Faraway Wanderers - V1C10
Chapter 10
The Cave
Zhou Zishu stood in front of the ‘Yellow Spring’, lost in thought, then turned back the way he came. The saying about idle hands being the devil’s workshop seemed fitting. His time drifting at the Zhao’s had led him to come here without much thought. Hua Shan Sect’s patriarch was not exactly noble, but his son was worse, having already indulged in debauchery at such a young age.
Furthermore, they were all traveling fighters used to being attacked as part of their daily routine. No matter where Yu Tianjie was struck—whether his head or his genitals—Zhou Zishu remained completely unbothered.
It could have been for Wen Kexing’s ghost stories, but suddenly, he sensed something was wrong. The underground cave exuded a malevolent aura. Zhou Zishu thought that, with only two and a half years remaining, it was wiser to focus on helping the dying and injured, making the most of his time to do good. Let’s avoid ending up in a grave next to someone who seems foolish.
As he made his way back, a sudden ‘thud’ echoed, signaling a mechanism activating. Hundreds of steel blades sprang from the walls near the entrance, effectively blocking the path.
Zhou Zishu was fortunate enough to have retreated just in time; otherwise, he would have been impaled. He frowned, assessing the menacing knives before turning to Wen Kexing. “Who exactly did you manage to offend?”
The unexpected question caused Wen Kexing to widen his eyes in shock, as though deeply hurt by the accusation. “Why must I be the one who offended someone for this to occur?”
Zhou Zishu scoffed, shaking his head. He had no choice but to forge ahead along the ‘Yellow Spring’, hoping to find another way out. “Are you suggesting it's my fault and not yours? I'm practically unknown and have just entered jianghu; I haven’t stolen anything, only sought a peaceful journey. Who would possibly hold a grudge against me?”
Wen Kexing lapsed into silence, tired of his companion’s blatant lies. After a moment, he replied in a soft voice, “You escorted Zhang Chengling and ended up killing thirty-two people along the way, including four particularly dangerous ones like Qin Song…”
“Ridiculous, I only killed at most eleven,” Zhou Zishu countered. “The ones in the shrine fell to your little maid’s hands.”
“So, it’s still definitely your issue,” Wen Kexing retorted, raising his hands. “These hands have never had blood on them since I left home to enter jianghu; not even the blood of a chicken, let alone a human. How could I possibly have offended anyone?”
Zhou Zishu didn't even spare him a glance.
In response, Wen Kexing quickened his pace, stepping in front of Zhou with an exaggeratedly serious expression. “It may be hard to believe given my appearance, but I assure you, I’m a good person.”
Zhou Zishu nodded, “Of course, Mr. 'Good Person' Wen. Now that it’s established that I’m a murderous demon, it would be wise for you to step aside.”
Wen Kexing seemed unfazed by the casualness of that remark, maintaining his radiant smile. “I’ll leave you be once you admit that you’re in disguise.”
Zhou Zishu returned the smile, “How kind of you.”
“Please, it’s nothing.”
Zhou Zishu sidestepped him to continue on.
Wen Kexing trailed a couple of steps behind, still grinning.
The spring’s water flowed swiftly, and Zhou Zishu kicked a rock into it, though its true depth remained hidden. It twisted and turned in a complex pattern, with fish darting about too quickly to be seen. Zhou Zishu wasn’t a strong swimmer; he could only hold his breath for a while underwater, enough to avoid instantly drowning if he jumped in. After a brief assessment, he decided to keep his distance.
The cave seemed to lead in multiple directions, as the sounds of their footsteps and conversation echoed far and wide. Suddenly, Zhou Zishu halted. “Brother Wen, look.”
Wen Kexing followed his gaze to a cluster of bones not too far away.
He murmured, “Shouldn’t the path to the Yellow Spring be lined with equinox flowers? And the deceased should only have their souls remaining—why are there bones here?”
