29-34

Chapter 29: Bloodberry

Being a chef meant a lot of things. Back on Earth, Lei would spend most of his time in a mad rush to prepare the orders, barely finding time to take a peek round the doors to see if the customers were enjoying their time.

Such innocence back when he'd thought he was making a difference. Good dishes, sure, tasty enough for the rich palates, of course, but that was the end of it. People paid, smiled, and walked off to their own lives.

The kitchen always remained isolated.

But here, in a strange xianxia world, his dishes were more than just a few minutes of pleasure for people who had the means to spend some good buck on a fancy dinner outside. They triggered a fundamental change in a person's core, and he could witness this change with his own eyes.

The thought had occurred to him when Zhu Luli jumped back to the ground, with a beaming smile on her face, staring at him gratefully as if Lei had done her a favor she couldn't hope to repay. And there really was something different about her now, an air of relief, a sense of peace that even leaked into Lei's own mind, settling right in between his doubts.

"Thank you," she said, leaning closer and clutching his hand tight. "Because of you, I managed to establish a bond with a Riverstar. It was magical, just like how my Father described it. My soul seeped into that faraway celestial being, and it just felt… right."

Lei tilted his head to the side, searching for his soul brother's memories to see if there was anything about a 'Riverstar' in there. Some broken pieces were all he found, as the clan hadn't bothered to teach a near-cripple the intricate details of the Immortal Path.

You were just a servant.

"I hope that's a good thing," he said a second after, clearing his throat as they shared a look with Fatty Lou. "Pardon my ignorance, but I'm afraid we're not well-read in the field of cultivation."

Zhu Luli didn't seem too surprised this time. "They say it is the most crucial step on the Immortal Path, as, without a Riverstar, no one can step into the Qi Condensation Stage. It is through this bond one's spiritual roots grow enough to allow the cultivator to control spiritual energy."

"Spiritual roots, spiritual roots," Fatty Lou sighed dejectedly. "It's always about the roots."

"Nothing's fair, eh, Brother Lou?" Lei said and turned to Zhu Luli when she raised an eyebrow at them. "Well, we're not the most talented people you can find round here. But enough of us, now, tell me how you feel. I think that was the strongest dish I've ever made, and both of you had rather different reactions, so I'm curious."

It was only then that Zhu Luli stared down at her spiritual pet, who was standing with a clawed hand spread wide on the rotten corpse of the beast, idly picking her teeth with the other.

"Different… indeed." Zhu Luli's eyes widened at the sight of the bloody squirrel, then she scowled when she saw the rotten corpse. "What is this thing?"

"Something wicked," Fatty Lou mumbled.

Lei nodded, checking the corpse once again.

[Corrupted Sabertongue - Fifth Step of the Body Tempering Stage] - (A Sabertongue corrupted by a special energy that was injected into its veins.)

"I've never seen anything like it." Zhu Luli stretched a hand over the yellowish fur, and with a sickening plash, her index finger dug deep into the creature's flesh. When she pulled it out, pus dripped down from the tip of her finger. "This can't be nature's work."

"Looks like we're facing some dark people over here in the Darkloom Forest. Hard to pass on that irony," Lei said, shaking his head. "If not for Little Yao, this thing would've killed us both."

"Little Yao killed it?" Zhu Luli muttered, her hand reaching toward the squirrel, but she pulled it back at the last moment when Little Yao glared at her. "Fine! I was just about to say you've done a good job, but as always, you're acting like a spoiled kid."

"More like a bloodthirsty, all-or-nothing drug addict." Fatty Lou smiled slightly at his own words. "Can't complain, though, can we? She saved us, after all."

"What do you mean by drug addict?" Zhu Luli asked.

"For a second we'd thought she lost it," Lei answered. He was honestly not sure if she hadn't lost it or not. On the road, she was the most cheerful squirrel who kept stealing glances from him, but after eating most of the food, it was like a switch turned on inside her head that made her go wild. "But turns out, she was acting the predator all the while. Good job, little buddy!"

Though I still can't believe she's an Eighth Step Body Tempering Stage Browntail. I wonder if she'll evolve after the Qi Condensation Stage. How does it work with spiritual beasts?

"Heh," Zhu Luli scoffed looking at Little Yao. "Can't even deal with the spiritual energy, and yet they think you're some sort of a monster. "

"What do you mean, Miss Zhu?" Fatty Lou asked.

Zhu Luli raised a hand toward the wok, which looked spotless after Little Yao was done with it. "That dish could be the most potent thing I've ever consumed, even more than a Peak-Grade Body Tempering Pill. And it had a different, violent energy within, so it was hard to control. That's why some of it must've spilled into Little Yao's mind, tinkering with her thoughts."

You're saying that the reason why we couldn't take those dishes… was our lack of talent, is it? That's why the energy made us go crazy.

"Is there perhaps a method, some sort of technique we can use to control our state of mind while consuming these dishes?" Fatty Lou asked with a frown. "The last time we'd tried one of these things got a little strange."

"What?" Zhu Luli's eyes widened. "Even that Rootremedy dish Chef Lei had prepared could've been deadly. A wave of spiritual energy can cripple your cultivation bases if left unguided. There's a good reason why cultivators don't try to consume higher-grade pills even if they have the means to afford them."

Lei shrugged. "It doesn't seem to have done anything other than make our worlds a touch more colorful."

"And dream-like." Fatty Lou said. "I've once tried a Braintick back in Lanzhou, you know the drug that supposedly lets you witness a part of Heavens in person, but I daresay Brother Lei's dishes are more potent and efficient. And it takes just a minute before they kick in."

"Careless…" Zhu Luli mumbled, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "I'm not sure if you're bold, or just fools thinking anything spiritual would make you cultivators. You're lucky to even stand here on your feet."

I've heard worse, Miss.

"About my question—"

"No," Zhu Luli cut Fatty Lou's words with a knife-like gaze. "There's not. I don't know how you two managed to stay alive, but even a spiritual beast like Little Yao found it hard to contain that much energy inside. I'm almost sure a genius with a complete hundred spiritual roots would likely have trouble with these dishes."

Should I say that we've already fed the brats? I mean, they ate that Spirited Fried Rice behind our backs, but still, that has to count. Like I've thought, there's some talent hidden in those kids.

Geniuses with a complete hundred spiritual roots. Then Snake, Little Mei, and Stone had to be at least close to the genius level, considering it just took a single dish for them to step into the Body Tempering Stage without much difficulty.

Is that why they kidnapped those two?

It was a reasonable guess, but as far as Lei knew, measuring one's talent was no easy feat. At least it wasn't possible just by gazing deep into one's eyes. They used a special tool for that, and Jiangzhen only had one of those tools in the Governor's Office.

"Might If I ask," Fatty Lou said, his face suddenly serious. "How many spiritual roots have you got, Miss?"

"Not many," Zhu Luli said, a playful smile on her lips as he raised her chin high. "Just ninety-seven."

"Great." Lei's lip twitched.

"That's like more than ninety—" Fatty Lou was about to say, but Zhu Luli clapped her hands.

"Anyway," she said, looking tired as she pointed at the beast on the ground. "I'm not sure what has caused this hideous transformation, but it must have trailed the smell of Grim's Mushrooms to come here. Sabertongues, at least the normal ones, like to eat those mushrooms."

The enchantment made the smell stronger, there's no doubt about it.

Lei stared up through the thick canopy of trees, scowling at the stars glinting from beyond the cracks. The night was young and eerie, growls echoing from the deeper parts of the forest. From how the soil underneath his feet trembled, it seemed there were more than a few beasts around here.

"We should find a place to spend the night," he said when a strange idea popped up in his mind. "And get more of those mushrooms if we can."

"Wait, why?" Fatty Lou asked.

"Miss Zhu, you must be quite knowledgeable in the field of plants and vegetation, right?" Lei said, waving Fatty Lou's question off. When Zhu Luli nodded, he continued, "Do you think we can find some strong ones around here, preferably poisonous ones?"

Zhu Luli placed a finger on her lips, frowning in thought. "I guess we can, but I'm not sure why you are asking."

Another growl disturbed the silence of the forest, echoing all around them. A strong wind flapped the tails of Lei's robe against his thighs. They were coming.

"I've thought of another recipe," Lei said. "But I'm afraid this one is not for us."

"No, you didn't," Fatty Lou almost cackled, earning an odd glance from Zhu Luli and her spiritual beast.

"Oh, but I did," Lei nodded confidently. "Death doesn't have to bring a bad taste about it, don't you think? Let us give them a flavorful rest."

...…

They strode forward, through the bushes, the wind behind their back, roars and growls of agony coming at them from all around. Little Yao guided them in this nervous silence, her nose to the ground, sniffing, searching. Zhu Luli was at the back, covering the group's rear, with Lei and Fatty Lou squeezed in the middle. Hard to believe they were depending on a spiritual squirrel, but nothing felt odd now that Lei had faced a rotten beast on his own.

