The Mountain Cave Treasure: Chu Chen Arrives First

Baiyulan is a type of plant that grows alongside the Xuan Cliff. Its fruit is often eaten by Demonic Beasts, so the price of this fruit is quite high, valued at around four thousand gold coins.

Under the guidance of Xiao Yixian's treasure map, Chu Chen and Xiao Yixian smoothly entered the depths of the Demonic Beast Mountain Range. At a spot beside the Xuan Cliff, the two stopped. Out of professional habit, Xiao Yixian placed a Baiyulan flower into her medicine box.

“Xiao Yixian, don't just focus on gathering herbs. Where is the cave?”

As he spoke, Chu Chen's eyes constantly scanned the surroundings. Although they were currently on the outskirts of the Demonic Beast Mountain Range, the possibility of high-stage Demonic Beasts appearing could not be ruled out. After all, it was better to be safe than sorry.

“Mr. Chu, it's right down there. You can stretch your neck and take a look.”

After Xiao Yixian replied, Chu Chen slowly moved his feet and looked down. Along the rugged Xuan Cliff filled with bizarrely shaped rocks, many skeletons of unnamed Demonic Beasts and strange trees hung from the protruding sharp spikes.

As his gaze swept past some of the branches, Chu Chen indeed discovered the entrance of a cave. The entrance was extremely concealed; if not for a sliver of sunlight shining on it, one wouldn't have noticed it at first.

His memories slowly became clear. In the original timeline, when Xiao Yan entered the Demonic Beast Mountain Range, he had followed Xiao Yixian's herb-gathering team. While the team was resting, Xiao Yan noticed Xiao Yixian leaving the group.

At that time, Xiao Yixian was climbing the Xuan Cliff, claiming to gather Baiyulan, but Xiao Yan discovered her true purpose was the mysterious cave on the cliff.

Seeing that the secret of the treasure cave had been discovered and fearing that Xiao Yan's greed would harm her, Xiao Yixian struck first to gain the upper hand, scattering white powder toward him.

That white powder didn't harm people; Xiao Yixian was kind-hearted, and the powder only had a stunning effect.

Xiao Yan was hit by the white powder but had long been prepared. He only feigned being affected, then took advantage of Xiao Yixian's lack of guard to subdue her. Having been suddenly ambushed by her, Xiao Yan showed no politeness and directly interrogated her about the cave.

Xiao Yixian resisted fiercely but to no avail. At that time, both viewed each other as enemies and were extremely serious.

Although Xiao Yixian was controlled by Xiao Yan, she still refused to reveal the secret. At this, Xiao Yan threatened her, saying he would tie her up in the forest to await death.

At the same time, Xiao Yan grasped her weakness, mentioning that Heyuan Apes frequented the Demonic Beast Mountain Range. As the name suggested, the Heyuan Ape was a type of ape Demonic Beast.

Though they were Demonic Beasts, Heyuan Apes also had an interest in human women.

Thinking about being tied up by Xiao Yan in a place frequented by Heyuan Apes, Xiao Yixian was terrified. Fearing being defiled by Demonic Beasts, she had no choice but to compromise and lead Xiao Yan down the Xuan Cliff to seek the treasure...

Standing beside the Xuan Cliff, Chu Chen let out a soft sigh of relief.

To think that Xiao Yan had to fight and play psychological mind games to obtain the secret, whereas he had obtained it so easily, with Xiao Yixian willingly offering it.

“It truly is a case of getting it without any effort. Saving that young girl back then turned out to be Xiao Yixian, and she gave up this secret to repay the favor. All of this must be destined.”

“Mr. Chu, what did you say? We are ready to go down.” Xiao Yixian tossed a rope from her medicine box.

“I am a few years older than you. You can just call me Brother Chu.”

“That sounds too old. How about I call you Brother Chu Chen? Is that alright?” Xiao Yixian flashed an extremely gentle smile at Chu Chen.

“Alright, as you wish.”

The two tied the rope to a large tree, tested its sturdiness, roughly memorized the position of the cave on the Xuan Cliff, and slowly backed down.

Stepping on the cliffside, loose rocks would occasionally fall. These rocks had been eroded by the wind for a long time, and some were loose; if one wasn't careful, they would end up dangling in mid-air.

Reaching the middle of the cliff, before taking a step, a rustling sound suddenly echoed in his ears. Chu Chen instantly grew alert. Sweeping his gaze over, a scorpion suddenly darted out from a rock on the cliff, lunging toward Xiao Yixian.

Xiao Yixian hadn't noticed at first. When she turned her head, the black pincers of the scorpion were already in front of her. Gripping the rope, she failed to react in time and instinctively closed her eyes tightly.

“It's alright.”

Hearing Chu Chen's words, Xiao Yixian opened her eyes. The scorpion had vanished, and a burnt smell lingered in the air. Only then did she let out a sigh of relief.

“Thank you.”

“The light here is limited, and many small creatures hide in the dark. You must pay attention. Xiao Yixian, hold the rope tightly and lean toward my side. If any venomous snakes or scorpions attack, it will be easier for me to protect you.”

Xiao Yixian nodded gratefully and moved alongside Chu Chen. Some of these wind-eroded cliff rocks had become sharp, and without paying attention, Xiao Yixian's rope scraped against a sharp rock.

A hair-raising tearing sound suddenly came from the rope. Xiao Yixian hurriedly looked up.

Not far above, a section of the rope had frayed, and the tear was rapidly expanding. It looked like it would snap very soon.

“Not good, it's about to snap! Xiao Yixian, do you see that rock by your right foot? Step on it hard and swing over. I'll catch you.” Chu Chen reacted extremely quickly.

Looking at the five to six-meter distance between her and Chu Chen, Xiao Yixian panicked slightly. She cast her gaze down the Xuan Cliff. The cliff was bottomless; falling down meant her bones probably wouldn't even be found, causing cold sweat to break out on her skin.

“Come over quickly, trust me.”

A tearing sound echoed again. The quality of the rope had deteriorated drastically, and it was about to snap completely. Xiao Yixian took a deep breath, narrowed her eyes, stepped hard on the rock, and swung toward Chu Chen.

At the same time, the rope finally snapped with a sharp sound in mid-air. Chu Chen was quick of eye and hand, catching Xiao Yixian's hand, and the two hung suspended in mid-air.

Veins bulged on Chu Chen's arm as he swung Xiao Yixian upward slightly: “Go up first.”

Without waiting for Xiao Yixian to reply, her hand slipped from Chu Chen's. The wind whistled past her ears, and though her steps were somewhat unstable, she still landed safely on the cave entrance platform.

Seeing that Xiao Yixian was safe, Chu Chen exerted force with his toes. A rock beneath his foot instantly crumbled into dust, and he swung onto the platform, swiftly tying the rope to a branch before landing.

“Phew, that was close.” Chu Chen breathed a sigh of relief.

“Clearing away these rocks and strange trees will allow us to enter,” Xiao Yixian reminded.

“That's simple.” A flame surged in Chu Chen's hand, its color closer to a translucent white. With a push of his palm, the flame instantly ignited the strange trees, and within moments, they turned to black ash.

After a simple cleanup, a relatively narrow, pitch-black cave appeared before them.