Volume One, Chapter Nineteen: The Primordial Return Cave Dwelling

Before Yibing could even turn around, an uproar of ghastly wails and howling winds erupted from all directions, and in an instant, cries of distress rippled through the ranks as many fell. Looking up, he saw the sky filled with shadowy figures, ferocious monsters baring their fangs. The remaining members immediately became entangled in battle with their attackers. Taken by surprise, the various sects and schools had no time to form their positions or arrays, and were forced into fighting for their own survival.

Yibing and Fat Girl fought as they retreated, trying to locate the scattered disciples of the Mist Cloud Sect, but the darkness was so thick that they couldn’t see their own hands in front of them—searching was all but impossible. Amidst the chaos, they vaguely heard Jin Guishan shouting from ahead, and Fat Girl immediately dragged Yibing toward the sound. Unexpectedly, they were blocked by a blue-faced, tusked brute. Just as the battle grew fierce, a cold wind swept from behind. Hanyu sensed danger and sprang from the bundle, but her wounds had not yet healed; she stumbled and fell as soon as she landed. A spiked club swung down toward her, and with no way to dodge, suddenly a surge of black smoke, carrying a strange fragrance, rushed from the side and forcibly shoved the attacker away.

“You vixen! Still alive, are you?” Hanyu looked closely—it was the alluring Meiniang! Meiniang cast a coquettish glance back, smiling: “So, fellow traveler, you’re alive too!” “Hey, you fox spirit! I invited you to share the spoils, yet you betray me!” Under the moonlight, a burly brute with unusually long sideburns and a deathly pale face cursed, brandishing his club.

“Jade-faced Gentleman, I don’t care about anyone else, but you won’t lay a finger on that fat one!” Meiniang’s Black Fox Staff billowed with black smoke.

“Heh, you think you can stop me?” Jade-faced Gentleman’s brow furrowed. “I’ll send your fat lover off to the underworld right now!” With that, he raised his spiked club and swung it at Yibing. Meiniang hurried to meet his attack, and they became locked in combat.

At that moment, Fat Girl, still fighting, edged closer. She had seen the Seven-tailed Fox before, and though she was surprised, seeing Meiniang fiercely protect Yibing, she said nothing more. The girl in white, however, she did not recognize, yet felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

“Let’s attack together!” Hanyu smiled at Fat Girl and leapt back into Yibing’s bundle.

“Who are you...” Fat Girl’s mouth fell open.

Under Hanyu’s command, Yibing, Fat Girl, and Meiniang formed a pincer formation, advancing and retreating in sync, defending and attacking as one. For a time, they held their own against the two monsters. However, Meiniang was clearly growing unsteady—her strength nearly spent from her recent recovery.

“The vixen can’t hold out! The wind’s tight, we’d better flee!” Hanyu whispered in Yibing’s ear. Yibing instantly feinted with his sword, spun, and dragged Fat Girl and Meiniang away. Jade-faced Gentleman and the blue-faced monster were caught off guard and could only curse, “That fat one runs fast as hell!”

“I told you to get ready to run... Sigh...” Hanyu jabbed Yibing’s head with her forepaw in annoyance. Yibing, thinking he was being urged on, ran even faster. He sought any path, followed it blindly, kicking up dust even in the darkness.

“Hey! Hey! Stop running!” Hanyu pulled hard on Yibing’s ears with her forepaws, finally forcing him to halt. Fat Girl was so exhausted her tongue hung out, and Meiniang’s gauzy clothes were nearly torn apart by the wind.

“Oh dear, darling, if you want to undress me, just say so—you don’t have to do it like this...” Meiniang gasped, complaining as she hurriedly straightened her clothes.

“Up ahead... up ahead... there’s a mountain... cave...” Yibing, panting like an ox, pointed toward a dense forest not far ahead.

Hanyu immediately leapt from the bundle and transformed into the white-clad maiden. She had searched around earlier and hadn’t seen any cave entrance, but following Yibing’s direction, a cave shimmering with an aura appeared faintly amidst the woods.

“You and Sister Zhao go... investigate!” Hanyu stammered slightly.

