Chapter 113: Trapped in the Valley

Movement was difficult, there was no food, and no water to drink. For two days, they endured the harsh conditions, with the nights filled with the challenge of stealthily moving aside to relieve themselves while the other slept.

Over the course of these two days, Luo Caiyi constantly tried to engage in conversation, asking strange and difficult questions in hopes of outsmarting Huo Yuanzhen.

Unfortunately for her, this rogue monk was exceptionally skilled. Compared to him, Luo Caiyi realized she was a bit of a fool. Every time they debated, she ended up failing, and in the end, she had to pretend to be angry to cover up her embarrassment.

On the third morning, their injuries had nearly healed.

With their wounds healed, it was time to find a way out.

The difficulty in finding a way out lay in the fact that the canyon was long, and they had no idea which direction to go.

Luo Caiyi suggested heading east, while Huo Yuanzhen preferred the west.

Luo Caiyi remarked, "You rogue monk, are you heading west to reach the Western Paradise?"

"Benefactor, there is a reason for going west," Huo Yuanzhen said calmly.

"What reason? Didn't you see the little stream on the ground? No matter the river, water always flows east. If we follow the stream, we'll surely find a way out eventually."

Huo Yuanzhen shook his head. "Precisely because of the stream, I suggest we go west. Water always flows to lower ground. If we go east, we will only descend deeper, and who knows when we will reach the end. However, if we head west, we will climb higher and higher, and surely we will find the source of the stream. Even if we don't find the source, going upwards will eventually take us out of this low-lying valley."

Despite her reluctance, Luo Caiyi had to admit that the rogue monk made a valid point.

She tugged at her clothes, which were torn and dirtied from the fall. Both of their clothes were damaged, but Huo Yuanzhen's monk robes were specially made from fine silk by his monastery, and despite the fall, the damage was minimal.

On the other hand, Luo Caiyi's colorful garments had become ragged, and her back had been scraped, leaving her with exposed delicate skin, making her feel even more uncomfortable as she followed behind Huo Yuanzhen.

After a while, Huo Yuanzhen, sensing her discomfort, decided to give her his robe.

"Benefactor, you should wear this robe," he suggested.

Luo Caiyi gratefully took the robe. Although it was a monk's robe, it was the best option to cover herself.

But when she looked at the robe, she was surprised. "Monk, are you rich? This robe—wow! So many jewels! Did you sell the temple to buy this?"

"This robe was bestowed by the Buddha. It is a blessing for you to wear it, benefactor."

"Who wants to be blessed by you monks?" Luo Caiyi muttered, but she still took the robe, looked at it for a moment, and eventually wrapped it around her body.

The large robe covered Luo Caiyi's petite figure, and her long black hair cascaded down, revealing her delicate face. Seeing her in the robe, Huo Yuanzhen couldn't help but feel moved.

This beautiful woman had a stunning allure, and even in a monk's robe, she didn't lose any charm. In fact, it gave off a strange "uniform fetish" vibe.

For the first time in her life, Luo Caiyi wore a monk's robe, and she felt a bit embarrassed. She quickened her pace, walking ahead in a hurry.

After walking for a while, they both began to feel tired and used their lightness skill to zip through the canyon, as Huo Yuanzhen had suggested. As they ascended, the terrain became higher and higher.

The depth of the canyon was over a thousand meters, and after about two hours of running, it was only about five hundred meters deep.

The canyon also began to widen, and the stream on the ground turned into a small river.

Luo Caiyi saw hope, and with excitement, she occasionally looked back at Huo Yuanzhen, flashing him a bright smile.

Huo Yuanzhen was also pleased; after being trapped in the canyon for so many days, he was eager to leave.

Ever since their fall into the valley, Huo Yuanzhen had lost contact with the Golden-Eyed Eagle, and he couldn't figure out why. So now, the only way to get out was to find the exit on their own.

As they ascended higher and higher, feeling that the sky was getting closer, they reached a bend in the path. Turning the corner, they were greeted by an unexpected sight.

A massive circular valley appeared before them, about a thousand meters in diameter, with cliffs all around, smooth as a mirror.

In the distance, they could hear the roar of water, and a waterfall was cascading down, forming a lake in the center of the valley.

The surrounding area was lush with trees, and there were ripe fruits hanging from the branches.

The whole valley looked like a paradise.

But...

The sky remained high and distant, and there was no sign of an exit.

