Chapter 253: Exit
“Not bad, there’s an Underground River below.” With a Grandmaster’s hearing, the situation Underground was naturally clear as day. But even though they were parched with thirst, no one was willing to go down first to explore.
“If you won’t go down, I will.” Lu Xian huffed somewhat displeasedly. He was speechless at these Grandmasters’ excessive caution. “I just don’t believe my disciple would harm me!”
After speaking, Lu Xian leaped deep into the Cave Entrance. In no time, his shouting voice came from below: “Come down, there’s no problem at all.”
At this time, Mei Yu, Wei Yang, and the others couldn’t wait to jump down after him. But the Pei Clan Uncle and Nephew worried about being trapped like turtles in a jar by Sun Yuanlang and insisted on staying at the Cave Entrance to guard it.
Lu Yun and Su Yingxiu also came down. The two stood quietly by the Waterwheel, watching those Grandmasters drink water and wash their faces by the riverbank just like ordinary people. Mei Yu even quietly went upstream. Anyway, with Wei Yang standing guard for her, no one knew what she intended to do.
“So even Grandmasters are still human.” Lu Yun looked at the scene before him and said with deep feeling: “Perhaps only by achieving the Innate Realm can one be free from the sufferings of us mortals.”
“I think even after achieving the Innate Realm, one can’t avoid greed, hatred, and delusion, right?” Su Yingxiu said softly: “If one truly transcends, then they wouldn’t be human anymore.”
“Isn’t complete transcendence good?” Lu Yun held a different view: “No sorrow, no joy—that’s true freedom.”
“If there’s no sorrow or joy at all, I’d rather never enter the Innate Realm.” Su Yingxiu slowly shook her head upon hearing this, then giggled and said with self-mockery: “As if we have any hope of entering the Innate Realm.”
“Yeah, for hundreds of years, no one has ever reached the Innate Realm of living on wind and dew.” Lu Yun sighed, but unlike Su Yingxiu’s complete lack of hope, his sigh was more one of yearning.
The two fell silent. After a moment, Su Yingxiu suddenly said softly: “Thank you.”
“…” Lu Yun was stunned, then realized this was Su Yingxiu thanking him for his earlier protection. He couldn’t quite explain why he had done that. But on the surface, Lu Yun remained calm and said: “No need to thank me. I was just saving myself.”
“…” Su Yingxiu knew he meant she could help him resolve the hidden danger of the Imperial Extreme Profound Cave Skill. She couldn’t help pouting, somewhat dissatisfied: “Being like that makes it hard to win a girl’s favor.”
“That’s all the better.” Lu Yun said softly. Seeing Lu Xian beckoning him, he walked over from Su Yingxiu’s side.
Watching Lu Yun’s back, Su Yingxiu’s gaze was somewhat unusual…
.
At this time, those Grandmasters had already discovered there were fish in the water. Cui Dingzhi casually slapped out with his Palm, shocking dozens of White Jade Silver Fish to the surface. Then with a wave of his hand, those Silver Fish obediently flew toward him.
Who knew, when the fish reached him, Cui Dingzhi waved his hand again, sending them flying toward Xie Ding. “Old Xie, help grill the fish, yeah?”
“You bastard, you really came up with that.” Xie Ding laughed and cursed, but still spread open his Palm as instructed. With a slight circulation of Qi, his Palm became like a piece of red-hot charcoal, especially conspicuous in the darkness.
Not only conspicuous, but also at a very high temperature. Those small fish gradually grilled on his hand, their skin slightly charred yellow, and immediately the aroma overflowed!
When Lu Yun walked over, he happened to see this scene, and his pupils couldn’t help shrinking. This was the Righteous Virtue Fire Element Technique that Xie Bo desperately sought but couldn’t obtain! He didn’t know if the version he helped Xie Bo comprehend could reach this level.
Of course, this Cultivation Method in Xie Ding’s hands as a Grandmaster had already reached the wondrous realm of perfect mastery. Even if Xie Bo mastered the Righteous Virtue Fire Element Technique, without reaching the Heavenly Rank Realm, he couldn’t hope to achieve grilling fish in his Palm, this boring yet profound state.
