The Depths of the Heartless Sea
Waves churned, and faint yin spirits drifted aimlessly through the air, floating like ephemeral mayflies.
Whoosh—
Several figures flashed by.
Ji Changfeng gazed at the endless expanse of the Heartless Sea, his brow furrowing slightly.
They had been searching for hours, yet they hadn't caught a glimpse of anyone—let alone the Blood-Dripping Cave.
"Junior Brother Ji," Qi Hao approached, his face etched with worry.
After searching so long without finding Zhang Xiaofan, he couldn't help but fear the worst.
Could he be… in grave danger?
Lu Xueqi stood silently beside Ji Changfeng, her lips pressed together, lost in her own thoughts.
Ji Changfeng's gaze flickered.
Not far off, a black-clad figure lingered—You Ji. She hadn't strayed too far, wary that Ji Changfeng and his group might harm Bi Yao if they found her first. She hovered nearby, ready to intervene at a moment's notice.
Ji Changfeng understood her intentions.
He paid her no mind.
An unspoken understanding held between them as they searched for Bi Yao and Zhang Xiaofan in the vicinity.
After a moment's thought, Ji Changfeng said, "Senior Brother Qi, why don't we split up to search?"
He added, "But don't go too far. We'll cover three directions nearby. If anything happens, signal with a long whistle, and I'll come immediately."
Qi Hao hesitated briefly but, recalling Ji Changfeng's terrifying sword-flight speed, nodded in agreement. "Alright."
Lu Xueqi had no objections.
The trio parted ways, each heading in a different direction.
Seeing this, You Ji's eyes flickered. Without hesitation, she chose to follow Ji Changfeng.
With Bi Yao's strength, she could handle either Lu Xueqi or Qi Hao without much danger. Ji Changfeng, however, was an unpredictable variable.
He's too strong.
Ji Changfeng noticed You Ji trailing him but didn't bother with her. He continued alone toward an unexplored area.
Before long, he spotted a scattering of rubble and, in the distance, a collapsed cliff.
"Hm?" Ji Changfeng's eyes lit up.
He hurried toward the cliff, noting that the rubble completely covered the area.
After a moment's pause, he released a faint thread of sword intent, probing beneath the stones. Soon enough, he sensed a hollow cave buried under the debris, with two faint presences inside.
This is it!
Ji Changfeng let out a breath of relief.
He sent out strands of sword intent, slicing the piled stones into dust until a small cave entrance appeared before him.
Peering inside, he first saw Zhang Xiaofan, fast asleep. Then his gaze fell on a green-clad girl crouched in a corner, staring blankly toward the entrance, as if in a daze.
Is she… scared senseless?
Ignoring Bi Yao's stunned expression, Ji Changfeng tapped Zhang Xiaofan lightly with his sword sheath, chuckling. "Xiaofan, you can sleep here?"
"Not afraid of dying?"
"Huh?!" Zhang Xiaofan jolted awake, blinking groggily at Ji Changfeng. Scratching his head, he grinned sheepishly. "Seventh Senior Brother, I knew you'd come save me."
Ji Changfeng shook his head, exasperated.
He pulled Zhang Xiaofan out of the cave and said, "Go find Senior Sister Lu and Senior Brother Qi. They're still looking for you."
"Got it." Zhang Xiaofan grabbed his fire stick and headed off.
Before leaving, he glanced back at Bi Yao, hesitating. "Seventh Senior Brother, she…"
"She doesn't seem like a bad person."
Ji Changfeng nodded, saying nothing more.
He stood at the cave entrance, his posture tall and resolute, white robes fluttering, one hand resting on the divine sword at his waist. He looked down at the pitiful green-clad girl inside.
After a moment's hesitation, he extended a hand, his tone calm. "Come out."
Bi Yao froze, her dazed eyes locking onto the white-robed youth. Silently, she reached out a slender hand.
Ji Changfeng grasped it and pulled her out with ease.
Then, in a detached tone, he said, "You can go."
Bi Yao looked up at him in shock, then quickly lowered her gaze. Her voice was barely audible. "You… aren't going to kill me?"
Ji Changfeng shook his head lightly. "Xiaofan spoke up for you. I won't kill you."
"…Thank you," Bi Yao murmured after a pause, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her dress. It was unclear who her thanks were meant for.
"What did you say?" Ji Changfeng hadn't caught her words.
Bi Yao pursed her lips and said, "Thank you… for saving me twice."
"Just incidental," Ji Changfeng said with a casual wave.
Both times he saved her were mere happenstance. The first was to protect Zhang Xiaofan from the Black Water Serpent; this time, he was searching for the Blood-Dripping Cave.
Bi Yao was just… collateral.
He glanced at her, puzzled.
Something's off about her.
Before, she'd called him a "shameless rogue" and glared at him with disdain. Now, she was… docile? Is this really the young mistress of the Ghost King Sect?
Ji Changfeng didn't dwell on it.
He assumed, as in the original tale, that Bi Yao and Zhang Xiaofan had bonded in the cave, leading to her strange mood.
And he wasn't entirely wrong.
Bi Yao had talked a lot with Zhang Xiaofan—about Ji Changfeng, specifically. Nearly every sentence revolved around him.
With a dismissive wave, Ji Changfeng said, "Go on, leave. You won't get another chance once the others arrive."
Once Xueqi gets here, escaping won't be so easy.
Bi Yao nodded faintly, a strange emotion flickering in her eyes. She stole one last glance at Ji Changfeng before turning to leave.
Ji Changfeng didn't notice her subtle gesture.
He stood at the cave entrance, waiting for Lu Xueqi and the others, ready to explore the greatest opportunity in this world—the Heavenly Book—once they arrived.
Whoosh!
Several streaks of sword light flashed.
Lu Xueqi was the first to arrive.
"Senior Brother Ji," she called softly, her voice gentle, her eyes brimming with warmth. The icy frost on her face melted, replaced by a breathtaking smile.
"Everyone's here?" Ji Changfeng said with a faint smile. "Let's go in."
He gestured toward the Blood-Dripping Cave.
Qi Hao and the others turned their attention to it.
"Go in? Junior Brother Ji, this place…" Qi Hao hesitated.
"This is the Blood-Dripping Cave, the forbidden ground of the Blood Refining Hall," Ji Changfeng explained. "There might be some treasures inside."
"Treasures?!" Qi Hao's eyes lit up, and the others perked up as well.
What did it matter if it was a demonic sect's forbidden ground? They'd fought their way here—whatever was inside was rightfully theirs.
Just what kind of treasures await?
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