Chapter Fifty-Three: Scouting the Path

As Ye Cheng's figure slipped through the stone gate into another passageway, he moved swiftly along the new corridor. Within these mountain caves, one would expect utter darkness, yet every so often, he noticed luminous stones embedded in the walls, casting a gentle glow that brightened the path ahead.

He hadn't gone far before footsteps echoed behind him. Though soft, in the confines of the tunnel, they seemed unusually loud. Ye Cheng frowned, channeling his energy to his feet, touching the ground lightly so as to move in silence. He quickened his pace.

“Are you a fool, boy? Why rush to take the lead?” Just as Ye Cheng was hurrying to put some distance between himself and Nangong Xue, Mu Lao’s voice rang out, exasperated.

“If I don't move quickly, should I wait for her? Who knows, there might be something valuable ahead,” Ye Cheng replied, slowing his steps at the sound of Mu Lao’s words.

“You think this place is lined with treasures? Charge around blindly and you'll soon lose your life,” Mu Lao chided.

Ye Cheng gave a wry smile. “Then what do you suggest?”

“Find a spot to hide and let that girl from Yongle City go first. Let her scout the way; she seems quite familiar with this place. In such circumstances, caution is best,” Mu Lao advised.

Ye Cheng hesitated briefly at the idea of letting a woman lead the way for him. But after a moment’s thought, he followed Mu Lao’s suggestion, doubling back to conceal himself in a stone alcove at a bend in the passage. Inside, there was no light stone; darkness swallowed him whole. Though it wasn’t exactly honorable to let a beautiful woman scout the path for him, their unfamiliarity made it easier to cast aside pride. In this situation, reason was paramount.

“Teacher, how do you know she’s familiar with this place?” Hidden in the darkness, Ye Cheng held his breath, careful not to alert Nangong Xue behind him, and asked Mu Lao in his mind.

“How else did she get here so quickly? I used my spiritual sense to find the right path, but what did she rely on? I don’t believe she’s reached the Yuan Realm and developed a spiritual sense at her age. Unless she knows the correct route, I can’t think of another explanation,” Mu Lao replied.

“Truly, wisdom comes with age,” Ye Cheng thought, a trace of admiration for Mu Lao in his heart.

As Ye Cheng mused to himself, Nangong Xue’s footsteps grew louder in the corridor, reaching his ears. Sensing her approach, Ye Cheng snapped back to attention, his body tensed and breath held, eyes fixed on the tunnel ahead.

Soon, Nangong Xue’s slender figure appeared in sight. Abruptly, she stopped, making Ye Cheng’s heart clench—had he been discovered? But she didn’t turn his way; her back remained to him. Ye Cheng exhaled quietly in relief, watching her every move.

He saw her delicate hand produce a parchment scroll, which she unfolded. Even in the dimness, Ye Cheng could make out the map sketched upon it.

“It must be a map of the cave—just as I thought…” Ye Cheng’s admiration for Mu Lao deepened. No wonder she’d escaped the formation at the entrance and never lost her way in the maze of tunnels—she had a map.

“This Yongle City is impressive, to have secured something like that.”

Nangong Xue stood with her back to him, her pale, slender fingers traced the parchment briefly before she put it away and set off again, choosing the rightmost passage.

When her figure vanished down the chosen path, Ye Cheng emerged from hiding and followed at a distance.

Along the way, Ye Cheng passed several forked paths. At one such junction, only two branches lay ahead, and not far into one was a crumpled skeleton—someone had died there. But why?

“Could there be traps in these tunnels?”

Seeing the skeleton, Ye Cheng hesitated. Yet ahead, Nangong Xue pressed forward without a second thought, and Ye Cheng gritted his teeth and followed, carefully keeping his distance.

Nangong Xue switched passages several times, and Ye Cheng kept pace, light-footed to avoid detection. The journey remained unobstructed.

After about ten minutes of this pursuit, Nangong Xue suddenly halted, and Ye Cheng quickly pressed himself against the rock wall, peering out to observe the scene. What he saw made his eyes narrow.

Ahead, a massive bronze door blocked the tunnel, as if sealing its end. Age had left rust all across the ancient portal.

Beneath the door lay the enormous skeleton of a magical beast. Lifeless for some time, its structure bore a striking resemblance to that of a human, save for the jutting jaw so unlike any man’s. Tufts of golden fur still clung to the bones.

“The Golden-furred Ape King!”

Recognizing the skeleton, Ye Cheng’s heart surged with shock. This was clearly the remains of a magical ape, and the lingering gold fur confirmed its identity. If a silver-furred magic ape was the head of its kind, then this golden-furred one was surely their ancestor—a beast of the Ancient Pill Realm.

A silver-furred ape in the Yuan Realm, with further cultivation, would eventually transform its coat to gold upon reaching the Ancient Pill Realm.

“No wonder the ape clan claimed this place as their territory—a mighty ancestor fell here,” Ye Cheng thought.

Nangong Xue’s usually composed face flickered with astonishment as she gazed at the skeleton—clearly, she hadn’t expected to find the remains of a Golden-furred Ape King here.

Yet almost at once, she moved forward toward the bronze door. As she advanced, an immense aura suddenly surged from the gigantic skeleton at the door’s base.