Rong Ye walked ahead, Gu Changhuai quietly followed behind, tailing him all the way.
The mountain path was secluded with dense surrounding trees. While following, he hid his entire person behind trees to prevent being discovered, simultaneously transmitting to Hua Mei: "How's the situation? Finished digging?"
Hua Mei lowered his head, setting up the ambush for the freshly dug pitch-black pit, responding: "Don't worry. I dug very deep. Ten-Thousand Jin Body-Sinking Curse doubled at the pit bottom. Anyone approaching will be sucked in. Anyone falling in definitely can't climb out!"
"Finish quickly and leave. Rong Ye is heading over." Gu Changhuai tipped him off.
Hearing this, Hua Mei was so scared his scalp tightened. He didn't want to become another soul under Qing Lian Immortal Lord's sword. Hurriedly covering up the pit traces, he hurriedly fled. "The rest is up to you. I'm running first."
Gu Changhuai said: "Got it."
He followed Rong Ye walking. Rong Ye's pace wasn't fast. After walking a few steps, he stopped, casting his gaze on flowers, grass, and trees planted beside the small path, hands clasped behind his back, standing in place unmoving. His handsome face showed no expression, his gaze deep and unfathomable.
Gu Changhuai hiding in the forest felt his heart skip a beat. Had he been discovered? But following Rong Ye's line of sight, there were only two camellia plants there—very ordinary, nothing special.
Gu Changhuai was vigilant.
After waiting a moment.
Rong Ye's figure finally moved again. After a few more steps, he stopped again.
Gu Changhuai: "..."
After a moment, that tall, jade-like dark blue figure continued forward. The pit trap's exterior was well-covered. At a glance, it looked no different from the small path. Only a pink petal rested on the road surface—that was Hua Mei's marker, also representing the pit below.
Walking and stopping like this, he finally walked not far before the petal.
The corners of Gu Changhuai's mouth lifted.
Silently in his heart: Step on it, step on it! Fall in!
At this moment.
Suddenly a wind rose. The wind carried some sand, blinding Gu Changhuai so he couldn't open his eyes. He instinctively lowered his head to rub them.
Just as he lowered his head, Rong Ye's eyelids lifted slightly. The pink petal on the flat ground moved back an inch.
...
The wind passed. When Gu Changhuai looked up again, he saw Rong Ye had stopped before the petal, instead raising his head to look at a white plum blossoming magnificently on the mountain.
Gu Changhuai: "..."
One step away.
He crouched behind the tree, patiently waiting.
Time flowed. Rong Ye didn't move at all. Gu Changhuai couldn't help but look at that pink petal again, feeling something was wrong.
Logically, the pit Hua Mei dug had the Ten-Thousand Jin Body-Sinking Curse, doubled in effect. Anyone approaching would be sucked into the pit even without stepping into empty space. How come there was no reaction for so long?
Gu Changhuai transmitted to Hua Mei: "Sure the Ten-Thousand Jin Body-Sinking Curse is doubled?"
Hua Mei said seriously: "You can question my beauty, but you cannot question my strength. Wait, you can't question my beauty either!"
"What's going on..." Gu Changhuai muttered to himself darkly.
Perhaps it was because he hadn't stepped on the trap. But if he walked one more step to the trap's location, it would definitely work.
Waiting and waiting, who knew how long he waited. Rong Ye still hadn't moved from his spot, his gaze still on the white plum, expression calm with no sign of wanting to move forward.
Not knowing how much longer he'd look, just one step short... After hesitating repeatedly, Gu Changhuai decided to give it a push.
He quietly circled around not far away, appearing on the small path as if by coincidence.
The mountain forest was lush and verdant. The winding small path hid within mist and clouds. A cool breeze brushed his face, seemingly carrying a few traces of flower fragrance. The mountain wilderness air was fresh, lingering with some spiritual energy.
Gu Changhuai's steps were relaxed as he unhurriedly approached, casually calling out: "Wei hour is almost here. Is the Immortal Lord heading to Stone Long Platform?"
