Chapter 20

Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW

Chapter 20: A Hair’s Breath from Death

"Tap, tap, tap."

The sound of heavy, chaotic footsteps grew louder as they approached the valley. The beast, as massive as a small mountain, lumbered towards the palace, exuding an ancient, chilling scent of blood.

"Bang, bang, bang!"

Ming He stared wide-eyed, holding her breath as her heart raced, unable to move.

Fifty steps!

Forty steps!

Ten steps!

Five steps!

One step!

The beast marched straight into the palace, completely oblivious to Ming He’s presence. Just as Qin Chu Yi had said, the jade pendant could shield one’s spiritual sense.

Ming He gasped for air, her blue clothes soaked in cold sweat, clinging to her body. A faint pain in her right hand reminded her that the danger was far from over.

She glanced at the palace, and in the next moment, her spiritual energy surged to its peak, propelling her like an arrow swiftly towards the valley’s exit.

Almost as soon as she moved, a deafening roar erupted from within the palace, filled with rage, hatred, murderous intent, and ferocity. It was a similar sound, but this time, a different beast was the focus.

The blue figure darted through the forest like the wind, moving nimbly while the hulking, massive creature pursued her. Trees snapped, and the ground trembled with each step, the beast’s roars echoing in tandem with distant sounds, rising and falling in a chaotic symphony.

“Ming He, come up!” A cool voice, tinged with urgency, called from above.

Ming He quickly looked up to see Qin Chu Yi standing on a steep broken stone, her expression filled with concern. She extended her hand slightly, the meaning of her gesture unmistakable.

Ming He wiped the sweat from her face and lightly tapped her toes to ascend towards Qin Chu Yi. As she neared, she reached out with her left hand to grasp Qin Chu Yi’s outstretched right hand. With the strength she received, Ming He swiftly climbed onto the stone.

The massive beast followed closely behind and, upon spotting the spiritual artifact in Ming He’s hand, began to stomp in place, roaring at them in agitation. Realizing that its cries were futile, it charged directly at them.

"Boom—"

The colossal impact nearly sent Ming He tumbling, as loose rocks cascaded down from the steep stone, mingling with the beast’s furious roars and the heavy crashes, creating a long, echoing resonance.

“Be careful!” Qin Chu Yi pulled her behind herself and, with a flick of her finger, forced the beast back slightly. “We need to go!”

Ming He nodded, glancing at the hand Qin Chu Yi held, and steadied herself as they leaped off the massive rock, fleeing in the opposite direction of the beast.

Behind them, the beast crashed through the boulder, its massive body charging forward, utterly indifferent to the stones raining down on its back, roaring in absolute fury.

It was the same scene as before, but now there was one more person fleeing, turning their solitary escape into a desperate dash for survival together.

"Sister Qin—" Ming He called softly, wanting to ask what their next move would be. Running like this was clearly futile; the beast was beyond their ability to confront, and their spiritual energy would soon run out, leaving no chance of escaping the cave.

The energy within her was rapidly depleting. She glanced at the woman beside her, whose flowing white robe remained pristine as snow, her icy beauty still unmatched. If Ming He hadn’t been close enough to hear her soft breaths, she might have thought Qin Chu Yi was still entirely composed.

“Don’t panic. Duan Wu has set a trap ahead that should hold it off for a while. That should give us enough time to escape the cave.” Qin Chu Yi’s voice was calm and resolute. She glanced up at the cave’s ceiling, which was dark and still, revealing no hint of the time above, but it ought to be close to an hour.

If everything went as planned, then it would all align perfectly.

“Young Master, over here!” Duan Wu waved his hand ahead, and as Qin Chu Yi and Ming He rushed past, he formed a seal with his hand. In an instant, spiritual energy gathered around him, and the winds began to rise, rushing wind and gathering clouds swirling in the air.

The distant river, the nearby dead trees, and the strange rocks around him all became the focal points of Duan Wu’s formation in that moment.

“Converge!” Duan Wu smirked slightly, knowing that he had successfully harnessed the energy swirling in the air.

"Success! Let’s go!" He couldn’t contain his joy as he drew in his spiritual energy, following closely beside Qin Chu Yi, his eyes fixed on the spiritual artifact clutched in Ming He’s right hand with a mix of excitement and relief.

Ming He paid no attention to his enthusiasm. She glanced back to see the beast crash into the spot where Duan Wu had just stood, now spinning in endless, tireless circles, its massive frame making it appear even more clumsy and foolish.

