Chapter Eleven: Falling into the Trap, Escaping Danger

On the other side, Yushang, who was exploring elsewhere, also sensed something unusual. It was as if this patch of withered leaves had no end, the path growing longer and longer with every step, leaving no trace to follow. Just as Yushang paused to ponder, a wave of familiar energy surged toward him, so mysterious and well-known that he became instinctively alert.

“So it’s you?” Yushang exclaimed in surprise as his spiritual sense collided with another’s—it was none other than Xiao Yin, who was exploring in another direction. Both of them were struck by the same question, unable to make sense of what was happening.

“Brat, what are you doing here? Weren’t you searching elsewhere?” Xiao Yin sent his voice over, his tone laced with deep confusion. “Could it be you’ve discovered something and came to tell me?” After a brief pause, Xiao Yin spoke again, his voice tinged with delight.

“If only I had found something—it would be better than wandering around like a headless fly, unable to find a way out,” Yushang replied, a little irritable. “But I am curious—why are you here when I’ve been waiting quietly? And you say I came looking for you?”

“What? Impossible! I clearly saw you sit down cross-legged and send your spiritual sense into that patch of withered leaves, and only then did I start searching elsewhere! I searched for a long time and found nothing out of the ordinary, and was just about to return when a strange sense of familiarity drew me here. I never left my area from start to finish!” Xiao Yin explained, uncharacteristically serious, then glanced warily around as if trying to see through the illusion.

“If what you say is true, then we’ve probably fallen into someone’s trap,” Yushang said with a self-mocking smile, then fell silent.

“So what do we do now? We can’t just sit here and wait for death, can we? Besides, our real bodies are still outside. If this is that fellow’s scheme, we’re in trouble. I just hope nothing goes wrong!” Xiao Yin said anxiously, at a loss for what to do.

“What else can we do? Like I said—since we’re here, we might as well settle in. I advise you to calm down and rest for a while,” Yushang replied coolly, unruffled by their predicament.

“I don’t have your composure! How can I stay calm at a time like this?” With that, Xiao Yin turned and strode off to explore further, leaving Yushang unmoved, sitting in quiet confidence.

Let us turn now to what was happening outside the withered leaves.

The autumn wind sighed, and dead leaves lay scattered across the ground. In the distance, two figures sat cross-legged atop the fallen leaves, eyes closed, as if asleep—serene and motionless. Their stillness blended so completely with the surroundings that, were it not for the faint sound of their breathing, one might have mistaken them for statues.

After a while, a man draped in a snowy white cloak drifted closer from afar—it was Yu Xiaoran, the guardian of this realm. Gradually, he approached the two seated figures and finally stopped just a few steps away.

The man in the white cloak looked down at them and sneered, “They say Yushang is cunning, but he’s nothing special. It took no effort at all for my little trick to ensnare him! Now he lies here like a corpse, utterly lifeless. What a joke!” He closed his eyes, muttered something under his breath, then waved his hand. At once, a barrier materialized, enveloping the two seated figures.

“What’s the fun in tormenting two helpless corpses?” he mused aloud. “Might as well extract their spiritual senses and have some real amusement.” With a sudden movement, he raised his hands, and the fallen leaves swirled into the air. His hands spun and then snapped open, releasing a surge of energy that sliced through the drifting leaves. In an instant, all the leaves disappeared, leaving the ground spotless and gleaming.

Let us return to Yushang and Xiao Yin within.

Yushang’s spiritual sense remained calm and composed, waiting for something unknown. Before long, Xiao Yin returned, his spiritual form brimming with frustration.

“This wretched place is like an endless maze! Everything seems different yet exactly the same—I nearly couldn’t find my way back!” Xiao Yin exclaimed, his tone a mix of anger, discontent, and regret.

“I told you to settle down and wait, but you insisted on exhausting yourself for nothing. Whose fault is that? Best to stay put now. I doubt this is the end—there may be more excitement ahead,” Yushang replied with a smile, utterly untroubled, his confidence unwavering.

“More excitement? I don’t know what you’re thinking—how can you joke at a time like this? I give up!” Xiao Yin said helplessly, but nonetheless quieted down.

Time passed, and suddenly the mysterious realm began to tremble and sway. Yushang turned to Xiao Yin and said, “Be ready—when the time comes, we break out together. Be careful!” Xiao Yin simply nodded. As the space was about to shatter, two streams of spiritual energy burst forth, instantly returning to the bodies of the two seated figures.

At that same moment, both opened their eyes, exchanged a smile, and sighed.

“Well, you’re certainly clever,” the man in white laughed. “I was worried I’d accidentally destroy you both when shattering the space! But you two are still alive—how amusing!”

“It’s you again, you androgynous creature! What do you want from us? Release us, or else—” Xiao Yin said, barely restraining his anger.

“Or else what? Kill me? I’m terrified! You two think you can defeat me? How laughable,” the man retorted mercilessly.

“Tell us, what do you really want? Surely you didn’t go to all this trouble just to humiliate us for your own amusement,” Yushang asked, studying the man thoughtfully.

“Sigh, must you make me spell it out? How dull you are! Very well, let’s get to business. I hear your body holds many secret techniques—I’m quite curious. Why not share a few with me?” There was no question, only threat and command in his voice.

“If you could trap me, surely you know my strength. If I truly possessed such secrets, would I be wasting time here with you? I’d have already passed through the Illusory Gate!” Yushang replied, a trace of regret on his face.

“Don’t play games with me—I have little patience!” The man stepped forward, a dangerous aura pressing in on Yushang and Xiao Yin.

“If you don’t believe me, try for yourself! We’re already in your hands, powerless to resist—unless, of course, you’re afraid!” Xiao Yin added, fanning the flames.

“Hmph, you insignificant worms are beneath my notice!” With that, the man entered the barrier, seized Yushang, immobilized Xiao Yin, and began probing with his own secret art.

At first, he found nothing. But as he pressed on, he noticed a half-open, half-closed mystical gate that caught his interest. As he approached, a surge of power burst forth, binding him and greedily siphoning his life force. Helpless, he could only watch as the energy drained away, until at last the barrier vanished and the spell on Xiao Yin dissolved. The man staggered, weakened, and Yushang took advantage, instantly imprisoning him.

“How—how can this be?” the man exclaimed in disbelief.

“Your defeat was your own arrogance. Even those who appear weak and useless must never be underestimated—that is the law of survival in this world. As for the secrets within me, they are not for you to know,” Yushang replied, his tone calm but unyielding.

“So be it—a loss is a loss. Go, both of you…” As he finished speaking, a phantom door opened before them, and the man, having broken free of his bonds, vanished into the distance.