SWNOVELXO Chapter 69: Master's Wife Will Come Find Us
Chapter 69: Master’s Wife Will Come Find Us
Through the thick layer of earth above, faint footsteps could be heard overhead, followed by the sound of the entrance floor being repeatedly struck.
The people in the cavern exchanged glances, their eyes filled with joy.
Huang Shi’an stood up, his voice brimming with excitement. “It’s someone coming to rescue us!”
“Is anyone there?” a voice echoed through the passageway, reverberating endlessly.
“Yes! Master, we’re down here!” Huang Shi’an shouted enthusiastically.
Just as he was about to rush forward to greet them, You Su grabbed him firmly and whispered in a low voice, “Uncle Huang! This cellar has so many twists and turns—how did they manage to find this place?”
Huang Shi’an blinked, momentarily stunned. “When I went out yesterday to look for food, I left many notes pleading for help. They must have followed those notes.”
Hearing this, You Su felt somewhat reassured. If that were true, then these rescuers likely weren’t targeting him or Ji Lingruo. Still, he remained cautious, keeping Junior Sister concealed in the shadows and avoiding mingling with the group gathered near the entrance.
A brilliant blaze of torchlight gradually illuminated the passageway, contrasting sharply with the dim candlelight in the cavern. It seemed as though hope itself had arrived.
Under the glow of the flames, three towering cultivators emerged. Each held a flaming torch, dispelling the darkness around them. The leader was none other than Zhou Li.
“Master! Master!” Liu Nengwu called out loudly.
“Silence!” Zhou Li coldly interrupted.
At his command, the cavern fell deathly silent.
Zhou Li swept his torch over the faces of the crowd, asking, “Were you the ones who posted the notes on the streets?”
“Yes,” Huang Shi’an replied, keeping his voice subdued.
“Hmm, some courage indeed.” Zhou Li’s tone softened slightly. “Are there only fourteen of you in this cave?”
Huang Shi’an hesitated. “To answer Master, there are sixteen—including You Su and his Junior Sister.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, You Su tightened his grip on the hilt of his Black Pine Sword from the shadows. At the slightest sign of trouble, he would act without hesitation.
The fact that ordinary folk like Huang and Liu didn’t know about Junior Sister’s possession suggested their information was limited—it didn’t necessarily mean Qi Daodong hadn’t disclosed it. Forces like Zhou Li, representing the city’s backbone, might already be aware.
“You Su?”
Surprisingly, Zhou Li’s voice wasn’t cold but rather filled with delight. He pushed through the crowd and entered the cavern, raising his torch to reveal a handsome and resolute young man.
“You Su! You are still alive!” Zhou Li showed no restraint, eager to greet You Su warmly.
You Su loosened his grip on the sword and shifted his body slightly to shield Ji Lingruo, replying, “Barely surviving.”
Seeing the icy expression on the girl behind You Su, Zhou Li stopped advancing and stood still, saying, “I’m glad you’re safe. Four days ago, many cultivators were killed by evil entities in the western part of the city. I feared you might have met the same fate. I never expected you’d be hiding here.”
“Such an event? Junior Sister and I sensed something amiss early on and hid in the sect’s secret passages. We know nothing about what happened aboveground. Do you know who died?”
“Mostly members of the Mystic Firmament Sect. It’s said Sect Leader Qi and Wu Cheng also disappeared together… Alas…”
You Su frowned imperceptibly. Zhou Li didn’t seem like someone skilled at deception, and his account matched Liu Nengwu’s. Could it be that Qi Daodong truly hadn’t informed others about Junior Sister’s possession?
You Su pieced together the known information: The official who tested the junior sister called out the city lord Qi, which means that he was instructed by Qi Daodong. After learning of Junior Sister’s condition, Qi Daodong hadn’t alerted everyone immediately but instead brought trusted followers to exorcise the evil influence. However, he was injured by the sword qi left behind by Master’s Wife, giving You Su and Junior Sister the chance to escape into the well. Later, they encountered extremely powerful evil entities in the west, leading to Qi Daodong’s demise before he could report back.
You Su mulled it over again, finding countless inconsistencies. Yet, aside from this explanation, there seemed to be no better alternative.
Seeing You Su’s silence, Zhou Li assumed his words had frightened the younger man. Composing himself, he consoled him, “Don’t let my words alarm you. Things aren’t hopeless yet. The various sect leaders are still alive, and the Auspicious Cave beneath the City Lord’s residence is vast, with ample food supplies. It can shelter us for quite some time. As long as the mist doesn’t penetrate, the evil entities can’t harm us.”
“Master, can we go to the Auspicious Cave?” Liu Nengwu asked anxiously.
“Naturally. That’s why we came—to gather scattered civilians and bring them there.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful! Hiding here under You Su’s protection has been nerve-wracking. Moving to the Auspicious Cave, surrounded by so many others, will ease our minds considerably!”
In their eyes, though You Su was formidable, a well-organized refuge was far superior to relying solely on one person.
Faced with danger, these defenseless individuals naturally gravitated toward safety in numbers.
“Mm, we’ll face this crisis together.” Zhou Li nodded. “Time is of the essence. Gather your belongings and leave now.”
Upon hearing the order, everyone scrambled to pack. Yet You Su remained rooted in place, unmoving. Zhou Li looked puzzled and asked, “Don’t you need to pack?”
You Su shook his head. “Junior Sister and I won’t be going.”
Zhou Li hadn’t expected such a response and questioned him in confusion, “Why not? Surely you don’t intend to stay hidden here indefinitely with your Junior Sister?”
The crowd, who had relied on You Su’s protection overnight, chimed in, “That’s right, You Su. This isn’t a long-term solution. Come with us!”
You Su remained unmoved. Though Junior Sister’s condition hadn’t been exposed yet, the Auspicious Cave was crowded with prying eyes and numerous cultivators. The risk of exposure would undoubtedly increase significantly.
Feigning sorrow, You Su prepared to decline Zhou Li’s invitation, citing Master’s Wife’s uncertain fate. But Ji Lingruo, who had remained silent until now, tugged at his sleeve.
“Will there be enough food?”
Once again, she asked the same question as before.
You Su was puzzled. Even with the food rationed from yesterday, they had enough to last two or three days. Why was Junior Sister fixated on this question?
It felt as though the issue of food was merely an excuse. Could her true intention be… to join the crowd?
But he had explicitly warned her, using Qi Daodong’s earlier misstep as an example, to exercise caution and avoid cultivators. Junior Sister shouldn’t be foolish enough to disregard such advice…
“If everyone eats half their fill daily, there shouldn’t be a problem,” Zhou Li replied honestly.
“Alright, then we’ll go with you,” Ji Lingruo answered promptly.
You Su’s expression darkened. Turning to Ji Lingruo, he said, “Junior Sister, Master’s Wife is still missing. Are we just going to abandon our search for her?”
Ji Lingruo lightly brushed against You Su’s hand. “Brother, Master’s Wife is incredibly powerful. She’ll definitely be fine. We don’t need to look for her—she… will come find us.”
You Su felt the touch on the back of his hand, a clear indication that the girl understood the hidden meaning in his words. Yet, why was she still insistent on going? Was she so confident that no one would detect her possession?
Unless… she had a compelling reason to go!
“Master’s Wife will come find us…”
Could her words also be a hint?