The Legend of the Netherworld

Chapter 153 Go to Tianci Cave to collect the bounty

The next morning, a ray of soft sunlight shone through the treetops in the forest and sprinkled on the moist land.

Soon, Liu Yi woke from her sleep and saw Lin Xiao still meditating. She couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration in her heart. She didn't disturb him, but quietly got up, stretched her muscles, and felt the tranquility of the morning.

Following Liu Yi's movements, Lin Xiao's ears moved slightly. He opened his eyes, looked at Liu Yi beside him, and asked softly, "Awake?"

"Yeah." Liu nodded, then asked curiously, "You didn't sleep all night? You were meditating and practicing?"

Lin Xiao stretched, slowly stood up, and smiled calmly: "I'm used to it."

Liu Yi couldn't help but show admiration: "No wonder your realm has improved so quickly, it's crazy!"

Lin Xiao smiled slightly, with a hint of determination in his eyes: "I thought about it for a long time last night. Today we have to go to a place that can help me improve my realm quickly."

Liu Yi raised an eyebrow and asked doubtfully, "Ancient Forest?"

Lin Xiao shook his head, a serious look flashing in his eyes. "No, the Ancient Forest is now in great danger. Elder Xuantian is colluding with the Shadow Monkey King. If we go there again, we will simply walk into a trap. We are going to Tianci Cave and Jinhai Temple."

"Why?" Liu Yi asked in disbelief. "Both of these places are relatively weak and can't even compare to the Feng Shui Academy. How could you possibly improve there?"

Lin Xiao looked at her calmly, a hint of contempt flashing in his eyes: "They owe me 500 immortal jades, now is the time to collect the debt."

"Collecting debts?" Liu was stunned for a moment, obviously not understanding.

Lin Xiao chuckled and explained succinctly, "Previously, Tianci Cave and Jinhai Temple had issued a bounty in the Desolate Ancient Forest, promising to reward anyone who found the Ancient Tree Spirit with 500 immortal jades. If they killed it, they would invite them to join their sect and become a guest elder. I looked down on them at the time, but I only remembered this last night."

After hearing this, Liu Yi's expression changed slightly. "They actually dared to offer 500 immortal jades. That's quite a big deal. Isn't there a trap?"

"It's okay." Lin Xiao said lightly, "Even if it's a trick, they can't do anything to me. Besides, the Ancient Tree Spirit Master has already killed their sect's core disciple. They will definitely do their utmost to avenge their disciple."

"Yeah." Liu nodded, a hint of worry flashed in his eyes, but in the end he chose to believe Lin Xiao's judgment.

After a simple meal of dry food, the two men set off towards Tianci Cave. Although Tianci Cave was not prominent among the nearby forces, a little inquiry would reveal its approximate location.

After a morning of rapid progress, Lin Xiao and Liu Yi finally arrived at the gate of Tianci Cave.

Although Tianci Cave is called a "Cave", it is actually an academy built against the mountain and by the water. Although its scale is not as large as the Feng Shui Academy, it is also quite imposing.

However, unlike the busy scene Lin Xiao had expected, this place seemed unusually quiet.

"Heavenly Cave." Liu Yi muttered softly, looking at the plaque in front of the door with a hint of doubt in his eyes, "It seems this is it."

Lin Xiao looked around and frowned slightly: "Why is it so quiet here? There is no one in sight?"

Liu Yi followed him around and finally realized that there was no one in front of the Tianci Cave's gate, and no monks were seen inside the courtyard. The entire academy seemed abandoned, with a dead silence.

Lin Xiao coughed lightly, a little doubt in his heart, but he still decided to go in and take a look. He walked carefully into the gate with Liu Yi, his steps light but full of vigilance.

The courtyard was still eerily quiet. They walked through empty alleys and courtyards, but they didn't encounter a single disciple, nor did they hear even the slightest noise of activity.

The air around them seemed to be stagnant, with only the footsteps of the two people echoing in the silence.

Liu Yi couldn't help but whisper, "What's going on? Why is there no one here? It doesn't look like a place with a sect at all!"

Lin Xiao frowned slightly, glanced around, and replied calmly: "I don't know either. But let's go to the main hall first. There seems to be some noise coming from the front."

Liu Yi nodded, followed Lin Xiao, and continued walking towards the hall.

After walking through several long corridors, we finally arrived in front of the main hall. The hall door was wide open. A disciple was sweeping the floor with a broom, looking a little absent-minded, as if he was unaware of the people outside.

