Fateful Encounter

'Haah… I haven't been able to find any treasures, altars or caves', Tang Lin thought as he exhaled.

"Just these human-tier and earth-tier beasts chasing me all day", he muttered grumpily.

'At least I've acquired 238 more points, but I'm still worried about what the guardian spirit said near the end', he pondered.

"Now I've got a better control and understanding of the crimson qi though. So, I should be able to use it in combat, but I should save it as my trump card for now. If only I could learn some cultivation methods or weapon techniques", Tang Lin thought aloud bitterly, while clenching his fists in frustration.

Tang Lin continued walking through the jungle when the ground abruptly collapsed.

"Shit!" he cursed as he just managed to grab onto the edge in time.

*Crack*

The edge of land crumbled as it was unable to support his weight.

"AHHHHHH!" Tang Lin screamed, his voice echoing as he fell.

After an unknown period of time, Tang Lin woke up blinded by complete darkness. Suddenly, the place illuminated and he could finally see where he was.

He seemed to be in a long hallway with no windows or doors. The place was like a maze; a labyrinth that seemed to go on infinitely with no apparent way out.

'How did I get here? Didn't I fall down a hole?' he questioned himself before looking up.

The hole was nowhere to be seen as if it never existed in the first place.

"I should stay calm and inspect my surroundings first", he told himself.

Looking around, Tang Lin noticed weird engravings carved on the walls of the hallway as he turned around to his left.

He ran his left hand across the dry surface of the wall before attempting to decipher the language.

'Is this an ancient language? What does it mean', Tang Lin brooded.

"I-I. Miss. Earth?" he said, trying to read it, yet unable to understand it.

'There's no point dwelling about it now. I need to find a way out of here!' Tang Lin said.

After walking around for half an hour, he heard a sound coming from the left ahead of him.

About to take a peek around the corner, someone ran into him, causing both of them to topple over each other. Rubbing the back of his head in pain, Tang Lin felt a warm and soft sensation press on top of his chest. Lying on his chest was a sublime beauty as a waft of her perfume made his ears go red.

"It's you again!" Fang Yue said in surprise, blood dripping down her mouth.

"Eh?" Tang Lin responded, still in a daze.

Hearing the sound of footsteps grow closer from behind, Fang Yue got up quickly.

"There's no time to waste. We need to run. NOW!" she said in a hurry as she pulled Tang Lin with her by the hand.

After they couldn't hear anyone chasing them anymore, they both relaxed and heaved a great sigh of relief before slumping down to the ground.

"Tang Lin, right?" Fang Yue asked as she looked at him.

"Yeah", he responded, while looking straight back at her blue-jewel eyes.

Unable to endure his intense gaze, Fang Yue looked away, while slightly blushing.

"How did you get here?" he asked.

"The ground just randomly collapsed and then I found myself here", she responded.

"I don't know what's going on. This has never been seen or reported before. Unless they never made it out in the first place", Fang Yue analysed.

"What are you talking about? Wasn't this place only recently discovered? How could there be any records?" Tang Lin asked in confusion.

"Sigh, this place wasn't exactly found 'recently'. Unless your definition of 'recently' is hundreds of years ago", she explained patiently.

"This ancient inheritance only opens once every century. So, for generations my ancestors have never publicised its existence and instead used it as a special training place for the geniuses of my Fang clan. Unfortunately, someone managed to find it and leaked information on it", she revealed.

"Huh? I thought that the Shen clan discovered this place", said Tang Lin.

"Well, technically our families found it together and they have also been sending juniors to train. Although, one day the Shen clan publicised the ancient inheritance without discussing it with the Fang clan. They betrayed our trust, which was why I was sent to find allies to support me in this expedition", Fang Yue explained.

"Then who were the guys chasing after you from before?" Tang Lin continued to ask.

"I don't know either, but if I had to guess, they are also victims. Although, I couldn't quite fight back after they ambushed me, especially with the use of qi being restrained. The trials always change each time", Fang Yue told him.

"And I'm guessing they're either chasing after you for your points or…" he said, while looking down at the rest of her body.

"You!" she growled embarrassedly.

"AH! Don't hurt me, I'm just guessing", Tang Lin quickly defended himself.

"He's right though, except we're doing both!" said a voice as a group of figures walked out around the corner.

'When did they get here?!?' Tang Lin and Fang Yue thought simultaneously, while drawing their weapons.

"What do you want? Who are you people?" she shouted at them.

"KEKEKEKE! Who we are doesn't matter, but didn't that boy already answer your question? Points and pleasure. Except, it looks like we've found ourselves something better for the latter", the mature, yet crazy looking boy in the middle said as he looked at Tang Lin.

*Silence*

"Eh? EHHHHHHHH!!!" Tang Lin yelled.