Zhou Zishu flicked at the bones, picking up a battered skull in one hand and examining a matchbook in the other. “This skull is crushed, and the area where it connects to the spine has been slashed… Hmm? No, the wound isn’t even; there are bite marks here. Did an animal do this?”
“Can an animal really bite someone’s head off?” Wen Kexing asked.
Zhou Zishu lifted a thigh bone. “Bite marks… There are more bite marks, and they’re quite small…”
He felt a strange sense of familiarity, as if he had seen something like this before, but having never been a coroner, the memory was just out of reach.
Wen Kexing felt a slight churn in his stomach as he picked up the thigh bone from Zhou Zishu using just his fingertips. “This is… quite a neat job, even cleaner than how I handle chicken bones,” he commented after examining it closely.
From that moment, Zhou Zishu resolved to avoid chicken drumsticks.
“Who could have made such bite marks? Could it possibly be a wild beast?” Wen Kexing pondered for a moment. “I’ve heard that in the underworld, there’s this giant creature called Di Ting[1]. Any idea if it has a taste for meat?”
It was evident that he was still keen on his ghost stories.
Zhou Zishu forced a smile, “Just wait until you reach a hundred years and depart this world for the next...”
He didn’t finish his sentence as they heard the sound of water splashing nearby. In the dim cave, the noise sent chills up their spines. Both Zhou Zishu and Wen Kexing turned towards the source, cautiously taking a step back as they faced the small river.
Wen Kexing spoke slowly, “I’ve also heard that Di Ting doesn’t reside in the Yellow Spring, and they’re not too common either.”
Emerging from the river were many… human-like creatures that were anything but. Their limbs were disproportionately long, while their bodies were quite short. They stood completely naked, their skin pale from being submerged in water, with long hair cascading down them. Their bodies appeared unnaturally wide, two or three times that of an average human, and their eyes glowed with a distant light as they approached.
Zhou Zishu glanced down and bit his wrist, then turned to Wen Kexing while scrutinizing the faint bite marks. “I remember now, those small impressions are…”
“What are they?” Wen Kexing queried as he stepped back.
“Human teeth,” Zhou Zishu replied.
Wen Kexing froze at this, coughing as he adjusted his hair and clothes. He greeted the advancing monsters with a courteous nod. “My… dear brothers, we stumbled into your domain entirely by accident. We didn’t mean to intrude, so please…”
Zhou Zishu snorted disdainfully. The humanoid creatures responded with a chilling howl before charging at Wen Kexing.
Wen Kexing shouted in exasperation, “I wasn’t finished yet!”
Nonetheless, he evaded the attackers like a leaf fluttering in the wind, side-stepping effortlessly. The monsters, exhibiting remarkable reflexes, quickly adjusted their course to pursue him, their claws glinting as they left deep grooves in the ground.
Zhou Zishu grinned. “So, Brother Wen, are you at a loss for words?”
The assault from the monsters officially commenced. Zhou Zishu had no intention of treating these beings like humans; they were far from it. Their resilience was beyond comprehension, and their destructive power was colossal. They moved swiftly and seemed impervious to pain.
Zhou Zishu's hand struck against a creature's chest with all his strength. It felt like a rock would have shattered under that force, yet when the monster was sent crashing against the wall, it merely screeched before getting back up.
Internally, Zhou Zishu was unsettled, grappling with the mystery of what exactly this creature was.
He heard a distinct ‘crack!’ beside him, realizing it was a sneak attacker caught and swiftly executed by Wen Kexing.
Wen Kexing grinned, “Now I’ve saved you once.”
Zhou Zishu observed that, despite their hefty size, the monsters had incredibly fragile necks that sometimes struggled to support their heads. He was impressed by how quickly Wen Kexing had acted. Nonetheless, he responded courteously, “Thank you.”
Another creature lunged at them, but Zhou Zishu dodged, retaliating with an elbow strike to its back and a clawing motion to twist its neck.
They efficiently dispatched several more. At least these beings still possessed some intellect, as they seemed to grow fearful after failing to overpower their prey. Their leader howled, and they gradually retreated into the water, occasionally peeking above the surface to stare at the unusually powerful intruders.
