Chapter 110
Chapter 110: The Corpses
“Lead the way.”
With calm eyes, Li Mu Sheng stepped into the dark cave, signaling A’Bin to continue forward.
A’Bin quickly nodded, bowing slightly as he turned around. Holding the torch high, he wiped away the cold sweat that had mysteriously appeared on his forehead, quietly breathing a sigh of relief.
Before he’d fallen into this deep pit, A’Bin had believed these two were escorted by a martial expert. Yet, after the kick he’d received, he finally understood clearly—this young man, younger than himself and seemingly devoid of martial Qi, was undoubtedly the true expert here.
The three continued deeper into the cave. On the way, they encountered scattered guards from the Great Qi remnants, all swiftly taken care of by A’Bin. Soon enough, there were no more guards to be found. As they went further, the air grew heavier and damper. Moisture clung to the cavern walls, dripping down occasionally and turning the ground into slippery mud.
After a short while, the narrow passage opened into a wide, shadowy space. A’Bin stepped out cautiously and found himself in a subterranean cavern, silent and dim. Before them flowed a broad, circular Dark River, more than ten zhang wide, with two deep tunnel entrances connecting at opposite ends. Now, a fork in their path appeared.
“My lords, which way should we go now?”
A’Bin stopped immediately, looking back to seek Li Mu Sheng and Cang Yin Yue’s guidance rather than acting on his own.
“You know me, Miss Cang—my sense of direction isn’t the best. You’ll have to decide this one.”
Li Mu Sheng spread his hands, casually leaving the dilemma to Cang Yin Yue. Her delicate brows slightly furrowed as she pictured the teahouse’s location in her mind, comparing it to the position of Long Yuan Lake. After a brief pause, she pointed toward the left side of the Dark River.
“Given the direction we’ve come so far, I believe those Great Qi remnants used this path to reach Long Yuan Lake.”
Li Mu Sheng nodded, signaling A’Bin to follow her directions. Without hesitation, A’Bin gathered his Qi beneath his feet and gracefully leaped onto the water’s surface. Like a dragonfly skimming across a pond, he moved forward, torchlight dancing softly across the dark water.
After traveling a short distance, A’Bin discreetly glanced back. He saw Cang Yin Yue as a fleeting shadow swiftly crossing the water close behind. However, when his eyes landed on Li Mu Sheng, his pupils shrank in astonishment.
Li Mu Sheng walked on the surface as though strolling leisurely on solid ground. Not a ripple appeared beneath his feet. Though seemingly relaxed, Li Mu Sheng effortlessly matched Cang Yin Yue’s pace, never falling behind. Even more astonishing was the complete absence of any martial Qi around him.
A’Bin’s expression changed rapidly. He could scarcely believe someone could do this without displaying any martial skill. But he dared not ask and hurriedly turned back, employing his own lightness skill to scout ahead.
Shortly thereafter, A’Bin suddenly halted, leaping onto a protruding rock on the nearby cave wall.
“My lords, something doesn’t seem right with the water ahead,” A’Bin warned cautiously.
Hearing this, Cang Yin Yue became a ghostly shadow once more, landing gracefully on an inscribed stone along the opposite wall. With the flickering torchlight illuminating the space ahead, she gazed toward the watery passage before them.
Floating silently on the dark surface were countless corpses. Their tangled hair, like black waterweeds, intertwined densely. Their heads sank beneath the water, revealing pale necks. The bodies crowded tightly together, stretching endlessly, blocking their path entirely.
Cang Yin Yue’s expression shifted slightly as she turned toward Li Mu Sheng. Noticing her gaze, Li Mu Sheng shrugged lightly before turning his attention to A’Bin perched on the rock.
“You there… go check it out. Find out what’s going on.”
A’Bin froze momentarily, his expression twisting into worry and hesitation as he squirmed anxiously on the stone.
“My lords, these bodies look unnatural. Humble one’s abilities are quite limited—I’m afraid I might fail at this task.”
Li Mu Sheng waved dismissively.
“Since you’re already thinking about it, just give it your best try. Don’t worry—I won’t blame you, whatever happens.”
A’Bin’s face froze awkwardly, unable to respond. Before he could even decide whether to examine the floating corpses, he suddenly felt himself lifted by an invisible force, rapidly propelled toward the grim scene.
“Wait—I never agreed… and now I’m just being thrown straight in!”
Struggling helplessly, he heard Li Mu Sheng’s voice echo in his ears.
“You can’t say I never helped. Sending you along is the least I can do.”
A’Bin, helplessly suspended mid-air, soon found himself directly above the eerie mass of bodies. With torchlight illuminating everything clearly beneath him, he had no choice but to carefully examine the strange corpses floating on the frigid waters.
Now closer, he noticed a cold mist rising from the water’s surface. As his eyes swept across the bodies, he saw no signs of decay. Men, women, the elderly, and children—all were there, dressed in clothes of various ages and styles.
Quickly, his expression darkened, and he anxiously called back:
“My lord, these bodies are strange! They don’t appear to be Great Qi remnants or even people from our present Great Li. Judging from their outdated clothing, they seem to be from at least as far back as the Great Qi era!”
Hearing this, Cang Yin Yue frowned thoughtfully.
“The fall of Great Qi was over a century ago. If these corpses truly date back to that time, that would mean they’ve been preserved for a hundred years without decaying. This is quite unbelievable.”
Li Mu Sheng glanced toward A’Bin, raising an eyebrow lightly. [Finding a group of floating bodies is already a bad omen. Did he have to make it even creepier?]
Just then, A’Bin suddenly cried out in panic:
“I…I saw one of the bodies move!”