Guo Jinnian couldn't swim, and as the water level rose above her waist, she struggled to keep her footing. Additionally, the rapid water flow made matters worse. She was entirely dependent on Tong Yao. The others were faster and quickly outpaced them.
Both of them were unfamiliar with the area. They could only follow the direction everyone else was moving in, with no idea where it was safer. As flooding surrounded them, Guo Jinnian felt closer to death than ever before. It seemed like a vast ocean. If Tong Yao let her go, she believed it would not be long before she drowned.
Tong Yao also dared not be careless. The water flow was swift, and their unfamiliarity with the area made it dangerous. Even though Tong Yao was a strong swimmer, having Guo Jinnian by her side put them both at considerable risk.
If there were whirlpools in the deep waters, the danger would be even greater. They had to cautiously follow the path others had taken.