He'd secured a few plants already, nothing too fancy, but with the touch of a master, and a spiritual kick from the System, he hoped he could break those beasts with his dishes.

After all, the skill worked on all the spiritual ingredients, and there was no indication that he had to make safe-to-eat food.

Now that I think about it, it's certainly better than swinging a ladle into their faces. Lure them with the smell, and let the poison do its thing.

He'd made a mental note to ask Zhu Luli about the wider applications of certain plants, as he was painfully ignorant on that front. Poison seemed like it was just a single piece of a larger pie. Hallucinogens, sedatives, medicinial ones — the possibilities seemed endless.

He checked the skill once again.

[Essence Enhancement - Novice 3]: Increases the potency of spiritual ingredients you use in your dishes.

I have to do a little test to see what counts as a 'spiritual dish' to the System.

The first thought was that he had to cook the ingredients. Likewise, there wasn't anything like a taste mark in the skill, so by that logic, he didn't have to make a good dish for the enhancement to be successful.

With that, there was only one question left in his mind. Would a poisonous dish enhanced by the skill be enough to get rid of those beasts?

If a dish made by Mortal-Grade, High-Quality ingredients had been enough to overwhelm Little Yao, who was at the Eighth-Step of the Body Tempering Stage, then Lei reckoned he could at least make those rotten beasts sway with Middle-Quality ingredients.

Pulling his pack closer, he hooked a finger inside and checked their last prize with the Yellow Maiden's Eyes.

[Yellow Ivy: Mortal-Grade, Low-Quality]: (A poisonous ivy that grows near the Darkloom Trees.)

He had another Low-Quality ingredient, which oddly resembled a daisy, but with petals as dark as the night. The good thing was, they had enough of these two to make more than a few dishes, but Lei wasn't sure they would suffice.

At least we've found plenty of Grim's Mushrooms. Seems like they grow everywhere.

Lei stopped when Little Yao raised a clawed paw toward them, pointing at a nearby tree, its trunk dark and peeling off of the edges. Seemed like a little push would be enough for it to crumble down on its roots.

"Where is it?" Zhu Luli asked as she passed by them, staring at the tree.

Little Yao tapped a claw to the bark, then swung it wide when Zhu Luli gave her a nod. The strike thudded against the tree, sending splinters of wood about it. Inside the hole was a thin stalk, red as blood, swaying with the gentle wind as Little Yao pulled her claw back, a red-colored berry dangling from the narrow end of it.

"This…" Zhu Luli said strangely when she saw the plant. "Not quite what we're looking for."

Lei stepped back toward Fatty Lou's side, using the Yellow Maiden's Eyes while raising a hand over his eyes. It didn't take too long for him to understand the reason for Zhu Luli's strange expression.

[Bloodberry: Mortal-Grade, Medium-Quality] - (A fruit grown by absorbing blood from the soil. It has a mild aphrodisiac effect.)

This thing was certainly not poisonous but looked just as useful to Lei's eyes.

Chapter 30: Toxic Dumplings

Chapter 30 – Toxic Dumplings

The air grew heavier as they strode deeper into the forest. It was damp and dark, and Lei kept glancing over his shoulder to see if the beasts were trailing them. The foreboding feeling from his [Spiritual Sensitivity] skill remained clutched tight around his heart. Thankfully, Zhu Luli didn't seem too bothered by the silence that surrounded them.

He didn't know what he'd expected, but facing off against rotten beasts wasn't high on the list. Their stench was everywhere, growing worse as they closed in on the mountain.

By the time they found a place to spend the night, it had started raining. It was a small hill with a couple of caves dug deep into its side, with mossy walls that smelled damp and felt wet to the touch. There wasn't much to the caves other than silent walls of stone, most of them riddled with claw marks and faint traces of blood.

It was clear that peace wasn't much of a thing in this part of the forest.

Better to have something over your head than a looming canopy. That's what I'm thinking.

Lei placed his wok over the wooden logs, organizing his ingredients one by one at the side. He'd found a round stone inside to serve as a prep counter and dragged it near the mouth of the cave to get a wide and rather dark view of the forest beyond. It almost felt like the start of an outdoor picnic, except he had bare trunks and sickening crunches for company, and there was no music.

Heavy droplets pattered on the leaves as he started the fire. A bright and curious face watched from beside the stone, a little squirrel perched on her right shoulder, looking just as interested. They were almost too quiet; Lei couldn't even feel their presence, but the same couldn't be said for his brother-in-arms, who was snoring loudly inside the cave.

He wasn't too surprised when he learned that Zhu Luli could go without sleep for a few days. Cultivation brought more than just the raw power of flesh and bones, after all. But there were a few things he wanted to ask.

"You still have to eat, right?" Lei asked as he crushed a clove of garlic on his chopping board, flattening it with the side of his knife. He then pulled out an onion and peeled its skin.

Zhu Luli was leaning over the stone with her hands under her chin, her glinting eyes focused on the board. She raised an eyebrow at him. "What kind of question is that? Of course, I have to eat."

Little Yao squeaked in approval.

"Huh," Lei said. "I guess cultivators aren't that different from mortals, then? I always thought you could just, I don't know, snort some energy to make up for it."

"You can theoretically live off spiritual energy alone, but before the Nascent Soul Stage, it would barely be enough to keep you alive. Core Formation Stage experts could go for a month or two without food."

"How does that work, exactly?" Lei asked, wiping the knife with a cloth before pulling out a Yellow Ivy. The thing was around four feet tall and wider than a finger. He started cleaning its thorns with the sharp side of the knife.

"That's a good question," Zhu Luli said, flicking off a stray thorn near the board with a finger. "The problem with spiritual energy is that it's essentially foreign to our mortal bodies, so you can't just expect it to replace food and water right away. You can use it to strengthen your bones and tendons, but even then, it takes time, and the process needs gentle care. Therefore, it's advised that even in the Qi Condensation Stage, you shouldn't heedlessly try to inject spiritual energy into your organs without first establishing a certain control over Qi."

"A little complicated, eh?" Lei said. It was a different explanation than the ones he knew from those novels, in which most people just basically become superhumans after climbing a couple of steps in cultivation.

"And not just food, but sleep is important too," Zhu Luli said. "That's why a good meditation technique can make a big difference. For example, whenever I meditate, my technique allows me to stay in a half-sleep, half-awake state, during which I can maintain the minor circles. That saves me from just sleeping through the night, doing nothing."

"And this meditation technique…" Lei said as he sliced the Yellow Ivy into thin stalks, each one not longer than a finger, before placing them to the side. He then poured some cottonseed oil into the wok and added the diced onions and mashed garlic. "I think they're not easy to get, are they?"

"Of course not," Zhu Luli said. "They're tightly kept secrets, developed through the painstaking efforts of generations in the most prominent clans. I believe this particular technique I'm using comes from my great-great-great uncle, who sadly passed while trying to bear the Heavenly Tribulation of the Earth Immortal Stage."

"Uh-huh," Lei said, trying to keep his face straight. That was normal. Nothing too crazy. The woman had over ninety spiritual roots and supposedly traveled across the Eastern Continent by herself, passing through all sorts of places with nothing but a spiritual squirrel by her side.

That's a genius for you. Lucky and bold. I would've just enjoyed the resources of my clan if I were in her shoes.

"And say that I don't have a near-immortal great-great-great uncle, then is there a way for me to get one of those techniques?" Lei asked, glancing at her. "Don't get me wrong, I'm just asking for the kids."

"A way…" Zhu Luli said, pursing her lips. "I think they give you a technique and a manual when you get your cultivation license, but those are usually low-tiered. Good enough for practice and to get a feeling of spiritual energy, but beyond that, I don't think anybody uses the Empire's techniques. You can always try to join a sect or an academy, though."

Lei nodded gravely. "I think I was just hoping there would be another way. Those brats can be a handful, but they deserve much better than a set of simple techniques." He glanced back at his brother-in-arms, who was deep in his dreams, and sighed out a long breath. "And they're talented too. I guess we have to let them go and spread their wings at some point. Can't drag them down with us."

"Or I can just give you another technique. A more simple, but still effective one," Zhu Luli smiled meaningfully at him. "Granted, I'll have to get something in return. My father wouldn't take it lightly if he learned I'd leaked our family secrets to outsiders."

"Something in return?" Lei stopped as he was about to add the chopped ivy stalks into the wok. "Like what?"

Zhu Luli tapped a finger onto her right cheek as she shared a look with Little Yao. "I don't know, perhaps you can allow me to eat more of your dishes for… six months?"

"Six months?" Lei said.

"Ouch— Fine, a year!" Zhu Luli pulled her arm away when Little Yao pinched the side of her elbow, looking furious. "A year! I'll get you the ingredients and can teach you more about cultivation, and in return, you'll let us both eat your dishes for the next year."

"Deal," Lei said right away, winking at Little Yao.

