บท 46: 31-35
Chapter 31
When the disciples of the Song clan saw Xu Wenyuan and the others heading over, Song Weizhi gave them long knives for self-defense, causing them to feel somewhat uncertain. This place was truly eerie, and having something in hand made them feel more secure.
At this moment, Song Chaoyun spoke up, "Let's see who wants to betray the sect. It's best for you to think carefully about your position before making a decision. This time, anyone who chooses to follow me will be rewarded generously after we leave. As for those following Song Weizhi, I don't need to say much."
Song Weizhi didn't even bother giving him a glance, and said to Zhao Xuankun ahead, "Zhao, let's go."
"Alright." The team gained two more members, which somewhat eased Zhao Xuankun's concerns.
Initially, Song Weizhi was meant to be at the back, but unable to resist the persuasions of Xu Wenyuan and Liang Qin, she had to let the two of them take the rear.
After Song Weizhi and her group left, the passageway fell into darkness again. A few timid disciples of the Song clan said, "Senior Brother, why don't we follow after Song Weizhi? We don't have a light source, and if there's danger ahead, we can escape earlier by following them."
Song Chaoyun pondered for a moment. It made sense what the disciple said. He immediately instructed the remaining disciples to follow after Song Weizhi, while Song Yueling attentively wiped the sweat off Song Chaoyun, hoping to gain some benefits upon leaving.
In the rear of the team, Xu Wenyuan and the others also noticed the followers. "Sister, Song Chaoyun's group has caught up."
"Ignore them. It's fine if they follow behind. If there's danger from behind, they'll be the first to bear the brunt." With that, they continued forward and walked quite a distance until the endless passage finally gave way to a vast cavern. In the middle of the cavern lay an enormous lake, eerily calm without a single ripple, and surrounded by numerous trees, presenting a vivid display of life. It was unfortunate that all this existed within a dark cave. Song Weizhi and her group dared not move, choosing to stay at the entrance of the cave.
Before long, Song Chaoyun and the others arrived. Having a disciple carry him, he exerted little effort. However, the others, having lost their spiritual power, felt both tired and hungry. Following Song Weizhi's example, Song Chaoyun's group also settled at the cave entrance and refrained from entering.
Song Weizhi held Song Zhixia's hand tightly and felt that something was off about the place. She whispered to the people around her, "Don't proceed further. Something doesn't feel right here. Everyone, be extremely cautious."
Zhao Xuankun and the others nodded, their eyes fixed on various spots within the cavern.
After an indeterminate amount of time, Song Weizhi began to feel stiffness in her legs, and that's when Song Chaoyun's group made their move.
The cave remained calm all this time, and Song Chaoyun thought that Song Weizhi had made too much of a fuss. He and his dozen or so disciples began to venture in and found a spot to rest.
"Senior Brother, it's freezing here. It's pitch black as well. Shall we start a fire? I am also feeling hungry," said Song Yueling upon noticing how devoid of danger the area seemed.
With a fire now established in their fire pit, Song Yueling's grumbles were met with several male disciples setting off to collect firewood. It wasn't until half an hour later, amid Song Yueling's complaints, that the male disciples finally managed to ignite a fire. Before long, the flame in their pit burned brightly.
Seeing the light, Song Weizhi turned off her flashlight. They had already depleted a considerable amount of the batteries and needed to conserve them.
Feeling the warmth from Song Chaoyun's group's fire pit in the distance, a few bold disciples proposed going to the lake to see if there were any edible fish. Song Chaoyun let six disciples carry torches and go to the riverside, while the remaining ten or so disciples stayed behind to stay warm and protect themselves. His knee injury was still causing him great pain, and in the event of an accident, someone needed to carry him out. Without their support, he would be unable to leave.
Unbeknownst to Song Chaoyun's group, Song Weizhi and her companions quietly watched them. Upon reaching where the torches were, the Song disciples appeared jubilant, as if they had caught something. However, upon closer inspection, they were left speechless. They had fished out creatures resembling fish but with human faces, and even possessed a dense covering of hair on their heads. The creatures' eyes moved, staring fixedly at the Song disciples. This unnerved Song Chaoyun, who hastily instructed, "Quick, get rid of them. Before taking them back, examine what they are and then decide whether to bring them back."
The disciples reluctantly returned to the lake, tossing the grotesque fish back into its depths. They changed locations and after several attempts, managed to catch a few normal-looking fish. They then returned, carrying the fish in their clothes.
"Senior Brother, these fish are indeed edible. However, they live alongside those fish with human faces. I feel it might be better not to eat them," one of the disciples remarked nervously.
The others began teasing him, "Afraid of the fish? We are all tired and hungry. Stop being overly cautious."
"That's right, if you won't eat, will you watch us eat and starve yourself?"
"Senior Brother, you are experienced. Let him consult Senior Brother."
The group turned its focus back to Song Chaoyun who, despite his unfamiliarity with the situation, was now their leader and needed the support of his fellow disciples. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to make it out alive. So, despite being clueless, he needed to provide a definitive answer to the team.
Song Chaoyun spoke solemnly, "Find some sharp stones or wooden pieces. Gut these fish, and if the insides appear similar to regular fish, we can roast and eat them."
Several nimble disciples promptly located what they needed and began cleaning the fish, the sight and color of which relieved much of their worry. The mouthwatering aroma of the grilled fish soon filled the air, reaching even Song Weizhi's group. Xu Wenyuan, unable to resist, involuntarily swallowed a few times.
The male disciples tendered the freshly cooked fish to Song Chaoyun first, who seemingly passed it on to Song Yueling next, making it seem like he was looking out for the female disciples. However, in reality, he was hesitant to be the first to sample it.
Seeing Song Chaoyun pass her the fish, Song Yueling was elated, "I knew Senior Brother cares for me the most. He's offering me the fish first."