Zhou Zishu whispered, “Given their size, they could easily bite our heads off. We shouldn’t linger here any longer; let's move.”
After a moment of thoughtful silence, Wen Kexing replied, “I’ve figured it out.”
Zhou Zishu assumed he had unraveled the identity of the monster. “Figured out what?” he asked reflexively.
“Real human skin reddens when pinched. Since I can’t discern your disguise, could you let me pinch your face a bit?”
Zhou Zishu walked away, choosing not to respond. He must have been out of his mind to take Wen Kexing seriously.
Wen Kexing followed closely. “Did I finally catch you off guard? Is that why you’re reluctant for me to touch your face? I knew it! You must be using some kind of trick! Are you so incredibly beautiful that you fear some sleazy deviants coming after you? No worries, Brother Zhou, I’m a completely righteous and honorable person; I’d never harm you. So, could you show me your true face?”
Zhou Zishu ignored him with remarkable self-control.
Then Wen Kexing changed his tone. “By the way, your skills are truly impressive. I can’t think of anyone who could match that. Are you… from the legendary ‘Tian Chuang’?”
Zhou Zishu halted. In the cave's darkness, Wen Kexing’s smile hinted at something deeper. But Zhou Zishu raised a finger to silence him, lowering his voice, “Can you hear that?”
They fell silent. From deeper within the cave, the roar of a beast echoed. “It’s the kind that can bite a human’s head off.”
Wen Kexing seemed uninterested in the beasts; his gaze was fixed on Zhou Zishu instead. The latter didn’t respond to his previous comments; he was solely focused on listening, his eyes and expressions unwavering.
Another roar rang out, even louder as if the beast were drawing closer. Zhou Zishu noticed the underwater monsters cowering in apparent fear. He tugged Wen Kexing, and they quickly changed direction down another passage. Zhou Zishu retrieved a small bottle, sprinkling something as they moved.
Then they concealed themselves in a corner and held their breath.
Furthermore, they were all traveling fighters used to being attacked as part of their daily routine. No matter where Yu Tianjie was struck—whether his head or his genitals—Zhou Zishu remained completely unbothered.
It could have been for Wen Kexing’s ghost stories, but suddenly, he sensed something was wrong. The underground cave exuded a malevolent aura. Zhou Zishu thought that, with only two and a half years remaining, it was wiser to focus on helping the dying and injured, making the most of his time to do good. Let’s avoid ending up in a grave next to someone who seems foolish.
As he made his way back, a sudden ‘thud’ echoed, signaling a mechanism activating. Hundreds of steel blades sprang from the walls near the entrance, effectively blocking the path.
Zhou Zishu was fortunate enough to have retreated just in time; otherwise, he would have been impaled. He frowned, assessing the menacing knives before turning to Wen Kexing. “Who exactly did you manage to offend?”
The unexpected question caused Wen Kexing to widen his eyes in shock, as though deeply hurt by the accusation. “Why must I be the one who offended someone for this to occur?”
Zhou Zishu scoffed, shaking his head. He had no choice but to forge ahead along the ‘Yellow Spring’, hoping to find another way out. “Are you suggesting it's my fault and not yours? I'm practically unknown and have just entered jianghu; I haven’t stolen anything, only sought a peaceful journey. Who would possibly hold a grudge against me?”
Wen Kexing lapsed into silence, tired of his companion’s blatant lies. After a moment, he replied in a soft voice, “You escorted Zhang Chengling and ended up killing thirty-two people along the way, including four particularly dangerous ones like Qin Song…”
“Ridiculous, I only killed at most eleven,” Zhou Zishu countered. “The ones in the shrine fell to your little maid’s hands.”
“So, it’s still definitely your issue,” Wen Kexing retorted, raising his hands. “These hands have never had blood on them since I left home to enter jianghu; not even the blood of a chicken, let alone a human. How could I possibly have offended anyone?”
Zhou Zishu didn't even spare him a glance.
