The moment Su Qinglan's consciousness returned, it was not to the sound of birds or the smell of a forest.
Instead, a wall of cold, stinging liquid slammed into her face.
She tried to take a breath, but only gulped down a huge mouthful of salt water that burned her throat and filled her lungs like molten lead.
She gasped and choked, her eyes snapping open to see nothing but a murky, endless blue.
She was sinking.
Panicking, she kicked her legs and thrashed her arms, pushing against the weight of the water until her head finally broke the surface.
She spat out the salt water, coughing violently as she tried to catch her breath. When her vision finally cleared, her heart nearly stopped.
Water.
There was nothing but endless, shimmering blue water on all sides. No valley, no trees, no tribe.
"Xuyu!" she screamed, her voice sounding thin against the vast horizon. "Where did you dump me? Is this your idea of a safe place?!"
