Even hybrid monsters have their day

Chapter 155 Caving

He choked up and couldn't speak. This man didn't dare to stand up for his only daughter after she died unjustly. For decades, he didn't even dare to hold a memorial service for her. Who knew the guilt in his heart? Who knew the grievances in his heart?

He lowered his head, buried his face in the table, and began to sob, as if he wanted to release all the pent-up emotions of the past few years.

Geng Miaowan turned to look at Zheng Xiuxiu standing to the side. Her shoulders were trembling slightly, clearly on the verge of tears. She poured Zheng Cunsheng another glass of water. "So, how can we get into the cave and come out safely?"

She asked him the main reason she had come to see him today.

After sobbing for a while, Zheng Cunsheng slowly calmed down. He wiped the tears from his face and said, "There is a method. The village chief has a special powder that can be applied to the body so that you can enter the cave without being attacked by the thing inside. However, you can't stay in the cave for long."

"Is it that stuff Jiang Lao Er put on his body?" Seeing him nod, she asked again, "Then can you give me some?"

“This…” Zheng Cunsheng hesitated. “This powder is very rare, and it has always been kept by the village chief himself. But… if you need it, I… I can steal some.”

He was willing to go to any lengths for Zheng Xiuxiu.

Geng Miaowan shook her head. "No need."

Judging from his appearance, he'd probably be caught before he even started stealing. She already had a plan in mind: it would be better to leave it to Xu Ruwen; petty theft was a cunning trick of the fox.

The next night.

"So, did you get the item?"

"What's so difficult about me taking action?" Xu Ruwen said smugly. "But have you thought this through? Do you really want to get involved in this mess?"

Although Zheng Cunsheng told them everything he knew, they still didn't know what was inside the cave. From Zheng Cunsheng's words, it was clear that whatever it was, it was definitely not a friendly creature, and it even sounded rather eerie.

Geng Miaowan nodded. "If you don't want to go, you can wait for me outside."

"Look at what you're saying, do you think I'm that kind of person? I'm just worried that there might be something big hidden inside, and that you might get hurt again." Xu Ruwen said, taking out a packet of powder.

"And what about you, Xiaobai?"

"Of course I'll follow you. Half of your life belongs to me now."

Geng Miaowan smiled gently. That should be interpreted the other way around; it should be that half its life was tied to hers. However, she knew that its saying that meant it didn't object.

Geng Miaowan opened the package, and a pungent smell hit her nose. She couldn't describe the smell; it was even stronger than eating a mouthful of wasabi. The two of them held their breath and carefully applied the powder to their bodies, then applied it to Xiaobai as well. After confirming that everything was correct, they headed towards the cave.

"If anything seems amiss, get out immediately, understand?" Geng Miaowan instructed.

"You should say that to yourself," Xu Ruwen said coolly. "Only you here have such a strong sense of curiosity, insisting on seeing everything clearly."

As she passed by Zheng Xiuxiu, Geng Miaowan told her to wait at the cave entrance, and Zheng Xiuxiu readily agreed. Even just standing at the entrance, she could feel the deathly aura emanating from the cave. If she were to actually enter, the consequences would likely be far more severe than simply feeling weak in the knees.

As they spoke, Geng Miaowan had already reached the cave entrance; just one more step and she would be inside. She took a deep breath, then, sensing something amiss, turned back to face the outside and took another deep breath. Giving Zheng Xiuxiu a "wait for me" smile, she turned and stepped into the cave.

The cave was pitch black; not a single ray of the faint moonlight could reach it. Even the torch she carried went out once inside. The cave was like two different worlds—cold, dark, and repulsive with its putrid stench. The air was thick with a chilling, desperate silence; even the sound of her own footsteps could startle her if she wasn't careful.

If Xiaobai hadn't repeatedly emphasized it, she would have almost begun to doubt whether this really was the gate to purgatory, the entrance to hell, as the villagers had described.

The group cautiously ventured inside, taking each step with utmost care. But inside the cave, there was nothing but darkness.

"Did you see anything?" Xu Ruwen asked in a low voice.

If they were outside, his voice would have been so soft that even a strong wind could have blown it away. But in the deathly silence of the cave, the sound was like a drum being pounded right next to her ear, startling Geng Miaowan so much that she almost slipped and fell. Luckily, Xu Ruwen was right next to her, and she grabbed at his arm with both hands to avoid falling.

Xu Ruwen chuckled.

Xiao Bai even retorted sarcastically, "Look at your pathetic self."

Geng Miaowan also realized that she was being too nervous. If this continued, she wouldn't find the demon, but would instead scare herself to death. However, she couldn't put her heart back in place; the atmosphere in the cave was just too unsettling.

“Let’s walk a few more steps, and if we still don’t find anything, we’ll have to turn back.” Because they didn’t know how long the powder would last, Zheng Cunsheng only said it would be short.

“Yes.” Xu Ruwen naturally agreed with this point; safety first has always been the first rule of his conduct.

The group walked forward a few more steps in the dark, but still found nothing, so they had to turn back somewhat dejectedly.

"Do you think that thing might not know we've come to visit?" Xiaobai asked first.

"If someone broke into your house, wouldn't you know?" Xu Ruwen asked instead of answering.

Without a second thought, Xiaobai replied, "Of course I'll know."

After saying that, it realized that its intelligence seemed to have been looked down upon by Xu Ruwen. It snorted and decided to ignore him.

"Look at you, or rather, you dog, how can you have so little tolerance?"

"Xu Ruwen, what do you mean by that?" It was already planning not to argue with him, so why wasn't he acting aggressively?

"What I'm trying to say is, a gentleman uses words, not fists. Why did you hit me on the head?"

"I...I hit you on the head? Where am I supposed to hit you on the head? I don't even know where you are."

"If it's not you, then who is it?" Xu Ruwen asked in confusion. "Wan'er, could it be you?"

Geng Miaowan replied to him indifferently, "Nonsense, who has time to hit you?"

Just then, Xu Ruwen felt another slap on his head. He jumped up and shouted, "It hit me! It hit me again!"

"not me."

"not me."

Geng Miaowan and Xiaobai answered together. (To be continued.)