Assuming no problem, she took a bite. The fish was tender and delicious without bones, making it palatable even when eaten plain. She happily had a few more mouthfuls.
The remaining male disciples then handed the grilled fish to Song Chaoyun. Before long, four or five of them had already finished their share, but five still hadn't eaten, and Song Chaoyun had yet to make a move. The male disciples ate quickly, but before Song Chaoyun could begin, Song Yueling, who was still eating, suddenly started convulsing and spewing dark green mucus from her mouth. Scales similar to those on a fish began to appear on her exposed arms and her face began to warp.
Something inside her stomach surged upwards, displaying formidable strength as it seemed to try to pierce her neck and reach her head.
Crying in pain as the green mucus flowed from her mouth, Song Yueling begged, "Senior Brother, help me, please, help me."
As she screamed, the thing in her chest exerted more force and lunged upwards. Bursting from her mouth, it continued to grow larger until it burst through her skull, spilling brain matter all over. Her clothes had already been displaced by the dense scales covering her body. There was a green head with impossibly long black hair, still connected to some of Song Yueling's tissues, leaking a white and red mixture, hanging behind her, a bizarre and disconcerting sight.
Song Chaoyun was left dumbfounded by the spectacle, unable to utter a word. The male disciples who had eaten the fish began clawing at their throats, attempting to vomit out whatever was in them, but it was too late. They too began to feel that something was gravely amiss.
Xu Wenyuan muttered softly from a distance, "Oh my, I'm so lucky I didn't go with them. This is terrifying."
Song Weizhi turned to signal him to keep quiet, and Xu Wenyuan immediately covered his mouth. At this point, Song Weizhi's group was concealed in the darkness, and she hoped the things causing trouble hadn't noticed them.
Seeing the unexpected situation unfold, Song Chaoyun became anxious. "Quick, someone carry me! Whoever does, I'll have my father appoint them as an elder."
One of the disciples who hadn't eaten the fish spat out, "You said the fish was fine, but it ended up harming so many of our fellow disciples. I don't think any of us will be able to leave today. You can be the so-called elder yourself. Brothers, let's get out of here."
Unfortunately, the bodies of the male disciples who had eaten the fish had completed their transformation. They slowly made their way toward the others, who had been unaffected. Thankfully, these half-human, half-fish creatures seemed to still be adjusting to their new bodies, so their movements were relatively sluggish.
However, Song Chaoyun wasn't as fortunate. He cried out as he crawled backward, "Help! Help me! Help me, and when I get out, I'll evenly divide the Song clan with you. Help me!"
Chapter 32
It was a pity that no one paid attention to her anymore. Hanging from Song Yueling's body was a head covered in green mucus, with her freshly exploded head still attached to the neck. The monstrous being staggered toward Song Chaoyun. The ground emitted a piercing sound as it moved.
"Help me, help me. Don't come near me. I am the young master of the Song family. You can't kill me, you can't..." Song Chaoyun, a grown man, was so terrified by the monster that tears streamed down his face, and even the ground was soaked with an unknown fluid.
The monster didn't care what he was. It grabbed Song Chaoyun's shoulders with its scale-covered hands. Its mouth, full of green mucus, relentlessly approached Song Chaoyun's face. Despite Song Chaoyun's struggles, the monster's mouth was faster. With a scream from Song Chaoyun, most of his facial flesh was bitten off, revealing a bloody face which was quickly devoured by the creature.
Meanwhile, Song Weizhi, while observing the commotion, contemplated exchanging for a handy weapon with the system. At this moment, she dared not exchange for a lucky box, fearing it might only contain spiritual stones, leaving herself and Xia Xia without the final safety barrier.
In her mind, she contacted the system, "System, what can I exchange for with my 600 points to deal with this thing?"
"Hello, host. Based on the current situation and your points balance, the system recommends exchanging for a recoilless cannon paired with armor-piercing rounds. Exchanging this item will cost you 600 points, and the system will offer 10 armor-piercing rounds for free. Any additional rounds beyond 10 will require 10 points each. Would the host like to proceed with the exchange?" The mechanical voice of the system sounded.
Gritting her teeth, Song Weizhi replied to the system in her mind, "Alright, then let's proceed with the exchange."
"Congratulations, the host has successfully exchanged for the recoilless cannon. The host spent 600 points, and now has a balance of 60 points."
Upon seeing Song Weizhi feeling despair, the system continued, "Host, do not be disheartened. Successfully resolving this secret realm will also come with corresponding point rewards. The point rewards are unknown and require the host to complete the task first."
Song Weizhi thought it made sense. Without resolving the secret realm, no one would survive.
At that moment, the remaining disciples of the Song family were gradually unable to keep up. Someone was the first to speak, "Let's run towards Miss Song's direction. They all have weapons on them. Miss Song, please save us."
Following these words, the remaining seven or eight disciples began running frantically toward Song Weizhi's direction. Song Weizhi was infuriated. If her bullets hadn't been scarce, she wished she could solve these disciples as well. It was not that she was cold-hearted, but these disciples were truly not good people, always thinking of using others as shields. How could there be such good fortune?
"Ignore them; let's run," Song Weizhi said as she took Song Zhixia's hand and ran in the opposite direction. Xu Wenyuan and Liang Qin followed closely behind them.
Unfortunately, Zhao Xunkun and his team hesitated. He couldn't ignore them. In the meantime, several monsters had closed in.
Zhao Xunkun, along with three others and the seven or eight inner disciples, had no choice but to resist. From a distance, Xu Wenyuan and the others also felt restless and asked Song Weizhi, "Senior Sister, should we go and help? After all, we are from the same sect."
Song Weizhi glanced at them coldly and said, "You can go if you want. I won't. I'm not a savior, and I've given weapons to Zhao Xunkun and the others for self-defense. I can't save everyone."
