Chapter 3: Hidden Killers in the Gorge, Steps to the Underworld
The autumn wind swept through the forest, carrying the lingering stench of blood as it scraped across the ground.
The entire mountain range remained submerged in a dead, oppressive silence. There were no bird calls, no chirping insects. It was as if every living creature had been terrified into hiding by the brutal slaughter that had just taken place. The only sound was the faint rustling of leaves and branches, which offered no comfort. Instead, it sounded like countless hidden breaths watching from the dark, making the spine tingle with tension.
Chen Yi walked in the lead, stepping half a pace out of the blood-soaked clearing.
He was already pushed far beyond his physical limits.
The deep, bone-exposing wound on his left arm was completely soaked in blood. The crude bandage had long since torn and fallen away. With every swing of his arm, fresh beads of blood dripped from his fingertips, splashing silently into the mud. The new wound on his waist tore at his flesh with every step. The agonizing pain felt like fine needles repeatedly piercing his organs, forcing him to clench his jaw every few paces to stifle the groans rising in his throat.
He gripped the broadsword tightly, the hilt slick and sticky with the sweat and blood from his palm.
Despite his exhausted stamina and severe injuries, his footsteps remained steady and light. His gaze swept across the dense forest, his eyes as sharp as a hawk's, never relaxing for a moment. Years of surviving in the Jianghu had carved combat instincts into his bones. The deeper the desperation, the less he could afford to show any sign of fatigue.
Lin Yan followed closely behind, not daring to fall half a step behind.
He was still wearing his ill-fitting, thin modern clothes, now stained with mud and grime. The shallow cut on his shoulder from the short blade wasn't fatal, but it burned with a continuous, fiery pain. Every time he lifted his arm or turned his body, the torn flesh reminded him of how close death had been just moments ago.
But compared to the physical pain, the suffocating tension in his heart was far worse.
Ever since he had fallen into this martial dimension, the cold rule burned deep within his consciousness had never faded:
This was his one and only chance to enter this world.
Complete the dimensional mission, and he could return home.
Fail the mission, and he would be stranded here permanently, his bones left to rot in this Jianghu, with no way back.
There were no do-overs. No second dreams. No mid-game exits. Success or failure hinged entirely on this single journey; life or death depended on this one play.
As they trekked through the dark, dense forest, Lin Yan’s brain worked at full speed, constantly reviewing and deducing.
The fragments of the bloody battle just now rapidly pieced together in his mind: The gray-clad team had fought to the death to protect the token; the black-clad assassins had ambushed them at any cost. From start to finish, the core of everyone's obsession had been singular—the token that A-Shi had risked his life to carry away.
The pursuit had started because of it. The bloodbath had been fought for it.
Did that mean his sole mission in this journey was to protect this token and ensure it safely reached its destination?
Lin Yan wasn't entirely certain, but he had no other clues to follow. In this unfamiliar dimension, completely devoid of hints or guidance, this was the only lifeline he could grasp.
Therefore, he couldn't retreat, he couldn't falter, and he couldn't just stand by and watch the token fall into the assassins' hands.
Even if he was nothing but an unarmed, unskilled mortal, he had to grit his teeth and step into this forest, where every step concealed a lethal threat.
"Follow my footprints exactly. Don't step on dry branches, and don't touch the bushes on either side."
Chen Yi's low voice suddenly broke the forest's dead silence. He spoke slowly, every word carrying heavy, grave significance.
"The black-clad assassins are fanatical killers who have roamed these mountains for years. They excel at hiding in ambush and tracking by sound. Even the slightest noise will expose our position."
Lin Yan immediately gathered all his focus and obediently followed the instructions.
He shifted his entire center of gravity, placing each step precisely into the solid mud prints Chen Yi had left. He deliberately avoided dry twigs and tall grass, reducing his presence to the absolute minimum. His gaze no longer wandered aimlessly; it was locked firmly onto the dark forest path ahead. His ears were pricked, catching every faint anomaly in the forest.
The two of them moved through the dim forest in complete silence, one behind the other.
The canopy of overlapping trees completely blocked out the sky. The deeper they went, the darker it became. A cold, damp mist slowly rolled in, drastically reducing visibility. In every direction were identical ancient trees, overgrown weeds, and steep slopes. There were no markers, no trails. If he had been alone, he would have been hopelessly lost in an instant.
It was precisely because of this complex terrain that the retreating assassins hadn't immediately encircled them, granting the pair a brief window to catch their breath.
A moment later, Chen Yi’s footsteps halted abruptly.
He looked up into the depths of the dense forest ahead, his gaze piercing through the layers of mist to land on a gap in the cliff face, concealed by ancient vines and tangled branches. His expression grew slightly grave.
