Lair

Xu Hanyu gradually opened his eyes, squinting as the bright sky came into view. Gentle light streamed through the tall cliffs surrounding them. The woman lay comfortably in his arms, her head resting on his chest.

They seemed to be in what appeared to be an old nest—soft ground beneath them instead of rocks. His body was covered in dry dirt.

As he slowly looked around, he realized they were in a fault scarp nestled between two cliffs. One cliff loomed high above, steep and unreachable, while the other was easier to access from their position.

He attempted to move, but a sharp pain shot through him, making him cry out. It felt as if his whole body was breaking apart, as if his bones were shattered. Each movement only intensified the pain.

He peered over the shallow fault scarp. It wasn't deep enough to trap them for long, but the situation was dire. With no way to climb back up, he called for help, hoping someone would hear.

"Help! Is anyone up there?!" he shouted, cupping his hands to amplify his voice.

Silence followed, and he tried again. Meanwhile, the girl in the abandoned nest slowly opened her eyes.

"Oh? She's awake?" she murmured, dazed, as she touched her head and scanned her surroundings.

"Where am I...?" she whispered, confused.

Xu Hanyu stepped closer as she tried to comprehend her situation.

"Who are you?"

Surprised by the question, he replied, "I'm Xu Hanyu. We... we fell from that cliff," pointing to the tall cliff behind them.

The girl blinked, still processing his words. Suddenly, her expression shifted as she focused on him.

"It's you—!"

She swiftly drew her sword, pressing the cold blade to his neck before he could react. Fear washed over him as her gaze locked onto a mark on his arm. Silence hung heavily in the air, and he froze, instinctively raising his hand to shield himself, recalling her earlier intensity.

Why is this girl so fierce? 

He raised his hand defensively but quickly regained his composure, recalling her intensity from that night in the cave. 

"Please, calm down... I won't hurt you, trust me… okay?" he said, stepping back cautiously. 

"Trust? What a joke," she scoffed. "I can't afford that, especially from you." 

Xu Hanyu stood tense but calm, not wanting to escalate things. 

"You should be grateful. I saved your life," he said, raising an eyebrow. "Is this how you show gratitude?" 

Her fierce expression softened slightly, and she hesitated before lowering her sword. 

Sigh. 

Though still cautious, she wasn't attacking. A small crack had formed in her defenses. 

"Good…" Xu Hanyu whispered, relieved. "I'd prefer not to fight you right now." 

She didn't respond, her eyes softening before she fully lowered her sword. I need to heal before leaving this place. 

Xu Hanyu wondered about her temper—would they face another standoff before trust could grow? For now, he was just glad to avoid conflict. 

She turned and walked to the abandoned nest, sitting down with a distant gaze. Xu Hanyu watched her, curiosity piqued but remained silent. 

Without a word, she settled into a meditative pose—back straight, eyes closed, her right hand forming a precise mudra, radiating subtle yet powerful energy.

Later on, the girl finished her meditation, slowly separating her hands and taking a deep breath. 

Though her injuries weren't fully healed, the 'Eye' hadn't taken over her body. 

Xu Hanyu sensed a change and turned to her. Her eyes opened, sharp as ever. 

"Are you all better now?" he asked, curiosity in his voice. 

She glanced past him at the dark archway. It felt suspicious. 

Intent on exploring, she walked toward it. 

"Why do you care?" she shot back, her tone sharp. 

Xu Hanyu chuckled nervously. "I'm just concerned since you were hurt. And... don't go in there. We don't know what's inside." 

She hesitated, narrowing her eyes. "How long have we been here?" 

He shifted uncomfortably. "I'm not sure... I woke up just like you." Her intense gaze made his heart race. 

It felt like she was accusing him, but he didn't understand why. 

He forced a smile, hoping to avoid more anger. 

Suddenly, her eyes lit up with realization as she focused on the arch. 

"What could be in there?" she whispered, moving closer. 

"Hey wait!" 

But she quickened her steps toward the threshold. Meanwhile, he ran after her, but she had already reached the arch. 

Without looking back, she shot him a cold glance. "Stay back." 

Then, she stepped into the darkness, vanishing from view. 

Xu Hanyu stood frozen. "She didn't listen... What is she thinking?"

Xu Hanyu felt desperate as he stared at the empty space where she had just been. It was too late to change anything, and fear gripped him. Torn between chasing her or staying put, the chilly air carried the scent of wet stone. Though his instincts urged him to retreat, he clenched his fists.

I can't leave her there.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped into the darkness.

Inside, the air was heavy and suffocating. The cavern was vast, with rough walls faintly lit by glowing moss. Shadows danced across the ground.