After some hesitation, Xu Wenyuan decided to go and help, accompanied by Liang Qin. Meanwhile, Song Weizhi pulled Song Zhixia and ran a considerable distance before stopping. She turned to Song Zhixia and asked, "Do you think I'm heartless?"
Song Zhixia shook her head slightly, gripping Song Weizhi's hand tightly. "Senior Sister, it's not that you are heartless. It's their unpredictable behavior. Besides, as you said, you could save them, but they might not necessarily be grateful. I don't want Senior Sister to take risks."
"Alright, let's wait here for a while and see what happens," Song Weizhi said as she rested with Song Zhixia.
On the other side, with Xu Wenyuan's participation, Zhao Xunkun's group unexpectedly turned the tables and managed to deal with six monsters who had surrounded them.
Exhausted, they sat on the ground. Seeing the distant firelight from Song Weizhi's direction, some disciples began to complain:
"Hey, our own Song family disciples didn't come to the rescue. Instead, it was Zhao brother who stepped in to help. It's embarrassing to even think about it."
"That's right. Senior Sister just watched us almost die. We've called her 'Senior Sister' for so many years in vain."
"She is truly heartless. We almost died just now, and it was Zhao brother who came to our aid."
Hearing these discussions among the disciples, Xu Wenyuan couldn't hold back. "If it weren't for you slandering Senior Sister with Song Chaoyun, Senior Sister wouldn't have acted like this. Just now, you slandered her, and now you want her to save you when danger arises. How come you always think of seeking benefits for yourselves."
"What I said is the truth. Isn't protecting senior and junior brothers something that Senior Sister should do?"
"That's right. Just because Senior Sister let you follow her, doesn't mean she has to protect you. Look at you coming to help in such a dangerous situation. Senior Sister did not have the intention of coming over."
"You..." Xu Wenyuan wanted to scold those disciples, but Liang Qin stopped him.
"Let it go. There's no point in arguing with them. I think our coming over was unnecessary," Liang Qin said as he led Xu Wenyuan back towards Song Weizhi's group.
"Hey, Zhao Brother, do you think you could give us a few knives for self-defense? There are eight of us without any weapons. Please show your kindness," one of them said. The remaining disciples also joined in.
"Yes, Zhao Brother, we can protect you. After all, we are all martial brothers. Senior Sister abandoned us, you can't abandon us as well."
"That's right. We are all brothers from the same sect. Senior Sister didn't care for us, could you not care for us as well."
Zhao Xunkun was practically surrounded by the eight people. He wasn't naive, and seeing the situation, he couldn't be sure that they wouldn't harm him. Reluctantly, he handed over his knife. The disciples were delighted to have obtained a knife and quickly thanked Zhao Xunkun. Zhao Xunkun regretted intervening to save those people as he hurried toward Song Weizhi's group. The disciples of the Song family followed suit.
Upon returning to Song Weizhi's side, Xu Wenyuan and Liang Qin felt awkward and didn't know what to do. They then heard Song Weizhi's stern voice, "I have no say in what you want to do. But remember, if you want to go to your deaths, don't drag us into it." She didn't want to be a savior who would help anyone in need.
Xu Wenyuan and Liang Qin nodded somewhat awkwardly.
Soon after, Zhao Xunkun and his group arrived, followed by the eight disciples of the Song family. Song Weizhi glanced at Zhao Xunkun and noticed that the knife he had earlier was now gone, but one of the eight disciples had a knife. Song Weizhi caught on quickly.
Amusingly, she looked at Zhao Xunkun and said, "Oh, Zhao, where did your long knife go? Did you give it to someone? I didn't expect you had the potential to become a savior."
Feeling embarrased, Zhao Xunkun wasn't quite sure what "savior" meant, but he felt it probably wasn't a good term.
Some of the surrounding disciples, gaining courage, spoke to Song Weizhi, "Senior Sister, you gave each outsider a knife. How about giving each of us one as well? After all, you can get them easily."
Others chimed in with, "That's right. We can protect you. Ultimately, women are helpless without spiritual power."
"Yes, Senior Sister, I will protect you and make sure nothing happens to you."
"I will protect Junior Sister Zhixia, hehe."
The seven or eight disciples burst into laughter and jokes. After all, to them, Song Weizhi was just a paper tiger. Despite her higher cultivation, they believed that without spiritual power, she couldn't compete alone against so many men.
Song Weizhi snorted, "Indeed, I didn't misjudge you. You are all as disgusting as Song Chaoyun."
"Wow, Song Weizhi, who are you calling disgusting? Addressing you as Senior Sister is giving you face. Do you still think you are the genius of Linhai City? Why don't we have a one-on-one comparison? But if I touch something I shouldn't, Senior Sister can't blame me."
"That's right, let's compare, let's compare."
The clamor grew louder. Zhao Xunkun and Xu Wenyuan stood protectively in front of Song Weizhi, their expressions grave. Especially Xu Wenyuan, he hadn't expected these usually respectable fellow disciples to act like this in such a situation.
"Are you trying to be a hero, Zhao Brother? Either you hand over the knife, or we'll have a good comparison," someone retorted.
At the heat of the argument, a deep, rumbling voice resonated from the lake. A pitch-black Jiaolong gradually rose to the surface from the water. The huge creature stared at the crowd angrily, silencing the bickering disciples.
"Let me see who disturbed my slumber." The giant Jiaolong's gaze fell on the crowd before becoming overjoyed upon seeing Song Zhixia.
"Xuan Niao? How can you be here? Hahaha, I never thought I'd see you again one day," the Jiaolong gazed down at Song Zhixia on the shore.
Song Zhixia furrowed her brow slightly. "What Xuan Niao? I don't understand what you are saying."
Song Weizhi called out to the system to look up the origin of the Jiaolong.
