When they left the underground chamber, Tang Chen insisted on walking unaided.
He had only stepped onto the second stone stair when his knees buckled. Tang San reached out to support him, while Yuan Yu simply draped the old man's other arm over his shoulder and helped him outside.
"There are people waiting at the entrance to recognize their kin. At this pace, you won't get there even by nightfall."
Tang Chen wanted to say something, but the taste of blood rose in his throat again, forcing him to swallow the rest. The Asura Demon Sword rested against his right side. As its blade flashed, the veins on the back of his hand bulged. He stared at it for a moment, then finally handed it to Tang San.
"Hold this for me. Don't feed Soul Power into it."
Tang San received it with both hands. The red light on the sword receded, and the old man's shoulders and back relaxed with it. The divine power that had pressed down on him until he could barely stand remained inside the sword. Yuan Yu also withdrew the Rock Seal. The underground chamber did not collapse any further, and those who had escaped had already cleared several side doors.
Two members of the Clear Sky Sect outside town saw them return and took a few steps toward Tang San. Once they recognized the old man's face behind him, however, both stopped short. The older one took out an old portrait from the sect, his hands shaking so badly that it took two attempts to unfold it flat.
Tang Chen glanced at it and asked what his grandfather's name was.
The man gave the name. The old man immediately mentioned a pagoda tree in the courtyard of their former home, then asked whether the