"The hunter's secret path lies just ahead."
Chen Yi explained in a low voice, his breath uneven due to his injuries.
"It's a shortcut carved by the mountain villagers years ago. It cuts straight through this cliff face and leads directly to the town at the foot of the back mountain. The passage is narrow and the terrain is singular. It’s the fastest way out, but also the most dangerous path to death."
Lin Yan followed his gaze.
The entrance was almost completely sealed by dense, withered vines and creeping weeds, making it incredibly well-hidden. Unless you were a local intimately familiar with the mountain's terrain, it would be impossible to spot. But the more concealed a passage was, the more likely it was to become a deadly ambush trap.
"Is this the path A-Shi took?" Lin Yan asked softly.
"Yes."
Chen Yi nodded and stepped forward slowly. He carefully reached out to part the hanging vines, his movements feather-light, making absolutely no sound.
"This secret path is the only way to quickly leave the mountain range. He is alone and slightly injured; he wouldn't dare flee through the open forest. He had to take this route."
As the vines were parted, a damp, pitch-black tunnel entrance was revealed.
Chen Yi bent down, his eyes falling on the wet mud at the entrance. His pupils contracted slightly.
Two sets of footprints were clearly visible in the mud.
One set was shallow and frantic, with rough sole treads—the cloth shoes typically worn by mountain villagers. The steps were panicked, an obvious sign of a desperate, life-or-death flight. They had already disappeared deep into the tunnel.
But following right behind them were two more sets of footprints. These were deeper, steadier, and evenly spaced. Unfamiliar prints.
The prints were fresh, the mud not yet dry. They had clearly stepped in only moments ago.
"The pursuers went in first."
Chen Yi’s voice grew heavier, laced with grim tension.
"Two assassins. They followed A-Shi into the secret path."
Lin Yan’s heart plummeted, a chill shooting straight to the crown of his head.
He instantly visualized the desperate scenario: a narrow, enclosed tunnel. No room to dodge, no space to maneuver, nowhere to hide. A-Shi, alone, slightly injured, and exhausted, trapped in the dark passage by two elite assassins, had absolutely zero chance of survival.
If A-Shi fell and the token was taken, his dimensional mission would be an outright failure.
What awaited him would be permanent exile in this Jianghu, forever bidding farewell to his ordinary life in the modern world.
"We have to go in. Now." Lin Yan spoke with urgent haste, suppressing the panic churning in his chest.
Chen Yi glanced sideways at him, a trace of imperceptible surprise flashing in his eyes.
He could see that the youth’s fear hadn't faded, his body still trembling slightly, his eyes still harboring the cowardice of an ordinary person facing slaughter. Yet, he still dared to confront the danger head-on, without a hint of retreat or evasion. This clarity and decisiveness far surpassed that of typical city youths.
"Listen to me."
Chen Yi gathered his thoughts and issued a solemn warning, his tone as serious as a grave.
"Inside the tunnel, there are stone walls on the left and right, and solid rock overhead. There is no retreating, no evading. When the fight starts, you don't need to help me, and you don't need to be a hero. Just press your back hard against the rear rock wall, crouch low, and protect your vitals. No matter what happens, do not run, do not make a sound, and do not attack on your own."
"If I can keep the enemy occupied, you staying alive will be the greatest help you can give me."
This was the most sincere, pragmatic advice from a man who had lived and died on the battlefield countless times.
Lin Yan nodded solemnly. "I understand."
Without any more wasted words, Chen Yi gripped his broadsword tightly, bent his waist, and turned sideways, slipping into the dark tunnel first.
Lin Yan took a deep breath of the damp, freezing air, suppressed his churning emotions, and followed closely behind, stepping into this sunless gorge of death.
The interior of the secret path was bone-chillingly cold, having never seen the light of day. The rock walls were covered in slippery green moss, and the ground was littered with uneven stones, requiring cautious footing with every step. The passage was extremely narrow, barely wide enough for one person. The freezing, solid stone walls on both sides pressed in tightly, suffocating both vision and breath, creating an oppressive sense of enclosure.
The light faded rapidly as they ventured deeper. Only a faint glimmer of daylight from the far end of the tunnel barely outlined the blurry shape of the path ahead.
The silence around them was terrifying. There was no wind, no insect hum. The only sounds were their own faint breathing and the soft scrape of their shoe soles against the wet stone. The enclosed tunnel amplified these noises infinitely, making them painfully clear.
The quieter it was, the closer the danger.
The two of them lowered their bodies and advanced slowly. With every step forward, the tension in their chests grew heavier.
After walking for several dozen yards, faint, suppressed voices of struggle and panting finally echoed from the dark depths ahead. The sounds were intermittent, piercing the dead silence and landing precisely in their ears.