Soon, a passage appeared on the system interface: "The scanned object is an ancient Jiaolong, sealed in the Linlang Secret Realm during the ancient war. It carries a fragment of the soul of the Nine-tailed Xuan Niao and was once one of the pursuers of the Female Lead in ancient times. It is known for its evil nature and lecherous behavior."
As soon as she heard about the soul fragment, Song Weizhi's spirit lifted. However, upon learning that this dark creature coveted her younger sister, the joy in Song Weizhi's heart dissipated.
Seeing that Song Zhixia couldn't recall him, the Jiaolong seemed even more delighted. It transformed into a tall, slender man dressed in black and walked over to Song Zhixia with a smile in his eyes.
Song Weizhi raised the gun in her hand and pointed it at the man. "Stay there and don't move."
The man didn't take Song Weizhi seriously and spoke, "I truly know Xuan Niao. We were a couple in the ancient times. Xuan Niao's fate clashes with those around her, and those in her vicinity will always encounter various dangers. I believe you have felt it all the way here. The correct choice for her is to stay with me here without the constraints of those rules. Then, she won't clash with you anymore, and I can safely send all of you out."
Chapter 33
"Do you think I'll believe you just because you said so? Ha, do you think everyone is as foolish as you?" Song Wei Zhi couldn't be bothered to listen to his deceitful words, pointing the gun directly at Jiao Long's face.
"You, miss, here you can't use spiritual power at all. I suggest you not waste your effort. Besides, you should also ask for the phoenix's consent," Jiao Long stood in place, mocking Song Wei Zhi.
"Sister, I don't know him," Song Zhi Xia gripped Song Wei Zhi's hand tightly.
Song Wei Zhi coldly looked at Jiao Long, "You've also heard her. She doesn't know you, and she won't go with you."
"Can you decide the fate of others? Do you want to take others down with you even if it means risking their lives along with yours?" Jiao Long glanced at the disciples of the Song family and Zhao Xuan Kun.
Indeed, someone had already spoken, "Song Wei Zhi, do what you want, but leave us out of it. We finally have a way out. Who gave you the right to decide for everyone?"
"Yeah, just let them stay. Their fate dates back to ancient times. Let Song Zhi Xia stay. I've been wanting to leave for a while."
"Hurry up, don't pretend to be the good guy here. We almost got killed just now, and you didn't save us, did you?"
Song Wei Zhi glanced coldly at the disciples of the Song family. In her mind, she commanded the system to place the recoilless rifle not far from them, loaded with armor-piercing rounds, and aimed at Jiao Long. At the same time, she said to the Song family's disciples, "It seems I made the right decision not to save you. It's better not to save a bunch of rubbish and get rid of it. If you can't win the fight, don't let innocent girls bear the burden for you. This is what the noble and upright sect has produced - a bunch of waste."
"What did you say, Song Wei Zhi?"
"If you keep talking like that, don't blame us for taking action."
Jiao Long laughed by the lake. Humans were indeed the most foolish creatures - only thinking about fighting to the end when facing death. However, he had been sealed in the dark depths of the lake for a long time. It might be more fun to play with these people.
Jiao Long interrupted the arguing Song family disciples, "In that case, my dragon clan is the most reasonable. Let's just get rid of those opposing you. Of course, you can't touch the phoenix, then I will send you out, and the rest will be left to feed the fish."
Suddenly, the eight disciples of the Song family and Song Wei Zhi became tense, ready to fight. Song Wei Zhi couldn't be bothered with the useless Song family disciples. She aimed the gun at Jiao Long and fired two shots. One hit his chest, and the other grazed his cheek. The bullets only penetrated halfway, with the other half lodged outside, leaving a bullet embedded in Jiao Long's fair cheek.
He felt the pain, disbelievingly touching his cheek and chest wounds, "You dare hurt me? Alright, today, besides my phoenix, you all will die here."
Saying that, Jiao Long transformed into his beast form. Song Wei Zhi grabbed Song Zhi Xia's hand and ran, shouting, "If you don't want to die, run!"
The next moment, a massive dragon roar echoed in the secret realm. Song Wei Zhi's body involuntarily bled from her seven orifices under the pressure of the dragon's roar. She bit her lip, looked at Song Zhi Xia, and breathed a sigh of relief when she found that Song Zhi Xia was unharmed. It seemed that Jiao Long didn't intend to hurt her.
Without the protection of her cultivation, Song Wei Zhi was as vulnerable as a mortal and was unable to stand under the suppression of the dragon's roar. Blood flowed more and more from her seven orifices.
Seeing Song Wei Zhi, tears had already welled up in Song Zhi Xia's eyes. She lowered her head and wiped the blood from Song Wei Zhi's face, sobbing, "Sister, I should stay. If I don't, all of you will die here, and I don't want to see anything happen to you." Song Zhi Xia's eyes were red, with tears streaming down her cheeks.
It seemed that the dragon hovering in the air had heard Song Zhi Xia's words and became smug, with a metallic rubbing sound in his voice, "Phoenix, it would be better if you had this understanding earlier, but since they hurt me today, they all have to die here."
Enduring the excruciating pain, Song Wei Zhi grabbed Song Zhi Xia's hand, shaking her head. At the same time, she directed the system to fire the cannon. The dragon's roar had already rendered these people unable to stand, and Jiao Long had relaxed his vigilance. Little did he know that a beam of light broke through the darkness, directly hitting Jiao Long's abdomen, followed by a loud explosion. A hole was blown open in Jiao Long's abdomen.
In her mind, Song Wei Zhi directed the system to reposition the cannon and load armor-piercing rounds, targeting Jiao Long's neck. Boom, two more shots were fired. Jiao Long's neck was already bursting open, and he, like he had gone mad, fixed his sights on Song Wei Zhi. With a gaping mouth, he lunged at her. The recoilless cannon had selected the best position. As Jiao Long opened his mouth, three armor-piercing rounds were fired into his mouth. Moments later, Jiao Long had been dismembered, and his huge head crashed down not far from Song Wei Zhi and the others.
