Ruins in the Cave

The wind howled outside the cave.

Lu Yuan withdrew his gaze, his fingertips tracing the piece of rotten wood. It was riddled with wormholes and crumbled at the slightest touch. He put it down and picked up the metal fragment beside it.

I peered through the gaps in the vines at the dim light.

The reddish-brown rust was thick. The edges were broken and irregular, as if it had been smashed. He scratched it with his fingernail, revealing a dark bluish-gray underneath.

It's not ordinary ironware.

He turned it over. There was a shallow groove on the back, with evenly worn edges—the result of long-term use.

Tools? Or weapons?

Lu Yuan looked at the wooden handle. The mortise and tenon joints were blurry, but it was clear that they were originally inserted into metal parts. When put together, they resembled a short hoe or a pickaxe.

Degree of corrosion...

The valley floor is damp and corrodes quickly. But this thickness means it's been there for at least several decades, or even longer.

He used the rock wall to support himself as he stood up. His legs were still a little weak, and his Soul Power had recovered to less than 30%.

The cave was shallow, about six or seven feet deep. He examined it inch by inch along the cave wall.

The chisel marks are very regular. They're not natural weathering, but rather the result of artificial chiseling. The technique is steady, indicating either extensive experience or... someone who has been here for a long time.

Reaching the deepest point, the light dimmed. He crouched down, running his hand along the base of the rock wall.

My fingertips touched the scratch.

I moved closer, almost touching it. The scratches were shallow, covered by dust. They looked like they were carved with a sharp stone, crooked and uneven.

There are seventeen in total. They vary in depth and are arranged haphazardly. Next to them is a group of even more indistinct markings: three small dots arranged in a triangle.

count?

Lu Yuan frowned. If it's a count, why is it so messy?

His gaze fell below the scratches. There was a stone slab half-buried in the sand, with a narrow crack between its edge and the rock wall.

My fingertips probed inside.

He touched it. It felt soft to the touch, with the resilience of leather, but it was already quite brittle. He carefully pulled it out.

It's a leather bag.

It's about the size of a palm, and dark brown. The leather drawstring at the top of the bag is stiff and breaks easily.

Open. Empty.

No, there was some dark red powder stuck to the bottom of the bag, clumped together, about the size of a fingernail.

Bring it close to your nose.

A very faint fishy smell, mixed with a strange sweetness.

He was stunned.

This scent... it stirred a corner of my past life's memories. A fragmented record about processing Soul Power medicinal herbs. Certain special herbs, ground into powder and stored in moisture-proof leather bags...

Moisture-proof treatment.

Lu Yuan examined the inside of the leather bag. There was a thin, hardened coating, either resin or grease, used to repel moisture. The technique was rough, but effective.

Someone had specially prepared a moisture-proof bag, filled it with powder, and brought it into the deep valley. Then, the bag was empty.

The powder has been used up.

Where will it be used?

Lu Yuan carried the leather bag back to the cave entrance. The fog had thinned somewhat, and the outline of the rock face on the opposite bank of the stream could be vaguely seen. And... the direction where that plant was located.

Clues began to piece together in my mind.

Tool remnants. Shallow chisel marks. Counting scratches. Powder residue from the moisture-proof leather bag.

The strange plant at the bottom of the valley, radiating pure Soul Power.

An outline takes shape.

"... Nurture," he said softly.

It wasn't a chance discovery. Someone found this place, dug a shallow hole as a base, and attempted to cultivate or utilize that plant. The scratches may be a record of time or number of attempts. The powder is an auxiliary material.

Did that person succeed?

Lu Yuan looked outside the cave. The plants were still there, but the fruit had been picked. After it was picked, the plants quickly withered. Would the cultivator have so easily removed the fruit?

More importantly, what happened to that person afterward?

Did you leave? Or...?

He looked at the remains of tools inside the cave. If they left, why didn't they take them with them? If they didn't leave, where are they?

The valley floor is only this big.

Lu Yuan felt a chill run down his spine. He forced himself to calm down and walked back to Lin Xiao's side. The boy was still unconscious, but his breathing was much more steady, and color had returned to his face.

The fruit's effects are truly astonishing.

But what happens next?

The fog had lifted, but how to leave? The rock face was almost vertical, impossible to climb. Should we follow the stream? The stream disappeared deep into the foggy valley—the direction from which the roars of beasts came.

The chance for survival in dire circumstances is often accompanied by great danger.

Lu Yuan sat back down in the corner and picked up the leather bag again. He scraped off a bit of dark red powder with his fingernail and placed it in his palm.

I twirled it a bit, then spread it out.

It is dark red in color and has fine particles. It has an eerie matte finish in dim light.

He put a tiny bit on his fingertip and looked at it closely.

