Close the distance between us. Gu Huaixiu gestured with the dagger, measuring the space right between their bound wrists. At this moment, the two of them were standing somewhat apart, their arms stretched almost into a straight line. Wutong inched closer toward Gu Huaixiu step by step, until they finally reached a position where both of their forearms could bend and close the gap, bringing their faces within a hair’s breadth of one another. Wutong merely glanced briefly at Gu Huaixiu before lowering his gaze to look away, inwardly cursing once again at the thought that a demon always seemed born with such an enchanting, bewitching visage. His attention quickly shifted back to the space between their wrists. Gu Huaixiu channeled his demonic power into his hand, causing a ring of red light to flicker in and out of existence, resembling the red cord that had previously bound their wrists. It looked identical to what Wutong had witnessed before, except that no matter how hard Wutong tried to exert force on his end, he could not make the light manifest. Feeling slightly frustrated, Wutong quickly excused himself by reminding himself that he lacked any cultivation. Together with Gu Huaixiu, he tested twisting his wrist in every possible direction and tried applying strength to create even a sliver of space between them. While their wrists could move freely, all attempts to separate them failed completely. Not only was that red cord extraordinarily sturdy, but it also tightened dynamically in response to their movements, living up entirely to an inseparable bond. Do not move. With an expressionless face, Gu Huaixiu wedged the dagger between their arms, intending to sever that glowing ring of red cord. Seeing the blade flash with a chilling, razor-sharp light, Wutong twitched the corner of his mouth and could not help asking, Will this actually work? Gu Huaixiu shot him a look of utter disdain that seemed to say, To think this kid is actually doubting my ability. With a sharp flick of the blade, Wutong involuntarily squeezed his eyes shut. When nothing happened after a long moment, Wutong cautiously cracked open one eye to peek. He saw the veins on Gu Huaixiu’s forehead bulging violently, his eyes wide open, and a ball of black demonic energy swirling above his head as though he was using every ounce of strength he possessed to contend with that red cord. The reality of the situation was that the Zhutian Jue had formed a tiny yet exceptionally sturdy barrier looping around both of their wrists. The dagger remained stuck an inch below the exact point where their wrists made contact, and no matter how desperately Gu Huaixiu forced his power upward, the blade could not advance a fraction of a millimeter. Because of this futile struggle, Gu Huaixiu grew increasingly irritable, causing the dark hair standing straight up on his head from the emotional spike to resemble a giant broom. Wutong let out a sudden snort of laughter. Gu Huaixiu raised his eyes, his face darkening instantly. Without a word of warning, he flipped the grip on his dagger and slashed diagonally straight toward Wutong’s wrist! The blade was sharp enough to cut through iron like mud, and before Wutong could even let out a cry of shock, the edge sliced deeply right through his wrist bone! At that terrifying moment, Wutong felt as though his soul had been scared clean out of his body! Yet before the shriek rising from the depths of his chest could escape his lips, a sharp clatter echoed as the dagger fell to the ground. Then, right before his eyes, Wutong watched in absolute astonishment as his wound vanished in the blink of an eye. Throughout the entire process, apart from sheer terror, he did not feel a single ounce of pain. An illusion? Just then, he heard a few faint pattering sounds, resembling water droplets hitting dry leaves. He hurriedly looked down. The luminous night pearl hung high above, leaving the ground wrapped in a pitch-black shadow that made details impossible to discern. He reached out to feel around, but Gu Huaixiu extended his arm to block him. Noticing that Gu Huaixiu’s teeth were clenched tight and fine beads of sweat were glistening on his forehead, Wutong asked with concern, What is wrong with you? Seeing his arm trembling slightly as well, Wutong pressed further, What is wrong with your arm? It is nothing. Gu Huaixiu pulled his left arm slightly backward, his voice tinged with a trace of agitation, causing Wutong to shut his mouth. Moments later, Gu Huaixiu closed his eyes to calm his mind as if entering deep meditation, wisps of black fog swirling around his arm. Still haunted by lingering terror from what had just transpired, Wutong could not help muttering, Just now, it looked as though you slashed right through me with that dagger, but… He raised his left hand, turning it over to inspect the unblemished skin where not a single scar remained, and muttered, Never mind. After