At that moment, Song Wei Zhi, already forcing herself to keep her senses sharp, was soaked in cold sweat and passed out, with her face covered in blood. Song Zhi Xia hurriedly held Song Wei Zhi in her arms, her tears and loose hair sticking to her cheeks, repeatedly calling out for Song Wei Zhi to wake up, "Sister, sister, sob, it's all my fault. If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't be like this."
Zhao Xuan Kun and the others had recovered and were running over. Jiao Long's roar had only suppressed them; they didn't bleed from their seven orifices like Song Wei Zhi. This was probably a retaliation from Jiao Long after Song Wei Zhi had injured him.
"Zhi Xia, don't hold her so tightly," Zhao Xuan Kun checked Song Wei Zhi's breathing and found she was still breathing, saying, "Let Sister Wei Zhi lie flat on the ground, and everyone should move back a bit."
At that moment, Song Zhi Xia's heart was hanging on Song Wei Zhi. Her hands were trembling, afraid that if she let go, Song Wei Zhi might not wake up again; looking at Song Wei Zhi lying on the ground, Song Zhi Xia remembered Jiao Long's words. He had said that he and those around him were mutually conflicting. Upon reflection, it seemed true. From being abandoned by her parents at birth to constantly causing trouble for Song Wei Zhi during this period, Song Zhi Xia got up from Song Wei Zhi's side and walked silently towards a cave on the side, but her eyes were always on Song Wei Zhi.
Song Wei Zhi felt as if she was falling apart all over, and that dead dragon truly wanted to kill her. If it weren't for the system, she might have died there.
She found it difficult to even open her eyes. She called out to the system in her mind, "System, please check my points."
In the next instant, the system responded, "Host currently has 60 points remaining. Due to the severity of the host's injuries, the system suggests exchanging for healing pills. The pill costs 10 points. Will the host make the exchange?"
"Exchange."
"The exchange was successful. The host now has 50 points remaining."
Song Wei Zhi could feel a black pill in her right hand. With great effort, she brought her hand closer to her mouth and swallowed the pill.
Beside her, Xu Wen Yuan and the others cheered, "Sister is awake and unharmed."
"That's great, I knew Sister is so capable; how could something happen to her?"
Of course, Song Zhi Xia heard the commotion from where Song Wei Zhi was. However, she was afraid that she had caused the bleeding from Song Wei Zhi's seven orifices and dared not approach. At a specific moment, hearing certain words and experiencing certain things, it was easy to take others' words for the truth.
Song Zhi Xia dared not move closer. She feared that she had truly harmed Song Wei Zhi.
After resting for a while lying on the ground, Song Wei Zhi finally sat up as the medicine took effect. She wiped the blood from her face and looked around for Song Zhi Xia. After scanning the surroundings and not finding her, she asked, "Where's Xia Xia? Is she okay?"
"She's fine. Xia Xia is over there. She seems to have something on her mind and looks scared," Xu Wen Yuan pointed to where Song Zhi Xia cowered.
Song Wei Zhi suspected that the young girl was worried again. She stood up and walked to where Song Zhi Xia was. With a dozen meters still left between her and Song Zhi Xia, she heard her saying, "Sister, don't come over, don't come over."
Song Wei Zhi glanced at her and asked, "Why can't I come over? Xia Xia, what's wrong? Can you tell Sister?"
Song Zhi Xia quickly shook her head, tears ready to fall, as if they would drop at any moment.
Song Wei Zhi couldn't just leave Song Zhi Xia crying. The more Song Zhi Xia resisted her, the more Song Wei Zhi felt the need to go to her. She quickened her pace and, when she was close, she heard Song Zhi Xia say, "Sister, don't come any closer, don't come closer."
The little girl's voice was choked with sobs, and her efforts to push Song Wei Zhi's shoulder were feeble.
Supporting herself against the wall, Song Wei Zhi reached out to wipe the tears from the little girl's eyes. However, her efforts were rejected. Song Zhi Xia was adamant about not letting her near. She was afraid she would harm Song Wei Zhi by coming closer. The little girl's sobs made it clear that she was feeling guilty.
Of course, Song Wei Zhi couldn't leave a crying Song Zhi Xia alone. She supported herself against the wall, wiped Song Zhi Xia's tears, and moved closer to the little girl. Although Song Zhi Xia resisted, Song Wei Zhi approached and used her arms to encircle her.
As Song Wei Zhi's tears fell, Song Zhi Xia trembled and tried to push Song Wei Zhi away, her hands lacking strength, urging, "Sister, please keep your distance. You won't be in danger if you stay away from me. Please don't come any closer." The little girl's words were broken, and her hands didn't exert much force as she pushed against Song Wei Zhi.
Holding Song Wei Zhi against the wall with one hand, Song Wei Zhi gently wiped the tears from Song Zhi Xia's eyes. Each time Song Zhi Xia tried to push her hand away, Song Wei Zhi persisted.
Song Wei Zhi bent her arm and leaned forward, reducing the distance between them to the size of a fist, their breaths intertwining. Song Zhi Xia grew more anxious, trying to push Song Wei Zhi away, but her efforts were in vain, and her sobs intensified.
"Sister, please stop it. I'm serious. Please stay away from me," she said, trying to escape from the corner Song Wei Zhi had cornered her into, but Song Wei Zhi wouldn't let her escape, immediately squeezing the girl between the wall and her arms.
The little girl continued to push her hand. Song Wei Zhi, watching the sobbing little girl, felt a pang of heartache. "Is it because of what that wretched dragon said earlier? Do you believe him? How foolish of you." She gently wiped the girl's tears with her finger.
Song Zhi Xia sobbed, "But... but what he said was true. Sister, I haven't had a peaceful day since I met you. You're either saving me or helping me. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have bled so much just now."