"Hand it over, and I'll grant you a whole corpse."
The assassin's voice was cold, sharp, and utterly devoid of warmth, echoing within the tunnel.
"Dream on!"
A-Shi’s breathing was heavy and frantic, laced with a stubborn roar. Even trapped in a desperate situation, he refused to yield an inch.
"This token was protected by the lives of my brothers! If you want to take it, step over my corpse first!"
As his words fell, the crisp clash of metal suddenly erupted from ahead. It was brief and intense, immediately followed by the dull thud of bodies colliding.
The battle had already broken out.
Chen Yi’s eyes sharpened. His pace suddenly quickened as he lowered his body and surged forward at top speed.
Lin Yan’s heart hammered wildly. He followed closely, his gaze locked死死 onto the dim end of the tunnel ahead, his nerves stretched to the absolute breaking point.
They rounded a narrow bend, and the视野 ahead suddenly opened up slightly. The desperate scene immediately came into view.
A-Shi had his back pressed against the freezing stone wall. His body was covered in scrapes and bloodstains, and a wound piercing through the flesh on his chest was constantly seeping blood, soaking his tunic. The short knife in his hand trembled slightly. His stamina was completely drained, his body utterly exhausted, yet he still stood with his spine rigidly straight. He clutched the oilcloth-wrapped token tightly against his chest, using his own body as a shield against the two black-clad assassins closing in on him.
The two assassins, clad in black, moved like ghosts in the dim tunnel. The cold glint of their short blades was menacing. They had sealed off all of A-Shi's escape routes from the left and right, their eyes cold and bloodthirsty, simply waiting to completely exhaust him before seizing the token.
"More accomplices?"
Hearing the footsteps, the two assassins spun around instantly. Catching sight of Chen Yi and Lin Yan rushing in, a vicious, murderous intent flashed in their eyes. Without a moment's hesitation, one of them broke off, raising his blade and charging straight at them.
In the narrow tunnel, there was nowhere to dodge. They could only fight head-on.
Clang—!
The broadsword and short blade collided fiercely. The piercing metallic shriek exploded within the enclosed space, numbing the eardrums. Tiny sparks flashed and vanished in the darkness in an instant.
Already severely wounded, this hard clash sent shockwaves of tearing pain through all of Chen Yi’s injuries. The webbing of his hand split open and bled, his arm went numb, and his body involuntarily staggered back half a step.
Seeing the opening, the assassin immediately capitalized on it. His footwork was cunning; he flipped his short blade and顺势 slid it downward, thrusting directly at the old wound on Chen Yi’s waist!
The blade was fierce, every move aimed at a vital point.
"Brother Chen!" A-Shi’s eyes tore wide with anguish. He wanted to rush to his aid, but the other assassin kept him死死 pinned down, leaving him no chance to break free.
In that hair-trigger moment, Chen Yi endured the excruciating pain and violently twisted his waist, barely avoiding the fatal blow. The short blade grazed his flesh, tearing open another long, narrow wound. Blood instantly gushed out, soaking half of his tunic crimson.
The situation deteriorated in an instant.
The frontal melee was perilous. Meanwhile, on the other side, the assassin guarding A-Shi suddenly shifted his gaze. Abandoning his pressure on A-Shi, he locked onto the completely defenseless Lin Yan in the rear.
In the assassin's eyes, this youth was the only soft target on the battlefield, the easiest weakness to exploit. If he could capture him, he could restrain Chen Yi and win the fight without even fighting.
The assassin’s figure flashed as he broke away from the melee, his short blade pointing directly at Lin Yan’s chest, moving with astonishing speed.
In the blink of an eye, the killing intent was upon him.
Lin Yan’s back was pressed hard against the freezing stone wall. There was nowhere to retreat, nowhere to dodge. A bone-chilling cold shot up his spine straight to the top of his head. The shadow of death instantly enveloped him.
He knew no martial arts. He couldn't block, couldn't dodge, had no weapon, and had no strength.
An ordinary person facing a lethal strike from a Jianghu fanatic should have been dead without a doubt.
But the ultimate crisis of life and death forced out every ounce of his calm.
In a flash of lightning, Lin Yan’s gaze swept across the rock wall beside him, locking onto a slightly protruding, already loose stone.
Without hesitation, without fear, he instantly raised his hand, his fingers digging fiercely into the crevice, and yanked with all his might!
The stone broke free, rough and freezing in his grip.
Channeling every ounce of strength in his body, Lin Yan violently flicked his wrist, hurling the stone directly at the assassin's face!
The assassin hadn't taken this mortal youth seriously. Caught off guard by the sudden attack, he hastily tilted his head. The stone missed his face but slammed heavily into his shoulder blade.
