"Senior Cheng." Only after he spoke did Yun Chao suddenly realize how hoarse his voice had become.
"A Chao, I once taught you that, as sword cultivators, the one thing we must never abandon is our proud backbone. Once that backbone breaks, we can no longer hold our swords steady.
Hanging your head and hunching your shoulders are unacceptable! Straighten your back!
Show me the spirit you had when you first saw me!"
Yun Chao's eyes reddened. He lifted his head again and looked straight at Cheng Beiluo.
A trace of relief shone in Cheng Beiluo's red eyes. This was a sword cultivator. Though his eyes were the same red as those of a magic beast, on him they held not only bloodlust and brutality, but also a clarity and uprightness deep within.
Yun Chao pressed his lips together. "Senior, what do you intend to do next...?"
Cheng Beiluo paused, but did not answer Yun Chao's question directly. He merely patted Yun Chao's head with a forepaw. "Don't worry yourself over my affairs. At worst, once we get out, I'll find somewhere to hide."
Yun Chao was simplehearted. At that moment, he had yet to realize that this was a lie...
"But..." Yun Chao felt that something was wrong, but Cheng Beiluo quickly cut off that strange unease.
"But what? I never taught you to be so indecisive. Besides, this isn't the time to dwell on such things. Those two still haven't gone back up. The other eight will probably notice soon. Rather than wasting time here, hurry and discuss a strategy for dealing with those old monsters with your companions.
The strongest among you is only at the Spirit Severing Stage. If you fight those people head-on, you'll likely suffer badly."
At this point, Cheng Beiluo seemed to think