A sharp stone spike grazed Shen Mingyue’s ear as it plummeted, striking the ground and showering sparks. Shrapnel-like debris splashed against her cheek, leaving fine, stinging lacerations that made her gasp. She cradled Gu Jinghong, rolling across the floor until her back slammed into the cold, fluorite wall. An icy chill, sharp as a viper, crept up her spine. Gold stars danced before her eyes, and a buzzing sound filled her head, leaving her disoriented. Deep within the cavern, a pair of enormous red, slit pupils slowly loomed through the black mist. Each blink unleashed a foul gust of wind, reeking of rot and rust, churning her stomach and leaving a bitter, acidic taste in her throat. Gu Jinghong managed to prop himself up. His blood-stained Xiuchun Saber scraped against the fluorite floor with a jarring shriek, the sparks illuminating his paper-white face. Cold sweat dripped from his jaw, soaking into the mottled bloodstains beneath him. He tried to buy her a chance to escape, but every movement made his wounds tear anew, spilling more warm blood to trace grotesque patterns across the floor.
"Stop!" A thunderous roar suddenly echoed through the cave. The voice held the weight of ages, reverberating off the uneven rock walls for a long time. The pursuing tribesmen knelt in unison, the dust they kicked up swirling like golden smoke in the dim light. The elder, leaning on a Bronze Cauldron-themed staff, pushed through the crowd. His animal-hide garments were stained with mu…
Chapter 49