Free Web NovelChapter 36: Chapter 35: Stone Cave
Ling Wei nodded and said, "Of course. Let me see it."
Wen Qingye handed the map directly to Ling Wei. The moment she saw it, she exclaimed, "This is a Treasure Map!"
"That’s right. It’s a Treasure Map," Wen Qingye said with a nod.
Ling Wei glanced at Wen Qingye, a little surprised. ’I can’t believe he trusts me this much.’ At this thought, she lowered her head and began studying the Treasure Map in her hands.
"The location on this Treasure Map seems to be a tributary of the Baihui River. Judging by the angle, it shouldn’t be too far from here. It might even be this very stream," Ling Wei said, looking at the map in her hand.
Wen Qingye smiled. "Oh? Then our luck is really good."
Hearing Wen Qingye’s words, Ling Wei’s heart began to pound. She, too, felt a growing sense of longing for the treasure.
Ling Wei smiled and said, "Then let’s set out tomorrow to find it. We should get a good rest tonight."
"Alright," Wen Qingye agreed with a nod.
Wen Qingye helped Ling Wei up, and she went to lean against a nearby tree.
Ling Wei blinked as she looked at Wen Qingye. "Could you stay nearby? I’m afraid something dangerous might happen during the night..."
Wen Qingye knew the night was dark and held many unknown dangers. He nodded at once and said, "Alright."
After speaking, Wen Qingye leaned against the tree right next to Ling Wei. She was taken aback, not expecting him to get so close. Her intention had only been for him to stay somewhere nearby, not to be right beside her.
Ling Wei had been leaning against the tree. When she saw Wen Qingye settle down to her left, she subconsciously shifted a little to the right.
Wen Qingye just chuckled, said nothing, and closed his eyes.
The next day, Wen Qingye slowly opened his eyes. He felt something on his shoulder and turned his head to find Ling Wei sleeping there, her lips slightly parted, her breathing even and rhythmic.
Wen Qingye didn’t move. Instead, he gazed at the distant stream and the impending sunrise.
The morning sun lifted off the horizon, a brilliant crimson orb, slowly ascending. The glow around it saturated everything, dyeing the light, wispy clouds in faint shades of red. The sight was intoxicating.
"How beautiful!"
Hearing Ling Wei’s voice, Wen Qingye smiled and said, "You’re awake."
"Mhm, I’m awake," Ling Wei nodded.
Then, they fell silent, both gazing at the beautiful, moving sunrise. The intoxicating red halo of the morning sun seemed to be etched deeply into the horizon, its stunning crimson hue striking a chord deep within their souls.
An unknown amount of time passed before the crisp chirping of birds brought them back to their senses.
"We should go," Ling Wei said. "There will always be other sunrises. We shouldn’t linger."
Wen Qingye stood up, helped Ling Wei to her feet, and the two of them set off, following the direction of the stream.
Two days later, Ling Wei’s injuries had healed enough for her to walk on her own.
The stream grew more turbulent. The two sat down by the water to rest, and Ling Wei took out the Treasure Map to study it.
"It seems to be just ahead," Ling Wei said slowly. "The waterfall on the map must be up there. Otherwise, the river wouldn’t suddenly become so rapid here."
Hearing Ling Wei’s words, Wen Qingye felt a surge of delight.
Sure enough, a short while later, they heard a deafening roar up ahead—the sound of water crashing against the earth.
Ling Wei tucked a stray strand of dark hair behind her ear and looked at Wen Qingye. "You said if I helped you find it... how are you going to thank me?"
"How about we split the treasure evenly?" Wen Qingye said with a smile.
Ling Wei blinked her large eyes and grinned. "You said it, not me."
They walked a bit further and came upon a huge waterfall. A torrent of silvery-white water crashed against the rocks below, kicking up a spray of mist as the sound of its impact echoed all around.
Ling Wei looked at the map. "According to this, it seems to be in a cave behind the waterfall. Let’s go in and take a look."
They arrived in front of the waterfall. The current was so powerful that Ling Wei couldn’t help but shield her face with her hand.
Wen Qingye said to Ling Wei, "Close your eyes. I’ll take you through."
Ling Wei wrapped one arm around Wen Qingye’s and closed her eyes. He, in turn, wrapped an arm around her soft waist, raised a screen of Primordial Qi, and with a powerful push from his feet, leaped through the air and into the cave behind the waterfall.
The moment they flew into the air, Ling Wei instinctively wrapped both arms around Wen Qingye, and he was immediately greeted by a delicate fragrance.
Suddenly, the surrounding noise became much quieter.
"We’re here," Wen Qingye said with a smile, looking at Ling Wei in his arms.
The intimate contact made Ling Wei’s face flush crimson. Flustered, she snapped, "What was that for? You didn’t even ask for my permission!"
Wen Qingye spread his hands. "But how else were you going to get across?"
Ling Wei glared at Wen Qingye but said no more. The surroundings were dark, and a chill emanated from the pitch-blackness up ahead. A sudden unease filled her, and she couldn’t help but move closer to Wen Qingye and grab his arm.
They started walking forward. A faint chill swirled around them in the silent, dark cave. In the quiet passage, the only sound was their soft footsteps.
The gloomy environment frightened Ling Wei even more. She looked up at the young man before her; it seemed he was the only one who could give her any sense of security right now. She pressed a little closer to him.
Wen Qingye felt two soft mounds press against his arm. He cleared his throat dryly and continued walking forward.
Suddenly, two ghostly green lights appeared up ahead. Radiating a cold aura, they were shockingly bright in the darkness. Slowly, a long, slender black body of a snake materialized before them.
Wen Qingye immediately drew Ling Wei’s sword, his eyes fixed on what lay ahead.
"I think it’s a Black Rock Viper! Be careful!" Ling Wei whispered as a warning.
The Black Rock Viper was a Refining Essence First Heaven Demon Beast, while Wen Qingye was only at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer Heaven. Ling Wei couldn’t help but worry.
Wen Qingye nodded. "Your injuries haven’t healed yet. Just stay back and watch." freewёbnoνel.com
As soon as he finished speaking, Wen Qingye turned on his heel and instantly charged the Black Rock Viper.
SWOOSH!
Seeing Wen Qingye charge at it, the Black Rock Viper’s ghostly green eyes glinted with excitement. It whipped its tail violently, sending a heavy black shadow sweeping toward Wen Qingye’s neck.
Wen Qingye swept the sword forward. The Fifth-Grade Sword released a chilling aura, and with a flash of golden light, it moved with a speed and strangeness that outstripped the viper’s by a good measure.
CRACK!
Wen Qingye severed the Black Rock Viper’s tail with a single strike. The viper stared at Wen Qingye in pain, its body writhing on the ground as it let out a HISS.
Wen Qingye raised the sword and stabbed straight down, piercing the still-writhing Black Rock Viper. After being run through, its thrashing intensified, but it seemed to be its final struggle. After a few more twitches, it went still.
Ling Wei slowly walked over to Wen Qingye’s side. "Was that the Spiritual Snake Sword you just used?"
Wen Qingye nodded. "That’s right, the Spiritual Snake Sword." freēwēbηovel.c૦m
Ling Wei praised, "I heard that only geniuses of the Sword Dao can master the Spiritual Snake Sword. The way you executed it was quite extraordinary—even more impressive than others I’ve seen use it."
Wen Qingye just smiled. It was only the Spiritual Snake Sword. In his eyes, it wasn’t even worth a second glance.
