Qiao Ruohe and Lin Qingxuan entered the Gourd and instantly lost consciousness.
When he opened his eyes, he found himself locked inside a prison.
The prison stood on a raised piece of gray rock in the middle of a magma lake.
All around the gray rock were pillars of blazing fire.
These fire pillars supported the dome of a solitary cave dwelling.
Volcanic rock walls were visible all around the lake.
Qiao Ruohe saw an iron gate wreathed in flames right in the middle of the wall by the lakeside.
The iron gate opened, and a thin-faced monk in red robes walked in.
He crossed the magma lake and stood before the fire pillars.
In his hands, he carried some leftover-looking meat scraps.
Seeing that Qiao Ruohe was already awake and looking at him in confusion, the man spat in disgust and cursed, "Bad luck."
He slammed the meat down and turned to leave. Qiao Ruohe called out:
"Fellow Daoist, where is this place?"
The thin-faced monk glared at him and said:
"The two of you just stay put and behave yourselves. When the Junior Elder returns, she'll show you what's coming."
With that, he jumped back to the lakeside, walked out, and locked the fiery prison gate.
"Two?" Qiao Ruohe repeated the number in his mind and turned his head.
He discovered Lin Qingxuan lying on the cracked gray ground, still unconscious.
Both of their hands and feet were shackled with crimson chains that bound them together.
Every step he took produced a clanking sound.
Perhaps it was the clinking of these red chains …
Chapter 50