Spring Winds
Chapter 71: Caves

After that bird's unfortunate crash into the barrier, it didn't move for some time as it might've broken its neck from the impact.

I thought it was a waste to leave it outside and asked Senior Sister if we could cut it up and save it for food later.

It was a pheasant, after all!

However, Senior Sister looked at me and shook her head as if what I was saying was crazy!

Wah?! How? Σ（・□・;）

It was just a massive chicken!

Plus, there's no harm in stocking up on food, and that bird had no problem attacking us out of nowhere! It's only fair that we get to eat the fruits of our labor!

Alas, as much as I wanted to go over to the cave mouth and poke the bird with a stick, Senior Sister dragged me away to regroup with the others.

Aiyah, what a waste. (_ _ lll)

Now that we are all back together, we reached the later stages of our task, securing the demonic seal on Yong Yuan He Mountain.

According to Senior Sister and Bu Xiu He, there was a pathway in these winding tunnels that lead directly to the top of the mountain.

On the bright side, we'd be avoiding all of the beast and dangers of climbing the mountain. This is great, as I don't know if I can take anymore climbing and walking up mountain terrain.

Ah, I'm done with that for this mission. _(:_」∠)_

However, the downside is that we're trapped within these dark and dank walls as spikes hung down from the ceiling and insects hurried away from the small light sources that we had guiding us through the dark.

"Hey, do you know that these caves were here far before Yong Yuan He became a demonic seal?" A disciple said his buddy in a hushed whisper as he nudged his side. "Supposedly, there's a hidden crypt full of treasure in these walls!"

Eh? Crypts? Σ(･o･;)

Treasure?! ( ✧Д✧) OMG!!

I'm all ears for that!

Hehe, these stinky caves aren't looking so bad if there is treasure here!

Tuning in to the pairs' exciting whispering, I tried to get more details on the topic.

Hehe, dear disciples, tell this auntie more about this treasure!

"Eh? Really," his buddy exclaimed, which made everyone look at him, much to his friend's chagrin. Sheepishly laughing, the young boy brought his voice down low again. "How do you know that's true!"

"Aiyah," the disciple tsked as he shook his head. "Yu Heng, you don't believe your old brother on this fact! Of course, it's true!

This big brother learned this fact when I spoke to the locals back in Yi Jiang Village, ah."

"Well, what are you doing," the other shoved his friend playfully. "Out with it! Tell this brother, ah."

"Aiyah, how do I know that you won't have another outburst like that?"

"Please, brother," the young man clapped his hands together and pleaded with his friend. "I wanna know!"

"Fine, fine," the other sighed. "There's no point in hiding now since you already exposed us." No longer whispering to his friend, he continued, "Anyways, as I was saying. In Yi Jiang Village, this big brother heard a folk story while we were passing through.

I can't recall the exact details, but I remember that they were lovers from rival sides of a great war that wrecked the mortal realm.

Yong Yuan He was once a mountain full of pure qi, and in fact, there were once two flourishing nations that once resided over here.

However, the bloodshed and the resentful energy from the lives lost from both sides ended up corrupting the land, leaving it uninhabitable for most mortal men.

Uh, there were some other details," the young man said as he stroked his chin in thought. "Ah, but the main part of the tale was that they were both buried here, as the only place that they would be together in peace was after death."

"Eh? But why would they bury them in such an obscure place?"

"Hmm, maybe this place had a special meaning to them.

Hah, why, star-crossed lovers have to meet somewhere, haha!

Plus, there was something about their pure love being enough to the resentment and hate at bay even after death! While this brother isn't sure if that's true.

I mean, look at Yong Yuan He Mountain now! This place is spilling with resentful energy and demonic qi."

"Hmm," his friend hummed as he nodded along. "True, but that's probably just a detail to embellish the story.

The most crucial detail is that buried with them are century-old treasures! If not older!"

"Puah," another disciple jumped into the conversation. "That sounds more like a plot to a sappy romance play than a local folk story, haha!"

"And how would you know what a romance story sounds like," another chimed in as they snickered at the young man's remark. "Are you a soft one for those kinds of things, brother?"