He couldn't have hoped for a more lucrative deal, and this meant that he wouldn't have to risk sharing his dishes with a broader crowd. That was the part that really relieved him. Even though Zhu Luli had proved herself to be a reliable and sincere companion, it was hard to say it would be the case with other cultivators.

Lei added parts of the Bloodberry into the wok and let them soak in all the juice. He wanted to get that thick consistency so that he could roll up the cooked mixture into little balls. He wouldn't just serve plates of food to those rotten beasts; no, he would throw little snacks around the forest to lure them out of their hiding spots.

He was about to use the [Essence Enhancement] skill when the bushes near the cave stirred. Lei saw a flash bolt toward the distance as Little Yao took off, sharp claws glistening in the dark. Zhu Luli gave him a nod before trudging out toward her companion.

Lei tried to keep his focus on the wok. They'd expected the fire and the smell to draw some attention, which was why Zhu Luli and Little Yao had been standing with him. Perhaps it would be easier to just let them deal with the beasts, but they had no way of knowing how many of those beasts were trailing them.

Even a little confusion will help. Better than nothing.

He nodded as he used the [Essence Enhancement] skill. He couldn't just sit there and do nothing. His boys were waiting for him.

...

[Corrupted Sabertongue - Fifth Step of the Body Tempering Stage] - (A Sabertongue corrupted by a special energy injected into its veins.)

Lei pinched his nose as he examined the corpse of the beast. This one was a touch stronger than the one that attacked them the other day, and it wasn't alone; there was another one lying still behind it. The good thing was that Zhu Luli and Little Yao had made short work of them. Those two were strong.

"Can't even catch a nap," Fatty Lou said, rubbing his eyes tiredly. It wasn't the sounds of the fighting that woke him, but Lei's poke to his face. "Somebody's dark work, I tell you."

"Dark work indeed." Lei nodded as he slapped a few red balls into Fatty Lou's hand and curled his fingers around them. "Take these. We'll toss them around the forest along the way."

Fatty Lou sniffed them, his face twisting into a frown. "Bah!" he grunted. "Smells like shit and piss, with a hint of stink beans. You sure these beasts will eat them?"

Little Yao squeaked in protest, pointing at the balls.

"There's your answer." Lei shrugged and took some balls from his pack as well before clapping Fatty Lou on the back. "Make sure not to eat them, Brother Lou. I've poured some horrible stuff into these."

"I can tell." Fatty Lou cringed back a step.

The first lights of the morning started spilling between the cracks in the canopy as they made for the mountain. Lei's [Spiritual Sensitivity] skill was on high alert, letting him know that there was a serious abnormality around them. He peered around every tree and stayed clear of the bushes, trailing Little Yao as he tossed the reddish-dark balls here and there.

[Spirited Toxic Dumplings: Mortal-grade, Medium-Quality] - (Highly poisonous and equally alluring.)

These things earned him a level in the [Essence Enhancement] skill. He'd cooked about a hundred balls, squeezing every bit of that Bloodberry. Besides the spiritual ingredients, he also added onions and garlic to at least give the balls some flavor. Though he wasn't sure how they tasted, they had to be effective, as even before he used the skill on them, the smell alone had been enough to attract two beasts to their cave.

"Brother Lou, don't just throw them," Lei frowned at Fatty Lou when he saw his brother-in-arms tossing the berries without a care in the world. "Be a little more careful. We don't have hundreds of those balls."

"I can see that," Fatty Lou huffed. "Considering how huge those beasts are, do you really think these little things will be enough to deal with them?"

"I'm not sure," Lei said. "But I didn't want a single beast to devour all the dumplings in our hands, so I figured the more, the better."

"Makes sense," Zhu Luli commented from behind them. "Brother Lou, it seems you're not a morning person."

"Look, Miss Zhu, I'm doing the best I can, but you can't force a habit out of a man's chest with just a bunch of words. I've never wished to be like this; I'm just… born this way, and I make up for it with my heavenly wits."

"Some genius." Lei shook his head, but he felt a smile slowly spread across his lips. The man just had that special quality about him that somehow eased Lei's heart. Certainly made him chuckle in this twisted mash of a forest.

Lei tossed another ball toward the bushes.

Let's hope they bite the bait. I'm curious about the effects of this thing.

Chapter 31: Encounter

Sun Niu knelt beside the Sabertongue corpse, scowling down at the gaping wound that nearly ripped the creature wide open. Worms wriggled between the squirming flesh, spreading a nasty stench that made him nearly vomit on the spot. He raised a hand over his mouth as he stepped back while another beast poked the dead one with its nose.

Being honest, clawed wide open or not, it was already hard to tell if these creatures were really alive. Their once-slick fur was now dotted with sickly yellowish spots, saliva dripping down their mouths and hissing once it touched the soil. And their eyes… That was the worst part. A pair of green beads cocked deep into their sockets, looking poisonous and deathly, always staring, always watching as if on high alert.

"This is the third one," came a voice from his back, a deep voice that rattled its way through the throat. "A cultivator and a clawed beast. Dangerous."

"Dangerous, you've said, Elder Brother Jian?" Sun Niu tilted his head to glance at the owner of the voice, a tall man looming right behind him, fingers of his right hand curled painfully tight around a silver blade. "We have a dozen brothers hot on their tail. I say they're some dead folk walking."

Elder Brother Jian smiled slightly. "I can respect a man even if he is talentless, but a fool is another story. So tell me, are you a fool, Junior Brother Niu?"

"Err—" Sun Niu gulped nervously when those black eyes peered down at him as if he were an ant crawling by the toes of a giant. A single step would be enough to crush him. "I'm a fool, Elder Brother Jian. A talentless, worthless fool."

"Good," the man growled. He pointed a finger at the footprints near the beast, indicating a clear path through the bushes and out toward the mountain. "Now a fool you may be, but I reckon even you can see those prints. Look how strong and steady they are. Our foes were surefooted after they dealt with this foul beast and left not a single stain of blood around here. They handled this one with the ease of a hunter."

Sun Niu frowned deeply at the words, his heart pounding in his chest. Jiangzhen didn't have any strong hunters. The cultivators who lived there were false and weak, an incapable bunch standing high on the shoulders of their Governor. It was that man who shackled them close to his feet, made slaves out of them using means of his illustrious backing. But even he wouldn't have dared to step into the Darkloom Forest. Not when he knew what kind of horrors were lurking here.

"Strangers," he said with confidence, then a lump stuck round his throat when a certain possibility dawned on him. "You don't think they are Skyguards, do you, Elder Brother? Jiangzhen is a mortal city—"

"Skyguards? No, not a chance," Elder Brother Jian snorted with disdain. "A Skyguard would've claimed our souls without us noticing."

"Then who can it be?"

Elder Brother Jian frowned when the Sabertongue bit off a chunk from its dead companion, bones creaking, blood dripping down its chin. His disgust was unmasked. Sun Niu felt just the same. These beasts were of a wicked origin.

"A cook and a woman," Elder Brother Jian said, eyes glinting sharp. "It's probably that cook who handled you like a snotty child. You've said he had a fleshy friend, as well, have you not? Those two must be together, then, but this is that woman's work. She could even be a Qi Condensation Stage expert."

Sun Niu's lips twitched, a sudden cold crawling down his spine. A Qi Condensation expert could speak the tongue of the world, influence the spiritual energy with a flick of their finger. The difference between a Body Tempering Stage cultivator and a Qi Condensation Stage expert was like the one between heavens and earth.

"We should tell Elder Huang about this matter," Sun Niu said, sucking in a cold breath. "If this is a Qi Condensation Stage expert we're dealing with, then—"

"A fool and an oak." Elder Brother Jian shook his head at him. "That thick head of yours can't quite understand what I'm saying, can it? I've said she could be one. We can't disturb Elder Huang without solid proof."

"Then what should we do?"

"I shall test this woman myself," Elder Brother Jian said, his long, dark hair dancing in the wind. He sheathed his sword, a golden locket flashing from its handle, and blew out a whistle. The foul Sabertongue devouring its kin suddenly stopped. "Time for us to move," he finished as the creature trudged on all fours toward the mountain.

Sun Niu nodded sheepishly, following them. He cursed himself for perhaps the thousandth time that day that he'd chosen to be their handyman in the city. It was life-changing indeed, just not the way he thought it'd be.

I can't go back now. I've already come too far.

It'd been this stoic Elder Brother Jian who first proposed the deal to their group. A simple rat job, nothing too risky. Sun Niu would work around the city and bribe some guards from the station, telling them he'd pay richly if they'd be his ears in the Governor's Office. Nothing too risky indeed, except the Emperor's Own decided to send an Auditor to the damned city.

That man was old, almost ancient, Sun Niu thought when he first saw him. He had a relaxed air about him, cheerful and happy to be served by the Governor's Office. He'd whored, feasted, and toured the city, clicking his tongue at the novelty of the place. Even the so-called cultivator attack hadn't been enough to get his attention, as he passed off on it, saying that they would send some help.

