The Middle World did not feel compassion for the souls in it. Beautiful views were pleasing to the eyes. Though, this place could ruthlessly destroy anyone with an impending disaster. The shaking earth and raging waters were the proof of this.

Right now, the rift was forming at the bottom of the lake, and therefore it was impossible to see it. However, from Wei Huan's tensed face, it was clear that even he had not encountered such a thing before.

Without any doubts Hao Ning summoned the fan into his hand and held it tightly. Wu Zhe Kai was already pulling the arrow up his bow. All four friends were ready to repel any danger, but they did not expect that instead of a horde of maddened demons, they would see something so undreamed-of.

Two powerful front paws, clinging with sharp claws, like sharpened swords, raked the sand. The monster came over the water column and got out completely. A huge, rounded body resembled a toad, but a long tail curled like a snake. The bulging teeth of his spine were visible on his back, and disgusting mucus dripped down the thick skin.

The creature growled gutturally, and a row of long sharp teeth could be seen in its maw.

– That's disgusting, – said Wu Zhe Kai, shrugging his shoulders. – What hole did it come from?

– I don't think I want to know.

Wei Huan clenched his familiar sword in one hand and immediately summoned a chain in the other. Jin Yu Ming, who was standing nearby, kept his eyes on the yet-passive creature. It did not yet realize the surrounding changes and therefore did not move from its place.

– General Wei, should we attack or retreat?

– We can not retreat! – exclaimed Hao Ning. – This thing must be driven back into the rift! If it leaves this place, it can cause many troubles!

– Xiao Hao, there is only a dilapidated village in the area. There is no one left in it.

– How do we know? There may be other ghostly villages nearby! Lord Wei said that this world is unpredictable. Looking at this creature, it becomes clear that we have not seen even a small piece of it. We were lucky to be in its serene part, – Hao Ning pursed his lips and clutched his fan. – That's why we can't risk it! This creature must return to where it belongs!

– Well said, A-Ning! – Wei Huan's cheerful voice encouraged the young man. – Yu Ming, is the task understood?

– Yes, my Lord!

The warrior nodded confidently and was the first to rush toward the monster. Wei Huan immediately followed his comrade. Hao Ning also hurried to catch up with the men, shouting to Wu Zhe Kai:
– Cover us, please!

– Don't you dare get hurt! – the healer jumped unhappily onto a tree branch, taking up a more suitable position. – It is not justice that guides them, but complete stupidity. Would have punished them all up.

Of course, no one cared about Wu Zhe Kai's lamentations. The three men spread out on different sides to attack the monster unexpectedly and swiftly. It was the first time they had encountered something like this, so the first step was to determine the weak point of the creature. They also could not hesitate. The rift could close at any moment, depriving them of their only plan.

Jin Yu Ming was the first to reach the monster, he tried to stick the tip of his spear into his paw, but this action was useless. The scaly coating served as strong armor and protected the monster from his attacks.

The creature finally noticed the flickering in front of its nose and roared, spraying disgusting viscous mucus from its maw. The bulky tail slammed into the water to both intimidate and also throw off Wei Huan, who was climbing up it. It was not possible to do this because the man was able to jump on one of the protruding ridges.

Hao Ning, pondering what to do, stood on a hewn stone. Over the long years of being in the water, the stone was completely covered with moss, and it was not easy to balance on the wet terrain, but the youth coped with it.

He carefully and quickly examined the picture reigning in front of him. The fighting warriors distracted the monster, allowing Hao Ning to think over his strategic move. There was no point in attacking this demon; its strong skin could not be pierced with simple blows. It only exhausted the attacker. However, some spots remained open, and Hao Ning decided to focus on them.

The light from the rift could be seen under the water, which somewhat facilitated the task. The young man cast a glance towards the shore. Wu Zhe Kai was ready to join the battle at any moment, but now he was waiting, knowing full well that his arrows would not play a big role. So it was necessary to act from the front.

– Lord Wei! Lao Jin! – shouted Hao Ning.

Of course, the combatants did not hear him, forcing the youth to come up with a new move. Fortunately, this time the idea came instantly.

Hao Ning sat down on a stone, clutching a fan that now had transformed into an erhu. An unexpected sad, but sharp melody cut the air. No one expected to hear music at such a moment, and therefore, even in the heat of battle, it attracted attention.

Wei Huan jumped down first, ending up next to Hao Ning playing. Jin Yu Ming appeared after only a few moments. As soon as both of them were near, Hao Ning stopped playing.

– A-Ning? – Wei Huan said incredulously.

Beads of water and sweat rolled down from his forehead. The man held his sword tightly in his hands. Jin Yu Ming was also breathing heavily.

– I have an idea, but we need to act quickly, – Hao Ning rose to his feet, holding out his hand. – Lord Wei, give me the chain.

The general did not argue or ask for an explanation, fully trusting his comrade's idea. Hao Ning nodded gratefully, taking the given chain and starting to wrap it around the leg of the fan that had returned to its original form. While he was doing this, he tried to explain the idea.

– The skin of this creature is too thick. You will exhaust yourself if you continue attacking. However, his eyes are not protected by anything. I watched for a while and noticed that it did not even blink. I need you to pierce them at the same time, – Hao Ning tugged at the chain, making sure that it was firmly fixed. – At the same time, I will try to wrap his front paws. Pain shall make it move reflexively, but it will not be able to go forward. Thus it will have to retreat back to the rift.