Liu Yi pointed at the disciple sweeping the floor, motioning Lin Xiao to go over and ask. Lin Xiao nodded, stepped forward, and spoke in a gentle yet inquiring voice, "Excuse me, where have all the disciples of Tianci Cave gone?"

"Who are you two?" The disciple who was sweeping the floor stopped the broom in his hand and looked at Lin Xiao and Liu Yi with a bit of vigilance in his eyes.

"I'm here to collect the bounty. A few days ago, your Tianci Cave issued a bounty order, saying that the ancient tree spirit master was killed." Lin Xiao took out the wooden sword transformed from the ancient tree spirit master from his sleeve and explained to the disciple in a calm tone.

"what!"

The disciple's expression suddenly changed. He took the wooden sword excitedly and carefully checked the remaining aura on it.

A moment later, his eyes suddenly turned red and he was so excited that he almost cried. Holding the wooden sword in both hands, he ran to the side hall next to the main hall with sobs.

"Madam! We've found our benefactor! We've found our benefactor!" he shouted, his voice trembling uncontrollably.

Lin Xiao and Liu Yi exchanged a glance, each baffled. They were both filled with doubts about the "benefactor" their disciple was referring to.

Lin Xiao frowned slightly and decided to follow the disciple into the side hall, but he still felt uneasy.

The moment he entered the side hall, several disciples walked out quickly, both men and women, and the one leading them was a dignified middle-aged lady.

Her temples were already gray, but her eyes revealed an unyielding tenacity. Although her face was haggard, it seemed as if she had just experienced an extremely painful test.

"It's him, it's him! The wooden sword he gave me still has the aura of the Ancient Tree Spirit!" The disciple pointed at Lin Xiao and said excitedly.

A glint of tears flashed in the eyes of the dignified lady. She led the disciples behind her and knelt down to Lin Xiao, their expressions filled with endless gratitude and respect.

Everyone said in unison without hesitation, "Thank you, benefactor, for avenging the elders and disciples of Tianci Cave!"

This sudden scene stunned Lin Xiao and Liu Yi. Lin Xiao hurried forward to help the lady up, his heart filled with doubt and confusion. He whispered, "I don't deserve it, I don't deserve it."

After being helped up by Lin Xiao, the lady wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and said in a trembling voice, "My benefactor, I am the wife of the head of Tianci Cave.

Now, all affairs of Tianci Cave are temporarily under my control." She pointed to the main hall and said softly, "I believe you have come here to ask something. If you don't mind, why don't we go into the main hall and talk."

Lin Xiao and Liu Yi exchanged a glance, their hearts filled with doubt, but they nodded in agreement. They followed the lady into the main hall.

The hall was simply furnished, yet exuded an ancient solemnity. Two chairs were placed in the middle, and five chairs were placed in rows on either side.

Following the lady's order, Lin Xiao sat on the middle chair, the lady sat on another chair, and Liu Yi sat on the first chair on the left.

Soon, several disciples brought tea, and the atmosphere eased slightly. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the lady got straight to the point, asking, "Excuse me, benefactor, are you here to claim the bounty, or…"

"Yes!"

Lin Xiao nodded. Although he had many doubts in his heart, thinking of the deceased sect leader and Senior Brother Ye Xuan, as well as the dilapidated Tianci Cave before him, he gritted his teeth and said, "I came here for the bounty."

After hearing Lin Xiao's answer, the lady was silent for a while, and suddenly tears flashed in her eyes. She lowered her head and said with a sob: "You...you don't know the current situation of our Tianci Cave..." Her voice was filled with undisguised pain, and tears welled up in her eyes.

At this moment, the female disciples beside them also quietly lowered their heads and sobbed softly. The entire hall was suddenly filled with a silent sorrow and despair.

Lin Xiao was a little at a loss for a moment. He looked at the people in front of him silently, feeling speechless - he came here to ask for the reward, so how come he became the "benefactor" in everyone's eyes as soon as he opened his mouth?

He coughed dryly, his tone slightly awkward, but he still whispered comfortingly: "Don't be like this, everyone doesn't have to be like this."

At this moment, a handsome male disciple suddenly knelt before Lin Xiao, his voice choking with sobs, "My benefactor, you don't know why the Ancient Tree Spirit Master killed our Sect Leader's son and the core disciples of our Tianci Cave. We never learned of that. But the Sect Leader, enraged, led the elders to the Desolate Ancient Forest to seek revenge on the Ancient Tree Spirit Master, and even invited one of his good friends—Yu Yuzheng, a powerful cultivator of the Ninth Realm. However, as you know, in the end, none of them returned."

