Inside Shelter Cave, the light was dim.
Several crude torches lit with beast oil were wedged into cracks in the stone. Their flickering flames illuminated the cave walls, casting swaying shadows of people. The air carried a faint scent of blood, medicinal herbs, and the charred aroma of roasted meat.
After a night of fleeing and slaughter, the surviving Su Family guards had finally gained a brief chance to catch their breath. Most of them sat with their backs against the cold stone walls. Some carefully tended to their grisly wounds, wrapping them with strips of cloth; others seized the time to close their eyes and regulate their breathing, trying to recover their exhausted true qi and strength. Two more took turns standing guard at the cave entrance, watching the outside vigilantly with weapons clenched tightly in their hands, not daring to relax in the slightest.
The cave was quiet, save for the occasional muffled groan of pain, the tearing of cloth strips, and the ceaseless whimpering wind outside.
Su Lie wrapped a roasted, golden-brown leg of some unknown demonic beast in clean leaves, took a waterskin, and carefully walked over to the carriage.
"Miss, have something to eat." He lifted the curtain and spoke softly.
Su Ling'er leaned against the cushion. Her complexion had improved somewhat since entering the cave, at least showing a trace of color. She accepted the roasted meat and waterskin but did not eat right away. Instead, she said quietly, "Uncle Su, you should rest too. You're injured as well."
Su Lie glanced at the hastily bandaged wound on his arm and grinned, his expression honest yet weary. "I'm fine, just a flesh wound. Miss, your health is what matters. Senior said you need to recuperate properly."
At the mention of "Senior," Su Ling'er's gaze instinctively drifted toward the figure sitting cross-legged at the cave entrance.
Lin Chen still maintained that posture, his back to everyone in the cave and his face turned toward the entrance. He was like an ancient, unchanging rock, his aura restrained to the utmost. If one had not seen him with their own eyes, they would hardly have sensed his presence. Yet the invisible, unapproachable pressure radiating from him truly blanketed the entire cave.
Was he cultivating? Or keeping watch?
Su Ling'er silently withdrew her gaze and took a small bite of the roasted meat. The meat was somewhat coarse and carried a faint gamy taste, but to her empty stomach, it was a rare delicacy. The warm food entered her belly and dispelled some of the lingering chill in her body, making her feel much better.
Seeing his young mistress begin to eat, Su Lie felt somewhat relieved. After hesitating for a moment, he took another piece of roasted meat and a waterskin and walked toward Lin Chen.
He moved slowly and lightly, afraid of disturbing this Senior.
"Se... Senior..." Su Lie stopped five steps away from Lin Chen and bowed respectfully. "You... you've been busy all night too. Would you like something to eat and a drink of water?"
Lin Chen neither turned around nor opened his eyes. He merely gave a soft "Mm" through his nose.
Su Lie stood there awkwardly, unsure whether to advance or retreat. This Senior's temperament was simply too cold, making him utterly impossible to read.
Just as he was about to silently withdraw, Lin Chen's voice suddenly rang out, calm and unruffled. "What exactly is the situation in the area marked 'Dense Wind Blades' on the map?"
Su Lie froze, then was overjoyed! Senior had taken the initiative to ask a question! This meant he truly had an interest in Luofeng Gorge!
He hurried two steps forward, gently set the roasted meat and waterskin beside Lin Chen, then lowered his voice and explained in detail, "In reply to Senior, that area lies in the middle section of the gorge. The terrain there is especially narrow, like a wind gap. Normally, it is fine, but every one or two hours, an incomparably fierce strange wind rises without warning! That wind... it is unlike an ordinary mountain wind. When it blows, it sweeps up shattered stones and sand from the ground. It is incredibly fast and immensely powerful, like countless tiny blades slicing through everything! A martial artist at the middle stage of the Body Tempering Realm, without sufficient protection, would likely be cut all over in an instant if they tried to force their way through, perhaps even..."
He paused, a trace of lingering fear appearing on his face. "Perhaps even be dismembered on the spot! In the past, merchant caravans tried to take a shortcut through there, only to be wiped out to the last man, a sight too ghastly to bear. That was why, when the map was later drawn, the place was specifically marked with a skull, and no one was permitted to approach."
Lin Chen listened quietly without interrupting.
Seeing that Lin Chen seemed to be listening intently, Su Lie grew bolder and continued, "Aside from the Wind Blade area, the place marked 'Demonic Beasts Infest' on the map mainly refers to the stone forest to the west. Strange rocks stand there like a forest; it is the territory of the Rock-Splitting Lizards. Individually, they are not terribly strong, roughly equivalent to the fifth or sixth level of the Body Tempering Realm, but they have thick hides and immense strength, and they like to live in groups. The most troublesome thing is that they can spit acidic venom. Its corrosive power is extremely strong, and ordinary weapons and armor cannot withstand it."
"As for Bewitching Slope..." A trace of confusion appeared on Su Lie's face. "That place is even more sinister. It is said that a strange colorless, odorless mist hangs over the slope. Once a person inhales it, they become muddleheaded and begin to hallucinate. Then they keep circling around the slope without end, until they finally die from exhaustion. We do not know the exact reason either. We only know that it is exceedingly dangerous and must never be set foot upon."
In one breath, he introduced the situation in several of the main dangerous regions marked on the map, hoping it might help this Senior.
Lin Chen remained silent, as though digesting the information.
After a while, he spoke again, his voice still calm. "Near Yin Wind Ravine, aside from that strange wind that erodes the soul, are there any other water sources or specific demonic beasts that appear?"
Su Lie had not expected Lin Chen to ask directly about Yin Wind Ravine, and his heart gave a slight jolt. That was one of the most dangerous places in the depths of the gorge!
He carefully recalled the scattered records regarding Yin Wind Ravine within the Lineage and the reports of scouting parties before answering cautiously, "In reply to Senior, Yin Wind Ravine... it is said that its bottom never sees sunlight year-round and is bitterly cold. As for water sources... there do not seem to be any clear records of safe water sources nearby. As for demonic beasts, it is rumored that in or around the ravine, there may be... there may be second-rank demonic beasts such as Soul Devouring Spiders or Yin Wind Wolves. But those are only rumors. After all, far too few people have ventured that deep and returned alive."
Second-rank demonic beasts? They were equivalent to Foundation Establishment Realm experts.
Lin Chen understood. That place truly was not somewhere he could easily set foot in at his current strength. However, the two demonic beasts, Soul Devouring Spiders and Yin Wind Wolves, did stir a trace of interest in him. If he could hunt these beasts that leaned toward yin chill or soul attacks and refine their demon cores or spirit essences with the Myriad Dao Furnace, perhaps certain aspects of him could receive a special boost.
"I understand." Lin Chen answered faintly, then said no more and sank back into silence.
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