Hard to believe he was a Core Formation expert, a two-hundred-year-old monster hiding under that wrinkled flesh. The Governor knew him from way back. Supposedly, he was a good friend of his grandfather. No wonder the Quan family kept the city in their palm all these years.

The good thing was, the Governor was too busy spoiling this officer of the court to pay Sun Niu any heed. He'd planted all the bugs without anyone noticing. The mission done, they were about to go back to Darkloom Forest when Sun Niu saw that cook and the kids. Thought he'd get himself some money and offer a bunch of kids to the Master. He didn't know what they were doing with the kids, but Elder Huang had once told him that they were open to any talent. It was always a mystery how these demonic cultivators did their business. Sun Niu had just thought that it could be his chance this time.

He knew the Master had more than a few Root Growing Pills, and he was ready to do everything for a pill.

Becoming a cultivator could change everything. He could earn imperial gold working in Lanzhou, just carrying the heavy loads. But it took strength to serve the cultivator clans. They wouldn't just pay anyone lightly. Or he could join a sect, become someone important, and make people tremble at the sight of his face. There was not a single thing in this world that couldn't be solved by strength.

But they didn't expect the cook and his friend to be this strong. They got handled like a bunch of stray dogs, bashed, and beaten in mere seconds. At least those two were fool enough to hand them to the guards. That was lucky, Sun Niu had thought. His bribes had gotten him enough leverage to pull off some favors.

It was just his luck that the Auditor had brought his new disciple with him, a young man who had eyes for detail. Sharp as a hawk, that bloody bastard was, and he'd ordered the hanging of Sun Niu's brother even when the Auditor himself couldn't care less for a bunch of thugs. Idealistic and young. Sun Niu heard these were the most dangerous kind.

But even that young fool of an officer couldn't have guessed that Sun Niu would find his way. It had to be fate after getting scolded by Elder Meng that he came across those two kids. Seemed like Lady Luck had decided to show him a little smile.

Who could've thought that cook would come searching for the kids? And now he might have had a Qi Condensation Stage expert working with him. How? Why?

His head hurt from how he kept asking the same questions over and over again.

A pair of rotten beasts had joined them on the way, trudging out into the front. They kept sniffing around, eating berries, tearing the barks of the Darkloom trees here and there. Their stench made Sun Niu's skin crawl.

He couldn't wait for all this to end.

But he kept his focus on the mission, as Elder Brother Jian trailed after the beasts with a solemn gaze, blowing a whistle or two now and then to communicate with others. There had to be more than twenty beasts out searching for those fools, and some twenty more waiting inside the mountain.

A single Qi Condensation Stage expert can't do anything against us.

Sun Niu clutched the golden locket hanging from his neck. The only thing that saved him from being devoured by these beasts was this locket given to him by Elder Huang. It carried the scent of the beasts, making it so that they wouldn't attack him. To these beasts, Sun Niu smelled like one of them.

Disgusting.

Sun Nui bit his lower lip. Once he became a cultivator, he swore he would never come back to this place.

...…

It started slow, barely a sting, right around the nape of his neck. He massaged his temples and waited for it to pass. It didn't. The sting started gnawing at his brain, making his thoughts messy and his vision blurry. He wanted to lay there resting, but his boys were waiting for him.

"Keep your chin high," Fatty Lou said, brows knitted with concern as he looked at him. "We're close."

Lei nodded tiredly, giving him a slight smile. The pain meant that their plan was working. Somewhere in the forest, beyond the bushes, those beasts were eating the dumplings. From how the pain kept growing, it seemed his assumptions were correct. The energy spilling from the food was somehow finding its way back to his core.

But this energy refused to listen to his commands. Like an unruly child, it kept poking at his innards, slithering down his legs and making them tremble. Still, Lei kept a smile on his lips. He couldn't wait to see the effects of his new invention.

"Say, Sister Luli," he said, deciding he could use some distraction, "why did you travel all across the continent? I get that you're strong and you have Little Yao with you, but I can't help but feel it's just a bit careless of you. Look at us here. Even in Jiangzhen, we're caught up with a bunch of demonic bastards. I can't imagine what kind of horrors must be lurking in other places."

"I've had a feeling," Zhu Luli said, her eyes glinting deeply. "A feeling that told me if I were to stay rooted in my place, I would regret it my whole life. I had to take my chances, even though I knew it'd be foolish of me to wander around as a mere Body Tempering Stage cultivator."

"Takes a certain strength to make such a decision," Fatty Lou remarked with admiration. "I'm afraid not all of us have the courage to be free of our shackles."

"You either let them suck all the life out of you, or you learn to live without them," Zhu Luli said solemnly. "That's why they say the most dangerous thing to a cultivator is comfort. It makes you loose and relaxed."

"Senseless," Lei said, shaking his head. He blinked through the pain and set his jaw tight. "There's a whole wide world outside, all the possibilities you can explore with that power. Why bother turning it into a race? And what does the winner take in the end?"

"There's always a bigger mountain to climb," Zhu Luli said. "But you're right, Brother Lei. Emperor Xia himself once said that we're all locked up in a cage of our making, too busy staring at the next mountain to see the bright skies beyond."

"A wise man," Lei said, sighing. "But even he couldn't change the world, could he? Made it more livable, though, so there's that."

"He tried," Zhu Luli said. "But if you'd ask me, there's a fundamental problem in our way of thinking. Nobody wants to change. There are enough people in this world who are happy with the way things are."

"A pity." Lei rubbed the bridge of his nose. He was taken aback when his thoughts strayed toward the kids, and he started imagining their future. He hadn't been a selfless man in his previous life. Not selfish, but certainly not the most thoughtful, either. Probably why he was alone most of the time. Or it could be that he'd never found someone dear to care for.

But here, things were different. When he found out that the kids were kidnapped, he felt as though a knife was stuck hard in his stomach. He'd braved on and tried to keep himself straight, but he just couldn't shake that feeling away. It was there, inside his heart, still bleeding.

"Once we save those boys," Lei said, clenching his teeth, "I'll make sure they can stand on that peak on their own. I'll see to it myself that they conquer the demons around them."

He paused when his [Spiritual Sensitivity] skill sent a bolt of pain up his head. He whisked around and peered back the way they came from. Silver glinted under a tall Darkloom Tree as a man strode out from between the bushes, holding a sword in his right hand. Adorned with a golden locket that had been fixed into the handle, the weapon looked dangerously sharp. But it was the man's hard eyes that got Lei's attention. They were staring into his soul.

"Careful," came Zhu Luli's voice as rotten beasts came into view all around them. A look over his shoulder showed Lei that there were at least four beasts here, all looking stronger than the ones they'd dealt with.

The man weighed them with a pair of hawkish eyes, his face oddly pale. Unlike the sword, he was clad in simple robes, clean and spotless. "A bunch of rats and a squirrel, eh?" the man said as the tension in his face gave way to an amused smile. He glanced back. "Come here, Junior Brother Niu. I think we've found the troublemakers."

Blood pounded in his ears as Lei tried to keep his vision straight. Another man hopped into the clearing from behind the first one. He looked tattered and slimy, like a worm slithering about the forest. Lei clasped the ladle with all his strength when he saw those bushy eyebrows and slanted eyes.

"You…" he said even as the world spun around him. He felt a strong hand grab his arm, trying to pull him back. His brother-in-arms shook his head when Lei glared at him. "That same bastard!"

"We're surrounded," Zhu Luli said, her eyes darting back and forth. Little Yao had reared back like a cat, hissing at the rotten beasts circling their group. "I've counted at least four beasts. There could be more."

"Shit." Fatty Lou raised the meat cleaver in his hand. "I thought we were making good progress."

"Elder Brother Jian, these are the ones I told you about!" Bushy said, jabbing one thick finger into the air. "Let's kill them right away. Don't let them escape!"

Elder Brother Jian tapped a finger against the golden locket on his sword, producing a ringing sound that echoed across the clearing. The rotten beasts paused in their steps. They shook their heads as if confused, growling at each other.

Lei was clenching his jaw when suddenly the pain left him. Breathing in deep, he blinked at the beasts and saw them staring strangely at the black-robed man.

"What's happening?" Bushy said as he took a step back, confused. "Why are they not attacking?"

"Odd," Elder Brother Jian muttered, clearly taken aback.

Instead of lunging at them, the four rotten beasts slowly made their way toward the black-robed man. They started sniffing him as if he were some sort of delicacy, and before long they circled Bushy as well, poking him with their noses.

"Uh, Elder Brother…" Bushy said, trying to reach for the sword dangling from his belt. A Corrupted Sabertongue nudged the sheath away, one of its claws brushing over the man's robe curiously. Another one was behind his back, sniffing near his buttocks. "What is happening?"

"I don't know." Elder Brother Jian frowned deeply as he pushed a beast back with the pommel of his sword. "What are you doing, you brainless beasts! Attack them!"