“You little vixen! Why won’t you go yourself, always sending my darling instead...” Meiniang, just approaching, opened her mouth wide in surprise—for the cave had definitely not been there before.

“Vixen?” Hanyu called without turning her head. Meiniang finally replied, “Got it...”

Yibing and Fat Girl cautiously approached the cave. As the aura faded, the entrance became more tangible, and under the moonlight, they could clearly see the three large words: “Return-to-Origin Cave.”

“This is the Return-to-Origin Cave!” Yibing quickly turned to Hanyu, who frowned but said nothing. Meiniang glanced at Hanyu, then said to Yibing, “Return-to-Origin Cave is a famed immortal’s abode. Legend has it that the ancestors of the Orthodox Armor Sect achieved immortality here, gathering the spiritual energies of heaven and earth. Many cultivators seek it, hoping to use its aura to advance their cultivation. Yet, no one has ever found its location—even the disciples of Orthodox Armor have searched in vain.” As she spoke, an ominous wind arose nearby—the pursuers were almost upon them.

“That’s perfect—just the place to hide from those monsters!” Fat Girl said urgently.

“Silly sister, we’re monsters too...” Meiniang turned to see Hanyu glaring at her, and could not help but laugh, “Why glare at me? Fine, fine, I’m a monster, you’re half-immortal, satisfied?”

The shrieks and howls drew nearer. Meiniang stamped her jade foot. “Darling, hurry and carry the little vixen inside!” Before she finished, she prepared to fly away.

“You’re not leaving until things are clear!” Hanyu grabbed her back.

“What needs clarifying?” Meiniang snapped.

“Let’s try first! Perhaps the immortals have spirit, seeing you help the needy—they won’t...” Fat Girl suddenly said.

“Yes, let’s try first. We’re not coveting the cave’s treasures—surely heaven won’t blame us!” Yibing hurried to pull Meiniang along.

Meiniang had been forcing herself to keep up, and now could barely move. Yet, unwilling to delay Yibing and the others, she had no choice but to risk it. She instinctively pulled her clothes tighter, covering as much exposed skin as possible.

Yibing and Fat Girl led the way, Hanyu stubbornly refused to return to the bundle, insisting on following Meiniang closely. As they neared the cave, the entrance began to tremble. In a flash, two golden-armored celestial generals appeared, vanished, appeared again—back and forth a dozen times—before finally disappearing altogether.

“What does this mean? What does it mean?” Yibing was sweating profusely. Hanyu and Meiniang’s clothes were soaked.

“It must mean we’re allowed to enter...” Fat Girl’s nose gleamed with sweat.

Hanyu tested the ground with her foot, and seeing nothing amiss, carefully stepped inside. Everyone held their breath, and only when Hanyu safely entered did they collectively sigh in relief.

Meiniang nervously bit her lip. Hanyu was different from her, but seeing everyone’s eager eyes, she clenched her teeth, shut her eyes, and leapt inside.

“Wow...” The group’s exclamation nearly frightened Meiniang’s soul away. Opening her eyes, she saw Hanyu mocking her, and her chest quivered with rage. “You little vixen, what are you laughing at!” “Oh, big vixen, am I not allowed to laugh?” Hanyu retorted, her little neck stiff.

“All right, all right, enough arguing...” Fat Girl blushed, glancing at the pair. “Can’t we use different names?” Hanyu and Meiniang exchanged glares and fell silent.

Looking around, the cave was as bright as day, yet there were no lamps or candles. The walls were smooth as mirrors, and the path split left and right at the end. Hanyu wanted to proceed cautiously, but a sudden cry came from behind.

“The cave... the entrance... is gone...” Yibing pointed in panic. Indeed, the door had vanished.

“We can only go forward!” Fat Girl was unfazed.

“Hmph, as long as I’m with darling, who cares if we can’t leave? Though there is an eyesore...” Meiniang wrapped her arm around Yibing’s, casting a sidelong glance at Hanyu.

“Is it me who’s the eyesore?” Hanyu rolled her eyes. “This is an immortal’s cave, be careful...” Meiniang felt a chill run down her neck.

