Fairy, Don’t Be Afraid, I’m Blind

Chapter 71: Wu Cheng Appears Again

The group no longer spoke, carefully making their way through the fog.

Zhou Li also remained highly vigilant. He had initially thought You Su was far stronger than him, but since You Su was blind, he assumed that in a place where spiritual awareness couldn’t be used, You Su would surely be at a disadvantage. However, Zhou Li had overlooked how sensitive a blind person’s other senses—such as hearing and smell—could be. After expressing his gratitude, Zhou Li no longer dared to underestimate You Su.

Not long after, the group arrived at the side of the City Lord’s residence. The thick fog obscured everything, revealing only the faint silhouette of the ancient building.

“Who goes there!” a voice shouted from within the fog, followed by the sound of swords being unsheathed.

Zhou Li responded, “Sect Leader Lu! It’s me, Zhou Li!”

The clinking of swords being sheathed could then be heard as six qi-concealing cultivators emerged from the fog. Leading them was Lu Yang, who earlier that morning had been entrusted by Lu Muchun to lead a sect.

His demeanor had changed drastically. Previously, he might have been considered a refined scholar, but now he had transformed into a cold and stern sect leader.

“Are all these people you brought back?” Lu Yang asked coldly, one hand resting on his sword.

“Yes, sixteen in total.”

“Not bad. You’ve worked hard these past few days. After bringing them inside, report their names to the steward, then take your brothers to rest. Let Liang Hong replace Mei Mo. There’s no need for you to stay here,” Lu Yang instructed.

Zhou Li nodded, bowed, and then led the group onward.

Behind the dense fog lay a side door. Zhou Li reminded everyone to enter quickly and in an orderly fashion to avoid letting in more of the mist. The group complied without question.

After entering, they found cultivators patrolling inside the residence. Zhou Li exchanged greetings with each before walking over to a flower bed. Twisting some hidden mechanism, the koi pond in front of them began to rotate, revealing a sizable underground passage. He quickly directed everyone to jump down one by one. Once everyone had descended, the koi pond rotated back into place, sealing off the encroaching mist.

You Su couldn’t help but admire the City Lord’s meticulous emergency preparations.

The group continued downward along a slope. When You Su extended his spiritual sense, he realized they were in a massive underground cavern already filled with countless people.

Several stewards approached to inquire about their names. After recording their details, they were taken to designated areas to collect water and rations. Finally, they found an empty space where the sixteen of them settled down. After informing You Su of his own resting area, Zhou Li departed.

Seeing so many civilians gathered in this Auspicious Cave made the group feel somewhat reassured. People occasionally popped their heads up, searching for familiar faces among the clusters of people.

Meanwhile, You Su and Ji Lingruo sat unnoticed in a quiet corner, leaning against each other. Noticing that Ji Lingruo remained silent, You Su gently reached for her delicate hand and held it softly.

“Junior Sister, are you alright?”

“Mm.” Ji Lingruo nodded and leaned closer to You Su.

Neither spoke further, but their shoulders pressed together conveyed volumes.

…

It was now nearing the end of the Chou hour. The moonlight paled compared to sunlight, making the dark mist appear even deeper.

Every two hours, members from the six major sects took turns guarding the side entrance, forming the first line of defense for the Auspicious Cave.

Lu Yang’s shift during the day had already passed, yet he hadn’t gone to rest. Like the other sects, he divided his sect’s forces into two or three teams to rotate shifts. But whenever it was his sect’s turn, he personally accompanied them, leading by example.

His grandfather’s fate remained unknown, and before leaving, he had entrusted Lu Yang with the position of sect leader. Many within the sect harbored doubts about this decision. Determined to prove himself through action, Lu Yang took every task upon himself.

The night grew deeper, and visibility dropped to almost nothing. Only the sound of breathing broke the silence. Yet there was one advantage to such pitch-black nights: those malevolent entities became exceptionally clear.

These fiends lurking in the mist differed from what he’d read about in books. So far, most of the evil creatures he encountered emitted a faint glow, much like deep-sea creatures luring prey with light.

With a swift motion, his sword struck down a spider-like fiend whose abdomen glowed with an eerie green light.

“Sect Leader, the Chou hour has ended. It’s time to call the Guardian Firmament Sect to relieve us,” one of his subordinates reminded him.

“Mm.”

Lu Yang sheathed his sword, feeling a sense of helplessness. Very few were willing to stand guard here voluntarily; most were forced into it. They likely spent their shifts worrying about sudden attacks while anxiously counting down the minutes until their relief arrived.

Even though his shift had ended, Lu Yang didn’t let his guard down. He scanned the surroundings vigilantly. A single leaf crunching underfoot sounded like a stone dropping into a still pond, shattering the silence.

“Who’s there!” Lu Yang barked sharply, and his subordinates immediately drew their weapons.

There wasn’t a trace of light coming from the source of the noise. Lu Yang felt uneasy. Could it not be a fiend? But all the patrol teams sent out earlier had returned unharmed. How could there still be someone outside at this hour?

“Lu Yang, it’s me, Wu Cheng.”

Lu Yang recognized Wu Cheng well enough to know that voice anywhere. As the figure drew closer, faint footsteps echoed—not just one person!

“Who else is with you?”

“Wu Ping and my master.”

Lu Yang didn’t order his men to sheathe their swords. Instead, he ignited a torch with a fire spell.

The torch illuminated the area, revealing three figures emerging from the mist: Qi Daodong, missing for four days, alongside the brothers Wu Cheng and Wu Ping.

Wu Cheng limped forward, his tattered clothes unable to conceal his calm and composed expression.

Wu Ping walked beside his brother, trembling with fear, seemingly still trapped in the terror of their recent ordeal.

Behind them trailed Qi Daodong, his disheveled white hair partially covering his face. His torn robes were soaked in blood, evidence of numerous fierce battles along the way.

Seeing that it was truly these three, everyone rejoiced. Qi Daodong was one of the city’s top fighters, and his return felt like a much-needed morale boost.

“It’s really Sect Leader Qi!” one of the guards exclaimed excitedly.

But Qi Daodong remained silent, as if deaf to the commotion.

Seeing that Lu Yang still held his sword, Wu Cheng said weakly, “My master has slain countless fiends and is utterly exhausted. Please, Sect Leader Lu, allow us to pass. I need to tend to my master’s wounds.”

The guard disciples hesitated but eventually sheathed their weapons, stepping aside. Wu Cheng pursed his lips, then turned to support Qi Daodong’s arm, preparing to lead him forward.

“Hold it!”

Lu Yang’s voice boomed like thunder, halting the trio in their tracks. Wu Cheng frowned and coldly asked, “What does Sect Leader Lu mean by this?”

Unmoved, Lu Yang didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he stepped forward, blocking their path. His sharp gaze swept over Qi Daodong standing behind the brothers, sensing something inexplicably strange.

Wu Ping, seeing Lu Yang approach, trembled even more violently, his narrow eyes darting nervously at Lu Yang’s upright figure. Unable to bear it any longer, he suddenly screamed and bolted toward the crowd, shouting hysterically, “Help me! That old man is a fiend!”