Softly soothing her, Song Wei Zhi said, "But I'm fine, aren't I? And besides, my injury isn't because of you; it's because of that wretched dragon. Don't think about such things, alright? You don't want me as your sister anymore?"
Hearing Song Wei Zhi's comforting words, Song Zhi Xia felt even more disheartened. Sister was almost gone just now, and now she was comforting her. Song Zhi Xia cried even harder.
Chapter 34
Song Wei Zhi had been "coaxing" her "niece," but she wasn't very good at it. Over these days, she had gained a lot of experience in coaxing Song Zhi Xia. She thought her coaxing skills had improved a lot, but the little girl still continued to cry, showing no sign of stopping. Song Wei Zhi was at her wit's end, feeling like she was going bald. In her past life, she would simply say, "Drink more hot water," and that would be the end of it. But her own little girl was different. She had to coax her properly. Song Wei Zhi, feeling sorry for her, wiped the tears from the little girl's cheeks. The girl was still pushing her away, unable to keep her composure and getting all the more upset, fearing that something unpredictable would happen if Song Wei Zhi stayed so close to her.
Song Wei Zhi leaned in closer, almost touching noses with Song Zhi Xia. Their breaths intertwined, and Song Wei Zhi gently spoke, "Look, Xia Xia, we are so close, and nothing happened, right?" She then affectionately nuzzled Song Zhi Xia's nose with hers.
This made Song Zhi Xia even more anxious. Her face, initially pale from fear, now turned red at the cheek and ear after the intimate contact. She even forgot to cry, but only pushed Song Wei Zhi with all her might, feeling so uneasy being so close.
Seeing this from a distance, Xu Wen Yuan gazed over at Song Wei Zhi and found his usually aloof senior pressing Zhi Xia against the cave wall, seemingly teasing her. This scene left Xu Wen Yuan utterly astonished. It seemed his senior was behaving like a love-stricken teenager.
Looking around, he couldn't help but nudge Zhao Xuan Kun lightly and asked in a low voice, "Senior Brother Zhao, um, it seems like my senior sister is teasing Zhi Xia junior sister. Should we go over and help them?"
Zhao Xuan Kun's gaze at Xu Wen Yuan was as if he were looking at someone with a mental deficiency. He retorted, "So, when they were being cozy, did you plan on interrupting them? Were you going to disturb their happy moment? Or did you want to break them apart?"
"No, no, Senior Brother Zhao. I meant my Senior Sister and Zhi Xia junior sister. Are they in that kind of relationship?" Xu Wen Yuan was stunned. He couldn't understand why his senior sister was always looking out for Zhi Xia junior sister. It turns out she's nurturing her future partner!
Zhao Xuan Kun gave Xu Wen Yuan a look of disbelief mingled with a hint of disdain.
After being reprimanded by Zhao Xuan Kun, Xu Wen Yuan dared not interfere, nor did he dare to look in that direction again, fearing he might witness something more intense.
Meanwhile, Song Wei Zhi remained undeterred, smiling softly as she said, "I can step back if you want, but Xia Xia, don't avoid me. I'll step back right now if you want."
"But no, I have to keep my distance from Senior Sister in the future," the girl said, still in a state of conflict. She didn't know where to look, feeling her heart racing, surrounded by her Senior Sister's presence. Their noses occasionally brushed, only adding to Song Zhi Xia's anxiety. Pushing her Senior Sister seemed futile.
A long way away, Xu Wen Yuan gave Song Wei Zhi a brief look, and saw how his normally aloof senior was pressing Zhi Xia against the cave wall, teasing her. Xu Wen Yuan was stunned. It seemed his senior was behaving remarkably like a love-stricken teenager.
After Xu Wen Yuan's comment, Song Wei Zhi wouldn't intervene, nor did she dare glance over again, afraid of witnessing a more provocative scene.
On the other hand, Song Wei Zhi simply sighed and stepped back slightly. It seemed her little girl hadn't really resolved her inner turmoil. She had managed to make her feel a little better, but it was all that accursed dragon's fault for making her withdraw back into her shell.
Alright, this wasn't a problem to be solved gradually. It was best to crack that shell open. If the girl had no shell, there would be nowhere to hide, right?
Seeing Song Wei Zhi move back slightly, Zhi Xia thought her Senior Sister was really going to keep her distance. Feeling relieved that her senior sister wouldn't be burdened by her in the future, she also felt a pang of being unwanted. But as she was lost in these thoughts, she felt her Senior Sister's face getting closer, followed by something soft against her cheek.
Song Zhi Xia stared in astonishment at Song Wei Zhi, realizing what had just happened. Her cheeks quickly turned crimson, and her heart raced even faster. She dared not believe it, touching her own cheek and murmuring softly, "Senior Sister, did you just?"
Song Wei Zhi chuckled, gently ruffling the girl's hair. "See, everything is fine, right? I just kissed you. So, isn't that close enough now? Here I am standing right in front of you."
Still hiding her face in Song Wei Zhi's embrace, Song Zhi Xia murmured in a small voice, "What's wrong with me…? I can't be near you from now on, sniffle, sniffle." The girl was still in a dilemma, wanting her Senior Sister to back off while unable to refuse being close, not sure what to do.
Song Wei Zhi sighed and pulled away slightly. Her little girl had truly gotten hung up. Knowing that the spine-chilling dragon was still around, she determined to leave this place as soon as possible, planning to end it quickly. Seeing the girl being stubborn, she raised her eyebrows and whispered in her ear, "Does Xia Xia still not trust me? Do you want to take it a step further?"
Song Wei Zhi had barely recovered from the kiss just now when she heard Song Zhi Xia's words. Did it mean she wanted to take another step once they were alone? Were these the customs for a niece in ancient times?
