Chapter 86: The Mysterious Cave and the Glowing Stone Pillar: Shi Feiyang's Perilous Exploration
Gong Simeng, out of curiosity, walked gracefully like a delicate butterfly, slowly approaching a stone pillar.
As soon as her fingertips got close to the pillar, the symbols on the stone suddenly emitted a blinding light, like an abruptly bursting sun, instantly enveloping her. Gong Simeng cried out in terror, "Feiyang, save me!" Her voice was filled with fear and helplessness, like a deer trapped in a snare. Shi Feiyang heard the cry for help, his heart tightening suddenly as if gripped by an invisible giant hand.
Without hesitation, Shi Feiyang employed the Bright Jade Technique, his body instantly surrounded by a thin layer of mist, which carried a piercing chill as if it could freeze the surrounding air.
At the same time, Shi Feiyang quickly drew the Myanmar Saber, the blade gleaming like lightning cutting through the night sky.
He shouted, his voice loud as a bell, filled with endless worry and urgency, slashing towards the light, but it was as if he was cutting through air, having no effect.
The light grew even more dazzling, and Gong Simeng's figure gradually blurred in the glow, seeming as if it would be swallowed by the mysterious light, disappearing into the unending darkness.
Shi Feiyang was extremely anxious, his eyes revealing determination and resolve. His gaze burned with intense fire, a resolve to protect Gong Simeng with deep affection. He employed the technique again, the chill of the Bright Jade Technique becoming more severe, his strokes with the Myanmar Saber dense and impenetrable, attempting to break through the mysterious light to rescue Gong Simeng from danger.
At this moment, Shi Feiyang had but one thought, and that was to protect Gong Simeng's safety at any cost, for she was the most important person in Shi Feiyang's life, a treasure he would guard with his life.
Suddenly, the light dissipated, and Gong Simeng fainted to the ground.
Shi Feiyang quickly sheathed the saber, his movements swift and agile, like a black lightning bolt. He leaned down to gently pick her up, with the care one would show the most precious treasure in the world, afraid a careless move might hurt her.
Shi Feiyang softly called, "Si Meng, Si Meng..." His voice was filled with concern and urgency, the gentle call resembling a warm lullaby, trying to awaken her from her slumber.
Gong Simeng slowly regained consciousness, appearing puzzled, her eyes filled with confusion, seemingly unaware of what had just occurred.
Shi Feiyang's doubts deepened, what secrets were hidden behind this mysterious light and the vanished memories?
Thus, Shi Feiyang carried Gong Simeng out of the secret passage, his steps firm and steady, as if he were carrying the entire world. Just upon returning to the chamber, noises of chaotic footsteps were heard outside the Qingfeng Sword Sect.
Those footsteps were rapid and chaotic, like a herd of panicked beasts in flight.
Shi Feiyang placed Gong Simeng aside, his movements as gentle as a spring breeze brushing a flower, his eyes brimmed with tenderness and concern, gently laying her down as if she were a fragile porcelain.
Then, Shi Feiyang swiftly concealed himself, hiding in the dark to observe.
He saw a group of people dressed in black, masked, breaking in; their actions were skilled, with a fierce glint in their eyes, scanning the room as wolves would, quickly searching through the items, seemingly looking for something important.
Shi Feiyang's heart jolted, it was clear these people harbored ill intentions, and seemed to know the Qingfeng Sword Sect's details like the back of their hands.
He narrowed his eyes, like a leopard ready to pounce, muscles tensed, always prepared to launch an attack.
Seizing a moment when they were unprepared, he swiftly and silently subdued a lone black-clad figure, dragging him to a corner, his actions clean and efficient, without making a sound.
Shi Feiyang removed his mask.
The person's face was unfamiliar, Shi Feiyang had never seen him before.
Shi Feiyang found a token engraved with peculiar patterns on his body, the token's material was unusual, feeling icy as if it was extracted from millennium-old ice, the chilling sensation passing through his fingertips, giving Shi Feiyang a foreboding feeling.
Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream pierced the night sky, like the wail of a night owl, sending chills down the spine. Shi Feiyang and Gong Simeng shuddered at the scream, Shi Feiyang quickly tucked the token into his chest, tightly holding Gong Simeng's hand, whispering, "Be careful!" The two held their breath, cautiously approaching the direction from which the sound came.
Exiting the chamber, outside, the moonlight was shrouded by thick clouds making the entire Qingfeng Sword Sect appear increasingly ominous and terrifying.
The wind howled through the dilapidated buildings, producing ghostly wails, recounting the tragic fate of the sect.
With faint light, they saw a disciple of the Qingfeng Sword Sect lying in a pool of blood, surrounded by black-clad figures searching everywhere, leaving no corner unchecked.
Rage surged in Shi Feiyang's heart, he signaled to Gong Simeng, both deciding to first evade the black-clad figures, returning to the mysterious passage. They believed that within the passage lay the key to unraveling all these mysteries.
Re-entering the passage, the damp, decaying scent grew stronger, like invisible hands forcing the putrid smell straight into their nostrils. The water stains on the walls looked eerily strange under the dim light, water droplets continuously dripping from above, the "drip-drip" sound echoing in the silent passage, each drop like the ticking of a countdown clock, striking their tense nerves.
Following the previous path, they soon reached the mysterious cave again.
At this time, the mist in the cave grew thicker, almost blinding, cold and damp, wrapping around them like a frosty cocoon.
Shi Feiyang held Gong Simeng's hand tightly, raising a torch with the other, trying to penetrate the dense fog, but the mist seemed alive, continuously swallowing the torch's light, leaving only a faint halo.
Suddenly, Gong Simeng felt a slip underfoot, almost falling.
She looked down, discovering a sticky puddle on the ground, glimmering with an eerie glow under the torchlight.
Shi Feiyang knelt down to observe the puddle, finding it seemed to move slowly, as if alive.
Just as they were bewildered, a low growl sounded not far away, as if coming from the depths of hell, making one's hair stand on end. The growl echoed in the cave, indistinguishable from which direction it came, as if the creature lurked everywhere, ready to spring at any moment.
Shi Feiyang and Gong Simeng exchanged a glance, their eyes revealing fear, yet more so determination.
They gripped their weapons tightly, slowly moving towards the source of the sound. As they drew closer, they saw a massive figure looming in the mist.