a brief silence, Gu Huaixiu tossed the dagger back to Wutong. Magical power, blades, and swords are all completely useless here. We have to find another way to break this. Unless we die, how else could we possibly break it? Wutong said offhandedly. Then you can die right here with me, Gu Huaixiu retorted coolly. Seeing him flare up so abruptly, Wutong thought this person was truly inexplicable. Clearly, he was the one who failed to undo the bond, yet he was venting his frustration randomly onto others. Daring to feel angry but lacking the courage to speak his mind, Wutong shot Gu Huaixiu several stealthy glares. Gu Huaixiu stood up, forcing Wutong to scramble to his feet alongside him while asking, Where are we going? To find a clean place to die, Gu Huaixiu replied with a voice that had returned to its usual unruffled calm. Wutong thought to himself: This fiend is not only ill-tempered but also petty. I must have had eight lifetimes of bad luck to end up bound to him. With that thought, he genuinely hoped they could quickly find a way to sever their bond, just as the demon had suggested. Dragging his feet reluctantly as he was pulled along, Wutong did not actually want to wander too far. The massive cavern up on the Upper Immortal Terrace meant his father and brother undoubtedly knew he had fallen down, and they would surely be devising a rescue plan. He needed to stay put so they could find him. Just as he was racking his brain for an excuse to stall, his stomach let out a loud rumble. I am hungry. He suddenly recalled that at this exact time yesterday, the man beside him had gone out of his way to purchase his favorite dishes and bring them back for him. At the time, his heart had been filled with joy, but looking back now, how utterly ridiculous that seemed! Scarcely a day had passed, and he had transformed from a pristine, pampered scion of an aristocratic family into a prisoner of a demonic fiend. It felt like a lifetime had elapsed, filling Wutong with a profound and heavy sense of regret. No wonder the fiend rarely bothered to eat. A terrifying grand demon who had already reached the Asura Realm had long since transcended the need to fill his stomach! Yet yesterday, that same demon had actually eaten the duck meat he fed him. He was far too good at putting up a front! Recalling that moment, Wutong wished he could chop off his own hands and poke out his own eyes. Ignoring the colorful array of expressions shifting across Wutong’s face, Gu Huaixiu simply raised his head to scan their surroundings, then suddenly flicked a stream of icy, glowing objects toward a high rock wall. A cluster of branches rustled above as those frost-bright objects boomeranged back into his palm, accompanied by a heavy branch laden with small, red berries that landed right in his hand as well. Wutong’s gaze bypassed the berries to lock onto the crystal-clear, dart-like projectiles. He had originally assumed they were some sort of magical artifact, only to realize they were merely thin blades of ice that rapidly melted into nothingness once they returned to Gu Huaixiu’s palm. While Wutong stared in sheer amazement, Gu Huaixiu shoved the branch laden with fruit into his hands and resumed scanning his surroundings. Can these actually be eaten? The branch felt surprisingly heavy in his hand, looking much larger up close than it had from the cliff face, which spoke volumes about the sheer strength behind Gu Huaixiu’s toss. Eat them if you want, or do not, Gu Huaixiu replied, still staring upward. Wutong plucked a berry, rubbed it against his clothes, and popped it into his mouth. The sweet and sour flavor turned out to be quite refreshing. Plucking another berry, he followed the direction of Gu Huaixiu’s gaze upward. A rustling and scraping sound echoed from above as numerous loose stones tumbled down from the opening where they had fallen. It must be his father and brother trying to rescue him! Forgetting to eat his berries for a moment, Wutong shouted at the top of his lungs, Father! Big Brother! Second Brother! I am down here! But his voice merely echoed against the bottom of the cavern, bouncing back and forth a few times before dissolving into nothingness. Wutong stared fixedly at the spot where the stones had fallen. After another small pile cascaded down, the cave returned to absolute stillness, falling entirely silent. Waiting a bit longer, Wutong felt his hopes dim a little more. Could it be that his father and the others had not noticed? Or perhaps they were struggling against the demon and devising an alternative rescue strategy? Meanwhile, Gu Huaixiu brushed off his robes and turned away, preparing to move on. Where are we going? Do you intend to stay down here forever? Gu Huaixiu asked coldly. Are we walking or not? Seeing Wutong linger, Gu Huaixiu urged him forward. Wutong glanced back at the opening where the rocks had fallen, but there was no further movement. Recalling