Thud!
A dull impact sounded.
The assassin’s shoulder went numb, his arm instantly losing its strength. The thrusting short blade abruptly veered off course, and his attack was forcibly halted for half a second.
That mere half-second window was the only chance to turn the tide in this desperate situation.
Seizing the fleeting opening, Chen Yi endured the agony wracking his entire body. He stepped forward and spun, his broadsword sweeping horizontally with fierce, decisive force!
A flash of cold light, a spray of blood.
The assassin let out a惨惨 scream as his forearm was struck by the blade. His short blade flew from his hand, and he stumbled heavily to the ground, completely incapacitated.
Seeing that the tide had turned, the last remaining assassin knew all was lost. Yet, he remained fearless of death, a vicious light surging in his eyes. Abandoning the melee entirely, he threw himself recklessly at A-Shi, his target solely the token!
He knew perfectly well that as long as he seized the token, the mission would be accomplished. How many companions died was irrelevant.
"No way!" A-Shi gritted his teeth and desperately raised his guard, his short knife meeting the attack in a frantic clash.
A sharp ring echoed. Exhausted and weak, A-Shi’s weapon was instantly震飞 from his grasp.
The assassin pressed one hand onto A-Shi’s shoulder, his other hand shooting out rapidly, reaching straight for the oilcloth bundle in his embrace!
The token was within arm's reach!
Lin Yan’s pupils contracted sharply. Without a single thought, he lunged forward, wrapping his arms tightly around the assassin’s outstretched arm from the side, and dragged backward with all his might!
He had no strength to kill, no techniques to subdue the enemy. He could only use the most clumsy, primitive method to死死 lock down his opponent's movements.
Enraged, the assassin slammed his elbow backward, crashing heavily into Lin Yan’s chest.
The dull impact was heart-stoppingly painful. Lin Yan instantly felt his breath leave him. A metallic taste of blood surged in his throat, and his vision darkened in spots. Yet, he clenched his jaw, refusing to let go.
If he let go, the token would be lost.
If the token was lost, he would never return home.
For the sake of going home, he would rather die than release his grip.
In that brief moment of restraint, Chen Yi had already closed the distance.
Wrapping his hands around the hilt of his broadsword, he channeled all his remaining strength and slammed it viciously into the back of the assassin's neck!
Thud!
A dull sound rang out. The assassin’s body went rigid, then instantly went limp, collapsing to the ground in a dead faint.
Inside the secret path, the slaughter abruptly ceased.
Dead silence once again enveloped the surroundings.
Only the heavy, frantic panting of the three men remained, echoing repeatedly through the dark tunnel.
Completely drained of strength, A-Shi slid down the stone wall and slumped to the ground. Gasping for air, his first instinct was to死死 clutch the oilcloth bundle in his arms. His fingertips were pale from the excessive force, his eyes filled with the lingering terror and profound relief of surviving a near-death experience.
"It's safe... The token is safe..." he muttered under his breath, his voice trembling uncontrollably.
Propping himself up with his broadsword, Chen Yi bent over and panted heavily. Every wound on his body throbbed with pain and bled freely. His face was as pale as paper, sweat and blood continuously dripping from his jaw. He looked at Lin Yan, who was clutching his chest, his face pale as he silently endured the pain. A genuine trace of deep emotion finally flashed in Chen Yi’s eyes.
He had seen too many ordinary civilians in the marketplace—men who fled from danger, who ran from violence.
But this boy, who had appeared out of thin air, was visibly trembling with fear, completely lacking in martial strength. Yet, in that split second between life and death, he had dared to use his mortal body to withstand an assassin's strike, risking everything to protect a sliver of hope.
"Thank you."
Chen Yi spoke solemnly, his voice hoarse and heavy. "If it weren't for you just now, the token would have been lost today, and none of us would have survived."
Lin Yan shook his head. It took him a long while to suppress the dull ache in his chest before he replied, his voice slightly raspy. "I just didn't want all our efforts to be in vain."
What he didn't say aloud was that this wasn't just about protecting their conviction. It was about protecting his only way home.
His gaze fell upon the token, wrapped in layers of oilcloth. The guess in his heart was now completely confirmed.
The mission of this dimensional journey, from beginning to end, was to guard this object and ensure it safely reached its destination.
But he didn't feel a shred of relief.
This had merely been a mid-way ambush, the vanguard of the assassins.
The true main force—that deeply calculating, ruthless masked leader—had yet to make an appearance.
Chen Yi slowly raised his eyes, looking toward the faint glimmer of daylight at the end of the tunnel. His expression was as solemn as iron.
