CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

He didn't understand. He had left this place! Why was he back here? Wei Zixin looks around and could see Hei Guafu in the kitchen plucking the feathers of a wild hen.

"Brother Guafu?"

"Oh Zixin dear, have a sit. I'll serve you some soup to tame your appetite for a bit"

He frowned. Why was Hei Guafu all jolly? Something was not right.

Meanwhile.....

"You threw him in the pit while he slept? Aiya senior sister Huli that's so mean of you" Wanzgi says feeling bad for Zixin he had reasons to though.

That pit was not ordinary. It could drive one insane. It was filled with alternative realities that someone with a strong mind and will could only beat. Wangzi was left there for two weeks while Hei Guafu only lasted three days.

Also, there's no food in that pit so Zixin would be forced to improvise.

"Do you think he'll act like the snake king he is destined to be though?"Guafu asks as he remembers he had to be like a spider, he made a large web with his hair and waited until creepy crawlies were trapped and he ate them. Maybe Zixin could be like a snake and eat rats.

"I don't know but I'm sure he'll be fine" Huli says. Wangzi and Hei Guafu share a look of concern. What if Wei Zixin doesn't survive that pit?

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A light spell was ignited by Chang Pei as she led the way. After the three had fallen along with the statue, they landed inside a dark tunnel and the statue suddenly vanished.

"AHHH!"

someone landed behind them with a thud. Chang Pei handed the two boys behind her other lighters so they could see more clearly.

"Did you have to push me?"

It was Xin Ai and he was angry at his brother.

"How did you come here?" Hua Ling asks. Jiang Ji shrugged.

"We jumped"

Chang Pei sighed.

"Irresponsible"

They walked along the tunnel. The dirt walls were still damp giving the impression that the tunnel was freshly made and it smelled like wet mud.

"Stop" Jiang Ji says.

They all froze and turned to him.

"Have you guys not noticed something?" He asks.

"What?" Chang Pei asks.

"Where is Lan Fei?"

It then dawned on them that their other friend was not amongst them. Hua Ling gasped.

"Could he have vanished with the statue?"

Xin Ai was starting to get concerned, what if something was inside this tunnel that took Lan Fei.

"Let's go back and see if he left any clues"

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Wei Zixin looked at Guafu, the man was smiling. He looked at the plate in front of him.

"Eat up, you'll need your strength" Guafu said and started to eat. Zixin eyed the food again and grabbed his chopsticks.

He picked up a piece but stopped.

"What kind of meat is this?"

Guafu seemed to have froze. They lock eyes. The spider king smirks.

"Chicken of course"

Zixin nodded and looked at the piece of meat in his chopsticks, didn't look like chicken. He decides not didn't eat and slides the plate towards the man across the table.

"I'm not hungry"

Guafu nodded and seemed to fade away as Zixin turned his attention to the front and f the cave.

Just then there was squeaking outside. It made his ears ring. He rushes outside and froze at the cave entrance, just up ahead was a house sized rat!

Zixin felt his mouth tingle as saliva filled his mouth. He takes a deep breath as if he was taking in the scent of food, why was this rat smelling like roasted chicken?!

The rat seemed to have been spooked by something and ran off. Zixin gives chase. It was like his life depended on that rat. The large rodent swerves and ducks as if it was chased by a larger enemy.

Before Zixin could even catch up, the place spins making him stop. He finds himself in a room. It was an inn, he recognized it in an instant.

Up ahead the door opens and a man steps out. Wei Zixin gasps.

"Ji Ji?"

"Hello Wei Zixin"

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"There's nothing here" Hua Ling says getting back to his feet. The group had went back to where they started and unfortunately there was no clue of Lan Fei's whereabouts.

"Brother, play the soul seeking spell" Xin Ai suggests. Jiang Ji nodded and summoned his zheng, he sits on the lotus position with the instrument on his crossed legs.

As he strummed the strings, the loose dust around the tunnel collects and forms into a pink powdery substance. The dust swirls around and forms an arrow pointing to the sky.

Chang Pei frowned.

"He got out of the tunnel?" She asks. Jiang Ji stood back up after sending his zheng away. He sighs.

"We have to find him, maybe he's in trouble"

"Let's ride the sword, I'll lead the way" Chang Pei says going to the front. The boys follow her out of the tunnel.

As their feet land back on the ground, the tunnel sealed itself back and the statue reappeared.

"This is a spell. Whoever formed it must not want anyone into that tunnel" Xin Ai says. Something then caught the general's eye making his hair stand. A blaring arrow.

"Duck!"

SWISH, the arrow passed by them and struck the statue. They watched it crack and eventually crumble down into ruble. Xin Ai turned to Hua Ling and nodded, they swiftly rushed toward the direction the arrow came from.

Chang Pei and Jiang Ji studied the destroyed statue.

"Clearly someone doesn't want us here." Chang Pei says holding the arrow. It was golden, she frowns.

"What is it? Do you know who it belongs to?" Jiang Ji asks. The maiden nods.

"This is from my father's collection"

Jiang Ji frowned. If the arrow is from Zhang Wei then why would he want them to stop investigating? Cleary they should want him to investigate in order to clear their name.

"Something is not right here"

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"Is it really you?" He asks. Jiang Ji nods and held out a hand for him. Zixin gladly took it.

They went towards the bed, Jiang Ji started to take off his robes.

"W-What are you doing?" Zixin asks in shock. The man smiles and stands up, his robes dropping to the floor.

"Zixin, I didn't regret that kiss....in fact, I fancy you. Let's spend the night as lovers"

WHAT?!

He takes a step back but Jiang Ji pulled him back. They lock eyes.

"Trust me, it'll be over soon" the man whispers into his ear. Zixin felt his body go up in goosebumps. He was pushed to the bed making him gasp.

"B-But....we're both men"

Jiang Ji pinned his hands above his head and leans forward, Zixin could feel Jiang Ji's warm breath on his face.

"It doesn't matter, love has no gender" Jiang Ji says before their lips meet each other. Zixin's eyes fluttered close as he feels their tongues dance with each other. Jiang Ji was dominating the kiss, he'd nip, bite and tug on Zixin's lips.

Once they pulled away, Zixin couldn't feel his lips. He gasps feeling Jiang Ji's hand go down his lower parts, the warm palm going places Zixin didn't dare to touch unless he bathed.

"I'll make you feel good"

"Mmh...yes"

He opens his eyes and he screams. The person holding him wasn't Jiang Ji anymore but a walking corpse!!

"AHH!"