A few minutes earlier, Julius, Mathias, and Alice stepped inside a cold tunnel snaking through the mountain.
Each of their steps added to the oppressive silence as they all had the same conflicted expression knitting their brows and twisting their lips.
Especially for Julius.
After years of fumbling with his cultivation, he had finally found a teacher. One who cared about others and shared his other moral values. Yet, his apprenticeship would probably never start.
A heavy sigh escaped his lips, and tears pooled in his eyes at the thought.
Even if he just met the man, Lin Yao's story made his heart throb painfully with each beating.
"Such loyalty to his friend..."
A soft mutter broke the silence as he closed his eyes and gritted his teeth.
"With all my heart, I hope you'll survive and join us on the other side. If you don't..."
His voice trailed off, yet a steely glint flashed in his hazel eyes.
