After climbing the mountain, Wu Zheng and Qing Rui stumbled upon a cave hidden between two jagged rock formations. The entrance was narrow, almost as if the mountain itself was trying to keep intruders out. Inside, the cave stretched further back into the darkness, offering just enough space for them to take shelter. The air was cold and damp, tinged with the earthy scent of moss and wet stone. Each breath they took filled their lungs with the coolness of the cave, a stark contrast to the warmth of their bodies.
Wu Zheng decided not to light any fire, not wanting to attract unwanted attention. Instead, he pulled out some dry food from his pouch, the rustle of the packaging echoing softly in the otherwise silent space. He handed some to Qing Rui, saying, "Eat. We don't know how long we'll be in here."
Qing Rui accepted the food quietly, nibbling at the small portions with little interest. The taste was bland, a reminder of the limited resources they had. She sat down on one of the flatter rocks, her gaze fixed on the cave's entrance. Outside, the pitch-black night had settled in, and the darkness inside felt nearly impenetrable, swallowing any remnants of light. Thanks to his spirit lens, Wu Zheng could somewhat see in the darkness. His eyes drifted toward Qing Rui, noticing the subtle glisten of tears in her eyes. She probably thought he couldn't see her.
For a moment, Wu Zheng considered saying something but quickly decided against it. He knew better than to offer comfort in situations like this. Qing Rui wasn't someone who would take kindly to sympathy, and he respected that.
The cave was eerily silent, save for the occasional drip of water from the ceiling, each drop creating small splashes on the rocky floor. Time seemed to stretch endlessly as they sat in the dark. Finally, sensing that her emotions hadn't fully calmed, Wu Zheng broke the silence. "You know, the guards are in the Golden Core Realm. Even though the Fang Claw beast is stronger, they might still have escaped. Don't assume the worst before we have proof."
Qing Rui didn't respond immediately. She wiped her eyes quickly, her back still turned to Wu Zheng. The weight of the situation hung heavily on her, and the cave felt even more stifling.
Just as the silence settled back in, the distant roar of the beast echoed through the mountain, this time more furious, more aggressive than before. There was an undercurrent of confusion in the roar, as if the creature was frustrated.
Suddenly, the ground beneath them trembled violently.
Boom. Boom. Boom.
It was as if the mountain itself was under attack. The rumbling continued, growing louder by the second. The noise wasn't just in the distance anymore. It felt as though the entire cave was shaking, the sound like firecrackers going off one after another. Each explosion reverberated through their bones, sending chills down their spines.
But Wu Zheng knew better. The Fang Claw beast was smashing its fists against the mountain, trying to bring it down with sheer force. Small rocks and dust rained down from the ceiling of the cave, the gritty particles scratching at their throats and noses. The walls groaned under the pressure, vibrating with each impact.
Qing Rui tensed up immediately, gripping the rock she was sitting on. Her face was pale, her breath shallow as she listened to the monstrous noise. She looked at Wu Zheng for reassurance, but what she saw surprised her.
Wu Zheng, sitting calmly amidst the chaos, suddenly let out a soft chuckle.
Qing Rui blinked in confusion, her heart racing. "What… what's so funny?" she asked, barely able to contain her nerves.
Wu Zheng shook his head slightly, his lips still curled in amusement. "I was just thinking," he said, "it's kind of ridiculous, isn't it? Here we are, hiding from a beast. And it's just that—a beast. No intelligence, no strategy, just raw instinct. If it were a Nascent Soul cultivator, we'd be in real trouble. But this... it's almost laughable."
Qing Rui stared at him in disbelief for a moment, processing his words. Then, unexpectedly, a soft chuckle escaped her lips. It wasn't much, but it was enough to ease the tension, if only a little.
"Well," she said with a sigh, "I guess we can be thankful it's not a Nascent Soul cultivator, then."
Wu Zheng leaned back against the cave wall, the vibrations from the beast's attack still reverberating through the ground. "Yeah," he murmured. "We can hope it gets bored soon."