Seeing the girl's nervousness, Song Wei Zhi hesitated for a moment. So, was her little girl suggesting that without others around, they could go further? Was this the way a niece behaved back then?
Perceiving the girl's unease, Song Wei Zhi playfully asked, "Don't you trust the little girl with Auntie anymore? Wanting more of Auntie's closeness?" She then tightened her embrace around the girl's arm.
Song Wei Zhi wasn't yet over the earlier kiss when she felt Song Zhi Xia pressing against her. Her cheeks reddened more with the contact of the girl's fresh, soft lips. Song Wei Zhi even thought it was quite nice to hold her.
But Song Zhi Xia was not as composed as Song Wei Zhi. She was utterly flustered, wondering if her Senior Sister was really kissing her. The current scene and the one from her dream were similar. Feeling her Senior Sister's gentle lips, Song Zhi Xia couldn't even breathe, feeling like she might stumble against the wall even with her legs propped up.
Noticing Song Zhi Xia slipping down, Song Wei Zhi swiftly encircled her waist and pulled her closer, holding her in a passionate embrace.
Feeling her legs getting weaker, Song Zhi Xia wrapped her arms around Song Wei Zhi's neck. Seeing the deeper affection in her eyes, Song Wei Zhi found it difficult to let go.
Eventually, it was Song Zhi Xia who pushed away. But even after the kiss, her cheeks and ears remained continually flushed. She didn't dare to look at Song Wei Zhi. After Song Wei Zhi let her go, she buried her face in her Senior Sister's chest.
Song Wei Zhi held the soft girl in her arms, chuckling softly. "Have you finally figured it out, Xia Xia? I just kissed you, and now, I'm embracing you. Didn't I do what you wanted?"
The girl buried her head, whimpering softly. She thought that, even though it was embarrassing, the one who had just kissed her was the one she longed for in her heart.
Xu Wen Yuan's eyes widened. So, Senior Sister and Junior Sister Zhi Xia really had that kind of relationship! He was thankful he hadn't intervened earlier.
After leaning on Song Wei Zhi for a while, Song Zhi Xia finally eased away, but she couldn't bring herself to look at Song Wei Zhi, her eyes darting left and right.
Song Wei Zhi, with a subtle smile, took Song Zhi Xia's hand and said, "Is your leg still weak?"
Song Zhi Xia gave Song Wei Zhi a furtive glance, only to find her smiling back at her, which made her quickly avert her gaze.
Author's Note:
Song Wei Zhi: Are nieces in ancient times all so open-minded?
Song Zhi Xia: Sniffle, sniffle~. Senior Sister kissed me, I'm so happy!
Chapter 35
The 8 disciples of the Song family were indeed lucky. Just now, the commotion caused by the Dragon should have inflicted heavy injuries on them. Now, they only sustained minor wounds. However, they were still quite far from Song Wei Zhi and her group. They couldn't see the situation clearly. They were still shaken by the gory scene from a moment ago. What exactly was the thing that blew the dragon to pieces so effortlessly?
The 8 disciples of the Song family were quite distant from Song Wei Zhi. After all, the dragon had mentioned the fate of Song Zhi Xia. They were hesitant to approach. Lacking a clear leader among them and possessing only a single blade, they were somewhat apprehensive. Eventually, they reached a consensus to follow behind Song Wei Zhi's group, hoping to increase their chances of survival. Thus, they began making their way towards Song Wei Zhi and her companions.
Song Wei Zhi naturally noticed these distant figures advancing towards them and coldly huffed before reaching out to take her little sister's hand, saying, "I'm going to check on that dragon. Will you come with me, Xia Xia?"
Song Wei Zhi's voice was gentle, and Song Zhi Xia couldn't help but remember the recent kiss, feeling a rush of warmth on her cheeks. She quickly blushed. Song Zhi Xia dared not look into Song Wei Zhi's eyes and simply nodded with her head bowed. Song Wei Zhi realized the girl was feeling shy, so she didn't probe further. Holding her little sister's hand, she went towards the dragon's head to carefully examine it.
The dragon's head alone was immense, towering several stories high, not to mention the half of the body on land and the other half submerged in the lake.
Song Zhi Xia was worried the dragon might harm Song Wei Zhi again and tightened her grip on Song Wei Zhi's hand. Song Wei Zhi reassured her with a gentle smile and summoned the system in her mind to scan the location of the soul fragment.
Soon, the system located the soul fragment nestled between the dragon's eyes. Typically, one could retrieve it by directly controlling the sword. However, they would now have to climb up and get it. Song Wei Zhi prepared to climb up to the dragon's head.
"Senior sister, what are you doing? It's too dangerous," Song Zhi Xia asked, concerned.
"It's okay. You wait for me down here. I will be back soon. This is something important. Don't let anyone come up," Song Wei Zhi replied before she placed her long knife at the small of her back and began climbing up the dragon's head. Fortunately, the head had many nooks and crannies for footholds.
Zhao Xuan Kun and the others followed, questioning, "Junior sister Zhi Xia? What is senior sister up to?"
"Senior sister said none of you should go up," Song Zhi Xia obediently relayed, standing beneath the dragon's head.
Zhao Xuan Kun, having been through many expeditions, suspected Song Wei Zhi had found some treasure. As the dragon was slain by her, it would be natural for any treasure on it to belong to her. However, not everyone shared that view.
Xu Wen Yuan was still puzzled, unaware that it was Song Wei Zhi who obliterated the dragon. Upon returning his attention, he found that the 8 disciples of the Song family had caught up. Zhao Xuan Kun and the others restrained them.
"Senior brother Zhao, such a massive dragon head can't belong solely to you. Besides, you've seen all kinds of treasures on ordinary days. If there's anything valuable on the dragon's head, it should be shared with us, who usually don't come across such treasures," the lead member of the group contended.
Zhao Xuan Kun calmly responded, "The dragon was slain by senior sister, so anything on it rightfully belongs to her. It's not your concern."
