Chapter 3
Is follow-up necessary to be received?
Considering the shallow darkness of the cave seemed to suck in, devouring whatever essence of lanterns existed, the subconscious kept acting, eternally playing the key of nervousness in the mind of a beautiful young girl.
It was indeed Ling Xu's very first time descending below.
That could be verified, based on legitimate data.
But again and again, principles declared, warning her that there was both benefit and danger within.
Until it could be confirmed what it truly was, her gaze would be forged, deliberately focusing on the black horizon surrounding the cave.
Still astonished, Ling Xu thought.
If it were true that there was more than one entrance, why had her journey never encountered them, never sparked the existence of smaller or larger holes that could be entered by anyone?
Could this be a hiding place of the Exiled Legends?
It was said that after the Clash of Harmony, dozens of Overlords with all their might chose to leave, vanishing without ever showing their faces again until now.
To dream a little could not be blamed.
Considering that at this moment Ling Xu could only freeze, pulling and releasing her breath below the average pace, as the exit lay a hundred meters above.
It was time to fight!
While taking and tightening the handle of a dagger—none other than the possession of a warrior once wrapped in herbs long ago—slowly but surely Ling Xu walked, forcing her steps forward by pressing her chest against the silence of the cave.
By chance, the storage bag of one warrior contained a night lantern.
Though not very useful for combat, survival for tomorrow was the effort, the vow of the Exiled to live long enough to take one step back into nostalgia until revived into the world again.
Lantern and dagger had already merged.
Sooner or later curiosity would be satisfied, devouring whatever was truly hidden in that darkness!
Sorrowful, yet it did not reduce the determination to patch the depths of curiosity.
Even though several times stones scraped against the beauty of her woven clothes, Ling Xu pressed on, deciding to drag one step after another as per necessity.
Smooth enough, even untouched by the savagery of divine creatures.
For that reason the sensation of unease still lingered, yet remained manageable.
"Shining?"
After her stamina burned through, pushing her body to move despite the accompanying ill effects, a piercing ray of light fixed itself, realizing a glow identifiable without tools.
The mystery of the cave truly held such allure?
No longer confused, instead wonder never faded, enduring through the time spent thinking about how lanterns could be woven in such a place.
The first guess: this was the legacy of a former Exile.
Though rare, that did not mean miracles had never appeared before one's eyes.
And for the second guess…
… No, this leaned more toward solid evidence, of malicious human intent lurking nearby.
There was no such thing as coincidence.
The world began from destruction, while its downfall originated at the end of life's line.
All aspects were connected; absence and presence bound tightly together whenever conflicts of principle erupted.
Every Overlord knew, to interpret luck literally was nothing more than a joke without laughter.
Thus, rather than reacting with lofty rage, a fraction of strength was channeled, causing the dagger's grip to clench so fiercely.
It was more than foolish to see Ling Xu as harboring mere hatred.
Her emotional fluctuations were so intense, so intense they could not be compared even to the forging of the purification realm itself.
If not for them—if only they had lived peacefully—then all races, including ordinary life, would not have been torn, instantly overturned without the power to resist.
Beyond fury, in mere seconds it could explode without request.
Still maintaining a calm face, though sanity occasionally faltered, relentless echoes of "kill and burn" blazed brilliantly within her head.
Live for tomorrow!
"Human?"
She decided to be alert, unwilling to drag out the agenda for too long. Whatever lay ahead—good or bad—was struck down in an instant, temporarily suppressing prejudice within, moving forward and proposing the next action as her will demanded.
A little nervous, perhaps.
But it was not allowed for her steps to slow, always walking and continuing to press her body along.
Upon arriving at the edge of the cave, the figure of a human was confirmed, validating the meeting between the Enlightened Exile and the second-ranked Overlord.
It was indeed a human, no more, no less.
Leaning while lying down against the corner of the rocks, white robes blended, manifesting the sharpness of an untainted sword ready to return a soul to the waiting realm.
The foreign stitching on his head was considered sufficient, able to affirm the grandeur of Humanity's dignity as proof.
Inserted into his ears were unusual yellow fungal structures, both left and right.
But that did not mean the man before her was safe—intuition screamed danger that could not be overturned.
Slightly stunned by the spill of beautiful items arranged abundantly within a sack.
Yet that did not mean her guard was lowered; she observed the weakness of his body, frozen movements as if life itself was counted only in single digits ahead.
Do not be reckless—patience, do not be provoked.
Rather than doubt, Ling Xu embraced bewilderment, unable to comprehend the cause-and-effect of a human residing here.
As prevention, issuing the word "safety" was certain; her grip on steel remained, showing the cold gleam regardless of his strength.
Meanwhile the lantern was placed at her side.
"Child."
"Die there!!"
"Isn't… your response rather stiff?"
"After witnessing your kin slaughtered? Perhaps your tone needs improvement."
"Cough."
After a while with eyes closed, his eyelids finally parted, signaling the lifting of a curtain long shut, as his lips curved.
The projection of a faint smile could not be avoided from view.
And here he spoke, calling Ling Xu as if beckoning her closer.
Naturally, the grip on her dagger grew firmer.
Still pressing, rage unrestrained from her mind made Ling Xu rebel, striving once more to silence the mouth of that bastard.
It was no longer mere distrust—thunderous wrath, accompanied by seeds of hatred, surged repeatedly.
She thought of carving one or two bright gashes into his body, of course.
Even though such efforts might yield only bitterness, quick reactions became the seed, firm courage demanded to burst forth and be revealed.
Do not think a wandering healer would not dare to voice firmness, you vile man!
Given the thick layers, the resilient strength of determination in a woman, impossibility to pierce was answered instead with phlegm, the expulsion of coughs no fewer than nine, presented directly from the depths of his throat.
Remember the unwritten rules of this world.
First, strength is king, while wisdom merely perfects the crown.
Second, suspect an opponent who behaves better than before.
Whether intentional or otherwise, the elements of normality seemed absent, failing to project the true vile nature of humans, let alone the Exiled Gods who turned minds upside down.
Never underestimate—every plan was accompanied by its cause and effect.
Thus she hastily stepped back, placing her body slightly farther to anticipate a sudden ambush from behind.
Who could know the heart of man? Even after glorious reversals, greed and avarice stood foremost, staining the soil with humanity's depravity just to gain a little more advantage.
To be continued…