Hearing this, Rong Ye turned back, his gaze landing on Gu Changhuai and pausing. His expression was as indifferent as always. He nodded slightly, sparing words like gold with an "Mm," his voice low and calm, indiscernible for emotion.
Gu Changhuai smiled lightly: "I happen to be going to the Discourse on Heaven Assembly. What an honor to share the path with the Immortal Lord."
To this, Rong Ye neither agreed nor disagreed, saying: "Then let's go together." After speaking, he walked as if on flat ground, stepping over the petal and going forward several steps.
His bearing was normal, without the expected falling into a trap.
Gu Changhuai: "?"
He stopped walking, disbelieving as he looked at the ground several times, feeling somewhat absurd in his heart. There was no reason the Ten-Thousand Jin Body-Sinking Curse wouldn't work. Could it be the trap wasn't here and Hua Mei marked it wrong?
Seeing him not moving, Rong Ye turned to look, eyes deep and calm, inquiring: "What's wrong?"
Gu Changhuai restrained his expression, smiling: "Nothing."
It should be wrongly marked. The trap was perhaps ahead. Anyway, Rong Ye walked ahead of him. If anyone stepped on the trap, it would be Rong Ye first.
Thinking this, he felt much more at ease, only then following to walk up.
However, just taking one step, his foot transmitted a heavy pulling sensation. Instantly a weightless feeling attacked. Gu Changhuai was caught off guard as his vision blurred. He widened his eyes, instinctively reaching forward. Before he could grasp Rong Ye's robe hem ahead, his entire person fell down!
"..."
Damn it!
He fell in the pit!
Falling to the deep pit bottom, his back crashed against the stone wall. Half his arm went numb. Feeling fine, dense pain transmitting from various places, his body was unbearably heavy, making even moving difficult for Gu Changhuai. The doubled Ten-Thousand Jin Body-Sinking Curse truly lived up to its reputation.
After recovering, he could only go with the flow, sitting leaned in place, unable to recover for a long time.
How come Rong Ye walked over fine, but when he walked up he fell in... This wasn't logical!
Couldn't figure it out.
Just then, a shadow fell, blocking even the light shining from the pit edge. Gu Changhuai raised his head, meeting a pair of darkly unfathomable amber eyes.
Rong Ye standing at the pit edge looked down at him. The high-low positioning made the solitary coldness around him seem even heavier. His voice was deep, cold, and calm: "Are you badly hurt?"
"..."
Gu Changhuai felt those gazing eyes seemed to hold laughter. Looking more carefully, there was nothing there.
Probably intentional...
Doubtful in his heart, Gu Changhuai didn't dare ask, only finding excuses guiltily: "Don't know who dug this pit. Fortunately the Immortal Lord didn't fall in. My strength is weak. I'm afraid I can't break free from this Ten-Thousand Jin Curse. I must trouble the Immortal Lord to pull me up."
As he spoke, he struggled to lean on both sides to stand. Perhaps dug in a hurry, this pit wasn't spacious. At the bottom, it was rather cramped, unable to spread his arms.
Though narrow, it was dug very deep—probably even two people stacked together couldn't reach the top. One must rely on external force to get pulled out.
Rong Ye said: "Extend your hand."
Gu Changhuai leaned against the wall, reaching up his hand. Then a vine climbed down, wrapping around his wrist. Borrowing this force, he climbed upward. However, the Ten-Thousand Jin Curse's power was also working. The heavy falling sensation from behind kept pulling Gu Changhuai down, causing him to climb slowly.
A hand with distinct knuckles reached before him, voice deep and cold: "Grab me."
Gu Changhuai's long lashes trembled as he raised his eyes to look up. Rong Ye at the pit edge had somehow leaned down in a crouch. His handsome, cold face was like a deity descending to earth.
"..."
Gu Changhuai had a flash of inspiration, placing his hand on top and immediately gripping.
Just as Rong Ye was about to pull him up, his eyes flickered slightly. His foot slipped backward as he fell back, simultaneously his grip on Rong Ye's hand secretly exerted force. At the same time, the Ten-Thousand Jin Curse at the pit bottom activated, violently pulling the two down together.
