Chapter Ten: Ambush in the Deserted Valley

  Liang Xin couldn't get his clothes back, and sat on the ground with a huff. The three of them stared at each other, then suddenly burst out laughing, almost in unison saying: "What's going on?"

  Liu Yikou quickly told his own situation, he entered the Jade Token, as if he was in an ice cellar, under the cold and piercing chill, not even a single finger could withstand it, and soon lost consciousness; Qu Qingshi's situation was not much better than his, after all, he was just an ordinary person, and had no power to contend with the evil energy condensed and flowing within the Jade Token, and before he could even find the demon heart, he fainted.

  The red clay of Jiulongqingyi is not an ordinary product, fortunately they both used it to seal their birth orifices, otherwise the evil energy would invade and they would die before Liang Xin arrived.

  Things are much more complicated on Liang Xin's side, with a lot of gesticulation and explanation, but he finally managed to clarify the whole process from start to finish.

  Two men in green robes listened with their eyes wide and mouths agape, using their bodies as a medium to connect the jade pendant and the stone pulse. This idea was simple to the extreme, yet also unbelievable to the extreme.

  To put it bluntly, this kind of thing may be something that even a fool can think of, but perhaps an old hand will ponder for a lifetime and still not understand. It's just separated by a layer of window paper, only looking at whether good fortune can descend upon one's mind at the time.

  And the two evil objects, as if they were enemies from a past life, once in contact with each other, would not rest until one of them was defeated, and still had to spare energy to protect the "battlefield", so that they could fight to the death. It's hard to say whether this is fate or an extreme coincidence, unless we first figure out what the jade disc and stone pulse are all about.

  Qing Shi looked up and down at Liang Xin, carefully sizing him up. At first glance, he seemed no different from before, but after a while, his brow furrowed: "Do you... have any special feelings now?"

  Liáng Xīn raised his hands and feet, even playing two forms of Taizu Long Fist, feeling nothing out of place.

  Qu Qing shook his head and remained silent, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion, and he also gave a signal to Liu with his eyes.

  Liu was also startled and hastily shook his head: "This... isn't good, is it? What if he... will have concerns for his life."

  "You won't go, so I have to risk this old body of mine?"

  Liang Xin listened with a confused expression, blinking his eyes and asking: "What are you guys talking about?"

  As soon as the words fell, Liu suddenly approached and grabbed Liang Xin's shoulder, slamming him heavily to the ground with a back slam, followed by a crisp pat on the hand: "Sir, it's over, still like that!"

  Liang Xin suddenly jumped up from the ground with a look of anger: "What are you doing?!"

  After going through great hardships, Liang Xin suddenly felt close to Qu and Liu, without any distinction of status or wealth, just like they were all children on the street of Sinners' Alley, this feeling made Liang Xin feel extremely comfortable.

  Qu Qing Shi's expression was somewhat puzzled, and he muttered: "It shouldn't be like this!"

  Liang Xin's experience, from any perspective, whether it be martial arts, cultivation, or even demonic and evil paths, should have been a great blessing, making his body incredibly resilient and powerful...

  But now Liang Xin is still an ordinary young man, and he hasn't even put on his clothes yet.

  Liu Yi naturally understood Qu Qing Shi's intention and shook his head with a smile: "He can survive, it is already the blessing of Lord Liang in heaven, other things will be discussed after we get out."

  At this time, another strange sound of "gurgling" entered the ears of the three people. Liang Xin was stunned, and this sound was clearly coming from his own belly...

  Liu Yi Ha laughed loudly: "This kid is starving!"

  Qing Shi couldn't help but smile, and with the support of Yang Shou's arm, he stood up: "Let's go, the Jade Token has shattered, we have a way out!" As he spoke, he took the lead and walked towards where the Jade Token had originally been.

  It wasn't until now that Liang Xin saw that after the jade tablet was destroyed, a curved and winding cave appeared behind it. Although it wasn't spacious, it was enough for them to pass through!

  Liang Xin and others had previously excavated the murderous stone vein, all the way into the underground of the mountain root. The tunnel in front of them was winding upwards, and the air was relatively fresh. It seemed that this tunnel really led to the ground.

  Great calamity did not die, and there is still hope for escape. Liang Xin felt that his whole body was full of energy, and he hurriedly followed behind Qu Qing Shi's back, walking into the pit after the jade disc. His mouth didn't forget to question Liu Yi: "Why did you throw me just now?"

