Chapter 10: An Unexpected Encounter Outside Town

The early morning sun bathed the wilderness outside Emberstone Town in a golden glow. A cool breeze rustled through the tall grass, carrying the crisp scent of dawn. Lin Jin strode forward, his wooden staff slung across his back, while Su Yao, her short sword hanging at her waist, walked beside him, her eyes gleaming with excitement. Though she hadn't fully recovered, her movements were agile, and the spark of liveliness had returned to her gaze.

"Finally, some fresh air!" Su Yao stretched her arms high, her bright eyes curving into crescents as she grinned. "I was starting to feel like I was growing roots inside that room. So, Lin Jin, where are we headed today?"

Lin Jin glanced toward the distant wilderness, his voice calm yet purposeful. "There's an abandoned mine to the west of town. Rumor has it that spirit stones were once excavated there before a collapse forced the miners to abandon it. I want to check if anything valuable was left behind."

"A mine?" Su Yao's eyes lit up as she skipped ahead with childlike enthusiasm. "That sounds promising! Who knows? We might find something rare! Let's go!"

Lin Jin followed, shaking his head with a faint chuckle. She's as restless as ever. Quickening his pace, he called out, "Don't rush ahead. There could be danger."

Su Yao glanced back at him, her expression fearless. "With you here? What's there to worry about?"

Before long, they reached a desolate stretch of land a few miles west of town. At the base of a rocky hill, a dark, gaping cave loomed before them. Overgrown weeds surrounded the entrance, and the collapsed rock formations hinted at past instability. A faint chill emanated from within.

Lin Jin halted, his senses sharpening. "There's a residual energy fluctuation inside. Something might still be here."

Su Yao stepped closer, her gaze fixed on the cavern's depths. "Then what are we waiting for?" She drew her short sword and slipped into the shadows without hesitation.

Lin Jin followed, his grip tightening around his staff.

Inside, the air was damp, and the faint scent of minerals lingered in the darkness. The walls bore the marks of past excavation, the jagged remnants of pickaxes frozen in time. They moved cautiously—Su Yao leading, Lin Jin guarding the rear. After a hundred paces, the tunnel opened into a collapsed chamber, where scattered fragments of spirit stones lay on the ground, their luster faded but still carrying a trace of energy.

"Jackpot!" Su Yao knelt, picking up a shard and holding it up with a triumphant grin. "Not the best quality, but still useful. You've got a sharp nose for treasure, Lin Jin!"

Lin Jin examined a fragment, channeling his Netherflame into it. Though its energy was weak, it was still enough to fuel his cultivation for a few days. He nodded. "These will do for now. Let's see if there's anything else."

As they searched, Su Yao suddenly pointed to a corner of the chamber. "Over there! Something's buried under that rock!"

Rushing over, she shoved aside a loose boulder, revealing the rusted remains of an iron chest, its lid slightly ajar. Inside, a weathered scroll of parchment peeked out.

"A map?" Su Yao carefully unrolled the brittle parchment. The faded ink depicted a rough landscape marked with cryptic symbols, and at the top, three distinct characters stood out—Flame Spirit Valley.

Lin Jin's brows furrowed. "Flame Spirit Valley? Old man, ever heard of it?"

A deep, knowing voice echoed in his mind. "Flame Spirit Valley… That's a hidden sanctuary in the southern reaches of the Spirit Realm. Rich in rare herbs and fire-elemental beasts, it's said to house remnants of ancient ruins. Few know its exact location. If this map is authentic, you may have stumbled upon a true fortune."

Lin Jin's heart pounded. He exchanged glances with Su Yao. "This map leads to a place called Flame Spirit Valley. If it's real, there could be treasures waiting."

"Treasure?" Su Yao's excitement was palpable. She practically bounced in place. "Then what are we standing around for? Let's go! This will be way more exciting than some old mine!"

Lin Jin, however, remained cautious. "It's not that simple. The map's details are vague, and we have no idea how dangerous the journey will be. We're not strong enough to go in blind."

Su Yao crossed her arms, pouting. "Since when were you so timid? Didn't you say you wanted to get stronger? This is our chance!"

Lin Jin fell silent for a moment, then exhaled. "Fine. But we'll need supplies—food, spirit stones, and anything else we might need for the trip. We prepare first."

"Deal!" Su Yao beamed, rolling up the map and tugging him toward the exit. "Let's head back and get ready. We set off at dawn!"

Just as they turned to leave, a deep, guttural hiss echoed from the darkness. Lin Jin whipped around, eyes narrowing as a shadowy figure scuttled toward them—a spider-like beast with serrated legs and spiked bristles along its back. Its aura pulsed at the level of an early-stage Flame Adept.

"Blackthorn Spider!" Su Yao gasped, gripping her sword. "Careful, its venom is lethal!"

With a shriek, the beast lunged, spewing a dark green venomous flame. Lin Jin reacted instantly, grabbing Su Yao's wrist and pulling her aside as the toxic blaze scorched the air where they'd stood. Swinging his staff, he unleashed a wave of Netherflame, clashing against the spider's venom. The two forces collided, hissing as Lin Jin's flames consumed part of the poison, though some of its power remained.

"Damn, it's tough," Lin Jin muttered.

Su Yao darted to the side, her blade flashing. Three arcs of wind-cutting sword energy slashed toward the spider's legs. The creature twisted, dodging two strikes, but the third found its mark, severing one of its limbs. It screeched in fury.

"Follow my lead!" Lin Jin called out, vanishing in a flicker of movement as he circled behind the beast. Channeling Netherflame into his fingers, he thrust forward, targeting the soft spot beneath its armored bristles.

At the same time, Su Yao's sword gleamed, aimed directly at the creature's head.

Cornered, the spider unleashed a desperate burst of venomous fire, but Lin Jin's Netherflame devoured it. His strike landed first—dark flames erupted as his fingers pierced the beast's back, burning deep into its flesh. Su Yao's blade followed, slicing through its skull.

With a final, gurgling shriek, the spider collapsed.

Lin Jin exhaled, steadying himself. Su Yao, unfazed, grinned and crouched beside the corpse. "Nice teamwork! Bet its core is worth a fortune!"

Lin Jin extracted the core—a murky green gem laced with toxic energy. Stowing it away, he nodded. "This mine may hold more threats. Let's get out of here."

Su Yao agreed, and together they left the cavern, their spoils in tow.

By the time they returned to town, the sun was already dipping toward the horizon. Lin Jin split their loot, offering half to Su Yao, but she waved him off. "No need to be so formal. We're in this together, right?"

Lin Jin hesitated, then nodded. "Alright."

That night, as Lin Jin refined the spirit stone fragments and beast core, Su Yao sat nearby, studying the map. Her brows furrowed and relaxed in turns, excitement flashing in her eyes.

"Lin Jin," she said suddenly, "Flame Spirit Valley sounds like a golden opportunity. If we're lucky, we might even break through to the next realm."

Lin Jin opened his eyes, his expression calm but firm. "Flame Adept rank… Maybe. But we have to be careful. I haven't forgotten about Skyflame Pavilion."

Su Yao smirked and patted his shoulder. "Relax. If they come knocking, I'll deal with them. We're in this together, remember?"

Lin Jin looked at her, warmth flickering in his chest. He nodded. "Yeah. Together."

As the night deepened, Su Yao drifted off to sleep, while Lin Jin traced a finger over the map's faded lines.

"Flame Spirit Valley… Whether it's fortune or disaster, I'll face it head-on."