The cat spirits had been dispersed, but only temporarily. My cultivation wasn't strong enough to expel them completely from this cursed lair. We couldn't stay here long. We had to get out of this cavern within half an hour, no more than an hour. I carefully examined the layout of the cavern. Once the lingering yin energy dissipated, the air became fresher, and our visibility improved.
The cavern wasn't very large, about the same size as the space above the pool. Despite feeling like we had run a long distance earlier, I realized with a wry smile that we'd been running in circles the whole time. The ground wasn't littered with bones or branches, just covered in a fine powder that resembled lime. My footprints were clearly visible, showing a pointless route.
The corpses of Moxi and the others were real and still lay not far behind us. However, there was no sign of Wulong, Big Mouth Rong, or Little Blade. Near where the half-human, half-cat creature had appeared, we found a deep pit. From our vantage point, we couldn't see the bottom, but it seemed pretty deep.
Although that grotesque creature hadn't reappeared, neither of us dared to approach the pit directly. Instead, we skirted along the stone walls, searching for another exit.
Seizing the moment, I questioned Xiaoying. She looked guilty and said, "It's a long story. Can I tell you after we get out of here?"
Facing her large, watery eyes, my heart softened, but I kept up my tough front. "No way!"
Xiaoying suddenly smiled and tilted her head, saying, "What if I don't tell you?"
Her words caught me off guard. I'd always assumed she had to answer whatever I asked, as if it were only natural. It never occurred to me that she could refuse. Damn it. If she didn't answer, what could I do? Resort to torture or force like An Shengzhe? But looking at her dainty hands, I immediately dismissed the thought. If anything, she'd be more likely to use violence on me.
"You can skip it for now, but you have to spill once we're out of here," I said, skillfully giving myself an out.
"Deal. I'll tell you once we're out," Xiaoying said, covering her mouth and laughing softly, as if she saw through me.
"What's so funny? Do you realize we're surrounded by ghosts? How can you even laugh?" I snapped, trying to cover my embarrassment.
"With you here, what's there to be afraid of?" Xiaoying's eyes sparkled as she spoke, leaving me momentarily speechless.
"Fine. Let's keep looking for a way out." I shook my head and walked toward the left side of the cavern.
After circling along the walls, we found no other exit besides the entrance. Passing the entrance again, we felt that strange pull of energy once more. I realized it wasn't coming from the cavern itself but from the earth's magnetic energy—what Xiaoning called "geomagnetic energy." It connected to a specific point, generating a magnetic pull that got stronger the farther we moved from it.
Unfortunately, I didn't know how to sever this energy flow. To do so, we'd have to find its source. The source likely wasn't inside the cavern itself. This whole place was designed to lure people here as food for the cat spirits. The thought sent chills down my spine.
"Is this a dead end?" Xiaoying asked nervously.
"It's not over yet," I reassured her, my eyes drifting toward the deep pit.
Xiaoying, perceptive as ever, quickly guessed my intent. "That's where the creature came from!" she said, trembling.
"It's fine. It's been suppressed for now," I replied, walking toward the pit. Aside from the pit, there wasn't anything else noteworthy in the cavern.
"Shouldn't we try using the rope to climb out?" Xiaoying suggested cautiously as she followed me.
"We'd just end up back in the water above. Sooner or later, we'd return to this place," I explained over my shoulder.
Suddenly, Xiaoying's wide eyes grew even rounder, like two glowing orbs. "Look... it's transforming!" she exclaimed.
What? No way. I spun around and saw a furry head poking out of the pit. It didn't resemble the half-human, half-cat creature at all. What was going on? Had the creature escaped its suppression and changed form?
Instinctively, I grabbed a bottle of Xiaoning's cosmetic spray from my bag. Xiaoying, emboldened, held up a water bottle, ready to throw.
The furry head wobbled and rose higher. In that instant, Xiaoying panicked and hurled her water bottle. Startled, I followed suit, flinging the cosmetic spray in my hand.
Thud, thud! Both projectiles struck the creature squarely on the forehead. As it reeled back in pain, we caught a glimpse of its face—it was Big Mouth Rong, not the creature!
"Ah!" Big Mouth Rong let out a pained howl as he disappeared back into the pit.
We exchanged sheepish glances, realizing we'd accidentally attacked an ally. Xiaoying, visibly embarrassed, muttered, "Who threw the water bottle just now?"
I froze. Wasn't that you? Quickly playing along, I shook my head. "I don't know. Maybe it fell from the sky, along with that cosmetic bottle."
Xiaoying struggled to stifle her laughter, her face twisting as she tried to hold it in. I couldn't help it and burst out laughing first, which made her give up and join in with a peal of giggles.
"Damn it! Who the hell attacked me?" Big Mouth Rong's angry voice boomed from below as his head popped back up over the pit's edge.
We instantly stopped laughing, as if on cue, and shouted in unison, "We didn't see anything!"
The sight of us seemed to shift Rong's mood. He brightened up immediately. "You're still alive?"
"No kidding. Do we look like ghosts to you?" I shot back.
A new voice shouted from the pit below. "Move your fat head out of the way, will you? You're blocking the path!" It was Little Blade.
Their loud, argumentative voices reassured me they were alive and well. Xiaoying looked equally delighted and shouted down, "Is my cousin there with you?"
"Which cousin?" Little Blade retorted, his tone quick and snarky. Did he just refer to people as "which one"?
Big Mouth Rong chimed in, "You idiot! She means that beggar-looking guy."
I facepalmed. Sure, "beggar" wasn't inaccurate, but did he have to phrase it like that?
"Wasn't he the one who fell in earlier?" Little Blade replied, sounding uncertain.
Xiaoying and I exchanged worried glances. Was the pit really that deep?
Big Mouth Rong finally scrambled out of the pit, looking like a mess—his face and hair covered in dirt. Moments later, Little Blade emerged, resembling a mud-smeared monkey.
We peered into the pit, and both of us gasped. It was indeed deep. Suddenly, a phrase popped into my head: How deep is the abyss...