– There are many risks in your plan, – Wei Huan glanced at the enraged demon. – The worst is the part where you risk yourself. I don't like it.

– This is the best thing I can come up with in this situation.

The man frowned. He did not want to agree but understood their plight. Nobody expected all that to happen.

– Fine. Yu Ming, we are on it.

– Yes, my Lord.

The warriors again rushed toward the monster. This time they knew their goal exactly. Hao Ning grabbed a long chain, slung it over his shoulder and followed them.

They once again moved in different directions: Wei Huan was about to attack the right eye, Yu Ming the left. Hao Ning moved forward, toward the creature's paws. Now, when everything depended on dexterity and agility, the monster tried to attack. However, due to its massive physique, it was difficult for the beast to keep track of the rapid movement of all three people.

In addition, Wei Huan and Jin Yu Ming disappeared from its vision. They both moved along the rounded neck from different directions. The only one left in sight was Hao Ning. The youth, meanwhile, was putting his plan into action. Each of his moves was thoughtful: the fan flew at the speed of lightning behind the monster's paws to return from the other side. The massive paws were chained.

Now it was necessary to act quickly and sharply. So far, everything was going exactly as Hao Ning had hoped. His last throw coincided with the raised weapon over the creature's eyes. A wild roar shook the area, sending vibrations of energy and raising waves. The demon squirmed, shaking its head, trying to get rid of the unbearable pain. The warriors – their job done – jumped backward. And Hao Ning had to linger: his fan was just returning to him. The scholar extended his hand at the last moment. At the same time, the demon shifted back.

Hao Ning managed to jump to the side. However, he did not avoid an unpredictable blow. The demon, convulsing violently from piercing pain, no longer controlled its actions. Its tail chaotically hit the water and accidentally beat Hao Ning, who was trying to retreat.

The young man felt a powerful strike. The air was knocked out of his chest and then the sharp spikes on the beast’s tail grazed his side. The eyes caught a bluish glow, and Hao Ning realized. Not only he was being dragged to the bottom of the lake abut also was pulled into a rift.

The youth frantically waved his arms, trying to make a row through the water, but it was all to no avail. The only thing he managed to catch: someone's dark silhouette approaching him.
After that, his eyes saw nothing but a gloomy emptiness.

***

The body trembled and writhed in the hands of the other. The young man in a desperate attempt to rush forward.

– Let me go! Release me at once! – a wild cry was torn from the very heart.

Wu Zhe Kai frantically stretched his hands toward the serene water surface as if he was trying to grab hold of a ghostly vision.

– Xiao Hao is injured! I have to help him! Right now!

– Calm down. Lao Wu, calm down!

Jin Yu Ming only tightened his grip on his friend, holding him back from a rash act.

Even though the healer was smaller and thinner than the warrior, he remained a strong man, and it was not easy to restrain him. In addition, Yu Ming was weakened due to the battle with the demon dragged into the rift.

– I'll follow him! I have to... Just have to!

– Wu Zhe Kai, come to your senses!

The man turned his friend to face him, shook him by the shoulders, and looked intensely into the distraught eyes. Wu Zhe Kai, who lost control of himself, was trembling and panting. It didn't look like him at all. He seemed to have lost his mind.

– General Wei is there! Wei Huang went for him!

Hearing the man's name, the healer finally froze. His composure gradually returned to him, although Zhe Kai continued to stare at the water intently. Jin Yu Ming felt the tensed body slowly weaken under his hands and hurried to hold the healer so that he would not fall to the ground.

– I... was not there... Again...

The warrior helped Wu Zhe Kai, who had calmed down, sit down on the rocky shore, kneeling next to him. He brushed the bangs out of his eyes, looking excitedly at his friend.

– Lao Wu, I don't understand. What are you talking about?

The only response was silence and a slow shake of the head. Jin Yu Ming pinched the bridge of his nose in exhaustion. The situation forced him to throw off his mask of a well-disciplined warrior, but he still tried his best to maintain his usual calmness. There was no way he could afford panic right now.

– Lao Wu, everything will be fine with Lao Hao. General Wei jumped into the rift after him. You know well – no one better than him can cope with such situations.

The man touched Wu Zhe Kai's back with his hand.

– If you had jumped into the rift after them, you might well have ended up in a completely different place. The unpredictability of this world extends to everything. We need to believe in them and move west. There we shall meet.

The face of the healer bore no trace of emotions. Yu Ming could not even tell if he had heard him.

Wu Zhe Kai was always a friendly, cheerful young man. He acted somewhat naïve. And although he cursed those who were injured, calling them reckless, he never seriously blamed anyone in anything. However, now, after seeing such a breakdown and thinking about it, Jin Yu Ming realized that he knew absolutely nothing about his friend. Wu Zhe Kai's life story was shrouded in mystery. The healer had never spoken of it.

Yu Ming settled down next to the young man in the lotus pose, slowly restoring his energy, giving not only rest to his body but also some time for Wu Zhe Kai to recover his senses.

A long road, as well as an unbearably long wait for at least some news from dear friends, laid ahead.