The trio found themselves in a tropical landscape.
Was this really the bottom of the cliff?
The climate seemed entirely different!
Turns out the portal teleported the disciples to different designated locations in an effort to lower the odds of encountering fellow participants during the waiting period.
Li Meirong had only seen such places before on television. It was very similar to South America's jungles and other tropical rainforests. Even the cold of the mountaintop had dissipated. It was in fact quite warm, humid and a little difficult to breathe here.
Gentle raindrops dripped on the overgrown shrubs and leaves. The earth was dark and soaked through, with more mud than dry ground.
Usually, in densely wooded areas such as forest and jungles, there were constant sounds of buzzing insects and twittering birds, however, this scenery was suspiciously quiet.
Shu Qianqian drew out a dagger she had strapped to one of her legs and gripped it tightly in her hand, prepared to fight at a moment's notice. Mo Jing, on the other hand, was empty handed but his eyes darted around at any sign of sudden movement.
Li Meirong tiptoed cautiously behind her young protectors.
They trod through coiling paths and slippery moss covered earth. The deeper into the jungle they went, the bigger the plants appeared.
The trees were now so tall that Li Meirong couldn't see where they ended when she looked up, only vines and foliage could be seen.
After nearly half a day of wandering in utter silence, the group couldn't help but start speculating. Maybe they landed in a lucky spot? Or perhaps the hostile creatures in the environment had already been wiped out?
Whatever the reason, they seemed to be safe.
This situation reminded Li Meirong of what had happened the previous day, as she walked through the forest path and no harm befell her.
After hearing what her companions had to go through just to pass through the same area, she was confused but had just written it off as a freak stroke of luck. Now she began to wonder at her peculiar circumstances.
Mo Jing discovered a comfortable resting spot by a river bank and the group settled in for the night. As Li Meirong, Shu Qianqian and Mo Jing tried to get comfortable on the relatively dry ground, Shu Qianqian couldn't help but comment, "This is too odd!"
Mo Jing nodded in agreement. "Even if we have been sent to a remote location lacking human inhabitants, there should still be local wildlife lurking in this jungle. I get this odd vibe that they're all…hiding from us." He voiced his suspicions out loud.
Li Meirong was also perplexed by the situation.
Granted, she might have seen too many movies and expected some killer plants to jump out and tackle them but this eerie quietness was somewhat disturbing in its own way.
"Well, one way or another this works in our favour. Let's stay alert just in case and who knows, maybe three days will pass without issue and we will become official disciples." Li Meirong tried to reassure her companions.
They silently nodded in agreement.
That was true. If the situation continued this way, they were bound to become Forgotten Waters sect's disciples.
Li Meirong rose to her feet and stretched her sore limbs. It was a bad timing but she had to go to the bathroom.
"Don't wander off." Mo Jing warned.
The feeling of being protected was truly sweet, she smiled at him gratefully.
"I won't stray far." Li Meirong assured him that she'd stay close by and excused herself.
She found a large, dense bush that granted the privacy she was looking for and hid behind it.
After relieving herself, she used one of the leaves from the bush to clean herself as best as she could and made her way back to her young companions.
For a moment, Li Meirong thought she had somehow lost her way but that was impossible, she hadn't even gone a hundred steps away from Mo Jing and Shu Qianqian.
The river bank was right in front of her, the mud still bore their footprints.
And yet, her companions were gone...