"Once we exit this tunnel, we'll reach the open plains of the back mountain."
"There... is where the true death trap awaits."
The entire mountain range remained submerged in a dead, oppressive silence. There were no bird calls, no chirping insects. It was as if every living creature had been terrified into hiding by the brutal slaughter that had just taken place. The only sound was the faint rustling of leaves and branches, which offered no comfort. Instead, it sounded like countless hidden breaths watching from the dark, making the spine tingle with tension.
Chen Yi walked in the lead, stepping half a pace out of the blood-soaked clearing.
He was already pushed far beyond his physical limits.
The deep, bone-exposing wound on his left arm was completely soaked in blood. The crude bandage had long since torn and fallen away. With every swing of his arm, fresh beads of blood dripped from his fingertips, splashing silently into the mud. The new wound on his waist tore at his flesh with every step. The agonizing pain felt like fine needles repeatedly piercing his organs, forcing him to clench his jaw every few paces to stifle the groans rising in his throat.
He gripped the broadsword tightly, the hilt slick and sticky with the sweat and blood from his palm.
Despite his exhausted stamina and severe injuries, his footsteps remained steady and light. His gaze swept across the dense forest, his eyes as sharp as a hawk's, never relaxing for a moment. Years of surviving in the Jianghu had carved combat instincts into his bones. The deeper the desperation, the less he could afford to show any sign of fatigue.
Lin Yan followed closely behind, not daring to fall half a step behind.
He was still wearing his ill-fitting, thin modern clothes, now stained with mud and grime. The shallow cut on his shoulder from the short blade wasn't fatal, but it burned with a continuous, fiery pain. Every time he lifted his arm or turned his body, the torn flesh reminded him of how close death had been just moments ago.
But compared to the physical pain, the suffocating tension in his heart was far worse.
Ever since he had fallen into this martial dimension, the cold rule burned deep within his consciousness had never faded:
This was his one and only chance to enter this world.
Complete the dimensional mission, and he could return home.
Fail the mission, and he would be stranded here permanently, his bones left to rot in this Jianghu, with no way back.
There were no do-overs. No second dreams. No mid-game exits. Success or failure hinged entirely on this single journey; life or death depended on this one play.
As they trekked through the dark, dense forest, Lin Yan’s brain worked at full speed, constantly reviewing and deducing.
The fragments of the bloody battle just now rapidly pieced together in his mind: The gray-clad team had fought to the death to protect the token; the black-clad assassins had ambushed them at any cost. From start to finish, the core of everyone's obsession had been singular—the token that A-Shi had risked his life to carry away.
The pursuit had started because of it. The bloodbath had been fought for it.
Did that mean his sole mission in this journey was to protect this token and ensure it safely reached its destination?
Lin Yan wasn't entirely certain, but he had no other clues to follow. In this unfamiliar dimension, completely devoid of hints or guidance, this was the only lifeline he could grasp.
Therefore, he couldn't retreat, he couldn't falter, and he couldn't just stand by and watch the token fall into the assassins' hands.
Even if he was nothing but an unarmed, unskilled mortal, he had to grit his teeth and step into this forest, where every step concealed a lethal threat.
"Follow my footprints exactly. Don't step on dry branches, and don't touch the bushes on either side."
Chen Yi's low voice suddenly broke the forest's dead silence. He spoke slowly, every word carrying heavy, grave significance.
"The black-clad assassins are fanatical killers who have roamed these mountains for years. They excel at hiding in ambush and tracking by sound. Even the slightest noise will expose our position."
Lin Yan immediately gathered all his focus and obediently followed the instructions.
He shifted his entire center of gravity, placing each step precisely into the solid mud prints Chen Yi had left. He deliberately avoided dry twigs and tall grass, reducing his presence to the absolute minimum. His gaze no longer wandered aimlessly; it was locked firmly onto the dark forest path ahead. His ears were pricked, catching every faint anomaly in the forest.
The two of them moved through the dim forest in complete silence, one behind the other.
The canopy of overlapping trees completely blocked out the sky. The deeper they went, the darker it became. A cold, damp mist slowly rolled in, drastically reducing visibility. In every direction were identical ancient trees, overgrown weeds, and steep slopes. There were no markers, no trails. If he had been alone, he would have been hopelessly lost in an instant.
It was precisely because of this complex terrain that the retreating assassins hadn't immediately encircled them, granting the pair a brief window to catch their breath.
A moment later, Chen Yi’s footsteps halted abruptly.
He looked up into the depths of the dense forest ahead, his gaze piercing through the layers of mist to land on a gap in the cliff face, concealed by ancient vines and tangled branches. His expression grew slightly grave.
"The hunter's secret path lies just ahead."
