In any case, if Ren Heming was alone and the evil spirit plotted against him, he would be in more danger.
Dong Zheng might as well go find him.
Dong Zheng followed the talisman paper that was tracking Ren Heming. He rode along the bank of the stream, which meandered to and fro. As the stream came to an end, it became more shallow and the pebbles on the bed became less slippery. A smattering of large stones dotted the middle of the stream, separating the water. If Ren Heming hadn’t lost consciousness yet, he should have used these stones to reach the bank.
Sure enough, Dong Zheng was right. He found still-wet footprints disappearing into the nearby forest.
Next to the footprints was a fallen stone statue about ten centimeters high. It was unknown whether the statue was simply carved in a careless manner or whether it had lost its details due to excess handling. However, it was clear that the subject was standing with arms folded across its chest, hands pressed together as if in prayers.
Did Ren Heming lose it?
Dong Zheng didn’t know. They’d been together this entire time, but Ren Heming had never taken it out.
The sun had almost fully sunk into the horizon. Dong Zheng picked up the statue and continued to search for Ren Heming.
Ren Hening had no horse and was nearly drowned; he couldn’t have moved fast. Moreover, he must know that Dong Zheng would come looking for him so he ought to have waited in one location. But even after a long time of searching, he still hadn’t found any signs of him.
It wouldn’t be long before it became fully dark. He needed to find a place to rest. Staying out in the forest in the middle of the night would be a very dangerous thing.
Dong Zheng hoped that it would get dark slowly, allowing him enough time to find a resting place.
However, the setting sun would not wait because of human will, and the night still came coldly.
The fog spread silently.
The anxiety in Dong Zheng’s heart became stronger and stronger. The horse was already very weary and was reluctant to move any further. But as they trudged on, something loomed in the fog.
It was a stone slab with incomprehensible characters and patterns engraved on it. Behind the slab was a pitched-black tunnel mouth that looked just like the one he’d seen earlier in the day. The steps slanted into the unknown darkness, but there was no fishy, cloying scent.
He could take a break here for a while.
This was what Dong Zheng thought. Although he didn’t know what was inside, he determined that the dense fog outside was actually more dangerous. He tied the horse to the tree next to him, lit a bamboo flint, and walked down the steps.
As he climbed down the first few steps, the only sound he could hear was his own breathing. The bamboo flint illuminated the nearby surroundings, and as he descended the last step, he was surprised to find that the depths of this underground tunnel was not an open space as he’d imagined, but it was actually connected to a dark passageway.
Dong Zheng threw the bamboo flint into the passageway, where it travelled a parabola before finally landing with a loud sound. It rolled a short distance before finally stopping.
The light illuminated the end of the passageway and the person sitting there, back pressed against the wall. The person looked at Dong Zheng in alarm.
“Shixiong?” Dong Zheng was surprised.
Ren Heming recognized Dong Zheng and stood up. The water on his body hadn’t completely dried, making him look rather pitiful.
“Finally, I’ve been waiting for you,” he said.
The walls on both sides of the passageway were laid with blue bricks and looked unexpectedly tidy. Dong Zheng didn’t get close. He slowly frowned and pressed his hand on the handle of his xiuchun sword.
“Don’t be so nervous, Lao Qi.” Ren Heming saw that Dong Zheng was defensive. He walked to the stone door at the end of the passageway and said, “Come and take a look at what you can find.”
Dong Zheng didn’t move.
Ren Heming sighed and said, “Don’t be so cautious. I can’t beat you, you should know this already. Don’t you want to know what’s going on?”
Dong Zheng went over and stood by the door. Illuminated in front of him was the scene of a sacrifice. A group of people were kneeling with their heads down. There was a child placed on a high platform, and the floor was full of strange lines, which might represent the devil in the minds of the locals.
Ren Heming’s voice was flat, as if he’d been strung tight before and had now loosened. His whole person even seemed lazy. “Go in and take a look?”
Ding Zheng didn’t comply. He said, “What’s the matter with you?”
“Just a little tired.” Ren Heming actually yawned. He didn’t seem nervous at all, and even appeared a little bored. He reached past Dong Zheng and directly pushed open the door.
The door was lighter than Dong Zheng had expected. He watched as Ren Heming opened it, and an unknown bright light illuminated the huge cave on the other side of the door.
Ren Heming pushed Dong Zheng in and followed closely behind.
Dong Zheng grabbed Ren Heming’s arm and frowned. This time, he finally knew where the lingering trepidation came from.
⏹ “Where is this?” → Go to Chapter 254.
🔼 “Who are you?” → Go to Chapter 254.
⏺ “What is your purpose?” → Go to Chapter 254.
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