Chapter 88: Aftermath and Uncertainty

The air in the was thick with the smell of charred flesh and dust, a lingering stench from the defeated abomination. The group lay scattered across the ground, their bodies battered and minds reeling from the intense battle. Chen Jiuzhang, still clutching the dimly glowing crystal - key, forced himself to his feet. His legs trembled beneath him, and every muscle in his body ached, but his eyes were fixed on his fallen companions.​"Wu Laogou! Luna!" he called out, his voice hoarse. He staggered over to the old man's motionless form, his heart pounding in his chest. Wu Laogou's face was pale, his breathing shallow. Chen Jiuzhang knelt down beside him, his hands shaking as he checked for a pulse. To his relief, he felt a faint throb beneath his fingertips.​Su Nian, who had managed to pull herself up, limped over. Her chains hung loosely at her side, damaged and dented from the fight. "How is he?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.​"Alive, but just barely," Chen Jiuzhang replied. He turned his attention to Luna, who lay a few feet away. The starlight - woven gown that had once shimmered with such beauty was now in tatters, and her face was drained of color.​Zhang Chengying, his broken peachwood sword discarded at his feet, joined them. "We need to find a way to heal them. And fast."​Shen Qingluan, still sitting on the ground with the fragment of the Imperial Jade Seal in her hands, nodded weakly. "I... I might have something in my bag that can help. But we need to get out of this collapsing passageway first."​Just then, Lyra, who had been silent since the battle ended, stepped forward. Her silver staff was cracked and dull, but her eyes were sharp. "There's a hidden chamber not far from here. It's a place of healing, or at least it used to be. If we can make it there, it might save them."​The group exchanged hesitant glances. They were exhausted, and the thought of moving any further seemed almost impossible. But they knew they had no choice. With great effort, they helped each other up and began to make their way through the rubble - filled passageway, following Lyra's lead.​As they walked, Chen Jiuzhang couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. The crystal - key in his hand felt cold, colder than it had ever been. And there was a strange, almost imperceptible vibration coming from deep within the ground, as if the defeat of the abomination had awakened something else, something far more powerful.​When they finally reached the hidden chamber, they found it filled with a soft, golden light. The walls were lined with ancient carvings, depicting scenes of battles and victories from long ago. In the center of the room was a large, circular pool, its waters glowing with a strange, iridescent sheen.​Lyra motioned for them to place Wu Laogou and Luna by the pool. "The water has healing properties. But be careful. It also has a way of... showing you things, things you might not want to see."​The group watched in silence as the water began to swirl around the unconscious pair. Slowly, their wounds began to close, and color returned to their faces. But as they slept, their brows furrowed, and they began to mutter in their sleep, as if trapped in some kind of nightmare.​Just then, a loud rumble shook the chamber. Cracks began to form in the walls, and dust rained down from the ceiling. Chen Jiuzhang held up the crystal - key, but its light did little to penetrate the growing darkness. Whatever had been awakened, it was coming for them, and they were too weak to fight.​