Enemy and Friend

Dampness filled the air and soaked through Xia Lun's robe, as though it meant to seep through his pores into his warm flesh.

Xia Lun slowly stood. Thick, muddy water dripped from the hem of his robe onto the wooden planks, releasing waves of stench.

He looked around. The five Mind Fasting Sect Cultists sat along the edge of the boat, so he followed suit and sat beside Little Green.

Thanks to the Invisibility Talisman Xuan Yan had placed on him, no one noticed Xia Lun. They did not even notice the sudden smell of foul water.

Suddenly, a thin mist appeared in the dim cavern.

Xia Lun was puzzled. They were inside a mountain, where mist should not have formed so suddenly.

"Oh no!" Little Green sprang to his feet. "It's the Fallen Mist! Light the candles, quick! We're going to lose our way!"

The other four instantly tensed as if facing a deadly threat. An older Cultist in an indigo official's robe hurriedly took out a fire starter and lit a candle with trembling hands.

Xia Lun did not help. He remained seated, perfectly at ease, and even turned his head to watch the changes around them.

Whoosh.

The first candle lit, but the mist grew thicker. Its dim, wavering flame illuminated their surroundings, and as the boat moved forward, the water and cavern beyond the mist began to change.

The mist churned. One moment, the stone walls on either side were splashed with horrifying bloodstains; the next, they were lined with wooden walkways; then countless red mushrooms sprouted from them. The scenes flickered and overlapped like a malfunctioning projector.

At last, the Mind Fasting Sect Cultists relit every candle. The instant the final one caught, the cold mist vanished.

Ripples spread across the water. Everything returned to