As soon as Zhao Xuan Kun finished, several disciples burst into laughter.
"Senior brother Zhao, if you don't want to share with us, just say it. Don't make up lies to deceive us, especially such unconvincing ones."
"Yeah, none of us have any spiritual power here. How can you prove that it was senior sister who killed the dragon?"
"Exactly, make way. We also want a share."
Zhao Xuan Kun raised his long knife and stated, "I regret saving you earlier. Even at the cost of our lives, we must protect senior sister and junior sister Zhi Xia. These people are not good. No need to hold back."
Liang Qin tightened his grip on the knife, while Xu Wen Yuan, having given his knife to Song Wei Zhi, was left unarmed.
At this point, Song Wei Zhi had already climbed to the dragon's nose, where she could reach the center of the dragon's eyes with her feet. She tried to cut through with her knife but found it ineffective as there were scale-like coverings. Meanwhile, a scuffle broke out among them. Although Zhao Xuan Kun's group was outnumbered, they at least had four knives, ensuring that the opposition didn't have the upper hand.
Song Wei Zhi quickened her movements. According to the system's guidance, she cut a slit between the dragon's eyes and then enlarged it to retrieve a glinting dragon-shaped jade pendant. Invoking the system, she inquired, "System, is this Xia Xia's soul fragment?"
"Congratulations, host. Yes, it is. Please ensure to safeguard the female lead's soul fragment. This secret realm is about to collapse."
With this, Song Wei Zhi stored the jade pendant in her storage ring, then began her descent. By the time she reached the ground, Zhao Xuan Kun and the others had engaged in several rounds of combat. However, the bloodstains belonged to the eight individuals from the opposition.
"Senior sister has come down, and the treasure must be on her. Let's seize it quickly," one of the disciples called out. The eight disciples ran towards Song Wei Zhi as if they were possessed.
Song Wei Zhi had long considered dealing with these people. After all, she had no camaraderie with them. Raising her gun, she discharged two rounds. Two disciples lay on the ground, and a sudden calm descended upon the area. The Song family disciples were surprised by Song Wei Zhi's willingness to kill. The sight of their two comrades falling alarmed them.
However, murmurs arose again:
"Song Wei Zhi, as the elder of the Song family, you harm your companions. After we leave, we will surely seek redress from you."
"Right, we demand retribution. An eye for an eye, a life for a life."
"Life for life, we will seek justice from the head of the sect once we are out."
Song Wei Zhi sneered, "Indeed, you have reminded me. It's better for all of you to die here, isn't it?"
"You, Song Wei Zhi, dare to defy us? We are not afraid of you with so many of us," the disciples retorted.
Unwilling to engage further, Song Wei Zhi raised her gun once more, felling four more disciples. This time, some only sustained injuries to the chest, not fatal ones. At this point, there were only two individuals from the opposition left standing.
Song Wei Zhi raised an eyebrow, asking, "What now? Do you still want retribution?"
The two disciples were stunned by the scene before them. Song Wei Zhi indeed intended to kill them.
One of them tremulously knelt, "Senior sister, I know my mistake. I won't dare again. Spare me, please."
The other also knelt and pleaded, "Same here, spare me, senior sister. I was misled for a moment. I won't dare again."
Having learned from their previous leniency, Zhao Xuan Kun and the others remained silent. These people only cared about their own lives and were not worth saving.
Song Wei Zhi smiled and said, "Spare you? But how come none of you thought about sparing Xia Xia just now? Are your lives more important?"
With that, she raised her gun and fired again, downing four more disciples. This time, a few were only injured in the chest, but not fatally. In an instant, there was only Song Wei Zhi and her allies left standing.
As the cave began to tremble, rocks from the ceiling continued to fall.
"The secret realm is collapsing! Everyone, be careful up there!" she warned, grabbing Song Zhi Xia's hand and evading the falling debris with Zhao Xuan Kun and the others. Not far away, a few remaining disciples who were not fatally shot earlier cried for help. This time, no one would turn back to rescue them.
As rocks continued to fall from the ceiling, a glimmer of light shone from above. Song Wei Zhi suddenly felt her spiritual power replenished. With a shout, she urged, "Let the swords fly and escape!"
While flying out alongside her companions, she placed the soul fragment in her storage ring, finally easing her latent worries. The tremors outside the secret realm were followed by its collapse. Song Wei Zhi realized they had flown out to the back of the mountain, as the entire secret realm had completely collapsed.
As if sensing something, Song Ru Hai's key turned into fluff. He felt a sense of foreboding and urged, "Head Tian, Head Zhao, the key to the secret realm shattered. I fear something might have gone wrong. Let's go to the back of the mountain and take a look."
With that, they led the remaining disciples to the back of the mountain. There, they saw Song Wei Zhi and her group, along with a few disciples who were previously at the outskirts of the secret realm.
Upon reaching them, and finding that their son was not among them, Song Ru Hai's thoughts turned to Song Chao Yun, who had mentioned following Song Wei Zhi. He looked towards Song Wei Zhi in the distance and asked, "Wei Zhi, where is Chao Yun?"
Song Wei Zhi didn't want to engage with him, as he always showed false sentiment. She straightforwardly stated, "He's dead."
"Dead? Shut your mouth! You traitorous liar! My son had just achieved the initial stage of spiritual cultivation. How could this be possible?" Song Ru Hai roared in disbelief.
With calm composure, Song Wei Zhi replied, "He's truly dead. Everyone saw it. If you don't believe me, ask Zhao Xuan Kun."
"Xuan Kun, that's not true, right?" Song Ru Hai asked, hoping to hear the words "not true" from Zhao Xuan Kun.
"Leader Song, it is as Sister Song said. Song Chao Yun died in the secret realm," Zhao Xuan Kun truthfully confirmed.
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