Chen Yi explained in a low voice, his breath uneven due to his injuries.
"It's a shortcut carved by the mountain villagers years ago. It cuts straight through this cliff face and leads directly to the town at the foot of the back mountain. The passage is narrow and the terrain is singular. It’s the fastest way out, but also the most dangerous path to death."
Lin Yan followed his gaze.
The entrance was almost completely sealed by dense, withered vines and creeping weeds, making it incredibly well-hidden. Unless you were a local intimately familiar with the mountain's terrain, it would be impossible to spot. But the more concealed a passage was, the more likely it was to become a deadly ambush trap.
"Is this the path A-Shi took?" Lin Yan asked softly.
"Yes."
Chen Yi nodded and stepped forward slowly. He carefully reached out to part the hanging vines, his movements feather-light, making absolutely no sound.
"This secret path is the only way to quickly leave the mountain range. He is alone and slightly injured; he wouldn't dare flee through the open forest. He had to take this route."
As the vines were parted, a damp, pitch-black tunnel entrance was revealed.
Chen Yi bent down, his eyes falling on the wet mud at the entrance. His pupils contracted slightly.
Two sets of footprints were clearly visible in the mud.
One set was shallow and frantic, with rough sole treads—the cloth shoes typically worn by mountain villagers. The steps were panicked, an obvious sign of a desperate, life-or-death flight. They had already disappeared deep into the tunnel.
But following right behind them were two more sets of footprints. These were deeper, steadier, and evenly spaced. Unfamiliar prints.
The prints were fresh, the mud not yet dry. They had clearly stepped in only moments ago.
"The pursuers went in first."
Chen Yi’s voice grew heavier, laced with grim tension.
"Two assassins. They followed A-Shi into the secret path."
Lin Yan’s heart plummeted, a chill shooting straight to the crown of his head.
He instantly visualized the desperate scenario: a narrow, enclosed tunnel. No room to dodge, no space to maneuver, nowhere to hide. A-Shi, alone, slightly injured, and exhausted, trapped in the dark passage by two elite assassins, had absolutely zero chance of survival.
If A-Shi fell and the token was taken, his dimensional mission would be an outright failure.
What awaited him would be permanent exile in this Jianghu, forever bidding farewell to his ordinary life in the modern world.
"We have to go in. Now." Lin Yan spoke with urgent haste, suppressing the panic churning in his chest.
Chen Yi glanced sideways at him, a trace of imperceptible surprise flashing in his eyes.
He could see that the youth’s fear hadn't faded, his body still trembling slightly, his eyes still harboring the cowardice of an ordinary person facing slaughter. Yet, he still dared to confront the danger head-on, without a hint of retreat or evasion. This clarity and decisiveness far surpassed that of typical city youths.
"Listen to me."
Chen Yi gathered his thoughts and issued a solemn warning, his tone as serious as a grave.
"Inside the tunnel, there are stone walls on the left and right, and solid rock overhead. There is no retreating, no evading. When the fight starts, you don't need to help me, and you don't need to be a hero. Just press your back hard against the rear rock wall, crouch low, and protect your vitals. No matter what happens, do not run, do not make a sound, and do not attack on your own."
"If I can keep the enemy occupied, you staying alive will be the greatest help you can give me."
This was the most sincere, pragmatic advice from a man who had lived and died on the battlefield countless times.
Lin Yan nodded solemnly. "I understand."
Without any more wasted words, Chen Yi gripped his broadsword tightly, bent his waist, and turned sideways, slipping into the dark tunnel first.
Lin Yan took a deep breath of the damp, freezing air, suppressed his churning emotions, and followed closely behind, stepping into this sunless gorge of death.
The interior of the secret path was bone-chillingly cold, having never seen the light of day. The rock walls were covered in slippery green moss, and the ground was littered with uneven stones, requiring cautious footing with every step. The passage was extremely narrow, barely wide enough for one person. The freezing, solid stone walls on both sides pressed in tightly, suffocating both vision and breath, creating an oppressive sense of enclosure.
The light faded rapidly as they ventured deeper. Only a faint glimmer of daylight from the far end of the tunnel barely outlined the blurry shape of the path ahead.
The silence around them was terrifying. There was no wind, no insect hum. The only sounds were their own faint breathing and the soft scrape of their shoe soles against the wet stone. The enclosed tunnel amplified these noises infinitely, making them painfully clear.
The quieter it was, the closer the danger.
The two of them lowered their bodies and advanced slowly. With every step forward, the tension in their chests grew heavier.
After walking for several dozen yards, faint, suppressed voices of struggle and panting finally echoed from the dark depths ahead. The sounds were intermittent, piercing the dead silence and landing precisely in their ears.
