Chen Wuya jerked his fingers back from the edge of the wheel, his palm burning as though a branding iron had been pressed against it. The pain came abruptly, yet it stirred a strange resonance within him. He lowered his head to look at his hand. His five fingers trembled faintly as Misaligned Force began circulating through his meridians on its own, as if something were drawing it along.
Bai Zhi stepped forward half a pace, the tip of her sword lightly touching the ground as her gaze swept over the wheel. "We can't touch this thing?"
"It's not that we can't," Chen Wuya said softly. "It's speaking."
Mo Feng stood behind them, his closed folding fan resting against his lips, his brows slightly furrowed. The edges of the map in his hand began to gleam faintly. New markings slowly emerged across what had once been blank regions, as though awakened by some unseen force.
A dull rumble sounded from deep within the passage. A crack split open in the rock wall, and a cold wind poured in, carrying the scents of rust and dampness. The three turned toward it. A narrow corridor had appeared, plunging into unfathomable darkness.
Chen Wuya stepped forward. The instant his foot landed, the bronze plate beneath it sank slightly. With a thunderous crash overhead, a massive boulder rolled free from the rock wall and smashed into the spot where he had just been standing, sending shattered stones flying.
"There are traps!" Bai Zhi swiftly held her sword across her side in defense.
Another muffled boom rang out. Several bronze plates sprang up from the ground, and iron spikes burst forth, their tips gleaming coldly. Immediately afterward, another huge boulder fell from above, crashing toward the middle of the passage.
Mo Feng took a step