"": 200,
"": "",
"": "The wind howled, and rustling filled the woods.
This place was a valley, its rock walls covered in cuckoo vines.
The flowers grew thickly, yet gave off almost no fragrance.
Only a profound sadness kept spreading.
In the middle of the valley, Luo Bin lay face-down on a flat patch of ground. Gu Yiren had lifted the clothes off his back, exposing a horrifying mess of blood and flesh.
Gu Yiren covered her mouth with one hand, tears constantly welling in her eyes.
"Luo Bin... wake up."
She gently pushed his shoulder, then held her hand beneath his nose to check his breathing.
He was alive.
That eased Gu Yiren's despair a little.
"Gugu."
At the sound, a turtle crawled out from beneath Luo Bin.
The Black-Gold Toad gave two more croaks, staring motionlessly at Gu Yiren.
"I don't understand what you're trying to say."
Gu Yiren bit her lower lip and clenched her hand so tightly that her nails dug into her flesh.
"Gugu!"
The Black-Gold Toad croaked louder, its cheeks puffing up.
Gu Yiren grew even more anxious.
She was certain this turtle was trying to tell her something, most likely how to help Luo Bin.
But she truly couldn't understand.
She nearly bit her lip bloody.
Suddenly, Gu Yiren's eyes widened.
"That?"
She carefully slipped her hand inside Luo Bin's clothes at his chest and felt around.
She barely dared to move, afraid of tugging at his back and causing him more pain.
Soon, Gu Yiren drew out two pigeon-egg-sized Corpse Cores.
"How do I..."
Gu Yiren didn't recognize the Corpse Cores.
Before she could finish speaking, she stiffened slightly.
She carefully picked up one of the beads, then searched herself and took out a dagger.
She gently scraped the dagger across