Chapter 138: A Hidden World Behind the Waterfall

Relying on her erratic and unreliable tracking technique, Tang Wei followed the Fire Rabbit through countless twists and turns, taking many unnecessary detours, until she finally discovered its hiding place.

Wanwan caught up with Tang Wei in front of a splashing waterfall. The clear mountain spring water cascaded down from a cliff dozens of meters high like countless white dragons shaking their silver whiskers. It roared and surged, churning up mist as it plunged into a dark green pool, creating a deafening sound and an atmosphere as overwhelming as ten thousand galloping horses or a collapsing mountain.

"Tang Wei, are you sure we haven't followed the wrong path? How could this place possibly be the nest of that Fire Rabbit?" Looking at the magnificent scenery, Wanwan couldn't help but ask skeptically. Because the sound of the waterfall was so loud, she had to lean in close to Tang Wei's ear to shout.

"I'm not wrong. I know it went in there!" Tang Wei replied, rubbing her ear and pouting. The waterfall was already making a roaring sound in her ears, and with Wanwan shouting directly into it, her ear felt incredibly itchy, forcing her to rub at it vigorously.

"How is that possible? That’s a Fire Rabbit! How could it live near water? Isn't water its nemesis?" Wanwan reasoned based on common knowledge about the rabbit’s habits.

Tang Wei rolled her eyes and retorted, "Can the Fire Rabbit we just saw even be compared to an ordinary rabbit? If we only chased rabbits based on your 'common sense,' would we have needed to track it all the way here?"

"Hehe! I was just asking! Why are you giving me that look?" Wanwan nudged Tang Wei sheepishly, then scanned the surroundings and asked dubiously, "But there’s no rabbit nest here, is there? Surely it didn't hide underwater?"

When it came to this, Tang Wei was an expert. Even if she hadn't eaten pork, she had certainly seen a pig walk. Back on Earth, she had seen plenty of "secret bases" in television dramas. Almost every one of them was located in an inconspicuous spot behind a waterfall. It stood to reason that this place would be no different!

Using her spiritual sense to probe the cliff face behind the waterfall, Tang Wei indeed discovered the secret beneath the vines near the edge. Where the vines met the rock, there was a protruding stone; if the Fire Rabbit leaped along that stone into the waterfall, it could jump directly into a cave hidden deep within the water flow. If it were fast enough, it might not even get its fur wet.

Tang Wei chuckled to herself, thinking, "It seems the people of China are truly wise; no matter the situation, we can always predict what’s coming next."

Seeing Tang Wei standing there with a strange grin, Wanwan was startled. "Good heavens! Has she been possessed? Why is she smiling so creepily? I’ve heard old folks say that in these deep mountains, animals that live for a long time easily become spirits. Could Tang Wei have been targeted? I felt from the start that this rabbit was bizarre. If I had known this would happen, I never would have chased it." With no other choice, Wanwan braced herself, gave Tang Wei a nudge, and asked cautiously, "Tang Wei, what are you giggling about all by yourself?"

"What are you talking about? You’re the one giggling!" After rolling her eyes at her, Tang Wei didn't bother arguing. Instead, she beamed and said, "I know where that rabbit went!" (She really shouldn't be so smug; it wasn't her own wisdom that led her to the key, but the collective experience of the Chinese people.)

"Really? Where? Where is it?" As soon as Tang Wei spoke, she captured all of Wanwan’s attention, who began tugging at her sleeve incessantly.

"How about you take a guess?" Seeing Wanwan so interested, Tang Wei deliberately withheld the answer, wanting to see her fret.

"Oh! Just tell me, okay? I was wrong before, I’m the one who was giggling!" To get the answer, Wanwan abandoned all pretense.

Tang Wei remained silent until she felt she had teased her enough, then said slowly, "There is a cave behind the waterfall. The Fire Rabbit must be hiding in there."

"How is that possible?" Wanwan’s eyes widened, unable to believe there could be a cave behind the waterfall.

"Why wouldn't it be? If you don't believe me, go to the edge of the cliff and look inside; you should be able to see a little bit," Tang Wei said, pointing to the cliff wall beside the waterfall.

"Really? Let me see!" Wanwan did as she was told, leaning over the edge of the cliff to peer to the side. "It really seems to be there, though I can't see it very clearly."

After looking, Wanwan returned to Tang Wei’s side and asked suspiciously, "Tang Wei, how did you discover there was a cave in there?"

"That? Because I’m smart, I guessed it on the first try!" Someone was truly shameless—stealing someone else's "intellectual property" and bragging about it—her skin was indeed thick enough.

Seeing that Tang Wei wouldn't tell her the truth, Wanwan stopped asking and instead asked curiously, "Tang Wei, should we go in and take a look?"

"We've chased it all the way here, of course we have to go in! Otherwise, wouldn't our long chase be for nothing?" Tang Wei said as if it were obvious. "Come on, let's go in and see."

The cave behind the waterfall was only about five or six meters from the bank. With Tang Wei's current cultivation level, even without flying on a sword, it would be easy to jump across with full effort. Tang Wei gauged the distance across the water, then suddenly grabbed Wanwan’s arm and leaped. In the blink of an eye, the two of them flashed into the cave. Although Tang Wei was quite fast, carrying Wanwan did slow her down slightly, and they both ended up a bit damp, but it was still acceptable.

"Tang Wei, if you're going to grab me like that, at least say something! You scared me!" Wanwan had major grievances about being hauled in like a chick, and as soon as Tang Wei let go, she began to whine. The cave was pitch black, and Wanwan started to feel panicked by the unfamiliar environment, grabbing Tang Wei’s hand tightly and refusing to let go.

"You really are a handful! I kindly gave you a ride, and you're still nagging. You can find your own way out later." Tang Wei, knowing Wanwan wouldn't want to get soaked again, dismissed the complaints and used it as an excuse to scare her.

Hearing Tang Wei’s tone, which sounded like she might abandon her, and with the darkness being so terrifying, Wanwan immediately clung to Tang Wei: "Tang Wei, it’s a bit scary in here, you absolutely cannot leave me here alone."

"You’re such a fuss. Let go, you’re choking me! If you keep doing that, I’ll leave you here." Although Tang Wei spoke without mercy, she didn't actually shake off the "koala" that was Wanwan.

While teasing Wanwan, Tang Wei took a flashlight from her storage space and turned it on, intending to observe the interior. Although her spiritual sense was effective, Wanwan didn't have one, so she had to prioritize her.

As the flashlight beam cut through the darkness, Wanwan, who had been curious about the strange lighting tool, suddenly had all her attention captured by the sight ahead.