Chapter 5: The Riddle (15)
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With their memories fully restored, the two were naturally filled with confusion over their experiences in the estate.
Before plummeting from the Monster King’s cave on Phoenix Mountain, Ling Xiaozu had already kicked the bucket for over ten days.
But they had taken on the lord’s mission to assassinate Ling Xiaozu, hadn’t they?
Ling Xiaozu sat regally at the head of the Grand Hall, engaging the two assassins in a chaotic brawl.
If they guessed correctly, at that moment, the two had already transformed into animal forms without a clue, until Ling Xiaozu recognized the sword wielded by the Little Fox as the Dark Light Sword, and the skills used were identical to Luo Ying’s. That was when he confirmed their identities and willingly allowed himself to be killed by the Little Fox.
This was the part that had left them absolutely baffled.
Ling Xiaozu was clearly in the upper hand. What on earth made him decide to do something so utterly inexplicable?
That was just one of their many questions.
Since the Sect Leader was dead, how could they still encounter an old man in the estate who, judging by his demeanor and looks, the male character firmly believed could only be Ling Xiaozu?
Resurrected? Or maybe he hadn’t died after all.
A whirlwind of doubts loomed over them, leaving them utterly clueless about what to do next.
The vastness of this world surpassed all their expectations. As they journeyed, the scenic beauty flourished, with mountains and rivers coexisting harmoniously, and those quirky little animals lived in this idyllic setting, painting a picture of peace and self-sufficiency.
The only thing that filled them with dread was the enormous shadow that lurked around at night, resembling a ghost.
They had completely lost their sense of direction for the next step.
Just figuring out how to return to the Small Thousand World felt like a heavy stone pressing down on their hearts.
Another dark night was approaching, and in a bid to evade the shadows, they hadn’t had a decent sleep in several nights.
This time, having regained their original powers, they were more than a little curious to explore the true nature of the shadows.
Perhaps that was the only way to inch closer to the hidden truths.
However, just to be safe, they lit a bonfire ahead of time, intending to take turns sleeping and keeping watch.
If the flickering flames could scare off the shadows, then the torches would become their weapons against the impending darkness.
To prevent turning back into little animals, they continued to endure hunger, merely sipping on some fresh water.
The night grew deep.
When those enormous shadows descended upon this world again, the two were suddenly terrified to discover that they didn’t seem to fear the flames at all; instead, the fire became a beacon luring them closer.
They hurriedly ascended into the sky,
only to witness their bonfire, resembling fireflies, swiftly engulfed by countless shadows, plunging the entire world into pitch darkness once more.
And this was merely the beginning.
The shadows even sprouted wings and charged directly at them. Luo Ying let out a furious roar and swung the Dark Light Sword at the leading shadow, colliding with it.
To their horror, Luo Ying was bashed straight down to the ground by that shadow.
The male character quickly realized the situation was dire, performing a flip to speed up, catching Luo Ying’s falling body just before she hit the ground.
“Cough, cough…”
Luo Ying felt a surge of bl**d rush up, nearly sputtering out a mouthful.
“Run!” was the first thing she exclaimed once she got her bearings.
The male character darted like a nimble rabbit, weaving in and out of the gaps between shadows. Fortunately, Luo Ying had regained her mobility just in time. Rather than fleeing from above and becoming easy targets, they decided it was better to use the rugged terrain beneath their feet to dodge the shadows’ pursuit.
After running for what felt like an eternity, when they looked back again, they were horrified to see a long line of monstrous shadows trailing behind them.
They were silent, yet relentless in their pursuit.
Gone were the cautious and sensitive instincts that both had when they were little animals. No matter how loudly Luo Ying screamed, the shadows remained undeterred.
Having not eaten for three days and just endured exhausting exercise, they were gasping for breath, their steps becoming heavy, while those shadows seemed like they were on steroids, closing in ever more desperately, ready to devour them.
The male character and Luo Ying exchanged a glance and shouted in unison, “You go first, I’ll cover you!”
Their hearts simultaneously warmed.
Though they didn’t speak further, their hands clasped tightly together, sharing a newfound understanding.
That was, they would d*e together, which wasn’t such a bad way to cap off a half-lived life.
Their speed began to falter, and those shadows were, as if fueled by an unknown stimulant, speeding up, compellingly intent on swallowing them whole.
At that last moment, they shared a smile, stopped in their tracks, and closed their eyes.
A cacophony of rustling sounds echoed through the dense underbrush behind them, d*ath was closer than ever.
But just then, several blazing fireballs suddenly appeared in the air, instantly capturing the shadows’ attention.
The male character and Luo Ying stood there momentarily dumbfounded, filled with a surreal sense.
“Follow me! Hurry!” a gruff old voice rang in their ears.
Snapping back to reality, they quickly took advantage of the shadows being distracted by the fireballs, following the old man as he sprinted forward.
Clearly familiar with the terrain, the old man didn’t blindly surge ahead like them; instead, he chose some hollows and rocks that could evade the shadows’ line of sight, ultimately leading them into a pitch-black cave.
Without a second thought, they followed him inside.
If the old man had intended them harm, he could have conveniently done so without rescuing them, especially in such a dire moment where little thought was afforded.
Trusting him was their only chance to escape alive.
The path in the cave was winding and narrow, allowing only one person to bent over and feel their way through.
Fortunately, the old man had prepared some fireflies, which saved them from cracking their heads on the uneven terrain.
Even so, they couldn’t avoid bumping into several protruding rocks along the way.
Once they reached their destination—an approximately five to six square meter cave—the two finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The old man turned around slowly,
the flickering light created a dizzying illusion on his face.
Despite that, upon seeing his face, the two couldn’t help but shudder, instinctively half-kneeling.
Luo Ying was trembling all over, her voice quivering as she exclaimed, “Master… Master, it’s so good to see you! You’re alive, you’re alive…”
She practically repeated that line over and over like a broken record.
The male character maintained a more formal demeanor, “Disciple Lin Nan pays respects to the Sect Leader.”
Ling Xiaozu beamed at the two, “Get up, the ground is cold.”
Luo Ying stubbornly refused to stand, causing Ling Xiaozu to personally lift her up, placing her hand into the male character’s.
“You two are quite the match, hmm, I’m pleased to see my wish for you both fulfilled,” Ling Xiaozu remarked.
Luo Ying laughed through her tears, exclaiming, “Yes! Yes! When we get back, Master must preside over our wedding!”
But Ling Xiaozu suddenly sighed, “I can’t return…”
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P.S.: Updating two chapters first, as I’ve been a bit stuck with writing. Depending on how the writing goes, I might update once or twice in the afternoon.