"Hand it over, and I'll grant you a whole corpse."
The assassin's voice was cold, sharp, and utterly devoid of warmth, echoing within the tunnel.
"Dream on!"
A-Shi’s breathing was heavy and frantic, laced with a stubborn roar. Even trapped in a desperate situation, he refused to yield an inch.
"This token was protected by the lives of my brothers! If you want to take it, step over my corpse first!"
As his words fell, the crisp clash of metal suddenly erupted from ahead. It was brief and intense, immediately followed by the dull thud of bodies colliding.
The battle had already broken out.
Chen Yi’s eyes sharpened. His pace suddenly quickened as he lowered his body and surged forward at top speed.
Lin Yan’s heart hammered wildly. He followed closely, his gaze locked死死 onto the dim end of the tunnel ahead, his nerves stretched to the absolute breaking point.
They rounded a narrow bend, and the视野 ahead suddenly opened up slightly. The desperate scene immediately came into view.
A-Shi had his back pressed against the freezing stone wall. His body was covered in scrapes and bloodstains, and a wound piercing through the flesh on his chest was constantly seeping blood, soaking his tunic. The short knife in his hand trembled slightly. His stamina was completely drained, his body utterly exhausted, yet he still stood with his spine rigidly straight. He clutched the oilcloth-wrapped token tightly against his chest, using his own body as a shield against the two black-clad assassins closing in on him.
The two assassins, clad in black, moved like ghosts in the dim tunnel. The cold glint of their short blades was menacing. They had sealed off all of A-Shi's escape routes from the left and right, their eyes cold and bloodthirsty, simply waiting to completely exhaust him before seizing the token.
"More accomplices?"
Hearing the footsteps, the two assassins spun around instantly. Catching sight of Chen Yi and Lin Yan rushing in, a vicious, murderous intent flashed in their eyes. Without a moment's hesitation, one of them broke off, raising his blade and charging straight at them.
In the narrow tunnel, there was nowhere to dodge. They could only fight head-on.
Clang—!
The broadsword and short blade collided fiercely. The piercing metallic shriek exploded within the enclosed space, numbing the eardrums. Tiny sparks flashed and vanished in the darkness in an instant.
Already severely wounded, this hard clash sent shockwaves of tearing pain through all of Chen Yi’s injuries. The webbing of his hand split open and bled, his arm went numb, and his body involuntarily staggered back half a step.
Seeing the opening, the assassin immediately capitalized on it. His footwork was cunning; he flipped his short blade and顺势 slid it downward, thrusting directly at the old wound on Chen Yi’s waist!
The blade was fierce, every move aimed at a vital point.
"Brother Chen!" A-Shi’s eyes tore wide with anguish. He wanted to rush to his aid, but the other assassin kept him死死 pinned down, leaving him no chance to break free.
In that hair-trigger moment, Chen Yi endured the excruciating pain and violently twisted his waist, barely avoiding the fatal blow. The short blade grazed his flesh, tearing open another long, narrow wound. Blood instantly gushed out, soaking half of his tunic crimson.
The situation deteriorated in an instant.
The frontal melee was perilous. Meanwhile, on the other side, the assassin guarding A-Shi suddenly shifted his gaze. Abandoning his pressure on A-Shi, he locked onto the completely defenseless Lin Yan in the rear.
In the assassin's eyes, this youth was the only soft target on the battlefield, the easiest weakness to exploit. If he could capture him, he could restrain Chen Yi and win the fight without even fighting.
The assassin’s figure flashed as he broke away from the melee, his short blade pointing directly at Lin Yan’s chest, moving with astonishing speed.
In the blink of an eye, the killing intent was upon him.
Lin Yan’s back was pressed hard against the freezing stone wall. There was nowhere to retreat, nowhere to dodge. A bone-chilling cold shot up his spine straight to the top of his head. The shadow of death instantly enveloped him.
He knew no martial arts. He couldn't block, couldn't dodge, had no weapon, and had no strength.
An ordinary person facing a lethal strike from a Jianghu fanatic should have been dead without a doubt.
But the ultimate crisis of life and death forced out every ounce of his calm.
In a flash of lightning, Lin Yan’s gaze swept across the rock wall beside him, locking onto a slightly protruding, already loose stone.
Without hesitation, without fear, he instantly raised his hand, his fingers digging fiercely into the crevice, and yanked with all his might!
The stone broke free, rough and freezing in his grip.
Channeling every ounce of strength in his body, Lin Yan violently flicked his wrist, hurling the stone directly at the assassin's face!
The assassin hadn't taken this mortal youth seriously. Caught off guard by the sudden attack, he hastily tilted his head. The stone missed his face but slammed heavily into his shoulder blade.