An illusion array, perhaps?

Ming He pushed the thought aside and handed the spiritual artifact to Qin Chu Yi with a casual smile. "Sister Qin, mission accomplished." And, more importantly, she had survived. She glanced at her hand, still blackened and scorched, but it didn’t seem serious. This was her sword hand, after all.

"Star Lock!" Qin Chu Yi barely noticed Ming He’s injury as she took the artifact, her expression tightening, her emotions surging like a stormy sea.

In this moment, all her usual composure and restraint vanished, replaced by the tangible hope she now held in her hands. She had truly obtained it!

"Let’s move. Now." Ming He knew better than to linger. She hated the idea of losing everything at the last moment. Excitement could wait until they were safely out.

"You’re right, Ming He. This place is too dangerous. We should leave." Duan Wu’s rare agreement came as a surprise.

"Yes, let’s go." Qin Chu Yi forced down her overwhelming excitement and turned toward the cave.

As they moved deeper, the scenery blurred past them. The three figures—Qin Chu Yi in white like fresh snow, Duan Wu in black like ink, and Ming He in blue like drifting clouds—followed the same path, their distinct trails overlapping and intertwining, setting the wheel of fate into motion.

"Wait!" Ming He’s heart lurched as a foreboding feeling rose within her, unsettling her to the core.

"What’s wrong?" Qin Chu Yi’s gaze sharpened, but she didn’t slow her pace. No one could command her to stop.

"Something’s wrong ahead." Ming He didn’t know where the feeling came from, but it was undeniable—danger, death, something terrible.

"Ming He, I don’t hear anything. You…" Duan Wu started to say she was overreacting, but his words trailed off as he caught sight of her charred right hand. He didn’t finish his thought, though his skeptical expression said enough.

Ming He turned to Qin Chu Yi, who paused briefly, her expression thoughtful. But Ming He could see the doubt in her eyes. She didn’t believe her either.

Of course. She’s from a prominent family.

Ming He let out a bitter laugh and slowed her pace, saying nothing. Moments later, as Qin Chu Yi and Duan Wu’s expressions grew serious, she felt a grim satisfaction. "Do you believe me now?"

Ahead, the silence shattered into chaos. The sound of flapping wings grew louder, merging into a deafening roar that assaulted their very souls with its intensity.

Ming He covered her ears, but it did little to block the piercing, shrill noise. Warm liquid trickled from her ears, staining her face crimson in the darkness, making her look like a vengeful spirit.

Through the pain, she focused on the approaching swarm. They were everywhere—black bodies, sharp stingers, red wings, and glowing red eyes. Blood-sucking bees.

She had read about them in the Liu Yun Sect’s library. Blood-sucking bees, named for their thirst for blood, with black bodies and red eyes, were said to inhabit the frigid western lands. They were thought to have vanished since ancient times.

But if they were extinct, why were they described in the Liu Yun Sect’s library for all disciples to read?

The question flickered in her mind, but survival came first. Ming He drew her sword, swinging it with a grimace as the blade caught the stench of blood.

Her sword energy surged, her technique cutting a path through the swarm of blood-sucking bees. But in the next moment, more bees filled the gap, relentless and mindless in their pursuit.

"Clang—"

Qin Chu Yi’s sword flashed as she struck, her technique far more powerful than Ming He’s, yet the number of fallen bees was disappointingly low.

Her sword wasn’t effective against them.

Qin Chu Yi’s gaze fell. Was it because her swordsmanship wasn’t pure enough? In the darkness, the Woman in White seemed to falter, a flicker of disappointment in her eyes.

"This way!" Ming He shouted, pointing to an alternate path.

Ming He watched as Duan Wu swiftly retrieved something from his storage ring and hurled it toward the blood-sucking bees. Though the bees scattered in panic, she knew this reprieve was fleeting—once the pill’s effects dissipated, the bees would return with a vengeance.

Their path ahead was now blocked by the swarm, and behind them loomed the formidable one-legged beast, leaving them with few options for escape.

Ming He stayed close to Qin Chu Yi, while Duan Wu, lagging behind to cover their retreat, made their trio appear increasingly weary. It had been an exhausting hour, Ming He thought.

"Hiss—" What was that?

