King of Hundred Victories Saber

One of the spiders took the lead, swishing out a resilient strand of web towards Wu Zhong, cutting through the air with a sharp whistle.

Wu Zhong reacted quickly, with a swift "swish", his broadsword drew out with fierce momentum, slicing the web apart. He shouted loudly, "Everyone be careful, don't get bitten by the spiders!"

Everyone immediately formed a circle, back-to-back, gripping their weapons tightly, watching the surrounding spiders warily.

The pairs of ghostly glowing eyes seemed to pierce through their souls.

A spider suddenly pounced from the cave ceiling, bringing a gust of wind with a "whoosh". One brother with sharp eyes and quick hands swung his long sword with a clang, slashing the spider down. However, more spiders were provoked and swarmed towards them, their crawling making a "rustle", like a thousand horses galloping.

Wu Zhong swung his broadsword around, its light flashing and "whoosh-whoosh" sounding, cutting down the approaching spiders while desperately searching for a breakthrough method.

He noticed the spiders seemed afraid of firelight, and shouted, "Brothers, light all the torches and form a fire wall!"

The crowd complied quickly, igniting the torches and forming a blazing fire wall.

The spiders hesitated in front of the fire wall, hissing resentfully, but didn't dare to approach. This allowed everyone to proceed forward.

But as they reached the deepest part of the cave, they found it empty, with only the cold, damp stone walls.

"Where on earth did Gong Simeng and Vermilion Bird, White Tiger go?"

"Iron Palm" Wu Zhong frowned deeply, full of doubt, breaking the silence first. His voice, tinged with anxiety, echoed in the quiet mountain forest.

Everyone looked at each other, unease showing in their eyes as they whispered among themselves, but no one could present a certain answer. The unsettling emotion spread like a tide deep in their hearts.

Before long, heroes gathered from various places, meeting in a certain mountain forest. They approached Shi Feiyang, their expressions serious.

"Flying Eagle Detective" Xie Wen cupped his hands, speaking solemnly to Shi Feiyang, "Grand Squad Leader, we've searched all over the valley and found no trace of Miss Gong, Vermilion Bird, or White Tiger."

Others also nodded, agreeing that they found nothing.

"Could it be that Gong Simeng returned to Liaodong Divine Water Palace with Vermilion Bird and White Tiger?" "Iron Flute Scholar" Xiang Kun offered his speculation thoughtfully. As soon as he said this, everyone exploded into discussions, chattering among themselves.

"But why would she do that? Wasn't she married to the Grand Squad Leader?" Jiang Huotian asked baffled, scratching his head.

"Maybe... Gong Simeng has always been a spy lurking beside the Grand Squad Leader?" Lu Dechu whispered cautiously, expressing his suspicion, uncertainty flickering in his eyes.

Shi Feiyang's face turned grim upon hearing these speculations. He bit his lip tightly, fists clenched subconsciously, the veins in his arms slightly bulging. His eyes showed both anger and a hint of an indescribable disappointment. "Impossible, Si Meng is not that kind of person!" Shi Feiyang loudly refuted, his voice carrying a slight tremor, seemingly trying to convince both the others and himself.

However, as everyone was deep in discussion, Lin Wanqing and Yili stood aside. Lin Wanqing slightly bowed her head, a barely noticeable faint smile on her lips, thinking to herself: Isn't it better now that Gong Simeng is gone? I've always liked Shi Feiyang, dreaming of becoming his wife one day, and now this opportunity seems closer than ever.

Yili also lightly bit her lip, her eyes gleaming with a hint of anticipation. She had long been enamored with Shi Feiyang, and Gong Simeng's departure seemed, in her eyes, like fate giving her an excellent opportunity.

During that chaotic battle, Gong Simeng, along with Vermilion Bird and White Tiger, mysteriously disappeared, leaving the members of the Heroic Sakura Association seemingly trapped in a deep abyss of darkness, filled with extreme anxiety and confusion. Shi Feiyang's heart was burning with impatience, the torment within him roaring like blazing fire. He continuously sent out subordinates to search everywhere, leaving no remote corner or hidden path unchecked. However, as days went by, the search remained fruitless, like a stone sinking into the sea, hope's light growing dimmer.

Just when everyone was feeling completely lost and hopeless, deep within a forest, in a secluded valley forgotten by time, Gong Simeng slowly regained consciousness. Her head felt like it was being pounded by a heavy hammer, splitting with pain, the chaotic scenes during the battle with the Shadow Alliance haunting her mind like phantoms.

Gong Simeng sat up abruptly, her eyes full of vigilance and confusion, but she found herself in a completely unfamiliar place. Lush trees surrounded her, their verdant branches and leaves forming a green web.

The air was filled with a fresh and rich spiritual energy, threads of it entering her nostrils, as if she were in an Immortal Realm. Vermilion Bird and White Tiger lay quietly not far away, their bodies slightly rising and falling. Their wounds seemed to be slowly healing under the nourishment of this miraculous spiritual energy.

"Where is this? How did I get here?"

Gong Simeng murmured to herself, her voice soft as a sigh in the breeze, yet full of confusion and wariness.

"This is Qingfeng Valley, a place isolated from the world." A low and gentle voice floated over from behind, as if coming from a distant horizon. Gong Simeng reacted swiftly, like a vigilant leopard, turning around in an instant.