In an instant, heaven and earth spun again, positions reversed. Gu Changhuai took advantage of the chaos to hold onto Rong Ye, preventing him from escaping. Then he closed his eyes waiting to fall again. Wind seemed to pass around him. His body was adjusted beyond his control.
Silence all around.
Not feeling corresponding pain, yet his feet stepped on solid ground. Gu Changhuai cautiously opened his eyes. What entered his vision were excellently shaped, lightly colored thin lips—looked like they'd be nice to kiss.
Gu Changhuai shook his head.
Can't have such wild thoughts.
Gu Changhuai was startled. Wanting to step back, as soon as he moved, the back of his head knocked against the stone wall. The pain made him hiss, brows furrowing lightly.
Instantly a hand cushioned behind his head, stopping him from moving around.
"This place's trap should be the Demon Clan causing trouble. Don't panic." Rong Ye spoke, his low voice line becoming especially pleasant and reliable in the narrow, cramped space. "I'll take you out shortly."
The actual troublemaking demon clan member Gu Changhuai: "..."
Laughing a bit awkwardly, "The Immortal Lord is wise. It's all my fault for implicating the Immortal Lord. But now that we've both fallen in, how do we get out?"
As he spoke, he moved a bit uncomfortably.
This space was small. One person falling in couldn't even spread their arms. Two people at the pit bottom stood very close together. One step back was a wall. Originally, he'd prepared to be cushioned underneath after pulling Rong Ye down. Didn't expect they'd both manage to stand.
Currently, his and Rong Ye's distance... was really too close.
Gu Changhuai released his arms from around Rong Ye, wanting to stand up independently. Just as he moved, Rong Ye glanced lightly.
Just as his hands left Rong Ye, Gu Changhuai instantly felt the surrounding Ten-Thousand Jin Curse activate and intensify. Immediately his form staggered, about to fall. He could only be forced to press on Rong Ye's shoulder to borrow strength. Fortunately, Rong Ye also caught him.
"..."
Damn Ten-Thousand Jin Curse!
The atmosphere was obviously somewhat delicate. Gu Changhuai calmly explained: "...Suddenly couldn't stand steady. I must trouble the Immortal Lord again."
To this, Rong Ye's expression was calm, responding lowly with an "Mm." The next moment, Gu Changhuai felt a large palm press against his waist, with irresistible force domineeringly helping him stabilize his form.
What a good person...
Gu Changhuai sincerely sighed from his heart.
Though he said this, while lowering his eyes to give thanks, his index finger suddenly transformed into sharp Shattered Shadow, silently passing by Rong Ye's neck side. A trace of blood soaked onto the silver Shattered Shadow. Gu Changhuai could feel that after this trace of blood appeared, the originally restless worm in his body settled down.
His eyes flickered slightly.
A trace of guilt suddenly arose in his heart.
—The Immortal Lord saved him from danger, yet he schemed against the Immortal Lord.
Rong Ye remained silent, a trace of dark color passing through his eyes. Lowering his eyes, his gaze swept over Gu Changhuai, somewhat incredulous, brows furrowing slightly.
How dare he?
How could the Demon Clan raise such a naively foolish person attempting to deceive everyone, treating others as fools...
The narrow space was exceptionally quiet.
As if time had frozen, calm on the surface yet carrying a few traces of hidden, dull crisis.
Gu Changhuai buried his head, heart uneasy. Though his action just now was light, only using the sharp tip to break a bit of skin—lighter than a mosquito bite—ultimately he'd taken blood. It was hard to guarantee Rong Ye wouldn't notice.
If truly detected, he probably couldn't avoid a vicious battle. Rapidly thinking—if he fought with Qing Lian Immortal Lord, how many times would he win?
Rong Ye's gaze fell on Gu Changhuai's lightly trembling long lashes. Like nervously awaiting judgment, that jade-like, its exquisite face had paled several shades, thin lips pressed into a line—seeming extremely wronged.
Rong Ye's eyes moved slightly.
...Forget it. Why bother with him?