Ming He’s heart raced as she felt something tighten around her waist, making it hard to breathe. She glanced down and saw blood-red vines snaking up from the ground, coiling around her waist and squeezing tighter with each passing moment, threatening to suffocate her.

She tried to draw her sword to cut the vines, but the pain in her right hand rendered her powerless. The vines continued to constrict, dragging her inch by inch toward the abyss below.

"Chh—"

A flash of sword light cut through the air, sharp and precise. Qin Chu Yi severed the vines and pulled Ming He to her feet, her voice soft as she asked, "Are you all right?"

Ming He met Qin Chu Yi’s gaze, her emotions a tangled mess. She was about to reply when her eyes widened in terror once more.

"Watch out!" She yanked Qin Chu Yi aside just as a fresh wave of blood-red vines, barbed and menacing, surged toward them. The vines ignored Ming He entirely, focusing their assault on Qin Chu Yi.

Ming He unsheathed her sword and struck the vines with all her strength. Sparks flew, but the vines remained unscathed, unlike the one that had ensnared her earlier. Not a single strand was severed—if they even had strands.

How could this be? Why were they so strong?

She glanced at Qin Chu Yi, who was facing the same unyielding vines. It wasn’t that she was weak; the vines were simply too powerful.

Retreat was their only option.

Ming He and Qin Chu Yi exchanged a glance, their silent understanding clear.

Run!

They leapt into the air, changing direction mid-flight before landing and sprinting away from the vines.

The vines seemed to "watch" them for a moment before splitting into two groups—most pursued Qin Chu Yi, while the rest chased Ming He.

"Chh—"

Ming He executed the "Liu Yun Dance," her sword technique dispersing the vines closing in on her. She extended her left hand, leaping upward in an attempt to break free from the encircling tendrils.

Her eyes locked onto a dead branch jutting from a rock overhead. If she could just reach it, she could swing to safety and escape the relentless vines.

Hope flickered in her eyes as she pushed off the vines beneath her, propelling herself toward the branch like an arrow.

She could do this!

Ming He smiled as her hand closed around the branch, but a searing pain shot through her right arm, forcing her to release her grip. Tears welled in her eyes as she plummeted downward.

"Thud—"

Ming He gritted her teeth as she sat up, only to be ensnared by the vines once more. Their thorns pierced her tattered blue clothes, drawing blood that stained the fabric.

The vines dragged her backward, pinning her against a tree in a half-kneeling position. Her white long sword lay abandoned in the mud some distance away.

"Duan Wu, set up a formation to trap the vines! I’ll save her!" Qin Chu Yi commanded, her voice firm as she turned back and saw Ming He’s predicament.

Duan Wu glanced at the darkening sky, his expression grim. "Young Master, we have less than an hour. There’s no time."

This wasn’t the path they had come by, and unknown dangers lay ahead. It wasn’t worth risking their lives for a mere disciple of the Liu Yun Sect.

"Young Master, we have what we came for. We can leave now. As for Su Ming He, her weakness is her own doing. She has no power, no influence. If she dies, it’s of no consequence."

Duan Wu didn’t want his Young Master to take unnecessary risks. "The Liu Yun Sect is insignificant. They pose no threat to us."

In his eyes, the Young Master’s safety far outweighed the life of a weak and unimportant disciple.

"Let’s go!" he urged, his voice laced with the subtle power of the illusion array.

Bound by the vines, Ming He watched as Qin Chu Yi and Duan Wu hesitated briefly before making their choice.

The hem of Qin Chu Yi’s white robes fluttered as she turned away, disappearing around the bend. The black figure followed, casting one last glance back.

From this distance, Ming He couldn’t discern the meaning in his gaze, but she could guess well enough.

The Young Master of a great family must possess the skills to cut ties, to be ruthless, to make decisive choices. Qin Chu Yi’s decision to abandon her was, in that light, perfectly logical.

Ming He chuckled softly, the sound tinged with bitterness. The vines tightened around her waist, their thorns digging deeper, drawing fresh blood.

She was drenched in it—her body, her face, her ears.

The girl, nearly consumed by crimson, stared at the dark cavern ceiling and faced a stark truth: her life hung by a thread, and Qin Chu Yi had left her behind.

This was the cultivation world, after all.

Ming He felt her consciousness slipping away. She closed her eyes, allowing the darkness she had always feared to envelop her.

Once, the darkness had seemed like a monster ready to devour her. Now, it no longer held any terror.