Chapter Forty-Six: Entering the Cavern Once More

Chapter Forty-Six: Returning to the Cavern

Seeing Chu Jie’s anger, Wang Ye dragged a man from behind and shoved him to the ground. “Boss Chu, it was him who clashed with your subordinate. Do as you please—kill him, spare him, it's up to you.” Wang Ye’s face was expressionless, as if he’d expected this.

Chu Jie glanced down at the man, then turned to Chen Long. “Was it him who hit you?”

Rubbing his face, Chen Long replied, “Boss, it was him. I only held back for the sake of bringing these people in to fulfill your mission. Otherwise, I’d have risked my life to take him down.”

“Boss, spare me! It was all my fault!” The man on his knees seemed stunned at first, but now understanding his situation, he began to beg for mercy. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t be leaving alive.

Chu Jie watched him for a while, then glanced at Wang Ye. He had a sense it was all Wang Ye’s scheming. Still, he needed Wang Ye’s men to slay the Blackwind Serpent King. Otherwise, he’d have killed Wang Ye himself. Moreover, Wang Ye held some status under Duan Kun; Chu Jie had to give Duan Kun some respect.

So for now, Chu Jie decided to let Wang Ye be. But as for the man who struck Chen Long, he had no intention of letting him off.

“Chen Long, he’s yours,” Chu Jie said coldly.

“Got it!” Chen Long stepped forward and hauled the man up. Though Chen Long was somewhat weaker than him—hence being beaten earlier—now he was given free rein, and he wouldn’t let the chance slip.

“Master Chen, it was my fault, spare me!” the man whimpered.

“Now you know you’re wrong? Too late. Kicking me felt good, didn’t it? My face was swollen for days. It’s your turn.” Chen Long slapped him with all his might.

The blow left the man seeing stars, his mouth twitching with pain. For a moment, rage flared in his heart—he wanted to fight back. But spotting Chu Jie nearby, he immediately quashed the thought. To retaliate now would be courting death; he’d never leave alive.

Chu Jie snorted.

Chen Long kicked the man to the ground and began stomping on his head. No matter how piteously the man wailed or begged, Chen Long remained unmoved.

Everyone Wang Ye brought shuddered. They could see it clearly now: though Chen Long didn’t intend to kill, his blows were merciless, as if intent on beating the man to death. It was enough to show how mad and ruthless Chu Jie’s Mad Dog Camp was.

Finally, after more than an hour, Chen Long stopped, leaving the man’s face battered and bruised, his whole body a mass of wounds.

“Boss, I’ve taught him a lesson,” Chen Long said, satisfied.

“Good. Eat some snake meat first; then we set out.” Chu Jie produced over a dozen strips of snake meat from his Barbaric Cauldron. It was more than enough for everyone.

Wang Ye’s eyes nearly popped from their sockets. Blackwind Serpents—these creatures only lived on the seventh terrace. Had the Mad Dog Camp really been there? The thought itself was hard to believe. Suddenly, Chu Jie seemed unfathomable to him. To take out so much Blackwind Serpent meat as if it were nothing, and even share it with them—Wang Ye almost wanted to become Chu Jie’s subordinate himself. But his cultivation was low, and he’d always wanted to be a leader. He was also vengeful—perhaps that was why he’d clashed with Chu Jie from the start.

So he promptly dismissed the idea of following Chu Jie. On a whim, he blurted out, “It’s just Blackwind Serpent meat, I used to eat this all the time.”

His men behind him all knew Wang Ye well. What he usually ate was just ordinary snake—nothing like this rare delicacy. They felt thoroughly embarrassed.

But what truly kindled Wang Ye’s jealousy was Chu Jie’s Barbaric Cauldron, which could store things. It was the perfect treasure for a bandit or murderer.

Now, all he felt was envy and resentment.

When the meat was roasted, Chu Jie shared some of the snake with Wang Ye’s group as well. This was no time for stinginess. In his view, these men were Duan Kun’s people, and therefore, also under his command. Otherwise, why would he let them enter the Crystal Cavern?

Still, Wang Ye made him increasingly uncomfortable. While eating, Wang Ye took the largest share, even snatching meat from his own men. Chu Jie watched it all with cold eyes.

After eating and drinking their fill, it was time to enter the cavern. Chu Jie blasted open the cave entrance. Once everyone had entered, he carefully sealed the opening behind them.

Wu Jue had also been brought along. From the moment they descended, Wu Jue was visibly uneasy. Remembering how Chu Jie had promised him a way out, yet now seeing so many people here, he guessed they were after some dangerous prey. A way out? That was just a lie.

Moreover, this destination was obviously a hidden place. Remembering Chu Jie’s previous rage, Wu Jue had lost all hope of survival.

“Boss Chu, where exactly are we going?” Wang Ye asked. Though he resented Chu Jie, his tone was still deferential.