"Oh, I think it's happening," Fatty Lou murmured.

"This… I'm not sure I can watch," Zhu Luli said.

"Best we give them some space," Lei smiled when he saw the glint in those beasts' eyes. "Things are about to get really strange."

Chapter 32 - Mountain

Food was meant to be shared. To see a joyous face after that crunch of the first bite could often be enough to forget all the labor it took to prepare a dish. Most chefs lived for that moment, while others could be busy studying the craft, nose deep into the intricate parts of the culinary world, perfecting the little details to bring another layer into the field — the scientific approach, one might say.

The faces Lei had the chance to see across the forest had some part of that joy, but there was more to that expression than the basic pleasure of eating food. There was zest, and desire, and the beasts were all up for it.

They howled and growled, pounced up and down through the trees, mated right out in the open. Now and then a scream echoed, often followed by a black-robed man bolting for his dear life, with a couple of Corrupted Sabertongues hot on his tail. Lei's group would change directions in order to not disturb the frantic chase of their foes, leaving them alone to their own worries.

"You're evil!" Fatty Lou screamed, cackling like a madman. "And I fucking love it!"

Lei snickered while shaking his head.

This was certainly not the effect he'd thought the Toxic Dumplings would bring. The mating of the beasts was hardly a surprise, and the shrieks of agony were more than welcome as beasts breathed their last while pus oozed from their pores, but Lei couldn't understand the reason why these creatures suddenly started showing a deep interest in their human counterparts.

Lei guessed it must be something about the way this world worked. Everything was too spiritual, and he was somehow making it worse.

The group dashed around the trees, sweat pouring down their faces. Little Yao guided them like a seasoned hunter, deft eyes peering wide across the forest, always finding a silent path they could tread without encountering a pair of heated beasts.

Even then, they had to fight off a stray beast now and then. Thankfully, whatever Zhu Luli was doing seemed to be working, as she would leave any creature as still as a stone after a few pokes with her finger.

Reminds me of acupuncture. She must be applying pressure to the crucial nodes of the body.

Your [Tier] has increased by 1 level!

Lei waved the notification off as pain crawled up his chest. He could feel the special energy boiling in the pit of his stomach, drilling invisible holes near his chest, but he was too busy trying to keep up with the squirrel to pay it any attention.

Trees flashed past in the corner of his vision, a picture of green all blurry and distant, breath rasping in his chest. His brother-in-arms didn't seem any better, his face flushed like a ripe tomato as he kept huffing through his nose.

Another beast lunged at Little Yao from the right. Lei watched as the squirrel somersaulted in the air, turned around, and planted a solid kick into the Sabertongue's groin. The rotten beast let out a whimper when it crashed down on its back, shaking its head stupidly as if it couldn't believe it had just gotten kicked by a tiny squirrel.

Zhu Luli didn't let it breathe, coming right at it with fingers held high. She ducked under a clawed paw, a desperate attempt as the Sabertongue tried to right itself on all fours, and jabbed with her index finger into the creature's underbelly. The Sabertongue was left wheezing when Lei and Fatty Lou dashed past it.

[Corrupted Sabertongue: 5th Step of the Body Tempering Stage]

Lei shook his head. This wasn't just about the difference in cultivation levels. Even against that hulking body, the sharp claws, and the nasty stench of rot wafting off from it, Zhu Luli handled the beast as if it were a mere nuisance.

What if she wasn't here?

Then things would've been completely different. Lei didn't know if they could survive against what seemed like a demonic organization filled with rotten beasts and cultivators. But he was glad he had some part in this twisted mess. These creatures were not of a sane mind, after all. Not after they consumed those toxic little dumplings.

It felt like it had been hours since they started for the mountain, and finally, the stone face came into view a few paces from them. It was a jagged, hideous thing staring briskly down at their group, riddled with cave-like holes and scarce vegetation. For a second, Lei thought he'd seen a staircase running up from the side of it, but he shook off the notion as those stones looked way too steep and dangerous to be taken as steps.

"There's the entrance," Fatty Lou said, raising a hand toward the foothills of the mountain.

Over a hundred feet wide, the entrance of the cave looked like the mouth of a hungry beast, the jagged stones hanging from the roof of it resembling razor-like teeth. Two men, saddled over a pair of Sabertongues, patrolled right before it, flinching back whenever a shriek tore through the forest.

Lei shared a look with Fatty Lou before they nodded, and they both pulled out a few Toxic Dumplings from their robes. These were the last ones. As he was about to throw the dumplings, Lei couldn't help but let out a little chuckle. He was reminded of a wise man's words:

You can never have too many knives.

He made a mental note to pay more attention to this side of the culinary world. Prepare a bunch of everyday snacks he could use for any occasion. That seemed like a wise thing to do.

They threw the dumplings to the left and right sides of the entrance, making the patrol pair blink at them. The black-robed men lashed their beasts to action, drawing steel swords from the sheaths dangling from their robes. The trouble was, the beasts weren't following their commands.

Once they got a whiff of that bloody flavor of the Toxic Dumplings, there was no stopping them. They lunged for the snacks, caring not whether their masters rocked back and forth over the saddles, heads lolling about like broken kites. One of them must've decided letting go of the reins would be a good idea, except he was launched forward like a missile, screaming loudly before plummeting down right before Lei's group.

[Lei Zian: 4th Step of the Body Tempering Stage]

Lei flattened the side of the man's face with a swing of his ladle, blood gushing forth from the man's now-broken nose. He then leaned down, took the steel sword, passed it to Fatty Lou, and plucked a golden locket from the bastard's robe.

What is this thing?

He raised the locket while Zhu Luli and Little Yao dashed toward the other guard, who looked pale as a ghost as two beasts eyed each other intently.

[Locket of Substance] - (A special locket filled with the smell and blood of Corrupted Sabertongues.)

Huh? Now it all makes sense.

"Intruders—" a scream was cut short, making Lei scowl toward the entrance. The black-robed man being chased by a rather hungry-looking Sabertongue whose eyes glinted with delight and unmasked lust finally stumbled down to the ground. Zhu Luli and Little Yao seemed to have let them do their own thing after dealing with the other beast.

"Let's get a move on," Lei said, pocketing the locket. Now that he only had a single dumpling left in his robe, he reckoned the locket might be useful in case they came across a horde of these beasts.

They left the wailing and screaming behind, trudging silently into the cave. The gaping jaw of the mountain swallowed them and spat them right into a hall of black stone, wide and lit by torches lined across the walls.

It smelled damp and rotten, the stench of beasts hanging low in the air. The ground was slick. Lei slid and nicked his finger on the wall when he tried to balance himself with a hand. Blood trickled down through the black stone, glinting as if the whole hall was made of obsidian.

There was something very wrong with these walls.

Torchlight bounced off the stone as they trudged deeper. Lei had to drag his feet when the ground gave way to a slimy, sickly-looking sludge. It was actually a thin layer coating the ground, yet it felt like they were knee-deep in some wicked marsh.

The smell was unbearable, like a sewer left to fester. Lei pinched his nose as they made their way through the narrow passage. Zhu Luli and Little Yao didn't seem as bothered; the latter perched on Zhu Luli's shoulder, peering ahead with sharp eyes. The only sounds were the faint drip of water from the ceiling and the occasional muttered curse from Fatty Lou.

They halted as a fork appeared in the hall, three paths branching off into darkness. All looked equally uninviting. Little Yao leaped down, sniffing the air before raising a clawed hand toward the leftmost tunnel. Lei caught a flicker of tension in her eyes.

We're lucky to have you here.

Just then a cold breeze swept through the cave, and Lei glanced back, noticing how the light from the morning barely penetrated the darkness.

They sloshed onward, dragging their feet through the sludge. Seemed as though they were creeping into something far worse than the cave itself. Lei's heart pounded in his chest. He kept staring at the stone walls, half-expecting something to reach out and drag him into the shadows.

A sudden squeak shattered the silence. Lei's head snapped toward the sound just as Little Yao lunged at a shadow, her claws tearing into a flailing, four-legged beast barely visible in the flickering torchlight. Its eyes gleamed green, skin sickly pale and yellow, and dark, foul-smelling blood splattered the stone as Little Yao's claws ripped deep gashes into its flesh— yet another corrupted beast.

[Corrupted Rockwolf - 5th Step of Body Tempering Stage] - (A Rockwolf corrupted by a special energy that was injected into its veins.)

Lei stepped back, ladle raised, positioning himself beside Zhu Luli as Little Yao leaped away from the dying creature. It stumbled miserably away, breath wheezing through its teeth, and then collapsed against the wall, went stiff as a stone.

"We're in the den of a demonic cultivator," Fatty Lou muttered, wiping sweat from his brow.

"Something or someone changed these creatures," Zhu Luli said, her voice tense as she eyed the Rockwolf's corpse. "They're neither alive nor dead, caught in between. This isn't as simple as it looks."

"What do you mean?" Lei asked, a chill creeping up his spine.

