Chapter 112. The snake cave [1]
After nearly three days of travel, the group finally arrived at a deserted lake nestled between towering trees and jagged cliffs.
Lin Zhaoyue slowly surveyed the surroundings before giving a satisfied nod.
"We’re here."
The children quickly gathered around her as she picked up a small stick and drew a rough map of the area on the ground.
"We’ll split into six groups."
Her stick traced six separate routes extending outward from the lake.
"Each group will search in one direction until you find a cave."
She raised her head and looked at the children one by one.
"Lin Zhaowen, Lin Zhaofeng, Lin Zhaohao, Lin Zhaorui, Lin Zhaoqing, and I will each lead one group."
Not a single person voiced an objection.
Although everyone present was around the same age, Lin Zhaoyue’s strength had already earned their complete trust.
She reached into her storage pouch and withdrew five signal fireworks.
Walking over to the designated leaders, she placed one firework into each of their hands.
"If you discover a cave shaped like a snake’s mouth, release the firework immediately."
Her expression became unusually serious.
"Once you’ve done that, don’t hesitate. Run as fast as you can and put as much distance between yourselves and the cave as possible."
The children exchanged puzzled glances, but no one interrupted her instructions.
Without offering an explanation, Lin Zhaoyue retrieved five communication talismans from her storage pouch.
She handed one talisman to each group leader before speaking again.
"If anything unexpected happens, crush the talisman at once and tell me your exact location. I’ll head there immediately."
The five group leaders instinctively tightened their grips around both the signal fireworks and communication talismans.
"Understood, Young Miss!" they replied in unison.
"Good. Now, let’s form the parties."
With those words, Lin Zhaoyue turned to face the rest of the children.
Thirty minutes later, all the arrangements had been completed, and the six groups departed in different directions to search for the location.
The expedition consisted of twenty-three Qi Refinement cultivators and one Golden Core cultivator.
That lineup alone was already enough to rival the foundation of an ordinary Rank 8 sect.
As the only Golden Core expert, Lin Zhaoyue deliberately chose the three weakest children to accompany her.
Even so, the weakest members of the group had all reached the Sixth Layer of the Qi Refinement Realm.
That alone was enough to demonstrate just how formidable this group of children truly was.
"Young Miss, what’s inside the cave?" one of the girls asked as they traveled.
The four of them were sprinting through the dense jungle, leaping effortlessly from one tree branch to another without slowing their pace.
"I don’t know the exact details," Lin Zhaoyue replied honestly. "I’m only hoping to lure the newly awakened Beast King into that cave. From what I’ve heard, three powerful spirit beasts already reside inside."
"So the rumour that a Beast King has awakened was really true..." the girl muttered, unable to hide the shiver that ran down her spine. "How terrifying."
Spirit beasts were classified according to their strength.
A Beast Soldier possessed strength comparable to a Qi Refinement cultivator.
A Beast General was the equivalent of a Golden Core cultivator.
A Beast King stood on the same level as a Nascent Soul cultivator.
Beyond them were even more terrifying existences, such as Beast Emperors, Beast Lords, and other higher-ranked beasts.
Fortunately, such monsters rarely left the forbidden lands where they ruled.
Just as the four of them crossed another stretch of forest, a brilliant streak of light suddenly shot into the sky.
Boom!
A dazzling firework blossomed high above the treetops, its bright colors illuminating the forest canopy for a brief moment before slowly fading.
Before she could sigh in relief, the communication talisman hanging from her waist suddenly began to glow violently.
A panicked voice burst from it.
"Young Miss! Zhaocao fell into the cave, and Zhaofeng jumped in to save her! What should we do?"
Lin Zhaoyue’s expression instantly changed.
Without wasting even a single breath, she infused spiritual qi into her own communication talisman and transmitted a message to every group leader.
"Everyone, abandon the search immediately and head straight for Violet Log City. Do not stop, and do not look back."
Her voice remained calm despite the urgency.
"I’ll rescue Zhaofeng and Zhaocao myself. Trust me."
The transmission ended and Lin Zhaoyue turned toward the three children beside her.
"Go!"
The three of them instinctively straightened.
"Head to Violet Log City immediately. Don’t wait for me, and don’t wait for the others. Just keep moving."
"But, Young Miss—"
"This is an order."
Her Golden Core aura leaked out for just an instant, silencing them.
"I’ll catch up after I save them."
The three children gritted their teeth before finally nodding.
"Yes, Young Miss!"
Without another word, they changed direction and sped toward Violet Log City.
The moment they disappeared into the distance, Lin Zhaoyue’s figure blurred.
Like a streak of white lightning, she shot through the forest at full speed, rushing toward the cave where Lin Zhaofeng and Lin Zhaocao had disappeared.
The wind howled past Lin Zhaoyue’s ears as she pushed her movement technique to its limit.
Every step carried her dozens of meters forward, and every leap sent her soaring over the towering trees that filled the forest.
Please...
Don’t let me be too late.
Genuine anxiety crept into her heart.
Unlike the other children, she was not a eleven year old kid.
She was a regressor.
Although her body belonged to a child, her mind had lived through far more years than anyone present could imagine.
If even one of these children died because of her decision, she would never be able to forgive herself.
No matter how many lifetimes she lived.
A few moments later, the forest abruptly opened before her and the cave come into view.
Lin Zhaoyue landed silently at its entrance, her eyes immediately sweeping across the surroundings.
Her gaze soon settled on a freshly collapsed section of earth near the mouth of the cave, a massive pit had formed there.
She crouched beside it and examined the loose soil.
The edges were still fresh.
There were small footprints leading toward the collapse, followed by long drag marks where the earth had broken apart beneath them.
From the signs left behind, the sequence of events became clear.
Zhaocao had most likely been standing here when the ground beneath her feet suddenly collapsed and she had fallen straight into the pit and following after her, Zhaofeng had jumped in right after.