Chapter 115. The snake cave [4]
After waiting several more breaths, Lin Zhaoyue slowly withdraw her spiritual qi.
The concealment technique quietly dissipated and almost at the same instant, her legs gave out beneath her.
Thud.
She collapsed onto one knee before falling forward, barely managing to catch herself with both hands.
"Young Miss!"
Lin Zhaofeng and Lin Zhaocao hurriedly opened their eyes and rushed to her side.
Fine droplets of sweat poured from Lin Zhaoyue’s forehead, soaking the strands of hair clinging to her face.
Her breathing had become ragged and every breath felt heavier than the last.
Maintaining the concealment technique over three people while hiding from a spirit beast of that caliber had drained nearly all of her spiritual qi.
Even her meridians throbbed with a dull ache from the strain.
She tried to push herself back to her feet but her arms trembled violently.
The strength simply wasn’t there anymore.
Lin Zhaocao quickly supported one side of her body while Lin Zhaofeng steadied the other.
Only then did Lin Zhaoyue manage a weak smile.
"...Looks like I overdid it."
"Young Miss! Are you alright?"
"What happened?"
Their voices were filled with confusion.
Neither of them had any idea what had just transpired.
While concealing their scent, Lin Zhaoyue had also used the technique to dull their hearing.
She had refused to let two children witness or even hear the approach of such a terrifying creature.
Some memories could haunt a person for a lifetime.
They were still far too young to bear that kind of fear.
Lin Zhaoyue slowly steadied her breathing before forcing a reassuring smile.
"I’m okay."
She brushed the dust from her clothes and gradually rose to her feet.
"Really."
Her gaze swept across the underground garden.
"Let’s focus on finding a way out of this place."
The two of them exchanged doubtful glances but ultimately chose to believe her.
After waiting an hour for Lin Zhaoyue to recover, the trio cautiously made their way through the garden without encountering any further danger.
The garden was filled with countless precious spiritual herbs.
Among them were even several ingredients used to refine the Rejuvenation Pill, each one valuable enough to spark fierce competition in the outside world.
Even so, none of them reached out to pick a single herb.
Lin Zhaoyue had no intention of provoking whatever terrifying existence guarded this underground tomb.
Safely leaving the garden behind, the three soon arrived at another enormous open space.
It resembled a vast courtyard that had long since fallen into ruin.
Collapsed buildings and broken stone statues lay scattered across the area, while countless cracks spread across the ancient stone floor.
Lin Zhaoyue slowly looked upward.
Far above, the ceiling was much thinner than anywhere else they had seen.
A hopeful expression appeared on her face.
"This place is probably connected to the surface. If we can dig our way up, there may still be a chance for us to escape."
Just as the glimmer of hope appeared in their hearts, a deep rumble echoed throughout the courtyard.
The ancient ruins trembled and loose pebbles rolled across the cracked stone floor.
A moment later, three enormous shadows emerged from three separate passages leading into the courtyard.
The first was the blind serpent they had encountered in the underground garden.
Its empty eye sockets remained tightly shut as its forked tongue flickered through the air.
The second serpent was even larger.
Its crimson scales shimmered faintly beneath the glow of the surrounding crystals, and a pair of golden eyes calmly observed the three children.
The third serpent possessed snow-white scales that seemed almost flawless.
Unlike the blind serpent, its emerald eyes were sharp and clear, carrying an intelligence that sent chills down their spines.
The three gigantic serpents slowly slithered into the courtyard.
Instead of attacking they stopped just a dozen of meters away from the children.
The distance was neither too close nor too far.
It was as though they had deliberately chosen to keep the three within sight.
"Hiss..."
Three low hisses echoed through the silent courtyard.
Six enormous eyes, along with the blind serpent’s raised head remained fixed on Lin Zhaoyue, Lin Zhaofeng, and Lin Zhaocao.
Not a single one of the children dared to move.
Lin Zhaocao’s body trembled uncontrollably as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Zhaoyue, Zhaofeng..."
Her voice quivered, barely able to form the words.
"I’m so sorry..."
She lowered her head, her shoulders shaking violently.
"If... if I hadn’t fallen... you and Zhaofeng wouldn’t have jumped in after me."
She clenched her fists until her knuckles turned white.
"It’s all because of me... The two of you are going to die here because I was careless."
She could no longer hold back her sobs.
"I’m sorry... I’m so, so sorry..."
Lin Zhaoyue fell silent.
Looking into Lin Zhaocao’s tearful eyes, a wave of guilt washed over her.
She was the one who had brought them here.
If they truly died in this underground tomb...
Then no matter the reason, she would bear that responsibility for the rest of her life.
The courtyard was swallowed by a heavy silence except for the hissing sound of the snakes.
Then, without any warning, Lin Zhaofeng suddenly shouted at the top of his lungs.
"LIN ZHAOCAO!"
His voice echoed throughout the entire ruined courtyard.
"I LOVE YOU!"
And in that instant.
Boom!
A deafening explosion shook the entire courtyard.
The ceiling above shattered as countless rocks came crashing down.
A massive cloud of dust erupted into the air.
Two figures plummeted through the newly opened hole before slamming heavily onto the stone floor.
The first was an enormous ape-shaped spirit beast while the second was a tiny figure locked in combat with it.
The figure sprang backward, creating several meters of distance from the ape before raising his spear once more.
Only then did everyone clearly see his face.
It was Lin Xuan.
Lin Xuan instinctively swept his gaze across the courtyard.
The moment his eyes landed on the three children, the tension on his face disappeared.
His eyes immediately lit up with relief.
"You’re alive!"