C11 Ice Cave

After what felt like an eternity, Qin Yu slowly opened his heavy eyelids. As his vision cleared, he realized he was perched atop a pine tree clinging to the edge of a cliff, its roots half-torn from the soil—a testament to the force of his fall.

Shaking his head to clear the lingering confusion, Qin Yu glanced down and estimated the pine tree to be a mere three to five meters above the ground. He stretched his limbs briefly before making his way toward the cliff wall. Testing his footing, he suddenly lost his balance and slid down, crashing to the ground with a thud.

Every bone in his body seemed to jar loose as he lay there for a while, gathering his strength. Eventually, he pushed himself up and surveyed his surroundings—a dense forest enveloped him. Compelled to move, he took a few steps forward only to overhear someone commanding, "Search this area thoroughly. Leave no corner unchecked. The Sect Master has decreed that failure to find the person will result in punishment!"

"Yeah, I get it. Honestly, couldn't even get a decent sleep this morning," another voice grumbled in response.

A jolt of alarm shot through Qin Yu. He knew the disciples of the Origin Clarity Sect were on his trail. In his current condition, being discovered would mean certain confinement in the Celestial Punishment Hall, and possibly being accused of escape. Either way, it spelled trouble. His anxious gaze soon settled on a nearby cave.

"This is the spot," Qin Yu whispered to himself. He stealthily approached the cave and peered inside. Darkness engulfed the interior, the walls festooned with thick webs, suggesting decades of neglect. Despite his trepidation, he stepped inside. To Qin Yu, hiding in this cave for a lifetime was preferable to enduring scorn in the Celestial Punishment Hall.

He ventured about five or six meters in and paused behind a rock, cautiously monitoring the outside. Soon, footsteps approached, halting just outside the cave. Then, a voice commanded, "Search this cave as well. You two, come with me." With that, the speaker stepped into the cave.

Qin Yu silently cursed to himself as he cautiously made his way deeper into the cave behind him. He was determined not to let his pursuers find him.

The darkness was punctuated only by the steady drip of water; no other sounds disturbed the silence. Qin Yu had been walking for roughly a quarter of an hour when he noticed the temperature in the cave dropping, the creeping cold sending shivers down his spine and raising goosebumps on his skin.

A few steps further, and he came to a halt. There was no path ahead; his hands found only the damp, rocky wall, preventing any further progress.

Behind him, the footsteps of the disciples searching for him grew louder. A surge of anxiety washed over Qin Yu. Trapped, with no way forward or back, was he destined to be captured and taken back to the Clear Essence Sect?

With this grim prospect in mind, Qin Yu bit his lip, shifted his feet slightly, and concealed himself behind a small rock. Clenching his fists, he prepared for a desperate struggle. It was a preferable fate to being paraded back to the Clear Essence Sect as some monstrous demon, awaiting the harsh judgement of all.

As the footsteps of the searching disciples drew near, Qin Yu's heart raced. Just as they were mere steps away and he was ready to act, a sudden chill brushed against his cheek.

Startled, Qin Yu turned to investigate. The darkness veiled the details, so he reached out, fumbling until he found the edge of a small opening. A frigid blast of air was emanating from within, the source of the cave's intense cold.

Qin Yu's curiosity was piqued. Could this cave lead to another place? Excitement took hold as he recalled tales of the Clear Essence Sect's intricate mechanisms. He knew that upon the death of a Sect Master, a secret burial site was chosen, known only to their successor. Could it be that he had stumbled upon the final resting place of a former Sect Master of the Clear Essence Sect?

As the thought crossed his mind, Qin Yu's hand explored the area around the small opening once more. Soon enough, he felt a protruding stone. It seemed a bit loose, and with a gentle nudge, he realized it could move, almost like a hidden mechanism.

Qin Yu's heart swelled with excitement. Meanwhile, the disciples who had been searching for him were approaching. With no time to spare, Qin Yu pressed down hard on the stone!

In that instant, a thunderous boom echoed as the entire cave began to shake violently. Stones tumbled from the ceiling, and Qin Yu, struggling to keep his balance, clung desperately to the nearest stone wall.

"What's happening? The cave's collapsing!" one of the searching disciples exclaimed in alarm.

"Never mind that, let's get out of here!" another disciple called out.

Heeding the calls, the disciples quickly made their escape, and before long, they had all vacated the cave. Meanwhile, Qin Yu was dodging falling rocks, but suddenly the ground beneath him gave way, and he plummeted down. As Qin Yu fell, the cave issued another massive boom and crumbled.

Time ticked by slowly. In the stark white brilliance of the ice cave, Qin Yu lay on the ground, hugging his slender frame, eyes shut tight, body shaking, occasionally furrowing his brow as if troubled by a dream.

At last, with a startled cry, Qin Yu sat up, panting heavily. After catching his breath, he looked up to see a large hole in the ceiling—his apparent entry point. Surveying his surroundings, he found himself in a small ice cave, the biting cold rendering his limbs numb.

Realizing the urgency, Qin Yu knew he had to get moving to warm up his muscles or risk freezing to death. He quickly stood, shook his stiff arms and legs to restore circulation, and then began to walk slowly forward.