### Chapter 2: Form is Emptiness (3)
The sudden jolt from the outside world had Lin Nan, who was leaning against Liao Chen, springing up in a hurry. Let’s be honest, staying in such an awkwardly intimate position was too deliberate. A little distance between men and women often makes things more enticing!
Unfortunately, before she could gather her thoughts, another wave of attacks shattered her daydream.
The seemingly stable demon-slaying formation was swaying under the relentless assault of countless spider threads, making the two inside feel like they were caught in a tempest.
With no better option, Lin Nan clung tightly to Liao Chen, pressing her upper body against his back to avoid being tossed out of the formation by the violent shaking.
Liao Chen initially shuddered a bit but quickly realized Lin Nan had no choice.
“In the moment of urgency, my mind utters: Form is emptiness, emptiness is form…”
At this critical moment, Liao Chen couldn’t afford to relish this unprecedented close encounter with the opposite s*x. His hands were busy switching between various Buddhist hand seals, fending off the onslaught of the spider horde.
“Great Might Heavenly Dragon!”
“Boom! Boom!”
Several giant spiders were knocked flat, only to have a whole swarm of tiny spiders crawl out from their abdomens.
These nimble little critters danced around the formation like they were at a rave, and the moment they spotted an opening, they pounced upon the two with reckless abandon.
Thank goodness Lin Nan held down the rear, smashing a few of the intruding spiders to bits.
Liao Chen never imagined that these relentless spiders would be such a pain.
Under the furious attacks, his rapidly spinning Buddhist beads began to slow down due to his waning strength—a fatal blow to the defensive capabilities of their demon-slaying formation.
As the spider swarm intensified their assault and the formation was on the brink of collapse, Lin Nan pressed her hands against Liao Chen’s back, pure Buddhist energy coursing through him like a surge of caffeine, sweeping away fatigue and despair.
It was as if he was reborn, and suddenly, a golden light shot up from the demon-slaying formation, piercing the darkness.
“Great Might Heavenly Dragon!
Earth Treasure Buddha!
Prajna Buddhas!
Prajna Ba Ma Kong!”
Dozens of little spiders clinging to the formation’s surface evaporated into thin air, while the larger ones loitering nearby were knocked flat by the flood of Buddhist energy, followed by a barrage of swirling beads that smashed them to pulp.
The spider horde that had confined them for so long finally suffered heavy losses from their combined attack, and the few remaining spiders promptly scuttled away into the woods.
Now that the night was quiet again, both let out a sigh of relief.
“Frost Benefactor… could you maybe not cling to my back any longer?”
Only then did Lin Nan pretend to realize she was still tightly hugging Liao Chen’s back. In the cold night, it seemed like this was the only warm spot around.
She didn’t immediately stand up, instead, she pressed her slightly chilly cheek against the back of his neck.
This act caused Liao Chen to shudder once more, his entire body stiffening a bit.
“What’s wrong? Is the monk thinking of throwing me under the bus?”
“Before, it was a matter of urgency. Even if the Buddha knew, He wouldn’t hold it against me. But now that the enemy is gone, why the need for this? A person of the cloth should…”
“Okay, okay, who wants to hear your lengthy ramble?”
Lin Nan gently lifted her head, poking his back to create some space.
“Is this better? From now on, even if I see you, the cold-hearted monk, d*e in front of me, I won’t even blink.”
“Amitabha.”
Liao Chen recited a prayer, unaware that as the soft warmth behind him withdrew, it felt like a slight tremor had shaken the Buddha statue in his heart, causing a fragment to chip off and vanish.
They continued on their way.
Liao Chen seemed deep in thought, walking silently ahead, while Lin Nan kept a five-step distance behind him, equally quiet.
This stark contrast to her usually chattering self left Liao Chen feeling a bit out of sorts without the familiar sounds.
Noticing his feelings fluctuating between 15%-30%, occasionally dropping below 15%, Lin Nan realized he was struggling internally.
At this point, with no immediate events in sight, she had no need to fan the flames—she decided to let him stew in his thoughts a bit longer. Perhaps it would lead to a bigger boost in feelings during the next encounter.
About an hour later, after tangling with the big spider, Liao Chen halted in front of a pitch-black cliff.
Beneath him lay a bottomless abyss, made even more terrifying in the darkness. Just glancing down felt like a soul-crushing experience.
Not only Liao Chen, but even Lin Nan could sense an overwhelming demon energy surging up from below.
They exchanged a glance, but quickly looked away.
“Amitabha, this must be where the Demon Emperor lies in wait.”
“And knowing that, what now? Are you going to jump down there?” Lin Nan shot back with a cold edge and a touch of sarcasm.
Liao Chen had a vague inkling that he might’ve rubbed Frost North Snow the wrong way, hence her sudden change in tone.
But that was fine; it meant she wouldn’t be overly concerned about him, a person with pure intentions, thus avoiding any unnecessary sorrow.
“Frost Benefactor, I do possess a relic that can temporarily allow me to float, but it can only be used once. So, you should leave and not wait for my news.”
Lin Nan stared at him for a moment. “You just think I’m a nuisance, huh? Fine, I won’t interfere with your grand aspirations.”
“A person of the cloth doesn’t lie. I have no such intentions. It’s just that the path ahead is perilous, and I’ve sworn to devote myself to the Buddha. I wouldn’t regret it, even if it costs me everything to confront the Demon Emperor.
You, Frost Benefactor, are a treasure of the Demon Sect, holding secrets that have persisted for centuries. You must not fall easily.
So, I earnestly request you to return to the mountain stronghold and reunite with the crowd. If I succeed, fantastic, but if not…”
“No, I will definitely succeed.”
As he spoke, Liao Chen’s expression hardened, especially his sword-like eyebrows that seemed to pierce the clouds.
Lin Nan felt a pang in her heart, but maintained an outwardly unbothered and aloof demeanor.
Seeing her turn away without replying, Liao Chen thought to himself that this was best.
No matter if he succeeded or failed, they would not meet again afterward.
“Whoosh…”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Liao Chen leaped into the abyss.
The rushing wind and icy chill hit him like a freight train.
Faintly, he thought he heard a voice from above, “Liao Chen, you idiot!”
Liao Chen gently closed his eyes, feeling a hint of moisture in his eyes.
The wind was just too strong, he thought.