Chu Jie glanced at him. “Just follow. Don’t ask questions.”

In the darkness, Wang Ye gnashed his teeth, his face twisted with frustration.

Chu Jie jumped first into the tunnel entrance, and the others followed. The Qiankun Treasure Wheel illuminated the path ahead.

The underground world was dim and damp, with small creatures skittering by, lending the place an eerie air.

No one spoke. This time, they encountered no Blackwind Serpents—perhaps they’d slaughtered so many before that the creatures no longer dared come here.

But the power of the Blackwind Serpent King was fresh in everyone’s mind. The last time, even Chu Jie had been unable to deal with it.

Now, with his strength improved, there was hope. With Wang Ye’s men wielding crossbows, their odds were better.

“Wang Ye, soon, you’ll follow my orders. Only attack when I command. Understood?” Chu Jie judged they were almost there, and suddenly addressed him.

“Yeah,” Wang Ye replied indifferently.

“If anything goes wrong, don’t blame me for being ruthless,” Chu Jie said coldly.

An imposing aura radiated from Chu Jie, making everyone tense.

Soon, he led them into the Crystal Cavern.

Suddenly, their surroundings brightened. The spiritual energy here was noticeably denser than elsewhere; all along the cave walls were embedded crystals.

The space was vast. Chu Jie and his group seemed insignificant after entering.

In the distance, some Blackwind Serpents slithered high in the air, but as soon as Chu Jie’s party arrived, all the serpents inside the cavern frantically fled toward the ceiling’s opening.

The previous slaughter had left a deep impression on them.

Seeing the serpents, Wang Ye and Wu Jue finally understood why Chu Jie had so much Blackwind Serpent meat. At the same time, greed flashed across their faces.

The cave walls were studded with so many crystals that just selling the news would fetch a fortune. Perhaps it could even buy a pass to the outer city.

Wang Ye was already scheming, fantasizing about how he’d use these treasures if he made it out alive.

Wu Jue, too, stared at the crystals, lost in thought.

Wang Ye’s followers all gaped at the cavern, deeply shaken. As for the Mad Dog Camp, though still awed, they’d been here before, so seeing others’ astonished faces only made them sneer.

“Boss Chu, what are we waiting for? Let’s start digging. With all these crystals, we’re rich!” Wang Ye was beside himself with excitement, forgetting what Chu Jie had brought him here for in the first place.

“Hold your horses.” Chu Jie frowned, his dislike for Wang Ye deepening.

Wang Ye finally cooled down, realizing he’d lost his composure.

Chu Jie surveyed the area, waiting for the Blackwind Serpent King to appear.

With so many crystals here, this must be an important nest for the Blackwind Serpent clan. If outsiders made a move on it, the Serpent King would certainly show itself.

But after a while, the Serpent King hadn’t appeared, and Chu Jie grew frustrated.

He knew the Serpent King was intelligent. Last time, he and the King had fought to a draw; this time, the King might just hide and refuse to come out.

Of course, Chu Jie had his own plans.

“Wu Jue, your chance has come.” Chu Jie motioned for his men to untie Wu Jue.

“What... what do you want me to do?” Wu Jue asked shakily, as if he already knew the answer.

“See those crystals in the cave wall? Go dig them out. Whatever you excavate is yours, but you can’t stop until I say so. Do well, and I’ll let you go—and you can keep whatever you’ve dug.”

“Really?” Wu Jue’s mouth fell open.

Wang Ye was dissatisfied. The crystals here should belong to them! How could a captive take them away? Stepping forward, he protested, “Boss Chu, how can you let him walk away with them? Letting him dig is already a favor.”

“Shut up!” Chu Jie barked.

Wang Ye’s mouth twitched. He wanted to say more, but finally held back.

Chu Jie turned to Wu Jue. “Of course it’s true. I keep my word. Go ahead. Someone give him a sword.”

They hadn’t brought any digging tools, but fortunately, the rock here wasn’t very hard—a sword would suffice.

It was hard to imagine how this cavern had formed. Chu Jie even suspected someone had set it up long ago.

Wu Jue accepted the sword, hesitating. Though his cultivation was crippled, his physical strength remained; digging with a sword posed no problem.

But would Chu Jie really let him go?

With so many crystals here, such a staggering secret, how could they possibly let him leave alive?

His face clouded with resignation as he took the blade. Live another moment, if only for a moment.

Wu Jue picked a spot that seemed easy to dig and started chipping away at the crystals.

With each stroke, a rasping sound echoed as the rock peeled away. Soon, a palm-sized crystal fell into his hand.

Wu Jue examined it carefully. It was a top-grade crystal, free of toxins—highly valuable.

But to him now, it was just a stone.

“Keep digging,” Chu Jie ordered.

He was using Wu Jue as bait—to lure out the Blackwind Serpent King.