Chapter 116: Inside the Cave

He naturally recognized Zhang Pu as well. Like Zheng Lan, he was inwardly shaken by Zhang Pu’s earlier brave defeat of Wulong. But now, he could clearly see that Zhang Pu’s eyes were tightly shut, as if utterly exhausted.

“Lin Hongbin, dare to lay a hand on me and see what happens?” At this moment, Zheng Lan’s tone was fierce yet fragile beneath the surface. It turned out the person chasing after her was the leader of the Obscure Group. Until then, Zhang Pu had not known his name: Lin Hongbin.

Hearing Zheng Lan’s threatening words, Lin Hongbin sneered, “Do you still think this is your family’s turf?” Indeed, they had long left the sphere of influence of Zheng Lan’s clan.

“But you should know well how ruthless my family is when it comes to hunting people down!” Thinking of his family’s formidable legacy, renowned even among overseas Chinese circles, Zheng Lan’s confidence surged anew.

But who exactly was Lin Hongbin? Even fully aware of Zheng Lan’s background, he would not be cowed by a few empty words.

“Better worry about your own life right now! Your clan has enemies on their tail!” Lin Hongbin said coldly. He seemed to have thrown caution to the wind, forcing himself to disregard the Zheng family’s power.

Zheng Lan could not miss the underlying message in Lin Hongbin’s words. As realization dawned that her fate today was sealed, her heart sank. Yet—

“Don’t worry,” Lin Hongbin continued, “I know they won’t kill you for now, but you must come with me.”

“Over my dead body!” Zheng Lan shouted firmly. “I won’t go with you!”

Lin Hongbin laughed coldly again. “Do you think you have a say in this? The old ghost who was pretending to be mystical is dead now. Your men are scattered, their fates unknown. Your clan’s distant power can’t flap its wings fast enough to save you. Think about it. You’re no rookie; don’t be naive. You refuse the wine offered, so you’ll have to drink the penalty.”

After this barrage, Lin Hongbin’s patience seemed to wear thin. He resolved to use force. At that moment, he noticed the rain outside had ceased. In a forest like this, no one wished to linger long.

Zheng Lan stepped back deeper into the cave. Though she knew it was futile, her instinct compelled her to retreat nonetheless.

“Stay back! Look at who this is!” Zheng Lan suddenly pointed at Zhang Pu, who remained “meditating with eyes closed,” and shouted at Lin Hongbin.

It was as if she thought Lin Hongbin hadn’t noticed Zhang Pu earlier. Yet Lin Hongbin entered with a bright electric torch in hand, even brighter than Zheng Lan’s light.

How could Lin Hongbin not see Zhang Pu? But in his mind, Zhang Pu looked utterly powerless at this moment.

“Planning to have him play the hero?” Lin Hongbin mocked Zhang Pu, and through him, Zheng Lan.

“Do you really think he lacks the ability?” Zheng Lan dismissed Lin Hongbin’s doubts. “Have you forgotten how bravely he defeated Wulong before?”

Lin Hongbin was momentarily stunned but quickly recovered. “Enough delaying! I know you want to stall for reinforcements, but dreaming is useless.”

He glanced casually at the still, silent Zhang Pu, then strode forward to seize Zheng Lan, determined to drag her away from the cave and deliver her elsewhere.

As for Zhang Pu, though confident he could easily finish him off, Lin Hongbin abruptly chose not to act. Zhang Pu’s previous feat against Wulong had impressed him deeply. He understood that some formidable master must be behind Zhang Pu.

He didn’t know if Zhang Pu was truly drained now. Urgent to take Zheng Lan away, he had no interest in currying favor or helping Zhang Pu, but he also refrained from offending him.

Just as Lin Hongbin grabbed Zheng Lan to leave the cave, he suddenly sensed a force silently approaching from behind.

Had he been too careless? This cave was indeed strange, Lin Hongbin thought swiftly.

He had missed Old Ge’s shadow earlier, that was certain.

Now, as Old Ge suddenly launched an attack, Lin Hongbin’s nerves instantly tightened.

A seasoned warrior, Lin Hongbin immediately released Zheng Lan and turned to meet the assault head-on.

With the glow from his electric torch, he instantly recognized the attacker: the Ghost Shadow he had once fought before.

Lin Hongbin had defeated the Ghost Shadow before; facing it now, he felt no fear.

“Hah! Didn’t expect your lair to be here, you ghostly fiend! You escaped me that day, but today you’ll be trapped in this cave forever!”

Zheng Lan, left aside, now saw the Ghost Shadow too—indeed, the vague, haunting figure that had terrified everyone that night.

At first, she felt fear of this unknown entity, but hearing Lin Hongbin’s words—that he had once defeated it—made her feel disbelief. She knew Lin Hongbin’s martial prowess was extraordinary, but to have overwhelmed this dreadful Ghost Shadow exceeded all her expectations.

Now, as Lin Hongbin and the Ghost Shadow battled in the cave, it strangely suited her hopes.

Truly, she wished Lin Hongbin would be fully entangled with the Ghost Shadow, so she could slip away unnoticed in the chaos. Yet from Lin Hongbin’s confident tone, which spoke of past dominance over the Ghost Shadow, she also feared she might not escape if he wasn’t bluffing. Still, her impression of Lin Hongbin was that he never lied about his strength. He truly had the power—this she acknowledged.

Meanwhile, Lin Hongbin drew his signature weapon, the Ghost Head Blade.

He had used this blade to wound the seemingly iron-boned Wulong before; now, he aimed to shatter the Ghost Shadow into pieces with it.

Old Ge was truly no match for Lin Hongbin.

But just as Lin Hongbin’s Ghost Head Blade gained the upper hand, Zhang Pu opened his eyes.

The moment Zhang Pu’s eyes opened, Lin Hongbin immediately felt an invisible pressure bearing down on him.

This overwhelming force compelled Lin Hongbin to scrutinize his surroundings more carefully.

He knew that his earlier carelessness had nearly led him into the Ghost Shadow’s trap.