As Bìyáo knelt solemnly, her face brimming with piety, she bowed three times before standing up. She cast a glance at Zhāng Xiǎofán, who was still standing motionless, his eyes averted. His brows furrowed, but he remained silent, only saying faintly, “Let’s go.”
Zhāng Xiǎofán, who had begun to feel a certain fondness for the girl during their journey through the tunnel, now felt a chill as he recalled the teachings of his sect and the sight of the malevolent deities. He nodded slightly, replying coolly, “Alright.”
Bìyáo glanced at him, then ventured deeper into the cave. Zhāng Xiǎofán followed, and they soon entered a spacious area. Unlike the outer chamber, this cavern was adorned with stalactites and bizarre rocks, creating a surreal, otherworldly atmosphere. At the entrance stood a massive stone tablet, inscribed with ten large, calligraphic characters:
*The Heavens and Earth are unkind, treating all things like straw dogs!*
Each character was as tall as a man, the strokes ancient and powerful, evoking the might of dragons and serpents. Zhāng Xiǎofán, initially unfazed, felt a sudden dizziness and stumbled back involuntarily after a moment of staring.
Shocked, he quickly composed himself. The characters remained fixed on the tablet, but their imposing presence was truly terrifying.
Seeing Bìyáo move past the tablet, Zhāng Xiǎofán followed. Behind the tablet, the cavern was filled with more bizarre formations. As they navigated the stony maze, Bìyáo suddenly stopped, gasping softly.
At the same time, Zhāng Xiǎofán noticed that his firewood staff, which he used to stabilize his arm, began to glow oddly. The pearl at the tip of the staff, in particular, shone with a gentle, unusual blue light, as if reuniting with an old friend, full of nostalgia and longing.
Zhāng Xiǎofán peered forward, his gaze passing by Bìyáo to see what had startled her: at the bottom of the cavern was a smooth stone wall, with tunnels on either side leading to unknown destinations. Below the wall sat a green stone platform, on which rested a skeleton, sitting cross-legged, eerily still.
The pearl on the staff was now glowing softly, directed towards the skeleton.
Bìyáo, unaware of Zhāng Xiǎofán’s strange expression and the staff’s transformation, quickly regained her composure after the initial shock. Being a member of the Devil Sect, she was not easily frightened by such sights. She approached the skeleton, inspected it, and turned back to Zhāng Xiǎofán with a smile, “Perhaps this is the legendary Blackheart Old Ghost, who shook the world eight hundred years ago!”
Zhāng Xiǎofán, having no affection for the Devil Sect, huffed, “We should look for a way out, shouldn’t we?”
Bìyáo gave him a sharp glance, pursed her lips, and retorted, “Find it yourself if you want!”
Feeling a sting of pride, Zhāng Xiǎofán turned and walked into the left tunnel without a word. As he stepped, he silently chided himself for being so easily provoked, fearing that Bìyáo might be mocking him.
Despite his misgivings, he continued forward. After a few steps, he noticed that Bìyáo had not followed. A sense of disappointment, though he scolded himself for it, tugged at his heart.
The tunnel was similar to the one they had come through, but much quieter and darker. As he walked, he suddenly saw a soft light ahead, and quickened his pace. The light at the end of the tunnel was gentle and inviting, like a siren’s call in the darkness.
Taking a deep breath, Zhāng Xiǎofán stepped into the light.
Bìyáo watched as Zhāng Xiǎofán disappeared into the tunnel, her face darkening. Used to being treated like royalty, she was not accustomed to defiance. The young man from the righteous path, with his stubborn temper, was a source of frustration.
Back in the Green Ethereal Vapors, Zhāng Xiǎofán had been a polite youth, but now, with Bìyáo, he was constantly at odds. Beyond the sect differences, even he could not explain it.
Bìyáo, oblivious to these thoughts, was only aware of Zhāng Xiǎofán’s repeated provocations, which grated on her nerves. But in their current predicament, she could not take action against him. With a huff, she turned and walked into the right tunnel.
The tunnel was similar to the others, but dimmer. After a short walk, she reached another chamber. This room, medium in size, had shelves on one side and a pile of broken weapons on the other. Most were damaged, but one large, rusted axe caught her eye.
Bìyáo, disinterested, walked to the shelves. Her face lit up as she saw labels on the shelves, some still legible, naming items like “Divine Spear of the Five Peaks,” “Moon Gazer Chain,” and “Leaving Man Cone.” These were rumored to be some of the greatest treasures of the Devil Sect, yet most shelves were empty.
With a sigh, she continued to search, and finally found a small iron box in the last shelf. It was heavy, and made no sound when shaken.
Carefully, she placed the box on the ground, took a deep breath, and summoned a white, flower-like aura that filled the room with a sweet fragrance. She cautiously opened the box, and immediately, a black mist poured out.
Bìyáo leapt back, her aura flaring to contain the black mist. The flower absorbed the dark energy, turning black. Recognizing the deadly “Ancient Corpse Poison,” she muttered angrily, “Blackheart Old Ghost, you really have a black heart!”
Peering into the box, she found a small, golden bell. Puzzled, she examined it, finding it to be a simple, well-crafted item. Shaking it, the bell chimed softly, a sound that echoed through the long-empty chamber.
Enchanted, Bìyáo attached the bell to her waist, delighting in its melodious tones. She searched the room once more, but found nothing of value. Deciding to check on the “foolish boy,” she left the chamber.
In the left tunnel, Zhāng Xiǎofán had reached a larger chamber with walls covered in intricate carvings. The script, though dense, was instantly recognizable as the Devil Sect’s sacred “Heavenly Book.” Bìyáo, seeing the writing, was elated, exclaiming, “This is the Heavenly Book!”
Zhāng Xiǎofán, startled, asked, “What is this Heavenly Book?”
Annoyed, Bìyáo explained, “It’s our holy scripture, the source of all our great powers. How can you not know?”
Stunned, Zhāng Xiǎofán read the opening lines, his mind reeling. The text, though cryptic, hinted at a unity between Daoist and Buddhist teachings, a revelation that shook him to the core.
Bìyáo, seeing his intense focus, read a few lines herself, but soon felt dizzy. She glanced at Zhāng Xiǎofán, who seemed lost in the text, his face pale and trembling. Feeling a surge of anger, she stormed out, stepping loudly to draw attention, but he did not respond.
Fuming, Bìyáo returned to the cavern, her frustration boiling over. She lashed out at the skeleton, breaking it apart, and found a few more lines carved behind it:
*The bell tolls, flowers wither,
The figure grows thin, hair like frost.
Deep love, lifelong sorrow,
Endless passion for a heartless fate.*
These lines, enigmatic and haunting, only added to her turmoil.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage