At this time, the young girl also saw Zhang Xiaofan and Lu Xueqi, who was still unconscious beside him. Clearly, she had not expected there to be living people beneath the Abyss of the Dead either. Her expression changed, startled.
Immediately after, she made out Zhang Xiaofan’s features, paused briefly, a hint of surprise flashing across her face, then revealed a smile.
"What a small world!" In the darkness, she was like a beautiful, blooming lily, walking over gracefully.
Zhang Xiaofan stood up, intentionally or otherwise shielding Lu Xueqi. After all, anyone who came to the depths of the Abyss of the Dead—a place haunted by yin spirits and demonic beasts—could hardly be an ordinary person.
As the girl drew near, Zhang Xiaofan finally saw clearly that between the jade-like fingers of her right hand she held a small white flower. It actually emitted a faint white glow, illuminating the ground around her. He had no idea what exotic species it was.
However, Zhang Xiaofan had no time to worry about the flower now. Although he remained somewhat wary of this strange girl, no matter what, seeing her beneath this dark, desolate, and quiet Abyss of the Dead immediately made him feel somewhat more kinship.
"Hello." Zhang Xiaofan had originally wanted to say some polite pleasantries, but when they came out, only these two words remained.
The girl glanced at him and smiled. "Isn't this Zhang Xiaofan, the young hero of Qingyun Mountain? How did you end up running to this ghastly, sinister place? This isn't somewhere you ought to be."
Zhang Xiaofan was startled. "How do you know I'm a disciple of Qingyun?"
The girl smiled but didn't answer.
Zhang Xiaofan furrowed his brows, feeling that this girl was far from simple. Just as he was pondering, he heard the girl chuckle lightly and say, "May I ask, Young Hero Zhang, how long have you been here? Have you found the 'Dripping Blood Cave' yet?"
Zhang Xiaofan was stunned for a moment. "What Dripping Blood Cave?"
The girl snorted, the smile on her face gradually fading, but she still said calmly, "Young Hero Zhang plays the fool quite well. You so-called righteous people—if not for the things in the Dripping Blood Cave, why else would you come to this dark, filthy place?"
Zhang Xiaofan was confused by her words, but he vaguely understood that there was a Dripping Blood Cave here and that there were likely some important items inside. However, before leaving the mountain, he had never heard his master or the sect leader mention it. Yet what he was thinking about right now wasn't this; rather, he caught the meaning in the girl's words and said in a low voice, "You say we of the righteous path are hypocritical. Then who are you?"
The girl flicked her water-green garment. The flower held between her fingers traced an arc in the air along with her jade-like hand. That white light left a trailing mark in the air, as if reluctant to part from this darkness, lingering for a long time before slowly dissipating.
"I—am I not precisely the demonic sect witch that you righteous people utterly detest?" She smiled sweetly.
Zhang Xiaofan's heart sank. He suddenly felt a sense of loss, but this thought merely flashed by, leaving no trace. Immediately, he snorted and focused his guard.
Ever since he had entered the Qingyun Sect, he had heard from his elders and senior brothers how demonic cult evildoers brought calamity to the world, cruel and lacking in conscience. The Qingyun Sect rules strictly forbade associating with people of the demonic path; they were mortal enemies with irreconcilable differences.
However, the girl didn't seem to bear any immediate, deep-seated hatred or intention to strike right away. Instead, her gaze drifted behind Zhang Xiaofan. She took a look and suddenly smiled. "This elder sister seems about to wake up?"
Zhang Xiaofan turned his head to look. Sure enough, he saw Lu Xueqi slightly turn over, her lips move twice, then slowly open her eyes. Zhang Xiaofan was overjoyed. He turned back and said, "You're awake!"
Unexpectedly, Lu Xueqi suddenly showed a look of alarm and struggled to say, "Be careful..."
Before Zhang Xiaofan could react, he suddenly smelled a strange fragrance assailing his nostrils. Where white light flashed, a white flower appeared before his eyes.
In the darkness, beneath the Abyss of the Dead, how could there be any flowers? Zhang Xiaofan retreated a step in shock. Yet he saw that flower move without wind, as if showing him a slight smile in midair, nodding its head. In an instant, the flower split apart, its petals—each pure white and lovely—flashing with faint green light at their edges as they flew toward him.
Even without knowing the girl's demonic sect identity, one could tell something was wrong just from looking at this strange flower. Caught off guard by the sudden attack, Zhang Xiaofan panicked, retreating several steps in succession. In his haste, he raised the fire stick in his hand to block before him. When those rapidly shooting petals made contact with the dark cyan light of the fire stick, most were blocked, but a few barely grazed past, nearly injuring Zhang Xiaofan.
Zhang Xiaofan was still shaken. He inwardly cursed that these demonic cult villains were indeed every one of them treacherous and deceitful—his master, master's wife, and senior brothers' words were truly eternal truths, not one word wrong. But at this moment, his eyes swept across and saw the girl's figure move; she was flying toward Lu Xueqi.
Zhang Xiaofan was greatly alarmed. Seeing that Lu Xueqi, after her severe injuries, still had almost no strength to retaliate, and his distance had been pulled farther, he hurriedly waved his hand and sent the fire stick flying toward the green-clad girl.
Hearing the sound of wind, the green-clad girl smiled serenely. Her right hand welcomed it in midair. In an instant, all the petals flew back like lightning, gathering onto the flower bud. The small flower emitting faint white light between her fingers rose to meet it. The moment the white shimmer and the dark cyan light of the fire stick made contact, the two opposed each other in midair, stalemated for a moment, seemingly without victor, then each flew back.
In the darkness, a soft cry of slight surprise suddenly rang out.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Zhang Xiaofan caught the fire stick with one hand while quickly returning to Lu Xueqi's side, shielding himself before her to prevent this "strange and treacherous" demonic witch from springing any more plots.
However, that "strange and treacherous" witch suddenly stopped at this moment, no longer advancing, allowing Zhang Xiaofan to return to Lu Xueqi's side. In her eyes as she looked at Zhang Xiaofan, there was a great deal of astonishment.
In the exchange just now, she had been fully confident that with the "Heartbreak" wondrous flower in her hand, she could easily subdue Zhang Xiaofan. Unexpectedly, when the "Heartbreak Flower" and that fire stick opposed each other in midair, the strange fragrance that could normally transmit through objects straight into one's heart, causing immediate paralysis, was actually forced back, and even faintly showed signs of backlash, greatly alarming her.
Zhang Xiaofan stood before Lu Xueqi, helping her to her feet, and asked in a low voice, "Are you alright, Senior Sister Lu?"
Lu Xueqi shook her head slightly. Only then did Zhang Xiaofan relax. He turned his head and said hatefully, "Shameless witch, only knowing how to sneak attack!"
The surprise in the girl's eyes immediately vanished, replaced by slight anger. She snorted and said, "Fine, in a moment I'll let you see just how formidable this witch can be!"
As she spoke, she was about to make a move. Zhang Xiaofan hurriedly prepared himself, but inwardly he was crying out in misery. Lu Xueqi was leaning against him right now, weak and powerless—clearly severely injured, likely the poison still not cleared. And that demonic witch before him was strange and unpredictable; if they started fighting, he feared he wouldn't be able to look after Senior Sister Lu.
Unfortunately, matters in the world often cannot proceed as one wishes. While Zhang Xiaofan's mind was racing here, he suddenly discovered that things were getting worse and worse.
In the darkness, another point of light appeared. This light was different from the green-clad girl's. Although it was light, it was dark in color. In the darkness, one almost thought it was a black light. Within the glow, a faint, shadowy figure walked out, stopping beside the green-clad girl. This was a tall, slender woman dressed entirely in black, her face still covered by a veil—precisely the companion who had been with this girl that day at Shanhai Inn.
Then, to Zhang Xiaofan's astonished gaze, light after light appeared in the darkness. About five more people appeared, dressed in yellow garments. They were precisely the attendants of this girl from that day at Shanhai Inn, and now they had unexpectedly all arrived here.
Zhang Xiaofan only felt his throat go dry. Under the gaze of so many eyes, he couldn't help but feel his body grow cold. Right at this moment, he suddenly heard Lu Xueqi's faint and weak voice by his ear: "You go quickly. These people's cultivation is no less than yours or mine. You cannot fight them by force!"
Zhang Xiaofan turned his head. He saw that pale yet beautiful face right beside him. Yet there was no worry or fear on it, as if she were merely saying something completely normal. Zhang Xiaofan was stunned for a moment, shook his head, pursed his lips tightly, and turned his head back again to face those mysteriously appearing demonic sect people.
"Bi Yao, be careful," the veiled woman said as she looked at the two people ahead, her gaze finally landing on the fire stick in Zhang Xiaofan's hand. She said in a low voice, "That black rod is somewhat strange."
Bi Yao—that is, the green-clad girl—said, "Aunt You, what did you see?"
The veiled woman called Aunt You—her expression couldn't be seen clearly—but from her words one could hear a trace of perplexity: "It seems like... that fierce aura just now was too similar. But how could someone from the righteous path have this thing? They also wouldn't know how to control this bead. And this... this is a short rod. What's going on?"
Bi Yao snorted and said, "I shall see just how powerful this thing is!" Saying this, she stepped forward. Immediately, the yellow-clad people behind her also walked forward at the same time. Seeing that the situation was wrong, Zhang Xiaofan—though he had the mind to fight—realized the disparity between enemy and them was too great. He could only support Lu Xueqi and retreat backward.
That black-clad veiled woman looked heavily suffused with ghostly aura. Her entire person floated straight forward in the darkness, following beside Bi Yao, almost like a yin spirit. In a voice that only the two of them could hear, she said, "The fierce aura of that short rod in the young man's hand is extremely heavy. Did you sense it?"
Bi Yao glanced at Zhang Xiaofan, who was tensely guarding ahead, and nodded.
The veiled woman paused and said, "Even so, I feel that the ferocious power within this short rod is likely not fully released yet, as if suppressed by something. In my opinion, this short rod probably has some connection to our Holy Sect. This young man's identity is highly suspicious. You must think thrice before acting."
Bi Yao frowned and said, "Aunt You, what do you say we should do?"
The veiled woman's tone turned flat. "Capture him, that's all. Take him back for your father to see. The Sect Leader's wisdom penetrates heaven and earth; he will certainly know what this object is!"
Bi Yao thought for a moment and said, "That works too."
While speaking, their feet didn't stop, continuously pressing forward. Without the approval of these two, the yellow-clad people naturally wouldn't act either. One side advancing, one retreating, they had covered quite a distance during this exchange.
Supporting Lu Xueqi, Zhang Xiaofan grew increasingly nervous, but in his ears he gradually heard the sound of water waves. It seemed they had walked back to that cove from the beginning.
Bi Yao was slightly startled. She turned to the veiled woman and said, "Aunt You, is this the 'Merciless Sea'?"
The veiled woman fell silent for a moment, then sighed in a low voice, "Deep passion only begets suffering from heartlessness! That's right. This is the 'Merciless Sea,' the most mysterious of the Five Seas."
"Ah!" Perhaps because of her youth, Bi Yao didn't notice the bitter meaning in the veiled woman's words at all. She was greatly excited and said, "Ever since I was young, I've heard Father say that the Merciless Sea is hidden deep underground, the Sea of the Nine Underworlds. And he said the Dripping Blood Cave beneath the Abyss of the Dead is right by the Merciless Sea. It seems after searching for three days, we've finally almost found it."
The veiled woman, however, fell into silence, not uttering a sound.
Bi Yao found it somewhat strange. She looked at her, then quickly stopped caring. Turning her head, she said, "Fine, then I'll capture you first, then go find the Dripping Blood Cave!"
As she spoke, she waved her hand, and the five yellow-clad people stepped forward together, preparing to act. Behind Zhang Xiaofan was the boundless Merciless Sea in the darkness; ahead he was surrounded by these demonic sect people. Truly, there was no path forward and no way to retreat—he was in a dead end.
Lu Xueqi felt chilly winds blowing from the Merciless Sea behind her, cold enough to pierce the heart. And within her body, she was weak and limp, even faintly feeling dizzy and nauseous—likely the remaining poison had not been cleared.
She was extremely intelligent. Without even thinking, she knew that in this situation, if Zhang Xiaofan had to look after her, the two of them would only die together.
She turned her head and looked at Zhang Xiaofan. This youth still seemed somewhat nervous at this moment, his body very tense. Even the hand supporting her was gripping tightly from nervousness. And even in his eyes, there was a longing for life, a fear of death.
And yet, he clearly did not have—even the slightest hint of—retreat.
"Junior Brother Zhang." She called out softly. Zhang Xiaofan heard her; his shoulders moved slightly, as if he were about to turn his head back. But for some reason, he ultimately did not turn to look at her.
"Senior Sister Lu, on the platform earlier, and even just now, you saved me and protected me. I... I... won't leave." Zhang Xiaofan's emotions were stirred. He had wanted to say some grand, heroic words, but when the words reached his lips, they seemed to vanish without a trace. In the end, he could only dryly say the two words "won't leave."
Lu Xueqi didn't speak anymore.
Zhang Xiaofan suddenly felt somewhat uneasy in his heart. Had his words offended her? He didn't know why, but from the moment he first saw Lu Xueqi, he had been somewhat afraid of this cold-as-ice woman.
Cold winds blew from the Merciless Sea, lifting a few strands of long hair from the silent woman behind him, lightly brushing past his neck and cheeks.
The waves of the Merciless Sea suddenly seemed to surge violently.
From deep within the darkness, as if like a sigh, wind swept past, as though the Merciless Sea was revealing a hideous grin, mockingly watching the people of the mortal world.
Bi Yao revealed a smile, leading the five yellow-clad people to surround them.