Arguing over whether to turn left or right, Hanyu and Meiniang nearly came to blows, but Fat Girl made the decision: left! The left passage widened as they walked, and after a hundred meters, they suddenly stepped into a spacious hall. Looking up, they saw seven exits and, in the center, a stone table with a shallow circular indentation that piqued their curiosity.

Yibing, exhausted, plopped down onto the table, Fat Girl quickly sat beside him. Hanyu and Meiniang exchanged glances and, in unison, leapt onto the table—only to feel hundreds of needlepoints stabbing their backsides the moment they touched it.

“Ow! Stabbed my butt!” Both shrieked, tumbling to the ground. Yibing and Fat Girl hurriedly jumped off as well. They tested the table several times, sitting and rising, but felt no pricks.

“You two sit, we... we’ll just lean here...” Meiniang muttered, “This place has spiritual energy—fox and rabbit spirits can’t sit here!”

“Hey, what’s your old flame scheming?” Hanyu quickly changed the subject.

“What old flame?”

“That Jade-faced... Gentleman!” Hanyu’s tone dripped with sarcasm.

“Bah! He’s not worthy of being my old flame! I already have my darling...” Meiniang turned from anger to joy, batting her eyes at Yibing, who blushed and turned away, while Fat Girl giggled till her little body trembled.

“A few days ago, while recovering from my wounds, a little demon delivered a message—Jade-faced Gentleman was inviting all the monsters for an important gathering. I had no intention of going, but when I heard darling would be at Flat Horse Mountain, I rushed to find him!” Meiniang threw Yibing another flirtatious look.

“Hmph, just admit you wanted to see your flame, don’t make excuses...” Hanyu muttered disdainfully. Meiniang pretended not to hear and continued, “Who knew, when I arrived, they were planning to ambush the cultivators attending the conference. I wanted to warn you, but there were too many powerful figures—I dared not get close!”

“Too much to handle, right...” Hanyu scoffed.

“Hey! Are you ever done?” Meiniang was genuinely annoyed now. Hanyu shrugged and said nothing more.

“With so many experts in Orthodox Armor Sect, they’d dare?” Fat Girl interjected.

“Orthodox Armor? I think they’re in league with those monsters!” Meiniang said contemptuously.

“Don’t say that!” Fat Girl protested, knowing the Mist Cloud Sect had ties to Orthodox Armor.

“You’re a spirit, aren’t you?” Meiniang was unfazed. “I’m not making it up—two nights ago, I tried to warn you, but as I reached halfway up the mountain, I saw Jade-faced Gentleman talking to a young Taoist—looked just like Ye Boyang, who stood on stage today. I didn’t dare get closer, so I turned back.”

“Now that you mention it, I wondered why the Orthodox Armor disciples vanished as soon as we entered the woods...” Hanyu mused.

“Maybe you were mistaken...” Fat Girl’s voice lacked conviction. Lost at first, sure, but later, when the fight broke out, the absence of Orthodox Armor disciples was indeed suspicious.

“What are Orthodox Armor and Jade-faced Gentleman plotting?” Yibing scratched his head.

“Obvious—they want to use others to weaken the sects, paving the way for their own dominance!” Hanyu rolled her eyes.

“Cultivation is about immortality, what’s the point of domination?” Yibing shook his head, baffled.

“Haven’t you seen the Orthodox Armor Grand Law?” Hanyu laughed.

“When you entered the woods, couldn’t cast spells or fly, right? That was Jade-faced Gentleman’s doing! Without Orthodox Armor’s tip-off, how would he know you’d pass through there?” Meiniang gave Fat Girl a sympathetic look. “We’d better figure out how to get out! Who knows how your fellow disciples are faring...”

“What do you mean?” Fat Girl’s face turned green.

“Orthodox Armor wants fame; Jade-faced Gentleman’s lot wants profit. Jade-faced Gentleman aims to capture cultivators to absorb their power and increase his own! If your fellow disciples are caught, they’re doomed... especially your senior sister...” Meiniang hesitated.

“What about my senior sister?” Fat Girl jumped off the stone table.

“...She might end up as a bandit’s bride...”

“That won’t do! Let’s get out of here, or...” Fat Girl looked anxiously at Yibing, the image of He Lingchi veiled in red flashing through her mind.