Translator: CinderTL
As the dust settled, the octagonal wooden tower fully revealed itself. Ten stories tall, it was completely encased in red-lacquered wood, making its interior impossible to see from the outside.
The crowd gathered below, staring at the wide-open gate and exchanging uneasy glances. Finally, someone gritted their teeth and declared, "Damn it! The timid starve, while the bold feast! I'll go in and scout ahead!"
As the first person ventured inside, the others, unwilling to be left behind, followed suit.
Xiang Tan leaped down from the pavilion and approached the drum tower. She gazed at the pitch-black entrance, hesitated for a moment, and ultimately lacked the courage to enter.
"Senior Sister Xiang Tan?"
A voice called out from behind. Xiang Tan turned to see Lin Fan and an unfamiliar woman approaching.
"Junior Brother Lin, has Senior Brother arrived?"
Lin Fan shook his head. "Not yet."
Xiang Tan felt a pang of disappointment. Lin Fan's cultivation level was even lower than hers—what use would he be if he came?
Zuoqiu Yi licked her crimson lips, her eyes gleaming with excitement as she gazed at the massive drum tower. "Little Brother Lin, you wait here for your holy son. This lady's going in to take a look!"
Lin Fan grabbed her arm. "Sister, wait! Our holy son will be here soon. It's not too late to enter together when he arrives."
In Lin Fan's eyes, Zuoqiu Yi's cultivation level was merely at Foundation Establishment Perfection. Though stronger than him, the difference was marginal. In a direct confrontation, the outcome would be uncertain.
The situation inside the drum tower remained unclear, making a rash entry too dangerous. It would be safer to enter with the holy son.
Zuoqiu Yi shook her head in refusal. "He's your holy son, not mine. Let me go in and investigate."
With that, the impatient woman shoved Lin Fan aside and darted into the drum tower.
"Hey—!" Lin Fan reached out to stop her, but his hand grasped only air.
Xiang Tan watched the scene with amusement, laughing. "Junior Brother Lin, have you taken a fancy to her? Why not ask the holy son to arrange a match for you?"
"N-no... What are you talking about?" Lin Fan stammered, his denial lacking conviction. He gritted his teeth, stomped his foot, and declared, "Senior Sister, you wait here for the holy son. I'll go ahead."
With that, he followed Zuoqiu Yi into the drum tower, unable to bear the thought of his beloved's safety.
Xiang Tan didn't bother stopping him. What did Lin Fan's life or death matter to her? In her heart, only she and Xu Sanyan mattered; everyone else was irrelevant.
Moments later, more people arrived, including two cultivators from Crimson Dragon Mountain, who joined Xiang Tan in waiting outside.
After a quarter of an hour, Xiang Tan's gaze swept the surroundings until she finally spotted a familiar figure. "Senior Brother, you're finally here!" she exclaimed with delight.
A pale green figure drifted gracefully toward them—Xu Sanyan. Despite his hurried pace, he had arrived just a step too late.
"What's the situation?" Xu Sanyan asked, smiling as he gently stroked Xiang Tan's cheek.
"Many have already entered, including Junior Brother Lin," Xiang Tan replied, covering Xu Sanyan's hand with her own. Her heart relaxed at the holy son's presence, finding comfort in his proximity.
Xu Sanyan nodded. "Let's go in and take a look."
"Mm."
The drum tower loomed before them, pitch-black from the outside, like a colossal beast with gaping jaws, waiting for them to walk into its trap.
Just as Xu Sanyan was about to step inside, he heard footsteps behind him. Turning, he saw Fang Qingge and two women approaching.
Each woman clung to one of Fang Qingge's arms, their heads resting on his shoulders, seemingly vying for his attention. Fang Qingge, however, wore an expression of helpless resignation, unable to either pull away or remain still.
"Brother Fang?" Xu Sanyan greeted with a smile.
"Hmm? It's you!"
Fang Qingge's expression immediately turned serious, his smile vanishing. He silently withdrew his arms from the women's grasp and assumed a defensive stance.