Zhu Luli met his gaze. "To change a creature's core like this, to turn them into puppets… Even a Foundation Establishment expert would struggle. This must be the work of an ancient Legacy, or some Master who has a Daoseed."

"Daoseed?" Fatty Lou echoed, his voice trembling.

Zhu Luli gave him a shaky nod. "Must be a seed. This forest couldn't contain the sheer might of a Dao Branch." She then scowled in confusion. "But I'm not sure why a Core Formation expert would bother with mere Body Tempering Stage beasts. It doesn't make any sense. They could've sent a Foundation Establishment beast, and we would've been helpless."

"You're right," Fatty Lou said, his voice low. "A Core Formation expert wouldn't rely on mortal thugs to kidnap children. Something doesn't add up."

"Let's keep moving," Lei urged, gripping his ladle tighter. "We'll find out soon enough."

They pressed on, the oppressive atmosphere closing in around them. The [Spiritual Sensitivity] skill buzzed against Lei's skin. Thorny weeds grew from the walls, and as they ventured deeper, they passed small caves full of chairs, tables, and other basic furniture. Lei even saw a wine bottle dropped down the ground, shattered and wine spilled round the ground.

It was clear people had lived here, though why they'd choose such a cursed place was beyond Lei's understanding.

"Too quiet," Fatty Lou whispered, glancing nervously around. "I can't hear those beasts anymore."

"The spiritual energy here is almost nonexistent," Zhu Luli murmured, her face twisted in discomfort. "It's as if the place has been sealed off. Be on guard— this could be a formation."

"A formation?" Fatty Lou asked. "Like the ones that create illusions?"

"Not just illusions," Zhu Luli answered. "A formation can kill, or seal a place entirely. But this one is strange. It's keeping spiritual energy out, which makes no sense."

Lei swallowed hard, his unease growing. The air felt heavy, as if they were being watched by something far more powerful than they could comprehend. Yet, no matter where he looked, he saw only his own distorted reflection in the slick, uneven walls, staring back at him like some twisted, mocking version of himself.

"I don't like this," he muttered, grinding his teeth. "Feels like we've been led right into a trap."

Little Yao's sharp gaze flicked to him, but she didn't disagree.

Silver glinted from further down the distance. It didn't take them long to reach it.

"A gate?" Fatty Lou asked, his voice barely above a whisper as he stared up at the massive gate. Chains bound it tightly, disappearing into the stone walls, and strange symbols covered its surface. It towered right before them, blocking the passage.

"What are these symbols,?" Zhu Luli said, pointing at the crooked characters. "I've never seen anything like it. Looks like they form a circle."

Lei's heart skipped a beat as he stepped back to get a better view. "That isn't a circle," he muttered. "They're snakes… Snakes devouring each other's tails."

A heavy thud reverberated from the other side of the door, making the ground tremble. Another thud followed, louder, more forceful. They all stepped back, dread coiling in their stomachs as bits of stone fell from the ceiling.

On the third impact, the gate creaked open, and a furry, clawed hand stretched out through the opening, clenching round the silver handle before pulling it wide. A pair of red eyes glanced furiously at them from under thick brows, cocked deep into a head bigger than any beast Lei had ever seen before.

He checked it.

[Corrupted Silvertongue: Half-Step into the Qi Condensation Stage] - (A Sabertongue corrupted by a special energy that was injected into its veins during its evolution.)

"Not good," Zhu Luli said.

"Shit," Fatty Lou muttered.

"Fuck," Lei said, staring up at the creature as a silvery, sharp tongue slithered out toward them. "This thing looks dangerous."

Chapter 33 - Silvertongue

Lei stumbled away from the silver tongue and was about to duck under it when the tongue darted midway toward Zhu Luli, spattering wet, sticky saliva all around. She nimbly dragged herself away from the sharp tip, crouched down, and let out a grunt, stretching a finger into the meaty part of the tongue.

She winced when she couldn't drive her finger too deep and jerked her hand back as the tongue turned and made for Little Yao. The squirrel was high in the air, near the ceiling, clawing her way to the beast when the silver tongue came at her. She jumped down and stuck a claw into Silvertongue's fur, which sent a shower of sparks about it as she started slipping down.

"Watch out!" Lei flinched as he saw the tongue was about to catch Little Yao from the side, but then a steel sword clattered against the creature's iron-like skin, distracting it for a split second as Fatty Lou reeled back from the impact.

Zhu Luli used the distraction to get around the beast's towering legs, her fingers trying, and seemingly failing, to find any spot that would make a difference. The Silvertongue didn't even spare her a glance, instead staring intently at Fatty Lou.

"Uh," Lei grunted as he pulled his brother-in-arms back, the sharp tongue drilling right into the place where he'd just been standing. Then Silvertongue took a big step forward, the ground shaking, stones raining down on them as it pulled its tongue back for another attack.

Stones and walls, saliva hissing and eating away at Lei's robe, the sound of metal grinding against metal ringing deep in his ears. His head hurt from trying to understand what the hell was happening around him. But there was no time to wait; Silvertongue swiped a claw at Zhu Luli.

She jumped away, the claw barely missing her face, then ducked forward and drove another finger into the joint of the creature's left leg, earning an angry roar from the Silvertongue.

I can't just keep staring.

Lei clenched his teeth as he pushed forward, ladle grasped tight in his hand. The beast was easily thrice his size, taking up most of the cave, and its claws were longer than his arms. Yet none of this mattered as, just when he was about to swing the ladle, his feet got caught on the ground, and he plunged through the stones.

Shit!

He couldn't even keep his feet on the ground. The shame was worse than the slight sting of the cuts that opened around his body. The Silvertongue stood there, blinking at him. Then it snorted and turned its head back to the group, sending its tongue screeching into Zhu Luli's face.

Zhu Luli swatted the tongue away with the back of her hand, jumped high, and planted a punch into Silvertongue's face. The beast shook its head after the impact, clawing blindly at the air even as Little Yao tried to hold onto its side, flailing with one claw still stuck inside its fur.

Lei floundered to his feet. He was separated from the group, standing on the other side of the door, staring up at the creature's back. Behind him stretched another stony hall, a different one lit by strange glowing spheres hanging from the ceiling. They swayed with the wind of the battle.

It just… ignored me?

His fingers brushed against the locket in his robe. He pulled it out and raised it high. This thing carried the smell of these beasts. That was probably why the Silvertongue looked confused for a second when it stared at him, then shrugged it off, thinking Lei was a different sort of beast.

A scream tore into his thoughts. Fatty Lou was hanging barely on the steel sword as the sharp tongue wrapped tightly around it, trying to pull it away. He then saw Zhu Luli pull out a golden pill from her pack, gulping it down right away and closing her eyes. When she opened them again, they were blazing.

The Silvertongue whimpered in pain when a finger caught it right below the neck. Zhu Luli twisted her hand and let out a cry, ripping out a big chunk of rotten flesh from the beast's throat.

Yes!

Lei clenched his fist as the beast started swaying. Ladle in hand, he decided he'd use this opportunity to make his own dent on that smooth fur, only to gawk at the beast when it let out a furious roar that shook the cave.

No.

It seemed Zhu Luli's move only made it angrier, as it sent out that silvery tongue toward the woman, this time its tip brushing against Zhu Luli's right arm. Blood spurted from the wound as Zhu Luli wobbled a couple of steps, barely saving herself from getting crushed by an enormous paw.

Lei shot forward, heart thundering in his chest. For a second, he thought of throwing the locket to Zhu Luli, but he wasn't sure if he could make the toss. The distance between them was full of jagged stones and a giant creature. There also was no guarantee that the beast wouldn't just crush him under those paws.

He stooped under the creature's belly, looking for a soft spot rather than the silver-like fur covering the beast. When he found a hole close to its neck, bruised and leaking with pus, he hauled the ladle with all his might and swung it at that spot.

The Silvertongue shrieked in pain, shaking its legs to fight off the tiny bug underneath it. Lei whipped around and raised the ladle when a paw crashed into him, sending him sprawling against the walls. The impact stole the breath out of his lungs, and he winced, his vision blurry and full of stars. Blinking didn't change anything. His whole back was alive with pain.

But he powered through it, squinting his eyes as a wail echoed inside his ears. Zhu Luli and Little Yao were standing over the beast's head. Rotten blood poured out from a gaping hole near the beast's neck, now torn wide open from side to side. It swayed back and forth, nearly flattening Fatty Lou with one paw before crashing loudly to the ground.

His brother-in-arms leaped in fury with a sword in his hand, stabbing the beast's skull a couple of times for good measure. But there was no time to celebrate as the cave shook madly around them. It seemed all the thrashing had triggered some sort of earthquake, with walls crumbling and fist-sized stones raining upon them.

"Run!" Lei struggled to his feet, dashing toward the glowing spheres. Zhu Luli and Little Yao were quick, but it was his brother-in-arms who first managed to throw himself toward the lights.

