Darkness, Ling Ye couldn't see anything at all.
To his left, to his right, and in front of him, there was nothing but pitch black. The only source of light came from the small hole behind him, and even that is weak, illuminating no more than a single meter ahead.
The rest was swallowed by darkness.
Without hesitation, Ling Ye gripped the handle of his dagger and slowly drew it from its sheath. The faint sound of metal sliding free echoed softly in the confined space.
He lowered his stance, ready, eyes moving sharply, scanning the darkness again and again, his body tense, prepared for anything, but nothing happened as there is no movement or sound, only the faint whisper of wind drifting in from the hole behind him.
Yet Ling Ye did not relax, just because nothing had happened yet… didn't mean nothing would. At any moment, an attack could come, it could be a silent, unseen and unstoppable one, where the moment he let his guard down… could be then his last.
An old saying echoed in his mind, Better to be cautious than careless.
Holding onto that thought, Ling Ye remained still, his cold, sharp eyes watched the darkness patiently, waiting, waiting for the moment something would strike.
Ten minutes passed.
Ling Ye's arm, still holding the dagger firmly, began to grow tired. Yet even as the strain built up, his grip remained firm, unwavering, completely focused on the unknown before him, he could't notice what was happening outside.
Bai Da, however, had, when he realized that Ling Ye had suddenly disappeared, a wave of alarm surged through him.
Had Ling Ye already found the fated encounter… and left him behind? The thought came quickly and once it appeared, it began to grow endlessly.
Bai Da's mind already painted an image of Ling Ye discovering some hidden treasure, taking everything for himself, and leaving him alone like a fool, still searching in the dark.
The longer he couldn't find Ling Ye, the stronger that thought became and anxiety crept in, then worry. Without hesitation, Bai Da turned and made his way back up the mountain, heading toward the last place he had seen Ling Ye.
Though he hadn't looked at Ling Ye often while searching, he had checked on him a few times. That was enough and after a short search, Bai Da found something.
A small opening, partially hidden behind a thin, leafless tree that looked as though it might break at any moment. Around it lay a few scattered stones, some small, some larger, as if placed there by chance, a hole.
Without thinking much, Bai Da crouched down and peered inside, but it was already night and with only the faint light of the moon above, his vision was limited. He could barely make out anything beyond the entrance.
Still, he waited, one minute passed, Then something shifted in the darkness, as Bai Da's eyes caught some movement. but instead of relief, a sharp sense of danger shot through him.
He reacted instantly, taking several quick steps back, his hand flew to the hilt of his sword, ready to draw at any moment. His expression turned serious, his entire body tense and stared at the hole, waiting.
One moment, two moments, but nothing emerged and nothing crawled out.
"Sigh…" Bai Da let out a breath of relief, but then, a thought suddenly crossed his mind amd before acting on it, he paused, thinking carefully. He tried to recall the shadow he had seen and, after a moment of deduction, came to a conclusion, it might not have been a beast after all.
With that in mind, Bai Da decided to take a risk, stepping closer to the hole again, but this time, instead of crouching and peering inside, he spoke softly into it, "Village Head Ye… did you crawl through this hole?"
Even though he is fairly certain of his guess, Bai Da remained cautious. His hand stayed close to his sword, ready to react if anything dangerous emerged.
For a brief moment, there was only silence, but then a quiet voice came from the other side, "Yes. I'm here."
Hearing Ling Ye's voice, Bai Da immediately relaxed and the tension in his body eased, and a massive wave of relief washed over him.
So Ling Ye hadn't abandoned him!
His earlier thoughts now felt almost ridiculous and a small smile formed on Bai Da's face, and he even let out a light chuckle.
Stepping closer, he examined the hole more carefully, but the moment he did, his smile faded, it is too small for him, there is no way he could fit through it.
Letting out another sigh, he shook his head slightly, "Village Head Ye, I'll stay here and guard the entrance," he called out. "I'll be waiting for your… fruitful encounter."
With that, Bai Da took his position outside, standing guard just as he had said, for him, the situation had settled and waited for Ling Ye to handle everythingelse, but for Ling Ye nothing had changed.
Inside the cave, it is still dark and the unknown still waited before him, seeing nothing before him, Ling Ye grew more frustrated the more time passed.
He only had a few options left, some he didn't want to consider at all, and others that seemed worth thinking about, but in the end, all of them were just guesses, nothing more than a gamble.
Gritting his teeth, Ling Ye took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down and then he stepped forward.
He took one step and nothing still happened, then another, still nothing, then a third and then a fourth.
With that final fouth step, he fully entered the unknown darkness. Now, when he looked back, he could barely see the faint outline of the small hole behind him. Everything else left, right, and ahead, is completely swallowed by darkness.
After a moment, Ling Ye let out a slow breath, this had been a leap of faith and a dangerous one at that, but he still had taken it.
He hadn't stood there like a fool, waiting for something to attack him. He had chosen to move forward, to take the initiative.
Shaking off those lingering thoughts, Ling Ye focused again, as still, nothing had attacked him.
That could only mean one thing. he is truly alone here.
With that thought, a faint light returned to his eyes. He began scanning his surroundings, trying to see through the darkness, wondering where, what, his fated encounter could be.
Taking another steady breath, Ling Ye moved back toward the direction of the hole and began feeling his way along the cave wall.
Step by step, he advanced carefully.
With each step, he tapped the wall lightly with his dagger, listening to the sound, trying to determine the size of the cave. Whether it stretched deeper… or if it was only a small, enclosed space, but he didn't need long.
After a short while, Ling Ye realized that this cave is a small one.
Realizing this, Ling Ye felt a sense of relief. At least he wouldn't have to spend too much time exploring the cave.