The day before, Fang Qingge had sent someone to investigate Xu Sanyan's identity. He learned that Xu Sanyan was the holy son of the Crimson Heart Faction within the Harmonious Heart Demonic Sect, possessing formidable strength that demanded caution.
Wei Xunzhi narrowed his eyes, sensing Fang Qingge's serious regard for this man. Curiosity piqued, he scanned Xu Sanyan from head to toe and murmured, "Senior Brother, who is he?"
Fang Qingge replied softly, "The holy son of the demonic sect, Xu Sanyan. His strength is considerable—likely on par with mine."
Wei Xunzhi's heart jolted. He knew Fang Qingge's prowess well, which far surpassed his own. In his eyes, Fang Qingge was the undisputed leader of the younger generation. To think someone could command his respect?
Only by venturing into the world do you realize its vastness, Wei Xunzhi mused. Heroes of the realm are as numerous as carp in a river, far beyond the confines of Three Mountains City.
Wei Xunzhi silently committed Xu Sanyan's features to memory, resolving to investigate his background thoroughly once they left.
Xu Sanyan smiled. "Brother Fang, care to explore the interior? Why not join me?"
Fang Qingge's lips twitched into a faint smile as he glanced at the two women beside him. "No, Brother Xu. Please proceed. I'm waiting for someone here."
Xu Sanyan didn't press the matter. He clasped his hands in a respectful bow, turned, and strode into the drum tower, Xiang Tan and her companions close behind.
Junior Sister Yu watched the four figures disappear and asked, "Senior Brother, who are you waiting for?"
Fang Qingge sighed inwardly. Waiting for whom?
No one at all.
If he were alone, Fang Qingge wouldn't fear even following Xu Sanyan. But with Junior Sister Yu by his side, the situation was different.
Her cultivation level was too low. Even with his divided attention, he couldn't fully protect her. If anything happened to her, how could he live with the guilt?
Though Fang Qingge was flirtatious, he had, as he claimed, given his genuine affection to different women. What he offered was "genuine affection."
Fang Qingge patted Junior Sister Yu's shoulder. "Junior Sister, you shouldn't go in. Find a safe place outside and wait for me."
He worried about the Demonic Path practitioners resorting to tricks. It was safer for her to stay outside.
"No! I want to go in!" Junior Sister Yu clung tightly to his arm, shaking it playfully while glaring at Wei Xunzhi.
"Junior Sister, be obedient," Fang Qingge said, his tone unusually stern.
"You're scolding me...?" Junior Sister Yu's eyes welled up with tears, mist swirling in her rims. Recalling his earlier sweet words, she felt even more wronged.
Fang Qingge sighed deeply. Damn it, why can't I control that two ounces of flesh down there?
The moment Xu Sanyan and his companions stepped into the drum tower, they felt as if they had entered another realm. Before them lay a vast, empty chamber, its walls a monotonous dark brown, resembling a colossal iron box.
"What is this...?" Xiang Tan asked, her face puzzled. "How do we get out?"
Boom!
Before she could finish, one of the walls collapsed with a thunderous crash, revealing a small horde of corpse demons—about a dozen in number—lurking behind it.
"Looks like we'll have to slaughter them all," Xu Sanyan said, narrowing his eyes, a cold glint flashing in his gaze.
"Holy Son, rest easy. These mere corpse demons are no match for us," the two elders behind him said in unison. Both were Dao Seeking Realm cultivators, while the corpse demons, though grotesque in appearance, possessed only the cultivation level of Initial Stage Foundation Establishment.
Xu Sanyan nodded. "Very well. I leave it to you, Elders."
Awooo!
The corpse demons lunged forward, but the two elders met them in mid-air, swiftly annihilating the entire horde.
Immediately afterward, a stone table materialized, bearing a porcelain bottle.
"A reward?" Xu Sanyan exclaimed in surprise.
(End of the Chapter)
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