Onwards, forwards, through the lights, they bolted as the ground crackled and groaned, jagged stones falling like sharp knives over them. Lei used the ladle to block a couple of them, but with each impact, his whole arm trembled as the stones grew bigger and bigger.

The good thing was his [Spiritual Sensitivity] skill had gone silent, meaning there were no other beasts beyond. It was the single hopeful thing there was, and Lei held onto that thought, praying they'd soon find Snake and Stone in one piece.

But the cave stretched away… away into the distance, like the tail of a giant snake, it just wouldn't end. The room-like caves around them reeked of pus and rot, probably the resting places of those beasts. Not a human was in sight. There had to be someone guiding these creatures.

"Jump!" came Zhu Luli's voice from behind, and Lei let his feet sail through the air without a second thought. He'd learned to trust the woman now. Anything and any word from that mouth of hers should be taken as a command. At least here, while they were amongst the beasts.

Wind slapped his back all of a sudden, sending him flying across the cave as the ground below them started crumbling. He shared a shocked look with his brother-in-arms. A curious thing that it was under some dungeon-like cave that they'd have their first experience with flying.

Then Little Yao whistled past between them, winking playfully toward Lei before Zhu Luli chimed in from behind, taking the squirrel with her as they barreled forward like a human-shaped hurricane.

Lei watched as Zhu Luli landed beyond the gnawing hole that opened below them, with the grace of a swan, and barely strained before giving them a bright smile. Lei's descent, though, lacked that masterful touch, as he splashed face-first to the ground, with Fatty Lou following suit.

"Uh!" he grunted, spat out the pebbles in his mouth as he floundered to his feet. His world made a couple of crazy spins before it righted itself, allowing Lei to peer back the way they came.

There was nothing but the walls sprawling from the sides of the gnawing hole. A few paces from them was a dark, deep nothing that seemed to stretch to the core of the world.

"That was some serious shit," Fatty Lou said, picking out the pebbles stuck in his face. He winced and cursed, wiped the bloody wounds before barking out a laugh. "But we're still alive!"

Lei felt heat shoot up his head. He didn't know how, but even now he was holding onto the spiritual ladle with all his strength. He gave it a deep look and pulled it closer, planting a gentle kiss onto its worn surface.

You've been a blessing.

"You good?" Fatty Lou asked, shaking his shoulders and arms like a boxer getting ready for a big fight.

Zhu Luli nodded as she bandaged her wound with a piece of her robe, dots of sweat heavy on her brows. "I'll live."

Lei glanced deeply into Zhu Luli's eyes. The only reason why they were even breathing right now was because of the pair that joined them. How foolish of him to get suspicious of this woman when she was more than ready to risk herself for a pair of children she barely knew. Lei couldn't bring himself to think that she was doing this just for the sake of his dishes.

No, unlike most cultivators in this world, she was different.

"I'll make sure to fill you two up with dozens of dishes once we get out of here," he muttered, nodding firmly.

"What did you say?" Zhu Luli asked, looking at him.

"Nothing." Lei smiled and shook his head. "I'll tell you once we're out of this place."

"We move, people!" Fatty Lou started down the stony hall.

As they moved, Lei studied the glowing spheres hanging down from the roof of the cave. They were almost translucent, but inside, he couldn't see anything but a flash of light.

He checked them.

[Sphere of Substance] - (An empty sphere infused with blight.)

He frowned at the explanation. The name was similar to the locket in his pocket, so they probably shared the same origin, but it was the 'blight' part that worried him. Somebody crafted these things, put them here, established a base under the mountain, and decided to use 'blight' as a damned light source.

What kind of operation are they going for here? Like, what is the purpose?

Something told him that they were dealing with more than just some kidnappers. If, as Fatty Lou said, they were a demonic organization—a demonic sect, if you will—then they were in some deep shit.

Take the kids and get the hell out of here. That's the plan.

The trouble was, the deeper they strode into the cave, the more his [Spiritual Sensitivity] skill started rocking his mind from within. Dangerous and deadly, that was the message he got from the skill. But it wasn't enough to scare him off.

"Look," came Zhu Luli's voice after a while. She was pointing at the ground, at the footprints in the soil while Little Yao sniffed around as if searching for something. "There are multiple prints here, but this one is different."

Lei scowled as he stared at that spot. The ground was riddled with sandal prints, all hurried and pointing to the way they came, but there was one that sloped upwards, deeper into the cave. What was strange was that it belonged to a pair of bare feet.

"Bare feet," Zhu Luli said solemnly, nodding at him. "While everyone was dashing toward the exit, this one walked slowly into the deeper parts of the cave. Little Yao, what do you think?"

Little Yao leaned closer to the print and sniffed sharply before raising her head. A look of confusion flashed behind her eyes before she shook her head.

"We should trail it," Lei said after a long second. "Follow it and see where it goes."

"Mm." Zhu Luli nodded. "Let's move."

"After you," Fatty Lou said with an uncertain look, and shrugged when Lei glared at him. "Let the master do her job, shall we? I don't think I'm up for this sort of thing. Following trails… we have a spiritual squirrel for that."

Little Yao puffed her chest proudly, which made Lei sigh.

"I guess you're right," Lei said, then they stared after the little but way-too-spiritual squirrel.

Chapter 34 - Two Sides

"Do you think Big Brother Lei will come for us?" Stone asked, staring up at the ceiling towards the cracked face of the cavern, his lips dry and his voice barely a whisper.

Snake wished he had the answer, but he was starting to realize that they might stay inside the dark much longer than he had thought. Still, he nodded and managed a smile on his lips.

"He will, don't worry. Did he ever leave us alone? I'm sure he is close, searching for us. We just have to wait."

When Stone lay his head back against the wall, Snake sucked in a deep breath. That corpse of a man did something to his leg, and it wasn't stinging anymore, but it was still sore around where the rope held him tight.

It was one of those things, Snake thought. He just had to push enough, and it would come loose. He'd tried so many times that he lost count, but even when his eyes got teary from the pain, the rope held tight.

They were alone now. After he sent the thug away, the old man lingered for a few moments before trudging miserably out of the cave, muttering to himself that he was sick and tired of dealing with brainless mutts.

"He isn't coming, is he?" Stone croaked beside him. "Those beasts… I'm not sure he can do anything against them."

Snake stared silently at the bruise around Stone's arm, all purple and bloody. The screams of his Little Brother were still ringing in his ears. He'd watched from a few inches away. That was the only thing he could do. Just watch as his Little Brother screamed over and over again.

He wondered if he'd ever have a say in his life. It seemed to him that he'd been nothing more than a witness to everything that had happened over the last few weeks. Like a leaf caught in the breeze, he couldn't do anything but watch while the currents swept him into the storm.

It was lonely here, in the storm, but not silent. He found his mind full of thoughts, directed solely at him, sharp words hacking viciously at his own self. Worthless and desperate. There was a time when he'd been more than that—a carefree child dashing across a field of wheat. He didn't know back then how life could be this cruel.

"You were right," Stone said with a rasping voice. He tried to clear his throat, but his voice came out hoarse. "I should've tried harder. I had all the chances, but I decided to do nothing. Chased after candies like a little kid. I should've—"

"Stop it," Snake said, glaring at him. "This isn't our fault. And we will survive. That's the only choice. Little Mei and the others are waiting for us. We can't just let Big Brother Lei take care of them all alone. We need to be there, by his side. We need to be there—"

The cave started shaking. A deep sound echoed from beneath their feet, as if the earth was groaning in pain. Stones rained down. Water dripped in big droplets. A light flickered beyond the mouth of the cave, shaking, casting dancing shadows over the walls. There was nothing there. Nothing but the sound of rocks grinding against each other.

"What's happening?" Stone asked, his eyes wide open, staring about in panic.

Snake shook his head and frowned at the ceiling. There was a big rock there, sliding slowly down as the cave trembled violently. It was right above them, a big rock—bigger than the one Stone hefted on that day. It seemed loose and dangerous. Enough to crush them both.

He pulled with all his might, strained against the rope binding him tightly from his torso and legs, clenching his teeth when the pain became too much. But it wouldn't budge. That big rock was inching dangerously toward them, but the wall behind their backs stood still.

"They are waiting," Snake muttered, the rope biting into his skin. He choked out a scream as sweat poured down his face. Once. Twice. Thrice. He pulled and pushed, kicked the ground with his legs, but nothing worked.

Then Stone joined him, eyes half-closed and blood trickling from where he bit his lower lip. Together they screamed, pushing with everything they had. That big rock freed itself from the hold of the stone wall, crunching down toward them, getting bigger in Snake's eyes as it closed the distance.

"Pull!" Snake roared, and Stone pulled, the rope tearing through their worn robes, cutting a bloody streak across their chests. It felt so close. The world was spinning. Snake's head was blurry, and his thoughts distant. He blinked through the pain, clasped his fingers around the rope, mind reeling with blinding lights.