Thud!
A dull impact sounded.
The assassin’s shoulder went numb, his arm instantly losing its strength. The thrusting short blade abruptly veered off course, and his attack was forcibly halted for half a second.
That mere half-second window was the only chance to turn the tide in this desperate situation.
Seizing the fleeting opening, Chen Yi endured the agony wracking his entire body. He stepped forward and spun, his broadsword sweeping horizontally with fierce, decisive force!
A flash of cold light, a spray of blood.
The assassin let out a惨惨 scream as his forearm was struck by the blade. His short blade flew from his hand, and he stumbled heavily to the ground, completely incapacitated.
Seeing that the tide had turned, the last remaining assassin knew all was lost. Yet, he remained fearless of death, a vicious light surging in his eyes. Abandoning the melee entirely, he threw himself recklessly at A-Shi, his target solely the token!
He knew perfectly well that as long as he seized the token, the mission would be accomplished. How many companions died was irrelevant.
"No way!" A-Shi gritted his teeth and desperately raised his guard, his short knife meeting the attack in a frantic clash.
A sharp ring echoed. Exhausted and weak, A-Shi’s weapon was instantly震飞 from his grasp.
The assassin pressed one hand onto A-Shi’s shoulder, his other hand shooting out rapidly, reaching straight for the oilcloth bundle in his embrace!
The token was within arm's reach!
Lin Yan’s pupils contracted sharply. Without a single thought, he lunged forward, wrapping his arms tightly around the assassin’s outstretched arm from the side, and dragged backward with all his might!
He had no strength to kill, no techniques to subdue the enemy. He could only use the most clumsy, primitive method to死死 lock down his opponent's movements.
Enraged, the assassin slammed his elbow backward, crashing heavily into Lin Yan’s chest.
The dull impact was heart-stoppingly painful. Lin Yan instantly felt his breath leave him. A metallic taste of blood surged in his throat, and his vision darkened in spots. Yet, he clenched his jaw, refusing to let go.
If he let go, the token would be lost.
If the token was lost, he would never return home.
For the sake of going home, he would rather die than release his grip.
In that brief moment of restraint, Chen Yi had already closed the distance.
Wrapping his hands around the hilt of his broadsword, he channeled all his remaining strength and slammed it viciously into the back of the assassin's neck!
Thud!
A dull sound rang out. The assassin’s body went rigid, then instantly went limp, collapsing to the ground in a dead faint.
Inside the secret path, the slaughter abruptly ceased.
Dead silence once again enveloped the surroundings.
Only the heavy, frantic panting of the three men remained, echoing repeatedly through the dark tunnel.
Completely drained of strength, A-Shi slid down the stone wall and slumped to the ground. Gasping for air, his first instinct was to死死 clutch the oilcloth bundle in his arms. His fingertips were pale from the excessive force, his eyes filled with the lingering terror and profound relief of surviving a near-death experience.
"It's safe... The token is safe..." he muttered under his breath, his voice trembling uncontrollably.
Propping himself up with his broadsword, Chen Yi bent over and panted heavily. Every wound on his body throbbed with pain and bled freely. His face was as pale as paper, sweat and blood continuously dripping from his jaw. He looked at Lin Yan, who was clutching his chest, his face pale as he silently endured the pain. A genuine trace of deep emotion finally flashed in Chen Yi’s eyes.
He had seen too many ordinary civilians in the marketplace—men who fled from danger, who ran from violence.
But this boy, who had appeared out of thin air, was visibly trembling with fear, completely lacking in martial strength. Yet, in that split second between life and death, he had dared to use his mortal body to withstand an assassin's strike, risking everything to protect a sliver of hope.
"Thank you."
Chen Yi spoke solemnly, his voice hoarse and heavy. "If it weren't for you just now, the token would have been lost today, and none of us would have survived."
Lin Yan shook his head. It took him a long while to suppress the dull ache in his chest before he replied, his voice slightly raspy. "I just didn't want all our efforts to be in vain."
What he didn't say aloud was that this wasn't just about protecting their conviction. It was about protecting his only way home.
His gaze fell upon the token, wrapped in layers of oilcloth. The guess in his heart was now completely confirmed.
The mission of this dimensional journey, from beginning to end, was to guard this object and ensure it safely reached its destination.
But he didn't feel a shred of relief.
This had merely been a mid-way ambush, the vanguard of the assassins.
The true main force—that deeply calculating, ruthless masked leader—had yet to make an appearance.
Chen Yi slowly raised his eyes, looking toward the faint glimmer of daylight at the end of the tunnel. His expression was as solemn as iron.
"Once we exit this tunnel, we'll reach the open plains of the back mountain."
"There... is where the true death trap awaits."