how many twists and turns they had tumbled through during their descent, he realized that escaping back up the way they came was entirely out of the question. Harboring a tangle of complex emotions, Wutong followed silently behind Gu Huaixiu, his arm dangling limply. The cavern system was so vast that another exit might genuinely exist somewhere down here. I need to eat something first, or I will not have the strength to walk. Wutong suddenly snapped with feigned irritation. If he could not escape, he would simply drag the fiend down with him in mutual destruction! Once the demon perished, the Zhutian Jue would naturally return to the hands of the Immortal Alliance. Musing thusly, Wutong casually leaned against a towering stone stalagmite shooting up from the ground. Holding the branch in his left hand, he used his right hand to pluck the berries one by one, tossing them all into his portable storage pouch while occasionally popping one directly into his mouth. Gu Huaixiu did not pull or drag him further. Seeing what he was doing, he simply leaned against the protruding stone wall adjacent to the stalagmite, seemingly in no rush as he watched Wutong leisurely pick the berries and stash them away one by one. Aware that his every move was being watched, Wutong deliberately slowed his pace out of sheer spite, thinking to himself: Since this fiend wants to use me as a hostage, he certainly will not let me die just yet. Hmph, whatever he wants me to do, I will deliberately refuse to do it and drive him crazy! Once the very last berry was plucked and shoved into his mouth, Wutong finally straightened his posture, tossed the barren branch onto the ground, and declared, I am full. Let us go. Without a word, Gu Huaixiu glanced around and strode toward a pitch-black passage. The luminous night pearl immediately sprang into motion, drifting through the air to illuminate their path ahead, casting a steady glow over the ground and the scenery unfolding before them. Within moments, the two entered a winding, narrow corridor where the surrounding rock formations grew increasingly diverse, exuding a damp and chilly atmosphere. They had stepped into a limestone cave network. The passages alternated between wide and narrow, occasionally opening up into expansive cavern chambers where stalactites of varying sizes hung from the ceiling to meet upward-pointing stalagmites rising from the floor. The nearby rock walls resembled frozen waterfalls in some places, while jutting out in jagged, canine teeth-like formations in others. In certain sections where the ceiling hung low, Gu Huaixiu even had to duck his head to pass through. Wutong fared slightly better, needing only to lower his chin slightly, though he still had to navigate extremely narrow squeezes with care to avoid scraping painfully against both rock faces. As they crossed a fault line requiring them to step up a knee-high ledge, Wutong paused to wait for Gu Huaixiu to go first. Suddenly, his waist tightened before he could react, and Gu Huaixiu swept him up with a single arm to hoist him across the ledge. The moment Wutong opened his mouth to protest, Gu Huaixiu set him down and climbed up himself. I can walk by myself! Wutong maintained his stern disapproval. Fussing over nothing, Gu Huaixiu muttered, brushing past him. Ahead, the passage widened, and he broke into a brisk stride. Wutong was yanked along in a hurried trot just to keep pace. Any harsh words Wutong had readied on the tip of his tongue were ultimately swallowed back down. Under their current circumstances, he dared not genuinely provoke the demon; otherwise, he would only be the one to suffer. The sound of bubbling water echoing from ahead lifted Wutong’s spirits, temporarily pushing his grievances out of his mind. Could this fiend actually find a brand-new exit? Bathed in the glow of the night pearl, a subterranean stream could be faintly glimpsed winding along beneath the stone path. It surfaced intermittently before diving back beneath the rock walls. After twisting and turning onward for the better part of a day, Gu Huaixiu chose his paths without a moment’s hesitation at every fork they encountered, making Wutong suspect he might have traveled this route before. After an unknown duration of travel, the path abruptly ended, leaving them facing a sheer wall of damp, pitch-black rock. Wutong froze. Was this the grand destination after walking for so long? Gu Huaixiu glanced at him, swept his right arm outward to shove Wutong behind him, and slammed his left palm forcefully forward. With a resounding crash, a man-sized opening instantly shattered into the rock wall. As the stone dust settled, Wutong followed Gu Huaixiu through the newly formed gap, and a brilliant flash of light greeted his eyes. They had stepped into an ancient, majestic palace hall.
Chapter 10 - Finding a Clean Place to Die
After The Demon Lord Became A Beautiful, Useless Accessory