In response, Wen Kexing quickened his pace, stepping in front of Zhou with an exaggeratedly serious expression. “It may be hard to believe given my appearance, but I assure you, I’m a good person.”
Zhou Zishu nodded, “Of course, Mr. 'Good Person' Wen. Now that it’s established that I’m a murderous demon, it would be wise for you to step aside.”
Wen Kexing seemed unfazed by the casualness of that remark, maintaining his radiant smile. “I’ll leave you be once you admit that you’re in disguise.”
Zhou Zishu returned the smile, “How kind of you.”
“Please, it’s nothing.”
Zhou Zishu sidestepped him to continue on.
Wen Kexing trailed a couple of steps behind, still grinning.
The spring’s water flowed swiftly, and Zhou Zishu kicked a rock into it, though its true depth remained hidden. It twisted and turned in a complex pattern, with fish darting about too quickly to be seen. Zhou Zishu wasn’t a strong swimmer; he could only hold his breath for a while underwater, enough to avoid instantly drowning if he jumped in. After a brief assessment, he decided to keep his distance.
The cave seemed to lead in multiple directions, as the sounds of their footsteps and conversation echoed far and wide. Suddenly, Zhou Zishu halted. “Brother Wen, look.”
Wen Kexing followed his gaze to a cluster of bones not too far away.
He murmured, “Shouldn’t the path to the Yellow Spring be lined with equinox flowers? And the deceased should only have their souls remaining—why are there bones here?”
Zhou Zishu flicked at the bones, picking up a battered skull in one hand and examining a matchbook in the other. “This skull is crushed, and the area where it connects to the spine has been slashed… Hmm? No, the wound isn’t even; there are bite marks here. Did an animal do this?”
“Can an animal really bite someone’s head off?” Wen Kexing asked.
Zhou Zishu lifted a thigh bone. “Bite marks… There are more bite marks, and they’re quite small…”
He felt a strange sense of familiarity, as if he had seen something like this before, but having never been a coroner, the memory was just out of reach.
Wen Kexing felt a slight churn in his stomach as he picked up the thigh bone from Zhou Zishu using just his fingertips. “This is… quite a neat job, even cleaner than how I handle chicken bones,” he commented after examining it closely.
From that moment, Zhou Zishu resolved to avoid chicken drumsticks.
“Who could have made such bite marks? Could it possibly be a wild beast?” Wen Kexing pondered for a moment. “I’ve heard that in the underworld, there’s this giant creature called Di Ting[1]. Any idea if it has a taste for meat?”
It was evident that he was still keen on his ghost stories.
Zhou Zishu forced a smile, “Just wait until you reach a hundred years and depart this world for the next...”
He didn’t finish his sentence as they heard the sound of water splashing nearby. In the dim cave, the noise sent chills up their spines. Both Zhou Zishu and Wen Kexing turned towards the source, cautiously taking a step back as they faced the small river.
Wen Kexing spoke slowly, “I’ve also heard that Di Ting doesn’t reside in the Yellow Spring, and they’re not too common either.”
Emerging from the river were many… human-like creatures that were anything but. Their limbs were disproportionately long, while their bodies were quite short. They stood completely naked, their skin pale from being submerged in water, with long hair cascading down them. Their bodies appeared unnaturally wide, two or three times that of an average human, and their eyes glowed with a distant light as they approached.
Zhou Zishu glanced down and bit his wrist, then turned to Wen Kexing while scrutinizing the faint bite marks. “I remember now, those small impressions are…”
“What are they?” Wen Kexing queried as he stepped back.
“Human teeth,” Zhou Zishu replied.
Wen Kexing froze at this, coughing as he adjusted his hair and clothes. He greeted the advancing monsters with a courteous nod. “My… dear brothers, we stumbled into your domain entirely by accident. We didn’t mean to intrude, so please…”
Zhou Zishu snorted disdainfully. The humanoid creatures responded with a chilling howl before charging at Wen Kexing.