The tight rope went loose just as the big rock crashed down upon them, brushing against their skin and smashing into the wall behind them. Snake lurched forward, dragging Stone with one hand as they floundered out of the cave, breath hissing in his throat.

Once outside, the light of the glowing spheres welcomed them. They shook violently. Wind whistled into his eyes, but Snake raised one hand over his face, the other hand clutched around Stone's arm. He dragged his Little Brother through the stony hall.

It was dark here, and the air felt heavy as a wool blanket, weighing down his shoulders. The walls seemed dangerous, groups of rocks crumbling all around him. Stones nicked his skin, the rotten stench hanging low in the air making him wince. Even against all that, he persevered, trudging silently along the way.

"We need to be quick," Snake told Stone, squinting back to his Little Brother. "This cave will collapse soon."

Stone nodded weakly, lurching out a step and nearly losing his balance. Snake pulled him by the arm, cradled him under his shoulder, and hauled him onto his back. He was heavy. But he could push through. He had no other choice.

They followed the stony hall lit by the glowing spheres, the dancing light tinkering with Snake's mind. Dancing shadows reminded him of those beasts. Hulking, hideous creatures of mangled flesh and blood. The stone hall was full of their smell, but even though the shadows flickered, there was no creature in sight. Just him and his Little Brother, and a hall that was about to collapse.

Soon it became harder to blink. His eyes teared up as he kept checking his Little Brother to see if he was breathing. Stone's eyes were closed, but Snake could feel his heart beating against the side of his back. Weak, but he was still breathing. His Little Brother was still alive.

He stooped through a half-broken arch of stone, came out rasping on the other side. There was a door there. A towering door glimmering with silver light. The exit. Hope. Its shadow was high and mighty on the ground, stirring ominously right beyond his feet. Snake made nothing of it, instead pushing toward the gate.

"Bold and selfless," came a voice, an old voice hissing into his ear. "It looks like even with your tainted blood, you'll be a worthy offering for the Master. Good! It's hard to find promising candidates like you here on the edge of the world."

Snake stared frantically around him as the voice dinned inside his ears. It was that man's voice, sinister like that of a snake. But he was nowhere in sight. The voice came from all around him—deep from inside the walls, right underneath his feet, carried along by the wind whistling past his face.

"Why?" Snake roared. He couldn't take it anymore, sweaty palms straining to hold his Little Brother in place. He ground his teeth and hauled him once again, kept his eyes on the ground as he made for the gate. There was nothing to do. Nowhere to go.

Shadows writhed, twisted, and turned into the shape of a crooked man, yellow teeth stark against the black robe that seemed alive with thousands of bugs. Worms squirmed in the hood of the robe, shading half of the old man's face, leaving out that sick smile and nothing more.

"You two look tired," he rasped, then hissed out a laugh as he raised a wrinkled hand. "Now rest. You've proved yourself—"

A thump at the door. That was the first thing. A thump at the door, the shaking of the ground, the silver light flickering weakly upon the gate. Then came another one, with more force, insistent. The old man frowned back at the door, pulling out a yellowish staff from inside his robe. He raised it high and started whispering words.

A hand punched a hole through the gate.

Snake blinked through the blur. Twisted shapes stood just beyond the boundary, their faces bleak and distant. He dragged himself back and wiped the tears from his eyes, peering wide at the gate. Then he saw it. A weak smile blossomed on his lips. They came. Hope was here.

...…

Lei winced up his feet, breath wheezing in his chest. He didn't expect Zhu Luli would break the damned thing. It near crumbled over them when she punched a hole through the gate, choking the narrow passage with clouds of dust.

He waved them off as he squinted past the gate, toward what seemed like a dark shape writhing in shadows. There was a crooked silhouette, with a set of yellow teeth hacked straight into the skull, all rotten and worms squirming between the cracks. The figure held a staff in his hand, a twisted thing resembling a bunch of branches mashed together, a glimmering diamond cocked on top of it.

Looking at that staff made his [Spiritual Sensitivity] buzz against his mind. Dangerous. That was the feeling he got. Dangerous and lethal. That thing was something sinister.

Lei was about to check it when he saw a little face staring wide-eyed toward them, tears running down his eyes, one hand clenched tightly around another body. He leaned forward as if making for a run, then stumbled a step and lurched sideways before he crashed down.

"Snake!" Lei said, rage throbbing in his veins. They found them. A few paces away, both lying still behind that shadowy figure, all bloodied and broken. They found them alright, but the sight of their faces made Lei's stomach sick.

"You fucking bastard!" Fatty Lou roared past him, steel sword glinting under the trembling lights. He jumped over a broken piece of the door, landed with strength and lunged at the shadows with sword raised high.

The gnarled staff swatted the blow away, then turned and caught Fatty Lou from the back, sending him sprawling to the ground. His brother-in-arms grunted in pain and tried to crawl back to his feet when the staff flickered with ominous light, forming a sharp translucent edge that inched dangerously toward him.

Zhu Luli bolted off, eyes blazing, Little Yao squeeking from over her shoulder. They both made for the shadows and reached them before the staff could strike. Zhu Luli's punch crunched against the gnarled weapon, then slid off as she jabbed with her other hand. Her fingers vanished into the shadows, making her blink in surprise. Before she could pull her hand back, the staff slammed into the side of her cheek.

Lei choked out a breath as Zhu Luli crashed to the ground while Little Yao tried to distract the shadows with her claws. But her claws might as well have been slashing through a puff of air from the way the figure stood still and strong.

"There was a saying," came a hissing voice from all around them, drilling painfully into Lei's mind. "A mantis trying to stop a chariot, is it? Yes. What a foolish mantis it was, unable to see the reality with those blind eyes. But I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, eh? This world is full of them, after all."

"Who are you?" Lei snarled, inching slowly toward the man, ladle clenched tight in his hand. "Who the fuck are you?"

"Curious, are you?" the voice said as shadows coalesced into an old man's figure. He pulled back the hood of his dark robe with one wrinkled finger, revealing a hideous, rotten face dripping with pus. One eye blazed green, while the other was a deep, dark yellow. Below them was a flat nose, cut halfway through the bridge, leaving only two holes barely stirring as the man took easy, short breaths.

The man shook his head as he gazed down at Zhu Luli and the squirrel before poking Fatty Lou with his bare foot. They tried to get away, but something seemed to have bound them to the ground. "They look lonely, don't you think? Would you be kind enough to join them?"

Lei frowned deeply at the words, his gaze snapping toward the two boys when Snake's feet stirred, and then back at the old man. He handled Zhu Luli with ease, which meant that Lei had no chance whatsoever against this bastard.

"Come," the man hissed again, beckoning him with a sick smile as he lowered the staff toward Zhu Luli. "Or you'll have to witness—"

Just then, Zhu Luli turned and yanked at the staff, giving Lei the chance to bolt forward and plant the ladle right round the face of the old man. The worn cookware hissed at the touch of rotten flesh, straining in Lei's palm as he pushed with all his worth.

The old man managed to wrench the staff away at the last second, ladle still hissing on his cheek. He wobbled a step back and used it to deflect Lei's blow. Green light shimmered as pus dripped hot against Lei's hand, eating into his skin. Lei jerked his head back as more pus poured from the tip of the staff, barely missing his face as it splashed across the ground.

Lei clenched his teeth, pulling Fatty Lou by the collar of his robe while Zhu Luli floundered to her feet. His brother-in-arms groaned in pain, still smarting from that blow, but other than that, he seemed fine.

"You have a good ladle in your hands, young man," the old man said. He stuck a finger into the diamond of the staff and smeared green pus on his right cheek, letting out a little smile as he pointed that finger toward Lei's ladle. "But it looks old and worn. I daresay it's about to break. Shall we test it?"

Lei heard a buzz in his ears, ringing deep in his mind as the ladle started trembling in his hand. He tried to hold it tight and near his chest, but the damned thing shook so violently that he had to toss it away just to stop his fingers from hurting. It fell with a sickening crunch, then shattered into thousands of pieces.

"Now, that's better," the old man said with pleasure. He then turned slowly toward the pair of boys, clutching his chest as if in pain. "Oh, you're here for them! Of course, that had to be the case. But we can't let you have them, now, can we? Not after you've seen everything. And now that you're here as well, let me play host for you. I'd say there's enough room for all of us here. What do you think?"

"You sick bastard," Lei spat through clenched teeth.

"He's strong," Zhu Luli said from the side, blood trickling from her old wound. "And that staff is not normal."

"Uh," Fatty Lou grunted his agreement.

Shaking his head, Lei decided to check the man with Yellow Maiden's Eyes. Heat shot up to his head as he focused on the man.

[Elder Huang - Mortal]

What?

"Those eyes," Elder Huang said, staring deeply into Lei's face. "I didn't expect to see them here. But they can't see everything, eh? Not here, at least."

He raised the staff and closed his eyes. Green light burst forth from the diamond.