"Pfft, hah," the young man scoffed half-heartedly. "My little sister loved those kinds of things, so whenever her favorite storyteller came into town every so often, she would drag me to the nearest teahouse as soon as possible!"

"Hahaha, you sure do spoil your sister, Brother Mu!"

"Haha, what can I say, haha!"

"However," one of them hummed in a teasing tone. "You still didn't answer a yes or no, brother~."

"Puah!" Laughing, the young man swatted his friend away. "Stop messing around, haha!"

Hmm, so there is indeed a treasure, but no map or direction… interesting.

But a crypt of two fallen lovers and a mountain of treasures buried with them! That sounds like quite an adventure!

Aiyah, but the only issue is that the abridged story doesn't give this auntie any clues of where to start! ( - A - )

Since entering these caves, we've passed by numerous other caves that branched off in different directions. I'm sure that we would be buried here alive if we weren't following the cave system map.

But the thing is, the map didn't mention anything about a tomb or crypt. Heck, it didn't even mention any treasure! (#｀3´)

Ah, wait! Σ(゜゜)

Does that mean that one of those caves that we passed by might've been the tomb entrance?

Aiyah, missed opportunities, ah! ('Ａ｀)

Maybe, I should break away for just a second to peek my head into one of those caves. I'm sure no one will notice!

Plus, if I get lost, I can use my handy-dandy tracking jade, the Ling Shou Jade, to replace my way to Senior Sister!

Easy! (∩❛ڡ❛∩)

"Don't even think about it," a chilling voice suddenly spoke up beside me.

Ahh! ∑('＝';)

Nearly jumping out of my skin from the cold, I looked to my side to see Senior Sister walking alongside me.

Hah?

How did this happen? I was sure that I was walking with Xiao Lan…

Did we lose Xiao Lan in the caves! Σ(ﾟ口ﾟ;)//

As if reading my mind, Senior Sister answered, "She is talking with her senior brother."

"Oh," looking ahead, I could see that Senior Sister was right as Xiao Lan and Bu Xiu He leading the group with the guiding light in their hands.

Huh, how did I not notice the switch? (･_･;

Oh well! I must've been distracted by the story of treasure! ¯_(ツ)_/¯

Hehe, rare pills, ancient weapons, hidden techniques lost by time!

"I know what you're thinking," Senior Sister cut into my daydream. "You're going to go after that fairytale, aren't you."

No. (•v • ;)

"Hah," Senior Sister chuckled lightly. "Don't deny it. I know when you're planning to do something which will only cause more trouble."

"Ah, that's not true. Plus! I didn't think about that mysterious treasure at all!"

"Heh," Senior Sister laughed softly as a rare small smile went onto her face. "Of course, you weren't.

And you weren't planning on sneaking away from the group either to check out the branching tunnels either."

"Haha, Senior Sister knows me so well! Of course, this Junior would never do such a thing!

That would be foolish."

"Haha," Senior Sister started to laugh, which in turn made me laugh along.

It's been some time since I've seen Senior Sister this lax.

Since we started, she only seemed to be on edge, mad, or tired.

Oh, and a little red from time to time, but that was about it.

But now, Senior Sister wasn't treating me so cold anymore! (*¯︶¯*)

Ah, though I still wonder what could be the cause of the sudden change.

Oh well, best not to question a good thing. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

"You know, Senior Sister, I'm glad that you're starting to hang out with me again.

It's been kind of lonely without you around."

And dare I say I even missed our time training together to some degree.

"... I'm sorry," Senior Sister said softly.

Huh? What was that? (･_･ ?

Looking over to her, I tried to read her expression; however, it was too dark to see. "Is something wrong-"

"Stop," Senior Sister suddenly stopped me as she stiffened in place.

Wah? !?(･_･;?

Abruptly, I felt the ground beneath us begin to shake as we all stopped moving, as the ground and the cave around us shook.

"What's happening!"

"Stay calm," Senior Sister reassured as she moved her hand to the hilt of her blade.

The cave rumbled violently as the spikes above started to shake as dust rained down from the ceiling.

Suddenly, the gleaming spikes from above started to quiver, and the shaking only seemed to intensify.

This is it! ヽ(;▽;)ノ

We're going to be buried alive here, ah!

However, just as soon as everything started, everything abruptly stopped.