Memories of a past life surge forth. Soul Master in remote areas use special minerals mixed with the blood of Soul Beast to create "Blood Soil" to promote plant growth... The records are incomplete.

If it truly is "Blood Soil," then the cultivator's purpose becomes clear: to accelerate the growth of Soul Power plants or induce the production of fruits with specific properties.

Lu Yuan recalled the taste of that fruit.

A pure, gentle, and near-perfect replenishment of Soul Power. Completely free of impurities. This quality doesn't seem to be naturally achievable; it's the result of meticulous regulation.

Someone here has spent a long time trying to "create" the ideal Soul Power fruit.

Why?

For personal use? Or for some other purpose?

He put the powder back into the leather bag and tied it—though the rope had broken, he still managed to make a knot. Then he placed it with the metal scraps and wooden handle, weighing it down with gravel.

These are clues.

This proves that the valley is not isolated from the world. It proves that someone came, did something, and then... disappeared.

A soft "patter" sound came from outside the cave.

Like pebbles rolling down.

Lu Yuan suddenly looked up, his whole body tensing. Blue Silver Grass appeared in his palm, its vines reaching towards the cave entrance along the ground.

A sensation was transmitted.

There was no fluctuation of Soul Power. There were no signs of life. It was just the wind, or a small animal knocking over a stone.

He breathed a sigh of relief, but remained vigilant.

Time passed slowly. The light inside the cave gradually brightened, and the mist was indeed dissipating. The opposite bank of the stream could be seen clearly, and even the outline of the cracks where the plants were located could be seen.

The plant has become completely dull, with drooping leaves that have lost their luster.

Once the fruit is picked, the "source" dries up.

A thought popped into Lu Yuan's head: If the cultivator were still alive, what would their reaction be if they saw the fruit being picked?

He shook his head, dismissing the pointless speculation. What he needed to think about now was how to leave.

Lin Xiao's breathing became even and deep.

Lu Yuan turned his head to look. The boy's brows relaxed, and his face was more rosy. The bruise on his fractured right arm was fading—the effects of the fruit were still ongoing.

But when will he wake up?

have no idea.

He leaned back against the rock wall and closed his eyes. His Soul Power slowly circulated, absorbing the meager free energy in the air. The recovery was slow, but it was better than waiting idly.

I'm still sorting things out in my mind.

Cultivator. Plant. Fruit. Tool. Leather bag powder.

The roar of a beast echoed from the depths of the valley.

Is there any connection between these things?

For example, the cultivator needed to protect the plants from Soul Beast, so they chose this secluded, shallow cave. However, they still alerted those deep within, leading to a conflict...

Or conversely, are the cultivators themselves connected to that being?

Lu Yuan opened his eyes.

You're overthinking it. There's too little information; speculation is just guesswork. The most important thing is to wait for Lin Xiao to wake up and then find a way out.

He looked out of the cave.

The fog had mostly dissipated, revealing the entire valley floor—larger than expected. The stream meandered deeper, disappearing into a narrow passage between two towering rock walls. At the other end of the passage, a pale gray fog still lingered.

That was the direction from which the beast's roar came.

It is also the only possible exit.

Lu Yuan breath.

To go or not to go?

The answer is clear.

He stood up, walked to the cave entrance, and parted the vines. The cold morning air rushed in, carrying the dampness of grass, trees, and streams. The valley floor was eerily quiet; not even the chirping of insects could be heard.

It's too quiet.

He retreated into the cave and began to prepare. He wrapped the metal fragments and wooden handle in a rag and stuffed them into his robes. He carefully put the leather bag into his inner pocket. Then he checked Lin Xiao's injuries.

The fractured part of my right arm has been re-secured with branches and strips of cloth, and the bandage has been tightened. The wound on my back has scabbed over. The old injury to my left shoulder... seems stable.

It should be able to move now.

Lu Yuan squatted down and helped Lin Xiao up, leaning him against his shoulder. The boy was heavy, but easier to carry than last night. He adjusted his position and used vines to wrap around their waists several times to secure them.

After doing all that, he took a breath.

Some Soul Power has been depleted, but it can still hold on.

It's time to go.

He took one last look at the shallow cave: the chisel marks on the rock walls, the scratches on the ground, and the spots where gravel had been pressed down in the corners.

Some people have stayed here for a long time.

Now, they are leaving too.

Lu Yuan carried Lin Xiao on his back, bent down and crawled out of the vines. His feet stepped on the gravel beach with a soft "crack".

He walked downstream towards the narrow passage.

Every step was taken with great care. The Blue Silver Grass vines scouted ahead, sensing any abnormalities.

I walked several dozen steps.

A very faint "crack" came from the direction of the shallow hole behind us.

