Liu Kai said emotionally, "Master Yang, I'm old, let me go."
Yang Chun smiled and shook his head, cupped his fist to Liu Kai again, "I appreciate your kindness, old sir. Xiao Bei is my brother, and as an elder brother, it is my bounden duty to find him. Miss Liu still needs care. Take care, everyone."
After bowing to everyone again, Yang Chun, without hesitation, entered the tunnel. He descended the wooden ladder, carefully making his way to the bottom of the hole.
Upon landing, Yang Chun crouched motionless for a moment, squinting his eyes to adjust to the change in light. He then picked up a torch from the ground, carefully holding it up to survey his surroundings. Everything appeared normal.
Next, Yang Chun reached into his bosom and took out a small iron ball. He examined it in his hand, then brought it to his lips and blew.
"I'm counting on you today."
He aimed at a spot not far ahead and threw the small iron ball with force. It landed on the ground with a solid thud.
Yang Chun nodded with satisfaction, took a small step forward, and landed on the spot where the iron ball had fallen.
Once steady, he continued to throw the small ball. Judging by the sound, he confirmed it wasn't an empty space below, and then moved a little further.
In this manner, throwing once and stepping once, Yang Chun inched his way forward.
The tunnel was only about two zhang long. After passing through it, the path opened up unexpectedly around a bend.
Yang Chun held up his torch and scanned the area. He saw a person tied to a cross-shaped wooden frame ahead, looking at him with anticipation. Wasn't that Chen Xiao Bei?
Yang Chun's excitement surged. He lowered his voice, "Brother Xiao Bei, it's me, your elder brother Yang Chun."
Chen Xiao Bei nodded vigorously, muttering indistinctly. He wanted to speak, but his mouth was so tightly gagged that he couldn't utter a word.
Seeing this, Yang Chun motioned for him to be quiet. Though thrilled, he dared not be careless. He continued to use the small iron ball to test the ground, inching closer to Chen Xiao Bei. Witnessing Yang Chun's caution, Chen Xiao Bei felt a surge of admiration for him. He was a rational man.
If he were in Yang Chun's shoes, seeing his own kin tied up like this, he would have rushed forward without a second thought.
After considerable effort, Yang Chun reached Chen Xiao Bei. He took out his dagger and swiftly cut through the ropes binding Chen Xiao Bei.
"Brother Yang," Chen Xiao Bei's eyes welled up with tears before he could finish his sentence.
Yang Chun chuckled, patting his shoulder. "Alright, alright, let's go. Miss Liu is waiting for us upstairs."
He then turned and handed the torch to Chen Xiao Bei. "See the circles on the ground? Those are the spots I stepped on as I came."
Chen Xiao Bei nodded and didn't stand on ceremony with Yang Chun. He stepped along the circles, walking forward. After they had taken a few steps, Yang Chun suddenly heard a sound from behind his ear. Without even turning his head, he lunged forward, pressing down on Chen Xiao Bei's shoulder.
Chen Xiao Bei, caught off guard, was thrown to the ground.
Immediately after, he felt a cold wind brush past his scalp, swooshing past him.
A series of sounds of sharp blades slicing through the air followed. He then saw dozens, even hundreds, of short arrows embedded in the cave wall in front of him.
Seeing this, Chen Xiao Bei felt a chill crawl up his spine.
These people were truly wicked. They were clearly aiming to kill him.
Yang Chun also felt a pang of fear. If he had been in front and Chen Xiao Bei behind, it would have been a tragedy.
Meanwhile, Liu Ruo Mei, waiting above, saw no movement from below and immediately leaned over the cave entrance, shouting, "Brother Yang, Brother Yang!"
Hearing the shouts, Yang Chun gently patted Chen Xiao Bei's back. Chen Xiao Bei finally came to his senses and shouted back, "Ruo Mei, I'm here, I'm fine!"
The brief message reached the cave entrance. Liu Ruo Mei and everyone on the ground, after a moment of stunned silence, erupted in cheers.
"It's Brother Xiao Bei," Liu Ruo Mei whispered, covering her face and weeping.
While cheers echoed above, Chen Xiao Bei and Yang Chun below remained vigilant. After confirming there was no further movement around them, they cautiously stood up and began walking back towards the exit, stepping along the circles. As they passed the cave wall, Yang Chun took out his leather pouch and collected an arrow.
Walking further, they finally saw a light ahead – the exit.
Chen Xiao Bei grew excited, but Yang Chun cautiously reminded him, "Steady now, don't rush. Move forward slowly."
Chen Xiao Bei quickly calmed himself and carefully stepped along the circles, reaching the exit.
Liu Ruo Mei, waiting at the cave entrance above, was overjoyed.
Without a second thought, she leaped down from the cave entrance and embraced Chen Xiao Bei.
"Brother Xiao Bei, I've finally found you."
Seeing Liu Ruo Mei jump down, Yang Chun frowned. Suddenly, he heard a faint click, and his heart sank. He shouted urgently, "Quickly, go up!"
Despite her tears, Liu Ruo Mei heard his command.
Liu Ruo Mei suddenly realized her lapse in judgment. She grabbed Chen Xiao Bei's arm, sprang up, and with a touch of her toes against the wall, she leaped with Chen Xiao Bei to the ground in the next instant.
By then, Yang Chun had also reached the cave entrance and was ascending. At that moment, another volley of arrows flew. Yang Chun was a fraction too slow.
Thwack. A short arrow embedded itself in his calf, causing Yang Chun to grimace in pain.
Fortunately, his warning had been timely, and Liu Ruo Mei's reaction had been quick enough.
Although wounded, Yang Chun continued his ascent and landed at the cave entrance.
Yang Chun promptly sat down on the ground. Without a word, he tore off his belt and tied it around his knee. Then, he grabbed his knife, flipped open his trouser leg, and gritted his teeth as he used the tip of the blade to pry out the arrow.
Seeing Yang Chun injured, Chen Xiao Bei was beside himself with worry and stepped forward to help stop the bleeding.
But Yang Chun waved him away.
"Don't rush. Let the blood flow first."
Liu Ruo Mei, however, looked apologetic. "Brother Yang, I'm so sorry. It was my fault for coming down."
Yang Chun smiled and shook his head, but suddenly felt his head spinning. He couldn't help but shiver.
Yang Chun's heart sank. Damn it, the short arrow was poisoned!
At this moment, Liu Ruo Mei beside him also noticed something amiss. She couldn't help but gasp, "Oh no, it's poisoned!"
Before her words had even fully registered, Yang Chun slumped sideways, about to fall. Chen Xiao Bei quickly stepped forward to support him.
Just then, Lin Yang parted the crowd and walked forward.
"Don't worry, let me take a look."
Lin Yang stepped forward and touched Yang Chun's forehead.
Yang Chun's eyes were now tightly shut, his teeth clenched, and he was trembling uncontrollably.
Lin Yang then took the torch and examined the wound closely. He nodded slightly.
"This is a type of snake venom, from a snow snake of the Great Lin Kingdom. This snake is found in extremely cold mountainous regions. It takes about ten years for it to grow to roughly a foot long, accumulating a large amount of toxins within its body. Its venom, even a single drop, would kill all of us present."