The path in front of them soon got wider again. In fact, there even was something like a cave in front of them. Qiu Ling took a relieved breath. Finally! He really wouldn't have been able to take it any longer!
He hastened his steps and arrived at the entrance of the cave shortly after Hong Bao and Xin Lan. He stopped, combed his hair back and straightened his sleeves. Ah, he definitely wasn't a demon! He had just been … a little too excited because his uncle-in-law would soon owe him something. Yes, that was the reason.
Hong Bao had already hurried forward again while he recovered his breath. Qiu Ling sighed and followed her only to find himself in front of two disciples of the Chun Feng Sect that were guarding a door. A red door.
Qiu Ling frowned. Honestly, you didn't need to be a genius to understand what this door was made out of. Argh! Just what was this sect thinking?! Did they really need to be so vicious? If it was so hard on dragons already, then no true demon would be able to even lift a finger in this kind of dungeon! Really, why had they built it in the first place? They could have just killed them instead! Wouldn't it be the same?
Even Xin Lan felt slightly uncomfortable in this cave. He looked around and his eyes narrowed. It seemed that this dungeon was getting harder to escape from with every step they took. Most likely this Chun Feng Sect had wanted to let the demons imagine they were still safe when they brought them in so that they would struggle less and instead wait for an opportunity. An opportunity they would never get because the further they went the more they would be influenced by the Blood Gem and the Soul Cleansing Grass.
He turned to look at Qiu Ling and even though he didn't like him, he couldn't help but feel a bit of approval. Considering the fact that a part of this boy's blood came from the demon race it really was a wonder he could still remain standing. Granted, he looked terrible at the moment but who wouldn't?
Considering that and the fact that his master wanted this person to sit on the throne of the dragon race … "Qiu Ling, you should go back and wait outside. You've certainly also noticed that you can't stand being here."
Qiu Ling shook his head and stepped closer to Xin Lan. "No. I won't."
"Don't be so stubborn. Nothing will happen and even if it did, you wouldn't be of any help. You'd be a hindrance instead."
Qiu Ling closed his eyes and took another deep breath. "If it was you … you'd just get his blood and leave."
"Of course. That is what we came here for."
"I can't." Qiu Ling cracked his eyes open and looked at the blood red door in front of them. "That person in there is my uncle-in-law's son. I can't leave him there. I have to bring him out."
"You're an idiot."
Qiu Ling shook his head. "Maybe I am. You wouldn't understand. You haven't been cursed. But I … I already fell in love and bound my soul. If it's for Jing He, then I would do anything. And helping his uncle is something he would definitely expect of me. So, whatever nasty thing they put in here I will fight against it and get that person out of here. There is no way they can stop me from that." He lifted his chin and clenched his fists, staring straight ahead at the door.
Xin Lan also turned back to the door. The two disciples of the Chun Feng Sect next to it kept an eye on everything happening in the cave but they relaxed a little when they saw Hong Bao running over.
"Junior Martial Sister Hong, how nice of you to drop by."
Hong Bao smiled brightly. "Senior Martial Brothers, good afternoon! Don't worry, I won't take up much your time. I just need to go in for a bit. My two friends want to visit someone."
Xin Lan's brow twitched. And this was why he had asked if that woman was reliable … This place was obviously the dungeon used for imprisoning demons! If anyone came to visit someone, wouldn't he be looking for a demon then?
The two disciples looked at the spot where Hong Bao pointed but couldn't see anyone. They exchanged a glance but saw the same confused expression on the face of the other person. They turned back to Hong Bao. "Junior Martial Sister … Who are you talking about?"
Hong Bao blinked and looked at Xin Lan and Qiu Ling. What were her Senior … Ah! Right! They hadn't seen each other before so they had no idea who they were. "Oh, one of them is a disciple I met in the Hei Dian Sect and the other one is … a friend of his?"
Qiu Ling chuckled. "Did you hear that? She said you were a friend of mine."
"Shut up." Xin Lan frowned at Hong Bao. This girl, she really spelled trouble. Didn't she know that those two couldn't see them? And why was she bringing up a heretic sect in front of two demon hunters? Wasn't that just like asking for those two to become more vigilant?
Indeed. The two disciples instantly perked up. "Hei Dian Sect?" They naturally both knew what kind of place that was. Especially after Hong Bao had gone missing and somehow turned up there.
The official version the Sect Master had given the disciples was that the heretic practitioners had somehow tricked Hong Bao into following them there but that nothing else had happened and that they didn't need to be too worried.
But now this very same Junior Martial Sister stood right in front of them and told them that someone from the Hei Dian Sect had come and wanted to go into the dungeon where the demons were held. This had to mean that something had gone wrong again!
"So, you want to enter the dungeon?" one of the disciples asked to make sure.
Hong Bao nodded very honestly. "Yes. They want to visit a friend of theirs to ask him for help."
"Oh. I see." The other disciple smiled and nodded. "Well, if that's the case, then we don't want to be a hindrance. It's just … Elder Du said that something happened a few days ago so we first have to notify him. Wait a moment, alright?"
Hong Bao nodded again and actually watched the disciple walk away.