"It can't be! It can't be!" Luo Caiyi clenched her teeth and shook her head, running into the valley to search for a way out.

Huo Yuanzhen walked slowly into the valley, realizing that this was the end of the canyon.

If they could come and go freely, this place would indeed be a heavenly paradise. But if they couldn't leave, it would become a massive tomb that could trap them forever.

He tried to contact the Golden-Eyed Eagle again but failed, just like before.

After escaping from Mount Song, they had traveled nearly a hundred miles, and then followed the canyon for even more distance. It wasn't surprising that he had lost contact with the eagle.

However, Huo Yuanzhen was much more composed than Luo Caiyi, and he didn't seem anxious.

Sitting by the water, Huo Yuanzhen waited as Luo Caiyi continued her search.

After nearly two hours, Luo Caiyi returned, exhausted. She had scoured the entire valley but found no way out.

"Rogue monk, there's no way out here. I want to go back."

Huo Yuanzhen glanced at her. "Benefactor, if the river continues downstream, we could go east, but don't you see? This river formed by the waterfall is gradually drying up, which means it doesn't flow into the sea, but vanishes midway. The canyon will soon reach its end. If we go east, we won't find a way out."

Luo Caiyi stamped her foot in frustration. "Are we really trapped here?"

"Not necessarily. There is no difficulty in the world that cannot be solved with a determined heart. If we think carefully, we will surely find a way."

Hearing Huo Yuanzhen's comforting words, Luo Caiyi felt a little better. She drew her sword and gestured with it. "If all else fails, I'll use this sword to cut into the cliff. As long as we leave a foothold, we should be able to climb up using our lightness skill."

Huo Yuanzhen smiled and shook his head. He didn't comment, thinking that while Luo Caiyi might be able to create a foothold at the bottom, it would be nearly impossible to find any foothold higher up. In mid-air, there was nowhere to brace for support, making it unrealistic to find a place to stand.

Besides, although the sword was sharp, it wasn't meant for this kind of task.

With no way out for now, they decided to stay where they were. They ate some wild fruit to relieve their hunger and thirst.

It was now the season of the cold dew, and the valley was cool with a low temperature. The nights would be harsh, so Huo Yuanzhen decided to build a shelter to keep out the cold.

After spending the day gathering branches, they built a small hut. They found some soft dry grass and laid it on the ground to make two makeshift beds.

Sitting on opposite sides of the hut, they remained silent.

At night, the moonlight shone through the window, casting a soft glow on the ground.

Luo Caiyi, wrapped in the monk's robe, curled up and found it hard to sleep.

The rogue monk sat cross-legged on the other side, seemingly in deep meditation, not opening his eyes even after hours.

She didn't know how he could remain so calm.

Although she, too, maintained an air of coldness and distance, she couldn't be as serene as him, truly free from desires.

Under the moonlight, Luo Caiyi gazed at Huo Yuanzhen's face. He wasn't bad-looking, and if he had hair and wore ordinary clothes, he might even be considered handsome.

Why did he choose to become a monk?

After a long silence, Luo Caiyi finally broke the stillness. "Rogue monk, have you ever liked someone?"

Huo Yuanzhen opened his eyes and looked at her inquiringly.

"Now that we're in trouble and don't know if we'll ever get out, is there anything that's off-limits to discuss? I'm just curious. Since you're a monk, does that mean you've never liked anyone?"

Huo Yuanzhen lowered his gaze, reflecting on his past life. He had loved someone before... but this life was different.

Seeing that Huo Yuanzhen remained silent, Luo Caiyi continued, "What if you loved someone deeply, and she loved you back, but you were a monk? What would you do?"

Seeing the inquisitive look on Luo Caiyi's face, Huo Yuanzhen smiled helplessly. "If it were as the benefactor said, I truly wouldn't know."

Luo Caiyi smiled with a hint of triumph, as if she had won this round of their intellectual sparring.

Finally, she said boldly, "No, you must answer. Now I'm the one you like. But you're a monk—if I came to you, would you leave your monkhood and be with me, or would you stay a monk?"

Huo Yuanzhen smiled wryly. "If it were really like that, to leave my monkhood would be to betray my faith in the Buddha. But if I don't leave, I'd be betraying you. Ah, this is a true dilemma. How can one ever find a perfect solution that doesn't break both hearts?"

Hearing his words, Luo Caiyi's playful expression froze. A strange light flickered in her eyes.

This rogue monk... His words were always so beautifully phrased.