"So what?" Cao Yi responded noncommittally.
"I want to stay until the real彼岸花 (Bianhua) appears," Ying Caihong declared with determination.
"Are you not afraid of the thousand-year zombie?" Cao Yi asked.
"I am, but I'm even more afraid of dying," she replied with a bitter smile.
Cao Yi nodded, understanding that these people were resolute in their decision, and he chose not to persuade them further. The tomb returned to silence as the five figures waited anxiously for the thousand-year zombie to appear. Time ticked by, and the tense atmosphere remained unchanged.
"Let's check on Ding Sitian's body first," Cao Yi thought, leaping lightly back onto the stone platform. Ding Sitian lay motionless, appearing harmless. As Cao Yi reached out, his heart suddenly raced—a feeling he'd never experienced before. Could it be a premonition of danger?
He quickly withdrew his hand, feeling the rapid heartbeat fade. There was indeed something wrong!
" Daoist Priest, have you discovered something?" Ying Caihong asked nervously.
"Someone, knock over a stone slab and check it out," Cao Yi instructed.
A nearby foreigner quickly complied, preparing to touch Ding Sitian's body. Suddenly, panic spread across his face as he screamed, "My hand! Master, save me!"
Cao Yi reacted without hesitation, driving his peach wood sword into the foreigner's heart, ending his life instantly.
"Damn it!" Ying Caihong exclaimed, startled.
Cao Yi turned his attention back to Ding Sitian, silently relieved that it hadn't been him who touched her. He carefully used the sword to pry Ding Sitian's body aside, revealing a small hole covered with a thick, dark substance, exuding a chilling aura.
" Daoist Priest, look at the corpse!" Ying Caihong cried out.
Ding Sitian's body began to rapidly decompose into white bones, which soon exploded into a dazzling light shower, swept away by a sudden gust of wind towards the fog-covered suspension bridge. A haunting voice echoed, seemingly bidding farewell.
"How did she turn into light rain?" Ying Caihong questioned in confusion.
"The real Bianhua might be inside," she said excitedly.
"But the thousand-year zombie is also inside," Cao Yi countered coldly.
Ying Caihong fell silent at that.
Cao Yi pointed his sword at the entrance of the stone cave, but it wouldn't budge. They could only wait. Ying Caihong grew anxious and suggested using explosives to blast it open, receiving incredulous looks from the others.
" Daoist Priest, is there no other way?" Ying Caihong pressed, unwilling to accept defeat.
Cao Yi's gaze landed on the Sanqing Bell. He began to shake it, producing a clear and melodious sound. Suddenly, a piercing scream emanated from the cave, heightening the tension in the air.
"It seems she is afraid of something," Ying Caihong whispered.