  The tunnel wasn't spacious, but it was enough for three people to pass through in a line. Liu Yi really couldn't stand Liang Xin's endless questioning and ran to the front to lead the way.

  On the rock wall of the pit, there are scars like knife cuts and axe chops everywhere, even Liang Xin can see clearly that this pit was dug out by someone with a huge force.

  They walked for a long time, and Liang Xin's footsteps became heavy. Even the willow tree leading the way in front of them began to sweat on its forehead. Finally, a faint light appeared in the distance!

  The three of them suddenly felt a surge of joy, supporting each other as they quickened their pace, running and crawling towards the end of the cave. As they got closer to the entrance, the light became more apparent, but it was not bright and clear, rather hazy. Suddenly, Liang Xin had an epiphany - outside must be nighttime, and what was shining through the entrance was starlight.

  Just as they were panting and rushing to the end of the mine tunnel with hope on their faces, Liu Yi, who was walking in front, suddenly let out a cry of surprise: "There are people forming an array outside!"

  Outside the cave entrance stood several human figures, seemingly scattered but actually arranged in a deliberate pattern, clearly waiting for someone inside to come out. Upon closer inspection, there were nine people outside the cave entrance.

  The cave was narrow and sloping upwards, at this moment they suddenly encountered the enemy, all three of them were in a desperate situation, now the situation was extremely unfavorable to them, let alone take action, even if the other side just threw down a few stones they couldn't withstand it.

  Liu Yi's body bent low, his hand hiding the knife, his whole body storing up energy and ready to pounce out at any moment.

  The old man's eyes narrowed as he drew the bowstring, his withered hand steady as a rock. Just as he was about to release the arrow, however, he caught sight of the people outside and let out an involuntary gasp, his bow dipping slightly in his grasp.

  Under the bright moonlight, Liang Xin looked out from behind his two companions and saw nine people outside the cave entrance. They were all quite short in stature, with hunched backs, looking like they should be elderly. Looking at their clothes again, they seemed extremely familiar:

  Wearing an ink-colored robe, with a wind-stopping shield held horizontally on their arm, and a spring-patterned knife hanging from their waist, the bright sun was blocked by a large hat pulled extremely low, making it impossible to see their face. Both of their hands were hidden in their sleeves.

  These nine old men lurking at the cave entrance were unexpectedly all colleagues of Qu Qingshi, elite soldiers of the Da Hong Nine Dragon Guard, the Qing Yiwei!

  Liáng Xīn once again cast his gaze afar. Outside the cave entrance was a vast expanse of barren land, devoid of even a single blade of grass, stretching for hundreds of meters in all directions.

  Liu Yi also saw the other party's attire, and after a slight pause, he immediately revealed his identity: "I am Liu Yi, the commander of the Feiyu Institute of the Jiulong Temple. Brothers outside, use your nameplates to speak!" As he spoke, he reached up and removed a small copper plate from around his neck, about the size of an infant's palm, and waved it back and forth towards the outside.

  The green-clad figure outside remained silent, firmly holding down the formation, without even a slight movement in his posture.

  Liu took a deep breath and continued, "My family's elder, Qu Qianhu is also here. You'd better quickly reveal your identity!"

  The other party remained silent, and Liu also turned his head to glance at Qu Qing Shi. After the latter nodded, he suddenly changed his tone and said with a smile: "It's so dark outside that you can't see my brother's nameplate, right? That's easy!" As he spoke, he raised his hand and threw out his own nameplate.

  Suddenly a burst of dazzling golden light erupted from beside Liang Xin, snatching away everyone's line of sight. Liu Yi then let out a loud shout, his hand grasping the Embroidered Spring Knife as fast as a weasel, and pounced towards the nine green-robed old men blocking the exit!

  Behind Qu Qing's stone body was the descendant of the Liang family, who had been trying to protect their own family for generations. Seeing that the other party was blocking the entrance with hostility, a killing intent appeared in his heart. He signaled Liu Yi to take action and drew his evil bow, using its dazzling light to rob the opponent's sight and cover up Liu Yi's sneak attack.

  Liu Yi's nine swift knife strikes were as fast as a thunderbolt, but in the blink of an eye, all nine old men in green robes had been knocked to the ground. Only then did Liu Yi exclaim in shock: "They're all dead... they've been dead for who knows how many years!"

  Nine old men in green robes were cut down, without a scream or bloodshed, but instead made a soft "kala" sound, and all fell to the ground.

  Their bodies were scattered on the ground, without any flesh and blood, all of which were grayish-white dry bones...