Wen Kexing shouted in exasperation, “I wasn’t finished yet!”
Nonetheless, he evaded the attackers like a leaf fluttering in the wind, side-stepping effortlessly. The monsters, exhibiting remarkable reflexes, quickly adjusted their course to pursue him, their claws glinting as they left deep grooves in the ground.
Zhou Zishu grinned. “So, Brother Wen, are you at a loss for words?”
The assault from the monsters officially commenced. Zhou Zishu had no intention of treating these beings like humans; they were far from it. Their resilience was beyond comprehension, and their destructive power was colossal. They moved swiftly and seemed impervious to pain.
Zhou Zishu's hand struck against a creature's chest with all his strength. It felt like a rock would have shattered under that force, yet when the monster was sent crashing against the wall, it merely screeched before getting back up.
Internally, Zhou Zishu was unsettled, grappling with the mystery of what exactly this creature was.
He heard a distinct ‘crack!’ beside him, realizing it was a sneak attacker caught and swiftly executed by Wen Kexing.
Wen Kexing grinned, “Now I’ve saved you once.”
Zhou Zishu observed that, despite their hefty size, the monsters had incredibly fragile necks that sometimes struggled to support their heads. He was impressed by how quickly Wen Kexing had acted. Nonetheless, he responded courteously, “Thank you.”
Another creature lunged at them, but Zhou Zishu dodged, retaliating with an elbow strike to its back and a clawing motion to twist its neck.
They efficiently dispatched several more. At least these beings still possessed some intellect, as they seemed to grow fearful after failing to overpower their prey. Their leader howled, and they gradually retreated into the water, occasionally peeking above the surface to stare at the unusually powerful intruders.
Zhou Zishu whispered, “Given their size, they could easily bite our heads off. We shouldn’t linger here any longer; let's move.”
After a moment of thoughtful silence, Wen Kexing replied, “I’ve figured it out.”
Zhou Zishu assumed he had unraveled the identity of the monster. “Figured out what?” he asked reflexively.
“Real human skin reddens when pinched. Since I can’t discern your disguise, could you let me pinch your face a bit?”
Zhou Zishu walked away, choosing not to respond. He must have been out of his mind to take Wen Kexing seriously.
Wen Kexing followed closely. “Did I finally catch you off guard? Is that why you’re reluctant for me to touch your face? I knew it! You must be using some kind of trick! Are you so incredibly beautiful that you fear some sleazy deviants coming after you? No worries, Brother Zhou, I’m a completely righteous and honorable person; I’d never harm you. So, could you show me your true face?”
Zhou Zishu ignored him with remarkable self-control.
Then Wen Kexing changed his tone. “By the way, your skills are truly impressive. I can’t think of anyone who could match that. Are you… from the legendary ‘Tian Chuang’?”
Zhou Zishu halted. In the cave's darkness, Wen Kexing’s smile hinted at something deeper. But Zhou Zishu raised a finger to silence him, lowering his voice, “Can you hear that?”
They fell silent. From deeper within the cave, the roar of a beast echoed. “It’s the kind that can bite a human’s head off.”
Wen Kexing seemed uninterested in the beasts; his gaze was fixed on Zhou Zishu instead. The latter didn’t respond to his previous comments; he was solely focused on listening, his eyes and expressions unwavering.
Another roar rang out, even louder as if the beast were drawing closer. Zhou Zishu noticed the underwater monsters cowering in apparent fear. He tugged Wen Kexing, and they quickly changed direction down another passage. Zhou Zishu retrieved a small bottle, sprinkling something as they moved.
Then they concealed themselves in a corner and held their breath.
[1] "Di Ting" (諦聽) primarily refers to a divine mythical creature from Chinese Buddhism. It is a hybrid creature possessing the head of a tiger, a single horn, dog-like ears, the body of a dragon, a lion’s tail, and the legs of a qilin. It is renowned for its ability to "listen to the truth" (the name literally means "Truth-Listening"). It can distinguish good from evil and see through deceptions by hearing people's hearts.
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