C19 In Another Cave

After completing his tasks, Jing Chong slowly lifted his head. Without realizing it, the sun had dipped below the horizon, and the onset of twilight marked the close of a day that felt as though it were scripted for the stage.

He glanced at the Illusionary Divine Book in his hands with a hint of melancholy. Realizing that his current level of understanding was insufficient to unlock any more of its secrets, he reluctantly tucked it away into his pocket.

As he did so, his palm brushed against the yellow scroll he had also stowed away. A sudden tightness gripped his heart, and he hastily pulled it out as if jolted by an electric shock.

The yellow scroll, having been concealed within a wall for an extended period, now felt slightly damp from the warmth of his body. He unfurled it with great care, airing it out to alleviate some of his anxiety.

The bold characters "War Wolf Blade Technique" seemed to leap out at him, each letter piercing his nerves like a sharp dagger. There was a time when his father, with this very scroll in hand, had honed his formidable skills.

Yet fate had a cruel sense of irony. Just when the technique was passed down to him, it coincided with the devastating moment of separation from his parents.

Now, this once magnificent scroll served as the sole medium for a timeless dialogue with his father.

A deep sorrow and loneliness weighed on him, and tears began to fill the corners of his eyes, streaking down his darkened cheeks.

He wished fervently that this was all a mere dream, that upon waking, everything would be as it was. But the harsh truth was that this was no dream; the dead were gone, and the past was irretrievable.

Overwhelmed by these thoughts, a strange resentment brewed within him. It wasn't directed at those who had slain his parents, but rather at his parents themselves. Why had they departed so heartlessly, leaving him to face the world alone?

He also resented his father for not sharing the Battle Wolf Saber Technique sooner. Had he been taught the technique earlier, perhaps he could have made a stand on that fateful night, confronting the evildoers with prowess.

But then again, what difference would it have made if he had mastered the Battle Wolf Saber Technique? Even his father, with all his strength and years of training, had ultimately met a tragic end at the hands of another's blade.

Reflecting on this, Jing Chong's anger subsided slightly. It became clear to him that no matter the might of the Battle Wolf Saber Technique, it alone would never be sufficient to avenge his parents.

Thus, he realized that he must gradually ascend the ranks within the vast Blood Razor Keep. He needed to reach a significant height, acquire more skills, and grow stronger. At a minimum, he had to train to a level surpassing that of the Battle Wolf Saber Technique.

After careful consideration, Jing Chong's objectives crystallized. With a clear goal came motivation, and with motivation, he feared nothing.

"The Hall of Instruction, I, Jing Chong, am determined to face you, no matter the challenges ahead!"

After a moment of resolute contemplation, Jing Chong slowly rose to his feet and drew the steel knife from his waist. Despite a few spots of rust, the gleaming blade exuded an extraordinary chill.

Jing Chong believed that, at the very least, it was a treasured sword capable of slicing through iron as if it were mud.

With this thought, he was seized by the urge to test the blade's sharpness. Without a moment's hesitation, he swung the icy steel with all his might at the mountain behind him.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

The loud noise was followed by a recoil so powerful it nearly snapped his arm, and the steel knife almost flew from his grasp. His heart contracted with the shock, and it took a long while for him to regain his composure and sheathe the knife once more.

"Good heavens, that scared me half to death. Why did I exert so much force?"

A shiver of fear ran through him as Jing Chong inspected the steel knife meticulously, worried that he might have damaged it with his excessive force. He also berated himself for his recklessness.

After a thorough examination, he was finally reassured. The blade, once marred with rust, was undamaged after striking the mountain. The edge remained perfectly straight, as cold and sharp as ever.

Jing Chong couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, a smile quickly spreading across his face. "This truly is a fine blade. With it by my side, I'm certain I'll grow even faster!"

After his initial rush of joy, Jing Chong turned his gaze to the mountain opposite him, only to be met with an even more astonishing sight. The stone wall he had just struck with his steel blade now sported a crack over half a foot deep, a testament to the excessive force he'd applied and the sharpness of the blade.

But that wasn't all. At first, the crack hadn't seemed significant, but after some time, it suddenly collapsed as if it had only just registered the impact.

Caught completely off guard by this unexpected development, Jing Chong swiftly dodged backward. He waited until everything had settled before daring to look at the mountain once more.

Now, with the dust settling and the smaller rocks tumbling down, he was confronted with a pitch-black opening about half the height of a person.

The narrow entrance appeared unremarkable, and upon closer inspection, it didn't seem like it was the result of his recent strike. Curious, Jing Chong reached in and felt around, surprised to discover that the hole was unexpectedly deep.

This find piqued Jing Chong's interest. Could he have stumbled upon another secret cavern by chance? He chuckled at the thought, recalling how just days earlier, he had accidentally found his way into an ancient cave at Dawnbreak. If not for that fortuitous encounter, how would he have come across the Illusionary Divine Book?

And now, here he was, having inadvertently struck the mountain wall and uncovered yet another cave.

Whether this cave was natural or not, the sheer peculiarity of the experience left him in awe. Was he destined to discover caves wherever he went?

The more Jing Chong mulled it over, the more amused he became. Yet, his amusement couldn't quell the curiosity welling up inside him. With no hesitation, he stepped into the cave.

Peering around, he saw that the space could accommodate a person, and he naturally squeezed his way through.

It was fortunate that Jing Chong was still a youth; despite his robust build, he was not yet the size of a full-grown man, which allowed him to enter the cave with ease.

The cave was enveloped in darkness, so thick that one couldn't see their own hand in front of their face. Yet upon entering, the vastness of the interior space was astonishing.

Even with Jing Chong's abilities, the edges of the cave were beyond his sight. Still, he estimated that the cave was at least as large as a house.

With this realization, Jing Chong's expression shifted as a cascade of questions arose in his mind.

Firstly, the cave was unmistakably man-made, evident from the deliberate concealment of the entrance on the stone wall. So, who had gone to the great effort of excavating such a cavern in this secluded spot?

Secondly, for what purpose did this individual go to such lengths to carve out the cave?

And furthermore, why did they mysteriously cover it up after its creation? What were they intentionally concealing?

These questions weighed heavily on Jing Chong, taxing his intellect.

Clearly, identifying the person responsible for the cave's creation was beyond his reach. However, he could ascertain its intended use by examining it further.