Zhang Xiaofan retreated a step, but only felt cold beneath his feet—he had actually stepped into bone-piercingly cold seawater.
Right at this moment, on the gradually surging Merciless Sea, a huge wave suddenly rose high. The sound of the sea was deafening; looking over, it was actually several zhang high. Fierce wind hit their faces, and the people on the shore all paled, almost unable to steady their footing.
The veiled woman standing at the back suddenly changed color and cried out urgently, "Bi Yao, retreat quickly!"
Bi Yao's heart jumped in alarm. She knew this Aunt You was experienced and knowledgeable, and even Father had always respected her. Without time to think further, she retreated.
As she moved, the five yellow-clad people also retreated backward. Only Zhang Xiaofan and Lu Xueqi, who were standing closest to the seaside, were caught off guard. They were immediately struck head-on by the huge wave. Not to mention being soaked to the skin, that bone-chilling cold was truly unbearable.
Then, everyone looked toward the Merciless Sea where this sudden upheaval had occurred. They saw that on the pitch-black sea, two huge lanterns flashing with faint green light slowly brightened. But looking at them, these lights were truly strange. They weren't ordinary circular shapes; instead, they were slender and elongated from top to bottom. Especially in the middle, there were two thin, pitch-black slits, exuding cold, fierce intent.
"It's it, it's it." The veiled woman's body trembled. "This beast actually hasn't died yet!"
Bi Yao exclaimed in shock, "Beast? Aunt You, what is this thing?"
The veiled woman looked at the two orbs of light on the surging Merciless Sea drawing closer and closer to the shore. With a trace of fear in her voice, she said, "This is the 'Blackwater Mystic Serpent.'"
Bi Yao was greatly shaken, hardly able to believe it. She said in surprise, "Wasn't this demonic creature killed a thousand years ago in the Western Great Marsh by the divine beast Yellow Bird?"
The veiled woman said urgently, "Rumors say so, but today it has appeared here. I don't know either. Bi Yao, this Blackwater Mystic Serpent is an ancient demonic beast, ferocious and unmatched. Nothing but its natural enemy, the Yellow Bird, can eliminate it. We must retreat quickly."
Bi Yao retreated two steps back, then suddenly turned her head and said, "But that kid..."
The veiled woman shook her head repeatedly. "We can't worry about that anymore. Go quickly."
Bi Yao was still hesitating, but Zhang Xiaofan and Lu Xueqi, standing by the seaside drenched by the waves, almost held their breath in an instant.
As it approached, the two of them could see clearly that those two huge lanterns—nearly two people tall—were actually a pair of giant eyes. Speaking of which, from the time he entered the Ancient Bat Cave, Zhang Xiaofan had constantly seen strange and enormous eyes—from Lao Nian's Crimson Demon Eye to the pig-headed demonic beast's giant eye—but no matter which one, compared to the pair before him, they were like mustard seeds compared to Mount Sumeru.
The sea wind blew fiercely into their faces, but what it brought was not a slightly salty taste; instead, it was an overwhelming fishy stench, straight into their noses, choking.
An incomparably enormous black serpent slowly emerged before them. Its lower body was coiled, its serpent body soaked in seawater. The crowd didn't even reach one-third of the girth of that huge serpent body. And merely the upper body and serpent head of the Blackwater Mystic Serpent, standing erect in midair, was already several dozen zhang high from the ground. Its serpent eyes emitting a faint green glow were currently looking down from above at the crowd, who to it were like ants.
Zhang Xiaofan had never known that there could be such an enormous creature in this world. He had even once thought that the Water Qilin, Spirit Venerable of Tongtian Peak on Qingyun Mountain, was the largest spiritual beast under heaven. But compared to this Blackwater Mystic Serpent before him, the Water Qilin was practically no different from a small dog in terms of body size.
Needless to say for him, even Lu Xueqi beside him, or even Bi Yao and the others from the demonic sect—when had they ever seen such a gigantic beast? For a moment, they were all frozen in place, unable to utter a sound.
Note 1: "Classic of Mountains and Seas: The Great Wilderness — South": South of the Black Water, there is a Mystic Serpent that eats dust. There is Mount Wu; west of it is the Yellow Bird. The Emperor's medicine, eight pavilions. The Yellow Bird at Mount Wu supervises this Mystic Serpent.
Another note: "Divine and Demonic Anomalies: Demonic Beasts Chapter" — Blackwater Mystic Serpent: a giant serpent, body black, belly white, green eyes. The serpent body is over four zhang thick, over one hundred zhang long. It eats immortal medicine and does not die, its lifespan exceeds ten thousand years, residing in the Western Great Marsh. Also rumored to reside in the sea.