Then he spotted her, walking ahead with steady confidence.

"Hey, wait up!" he called.

She barely glanced back. "Why did you come here?!"

"I should be asking you that!" he retorted.

She rolled her eyes and continued on, and he sighed, trailing behind.

As they ventured deeper, the metallic scent intensified, and silence enveloped them, their footsteps echoing in the cavern.

Finally, they reached a lair.

In the center, a massive silver egg rested on a pedestal, glowing softly.

"Is that the Egg of a Silver Basilisk?" she whispered, intrigued. "This could aid my cultivation."

Without hesitation, she approached it, reaching out her hands.

"Hey!" Xu Hanyu exclaimed, grabbing her arm. "You're crazy! It's dangerous."

She didn't flinch. "Then you shouldn't have followed me."

Xu Hanyu froze, unable to stop her as she knelt before the egg, gently touching its surface. The silver glow intensified, nearly blinding him.

"Are you really going to take it?"

The girl avoided his gaze. She held the egg close, saying, "It's not your concern."

Before he could respond, she got up and walked deeper into the cave.

"I'm going to explore. You can leave if you want," she called back.

"You really are taking it, aren't you afraid?"

Yet, she didn't reply, continuing on without looking back. Xu Hanyu felt uncertain but something urged him to follow her. Against his instincts, he did.

As they ventured further, the mood changed. The air felt electric, as if the walls were alive with energy. Xu Hanyu looked around, feeling anxious.

Suddenly, the girl stopped, sensing something was off.

Xu Hanyu realized he had been too close and bumped into her. "Why did you stop?"

"Shh! Be quiet."

The air was thick with tension, and the woman sensed an unseen danger approaching. Suddenly, a droplet fell from above, splattering onto the egg she was holding. It was thick, unusual, and sticky. 

"What is that?" she murmured, confusion evident in her voice. "It looks... sticky." 

The liquid bubbles on the egg, hissing like acid, yet the shell remains unharmed. An unsettling hiss filled the space as the egg's glow dimmed. 

Another droplet fell—plop—this one hitting the egg with a sharp crackle. 

They instinctively glanced upward. 

In the shadows above, a Silver Basilisk was hidden, its shiny scales shimmering in the low light. Its claws clung to the stone, and its predatory eyes glowed as it remained still, limbs spread wide like a deadly trap. 

"A 4-star Silver Basilisk?!" The woman gasped, her voice barely above a whisper. Her grip on the egg tightened as she exchanged a look with Xu Hanyu, filled with sudden realization—and dread. 

Even Xu Hanyu had never witnessed such a frightening sight in his life. But he knew they had to act fast. His body urged him to move. Before they could think, the Silver Basilisk roared, shaking the cavern—its deafening sound rippling through the walls, vibrating in their bones. 

"RUN!" Xu Hanyu yelled, grabbing her hand urgently. 

"What are you doing?!" she exclaimed, but before she could finish, he pulled her toward him, causing the egg in her hands to crash to the ground with a jarring thud. 

"There's no time for questions! We need to get out now! We won't make it if we don't!" 

The sound of the egg breaking echoed in the cavern, but there was no time to think about it, only the overwhelming fear of escape. 

Behind them, the Silver Basilisk's roar echoed through the stone, its massive form already moving. Just as they were about to flee, the Silver Basilisk suddenly landed in front of them, its enormous body blocking their way.

"What should we do…?" he muttered, panic creeping into his voice.

Without warning, the girl ripped her hand free from his grip. In one swift motion, she summoned her sword, its blade gleaming dangerously in the dim light. She lunged forward, eyes locked on the beast.

"HEY! What are you doing?!" Xu Hanyu shouted, panic rising. "You can't kill that thing!"

The girl didn't stop. Her sword danced through the air, striking again and again, each blow a blur of speed and precision. But the Silver Basilisk barely reacted—its silver hide was too strong, her attacks barely leaving a scratch.

Damn it! I didn't expect to encounter a 4-star beast here. With my realm, I won't be able to take this down!

The beast loomed over her, its narrowed eyes gleaming with contempt. It wasn't threatened. It was toying with her.

Frustration flared in the girl's eyes, but she was undeterred. She darted forward again, aiming for the eyes—it's only possible weak spot. With precise movements, she swung her sword, aiming to strike.

But just as her blade neared its target, "Oh no…!"

The beast's eyelids snapped shut with a metallic clang, the silver lids hardening like steel shutters. The girl's sword collided with them, bouncing off with a high-pitched clang that sent a shockwave up her arms.

The beast struck instantly, its tail swinging like a whip. The lady barely reacted before the tail slammed into her, sending her crashing.

Crack! "Argh!"