“Come on, everyone try some. Fish grilled with a Heavenly Rank Grandmaster’s inner fire is rarer than dragon liver or phoenix marrow.” Cui Dingzhi laughed as he distributed the grilled fish to everyone, causing Xie Ding, who was still grilling fish, to shout: “Loss, what a loss. This old man grills for a while but can’t eat many himself. Not covering costs, not covering costs!” Naturally, this drew laughter from the crowd.
In this relaxed atmosphere, Lu Yun walked to the side of the group of Grandmasters. This time, the Grandmasters’ gazes toward him were much softer, and some even nodded to him unprecedentedly. For these Grandmasters who looked down on everyone, this was already an extremely rare gesture of goodwill.
Clearly, the Grandmasters’ anger had subsided, and their moods were much better.
Actually, the physical replenishment from water and food was secondary for the Grandmasters’ Bodies. The key was the great comfort it gave them mentally. Because it contained something called ‘hope’.
“Now we have food and drink,” Lu Xian looked at Lu Yun with relief. Although he owed these Grandmasters a favor, they likewise owed his disciple one. All in all, it balanced out. “Now, can we talk about how we can get out?”
At these words, the scene fell quiet. All the Grandmasters perked up their ears, staring eagerly at this youth, hoping he could create another miracle.
“The exit is right here.” Lu Yun pointed at the roaring river water beside him.
“Underground River?” Everyone was stunned upon hearing this, but the old Eunuch Zuo Yanqing was the first to understand: “Not bad. The small fish we ate are a specialty of the Luo River, White Jade Silver Fish! So this Underground River must lead straight to the Luo River.”
“Really?!” The Grandmasters were overjoyed. Xie Ding couldn’t be bothered with grilling fish anymore, picked up a small fish that hadn’t been grilled yet, held it up to his eyes for a close look, and laughed: “Indeed White Jade Silver Fish.”
White Jade Silver Fish is a rare river delicacy special to the Luo River. The Grandmasters enjoyed it several times a year, but it was always cooked by chefs and served up, so few had seen what live ones looked like.
“You grilled them all black and made it so no one could see clearly.” Cui Dingzhi teased Xie Ding, then excitedly Looked Towards Zuo Yanqing: “So, we can exit through this Underground River?!”
“This old servant doesn’t know. You need to ask young master Lu.” Zuo Yanqing instead Looked Towards Lu Yun, waiting for his explanation.
“The Underground River leads to the Luo River without issue.” Lu Yun said in a Deep Voice: “But the problem is, not all river paths are open channels like this. There are several segments of hidden dark rivers Underground, low and narrow. We can’t pass through them and must break them open.”
“I see.” Zuo Yanqing nodded noncommittally and said to Lu Yun: “Young master, why don’t you lead this old servant to see first.”
“Excellent, sorry to trouble you, old Eunuch.” The Grandmasters had no objection upon hearing this. Zuo Yanqing’s Kung Fu might no longer match theirs, but in experience and insight, they couldn’t catch up even at a gallop.
“Lu Yun, go ahead and make the trip with the old Eunuch without worry.” Lu Xian also instructed Lu Yun.
“Yes.” Lu Yun nodded in acknowledgment.
“Lu Family Kid, if you really can find the exit, us old guys will ensure you can strut around the Capital City in the future.” Cui Dingzhi laughed to Lu Yun.
“Not bad.” Xie Ding also laughed: “You don’t need to worry about that trivial matter with Xie Bo anymore. Later I’ll have him come to your door to apologize.”
“Let’s go, young master.” Zuo Yanqing patiently waited for them to finish, then gestured for Lu Yun to enter the water first.
Lu Yun nodded, bid farewell to his Master, then dove into the water with a plunge. Zuo Yanqing nodded to everyone, then followed into the water.
Led by Lu Yun, Zuo Yanqing drilled through the whirlpool at the river bottom. Without Su Yingxiu dragging him down this time, and even Lu Yun becoming a burden, the result was that in just the time to drink a cup of tea, the two emerged from the other side of the whirlpool, appearing in the river segment where Kou Xianzhi had been found earlier.
“Truly inconceivable.” Zuo Yanqing wiped the water from his face. By the time he leaped ashore, his clothes and hair were already dry. “This old servant’s confidence has grown quite a bit.”
Lu Yun also climbed ashore and couldn’t help a Bitter Smile upon hearing this: “Old Eunuch, don’t celebrate too early.” Saying this, he led Zuo Yanqing quickly through this river segment to the entrance of the next dark river.