He continued forward, following the right wall, which stretched for about ten meters, that meant the cave itself was at least ten meters long, assuming there were no hidden entrances or concealed spaces. After all, searching for hidden things in complete darkness would be a nightmare for anyone in their right mind.
With that thought, Ling Ye forced himself to stop overthinking and focused on moving forward.
Step by step, he traced the wall and after about five more steps, his foot suddenly brushed against something.
It is thin and long. At first, the unexpected contact startled him. He froze for a moment, then carefully probed it with his foot, trying to figure out what it is.
Wood? That was his first guess, but as he tested it further, he began to doubt that assumption. After a few moments of hesitation, Ling Ye slowly crouched down and reached out with his hand.
His fingers touched the object and traced along its surface carefully and the moment he felt its texture, he immediately guessed what it is, It isn't wood, no, It is a bone!
Ling Ye quickly pulled his hand back.
Frowning, he steadied himself before continuing his inspection more cautiously. Over the next few minutes, he carefully felt around the area, piecing things together bit by bit.
Until finally he understood what lay before him… should be a corpse, even a human corpse, even a completely dried one, nothing but bones and clothes remaining.
Moving around it slowly, Ling Ye discovered something else, a sword is still being firmly held in the corpse's right hand, but aside from the corpse and the sword, there is nothing else here, no treasures and no hidden items and if there are some hidden items, in the darkness, Ling Ye couldn't even tell whether the sword is anything special.
Since he couldn't find anything else, Ling Ye reached for the sword in the corpse's right hand, but as he tried to pull it free, he paused.
For the first time, he noticed how tightly the skeletal fingers were gripping the weapon. Even in death, the hold remained very firm and this alone told him something, that the corpse should had once been a swordsman.
Ling Ye didn't dwell on it for long. As with some effort and careful movements, he managed to loosen the grip and take the sword. He was very cautious and patient not to damage the bones in the process.
After all, taking the sword was one thing, desecrating the corpse is another and Ling Ye isn't that heartless of a Person.
Now holding the sword, he kept his hand firmly on the hilt, avoiding the blade entirely. It could be rusted, poisoned, or contaminated in some way. A single careless cut could lead to infection or worse.
That isn't a risk he is carelessly willing to take.
Fortunately, the handle was wrapped in some fabric, making it easier and safer to hold. It is a common design, bare metal would be cold, uncomfortable, and even damaging to the hands over time. A wrapped hilt provided both grip and comfort.
With the sword in hand, Ling Ye continued exploring the cave and step by step, he walked along the walls, completing a full circle, but in the end there was nothing else.
Ling Ye never found any hidden compartments or other treasures, he found nothing. Only the corpse and him were in this Cave.
Ling Ye slowly came to a stop, if that was the case, then this meant his fated encounter, the one the Fate Guiding Compass had led him to, is this?
Silence filled the cave.
Ling Ye stood still, his thoughts sinking into uncertainty, is the sword his fated encounter? Or had he missed something?
Despair began to crept in.
At first, Ling Ye tried to suppress it, but slowly, it spread, tightening around his heart like a vice.
"No…" He refused to accept it, there had to be something more.
With hurried, uneven steps, Ling Ye returned to the corpse. This time, he no longer moved carefully. The darkness no longer mattered to him. He walked straight toward it, his movements rough and impatient.
When he reached the corps, something in him had already changed and the restraint he had shown before is gone.
His hands moved without hesitation as he began searching the corpse again, this time without care and without respect.
Bones shifted under his grip, clothes being torn apart.
Ling Ye's teeth clenched tightly, his expression twisting as despair and frustration began to consume him.
For a fleeting moment, a dark thought surfaced, would it be easier to just end it all, than to face the truth that there is nothing here? But the thought vanished just as quickly as it came, as Ling Ye refused it.
Even if he had to fall into the deepest abyss, he would keep searching. Even if there was nothing left to find.
He tore through the corpse more violently now, breaking apart brittle bones, searching every inch, fingers digging through the remains, looking for anything. A ring. A hidden object. Anything at all, but there was nothing.
Only scraps of old, rotting cloth and nothing else.
Ling Ye's breathing grew heavier and his movements more frantic, with madness slowly began to creep into his eyes.
Until, his hand suddenly stopped, He had felt something.
For a moment, he froze and then, with shaking hands, he probed again, more carefully this time, a small object hidden in the corps clothes, Ling Ye guessed that it is a notebook,
In that instant, everything else faded away and Ling Ye's world narrowed to that single discovery. At this point, it long since didn't matter what it is. Useful or useless, he didn't cared, Ling Ye just didn't want to leave empty handed.
With almost desperate urgency, he dug it out. It had been tightly wrapped and hidden within the corpse's clothing, buried deep enough that it could easily have been missed, but now, now with the notebook being in his hands.
Ling Ye held the small notebook tightly, his breathing uneven and for the first time since entering the cave, a flicker of joy appeared on his face.
Holding the notebook tightly, Ling Ye smiled brightly.
Even in the suffocating darkness, where he couldn't clearly see in front of him, nor to his left or right, his expression is filled with relief and satisfaction.
At this point, he had long stopped relying on his sight. Instead, he trusted only his sense of touch and hearing. The darkness no longer bothered him.
In fact… he had already begun to lose himself in it.
He didn't know how much time had passed. Without Bai Da's voice reaching him, without any sense of change around him, time itself had become meaningless inside the cave.
Now there is nothing left here, only the remains of a single corpse.
With the notebook in hand, Ling Ye turned and left without looking back, after what felt like a long time, he finally saw it again, a faint light ahead.
Though weak and pale, unable to compare to the brightness of day, it still brought him a deep sense of comfort.
For the first time since entering the unknown darkness, he is returning to the light.