal structures that glowed softly under fluorescent light.
“I know this kind of fish; they are Transparent Cave Fish,” Fei Bao said proudly, tilting his head slightly. “My grandpa told me these fish evolved transparent bodies because they live in environments without sunlight for long periods. Although their eyesight is poor, their senses are incredibly sharp.”
Xiao Zhuzi gazed in fascination, marveling at them. “This is so amazing! I’ve never seen such strange fish before.”
However, the calm stretch of river did not last long. As they ventured deeper, Xiao Zhuzi and Xi Xi noticed changes in their surroundings. The river began to narrow, and the current grew more turbulent.
Fei Bao warned from above, “The situation ahead isn’t good; I’ll scout ahead. Be careful!”
Before long, Fei Bao’s figure quickly approached from afar as he shouted, “There are many large and small hidden reefs ahead! The surface is scattered with sharp piles of debris! It looks like it was caused by that recent earthquake—like a dangerous maze of rubble.”
“What should we do? Those reefs and debris might snag or capsize our Raft!” Xi Xi said anxiously. “Fei Bao, can you find a relatively safe route from above?”
“There’s only one feasible route,” Fei Bao hesitated before saying. “But… you need to control the Raft very precisely.”
Xiao Zhuzi nodded firmly, gripping her paddle tightly as she said, “At this point, we have no choice but to try! Fei Bao, we’re counting on you; Xi Xi and I will do our best to follow your guidance and keep control of the Raft!”
With that, the three friends embarked on this thrilling journey downriver.
Fei Bao circled above them continuously giving instructions:
“Turn right 30 degrees!”
“Watch out for that big rock on the left!”
“Accelerate! Speed up! Rush through that narrow gap!”
…
Xiao Zhuzi and Xi Xi were fully focused, working in perfect harmony. Xiao Zhuzi was primarily responsible for steering, swiftly and accurately paddling the raft through the complex obstacles. Xi Xi, on the other hand, maintained balance and made subtle adjustments. She keenly observed the changes in the water currents around them, inserting the paddle into the water at just the right moments to ensure the raft remained stable. Icy splashes of water continuously hit their faces, and Xiao Zhuzi's clothes were soaked, clinging tightly to his body. Yet, they paid no mind to their discomfort, completely immersed in the struggle against the rapids and rocks.
After nearly an hour of effort, they finally navigated out of the treacherous stretch of river. The three friends were utterly exhausted, especially Xiao Zhuzi and Xi Xi, who collapsed onto the raft, gasping for breath.
The subsequent drifting was relatively smoother. Xiao Zhuzi and Xi Xi took turns controlling the raft to regain their strength. Although there were a few close calls where the raft nearly collided with hidden rocks, they managed to avoid disaster at the last moment.
After what felt like an eternity drifting through the underground river, Xiao Zhuzi, Xi Xi, and Fei Bao finally spotted a flat riverbank in the distance, where a stone tablet seemed to stand. The underground river gently curved here, continuing its winding path into the unknown depths.
"That must be it!" Fei Bao exclaimed excitedly, pointing ahead. "We can land there!"
Xiao Zhuzi and Xi Xi paddled in unison, slowly guiding the raft toward the shore. When the raft finally bumped gently against the muddy bank, all three friends let out a long sigh of relief. Xiao Zhuzi and Xi Xi carefully climbed onto land; their legs felt weak as they plopped down on the ground, feeling the solid earth beneath them as if they had stepped into another world.
"We've finally made it ashore!" Xiao Zhuzi lay back on the damp ground, feeling as if he might fall apart from exhaustion.
"The ground is too wet; be careful not to catch a chill!" Xi Xi said as she pulled Xiao Zhuzi up.
At that moment, Fei Bao flew over to inspect the stone tablet and was delighted to find it looked exactly like the one they had seen at Owl Temple when they set off. He turned to his friends and said, "Looks like we’re on the right track! If we go further from here, we should reach Lonely Cloud Peak."
Xiao Zhuzi stood up eagerly and said, "That's great! So what are we waiting for? Let's set off immediately!"
Xi Xi extended her antennae to stop Xiao Zhuzi and smiled helplessly. "Hold on! You're becoming more like Fei Bao every day. We just went through a long drift; what we need now is rest and some energy! If we rush off now and encounter any danger, we won’t even have the strength to escape!"
Xiao Zhuzi knew Xi Xi was right. Feeling a bit embarrassed, she hugged Xi Xi's neck and laughed cheerfully. "You’re right; you always think things through better than I do. We really can’t be as hasty as Fei Bao."
"What are you two talking about? I'm not hasty at all! I'm clearly the most composed Little Dragonfly! If it weren't for my navigation in midair just now, would we have landed so smoothly? You two are just undermining my guidance!" Fei Bao flitted around in frustration, looking both comical and adorable.
Xiao Zhuzi and Xi Xi exchanged amused glances and burst into laughter while playfully making faces at Fei Bao. They then found a dry, flat rock by the shore to sit on as they began organizing their belongings while eating snacks and chatting away, letting Fei Bao ramble on beside them with his complaints.
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