Like a stone cracking open.

Lu Yuan suddenly turned around.

The shallow hole was hidden quietly behind the vines, and nothing could be seen. But that sound... He stared for a few seconds, but there was no follow-up.

It might be a loose rock from the cave ceiling.

He turned back and continued walking.

A thought popped into my head: Did the cultivator also look back like this when they left?

And then, he never came back.

The sound of the stream grew louder. The passage drew nearer, and two rock walls resembled the mouths of giant beasts, their throats gaping open in gray mist.

Lu Yuan stopped at the entrance of the passage.

The interior was dimly lit, and the mist moved slowly as if it were alive. A breeze blew from deep within, carrying a faint, fishy smell.

The smell was somewhat similar to the powder in the leather bag.

He was stunned.

His fingers unconsciously reached for the leather pouch in his pocket.

Just then, Lin Xiao on his shoulder moved.

A very soft, muffled groan.

Lu Yuan turned his head. The boy's eyelashes trembled, and he slowly opened his eyes. His amber pupils were initially unfocused, then slowly focused, landing on his face.

"... Lu Yuan?" The voice was hoarse, but clear.

"Um."

Where... are we?

Lu Yuan looked at the gray, misty passage ahead and remained silent for two seconds.

"I don't know," he said, "But we have to keep moving forward."

Lin Xiao didn't ask any more questions. He tried to move his right arm, wincing in pain, but didn't make a sound. Then he looked at the passageway, his pupils slightly contracting.

"There's something inside," he said in a hoarse voice.

A beast-like intuition.

Lu Yuan nodded. "I know."

"Want to go in?"

"Um."

Lin Xiao was silent for a moment, then leaned his head back on Lu Yuan's shoulder. "... Then let's go in."

It's very simple, just three words.

Lu Yuan remained silent. He adjusted his breathing, and his Soul Power flowed slowly within his body. The Blue Silver Grass vines drooped from his palms, reaching into the gray mist of the passage close to the ground.

A sensation was transmitted.

The passage was deep. The ground was slippery and covered in moss. There were... claw marks on the rock walls?

Deep claw marks, like those left by some kind of large Soul Beast. There were more than one, densely packed, covering the entire rock face.

Lu Yuan paused in his tracks.

Then, carrying Lin Xiao on his back, he stepped into the gray fog.

The light dimmed instantly. A mist enveloped his entire body, damp, cold, and sticky. Visibility was less than three feet; he could only rely on the Blue Silver Grass to sense his surroundings and grope his way forward.

The claw marks are increasing.

Some are very old, their edges worn smooth by time. Some... are very new, with moss yet to grow on them.

Lu Yuan's heart raced.

He continued walking forward. The passage was winding and he didn't know where it led. The further he went, the stronger the stench became.

I walked about a hundred steps.

The fog ahead suddenly thinned out a bit. One could vaguely see the end of the passage—a larger space with a faint light.

Just then, the Blue Silver Grass vines gave a violent response!

Soul Power fluctuation!

A violent, chaotic, and hostile surge of Soul Power erupted from the space ahead!

Lu Yuan suddenly stopped.

Lin Xiao also tensed up on his shoulder.

"... Soul Beast," the boy said softly, "... more than one."

Lu Yuan didn't answer. He stared at the faint light ahead, his pupils contracting.

Blue Silver Grass sensed at least three different Soul Power fluctuations in that space. Each one was much stronger than the Mist-Hiding Lizard from last night.

And they were heading in that direction.

retreat?

There was a dead end behind them. They couldn't go back through the shallow cave, and there were no other exits at the bottom of the valley.

Only entry is permitted.

Lu Yuan breath, circulating his Soul Power to its limit. The Blue Silver Grass in his palm glowed faintly, and the vines silently retracted, weaving a sparse barrier in front of him.

Although it offers little defensive capability, it can at least provide early warning.

He took the next step.

Next step.

The faint light at the end of the passage grew closer. It became clearer—it was a huge underground cavern, its ceiling covered in glowing moss, casting a pale green light.

In the center of the cave, there were three dark figures.

They were tearing something apart, their backs to them.

Lu Yuan's pupils contracted sharply.

Those were... three Soul Beast corpses. Judging from their outlines, they resembled large lizard-like Soul Beast, but their size was outrageously large. The corpses had been torn open, with their internal organs and flesh scattered all over the ground.

And the three dark figures were eating—

One of them slowly turned its head.

It has grayish-white scales covered in mucus. It has no eyes, only two deep black holes. Its mouth splits open, revealing a dense array of sharp teeth.

It "looked" towards the entrance of the passage.

Lu Yuan's blood almost froze.

The owner of that beastly roar last night... was more than one.

Moreover, they had clearly spotted their prey.