The male disciple lowered his head, took a deep breath, and continued, "After hearing the news that the Sect Master's entire army had been annihilated, most of the disciples took advantage of the chaos and snatched away all of Tianci Cave's immortal jade and elixirs, then left. Now, Tianci Cave is left with only us, the powerless disciples, and the Sect Master's wife. Everything else is left to fend for itself."

Hearing this, Lin Xiao looked around at the people around him. Seeing the helplessness and sadness on their faces, his heart sank. He sighed deeply, stood up, clasped his fists, and said, "Everyone, I, Lin Xiao, was unaware of your situation before, and I apologize for any offense. I don't want this reward anymore."

After saying that, Lin Xiao pulled Liu Yi and prepared to turn around and leave.

"My benefactor, wait a minute!" The lady suddenly knelt on the ground, her voice filled with urgency, "We in Tianci Cave are definitely not scoundrels! If you don't mind, we are willing to work like slaves for you to repay your kindness!"

Before she finished speaking, the disciples around her knelt down and said in unison, "Please, sir, take us in!"

Lin Xiao was stunned, his brows furrowed slightly. Looking at the scene before him, he couldn't help but mutter in his heart: Are you trying to drag me into this mess? I can't handle this mess. We can't even save ourselves now! He was a little helpless and quickly bent down, trying to help his wife up: "Madam, this won't do! Your kindness is too great, Lin is not worthy of it!"

But the lady stubbornly refused Lin Xiao's help, raised her face full of pleading, and said stubbornly: "If you don't agree, we will kneel here and never get up!"

Lin Xiao felt a headache coming on. Just as he was thinking about how to persuade them, Liu Yi suddenly came over and whispered, "Lin Xiao, why don't you help them? They're like lambs to the slaughter right now. Anyone with even slightly stronger strength could destroy them at any time."

"?" Lin Xiao glanced at Liu Yi sideways, his face speechless: Your compassion is too excessive! We can't even save ourselves right now, and you still want to save others? Although you are at the age when you are passionate, you also have to consider the situation!

He took a deep breath and was about to speak when his wife pleaded again, "Please take us in, sir! Although Tianci Cave is in ruins, we can't let anyone slaughter us!"

"Please take us in, benefactor!" The disciples around him echoed in unison, their tone full of sincerity.

Lin Xiao felt increasingly embarrassed as he watched the crowd react. Although he tried desperately to distance himself from the situation, he had to admit that Liu Yi had a point—these people were too weak right now; any one of them could turn Tianci Cave upside down.

He pondered for a moment, finally sighed, and compromised: "Okay, in that case, doesn't your reward order say that I can become a guest elder? I agree to be a guest elder of your Tianci Cave and help you temporarily."

"Thank you, sir!" The lady showed a long-lost smile on her face and kowtowed to Lin Xiao in gratitude.

"Thank you, Lord!" The surrounding disciples also shouted in unison, their eyes full of gratitude towards Lin Xiao.

"Everyone, get up!" Lin Xiao waved his hand, helped the lady in front of him up, looked around, and signaled all the disciples to stand up.

Everyone stood up one after another, and the atmosphere in the hall was finally no longer so depressing.

Lin Xiao sat back in his chair, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and asked, "Madam, what's the current situation at Jinhai Temple? I remember that they were just like you. The headmaster and the elders seemed to have perished in the ancient forest. I saw it with my own eyes."

Madam lowered her head in thought for a moment before slowly saying, "Jinhai Temple did suffer heavy losses, but their guest elder, Yu Yuzheng, managed to escape from the ancient forest. He has now become the head of Jinhai Temple. He is now the master of the temple."

Lin Xiao's heart was moved when he heard this, and a hint of joy flashed across his eyes: "Since Yu Yuzheng is still here, it means that the fairy jade of Jinhai Temple has not been looted. It seems that there is still hope of getting my bounty!"

Thinking of this, Lin Xiao put down his teacup and said calmly, "Madam, you will be in charge of the arrangements here for the time being. I need to go to Jinhai Temple. I believe they will be able to pay the bounty I deserve."

The lady was stunned for a moment when she heard this, then nodded and said respectfully, "Go ahead, benefactor. We'll take care of this place."

Lin Xiao then said to his wife, "Madam, don't call me benefactor from now on. Just call me Lin Xiao. Her name is Liu Yi."

"Okay, benefactor, oh no, Lin Xiao," the lady replied with a smile.

After saying that, Lin Xiao stood up, bowed and said goodbye, then took Liu Yi and left Tianci Cave, heading towards Jinhai Temple.