Traps [1]

Chapter - 12

Li Mingzhi stepped up beside him, his eyes narrowing as he took in the group. "Yueliang is right," he said, his voice steady but intense. "We did not come all this way to stand around and admire the scenery. Chen Haoyu has toyed with our women for far too long. It is time we end this, once and for all."

Another immortal, added his voice to the Li Mingzhi's, his words echoing with pain, "That bastard has caused us immeasurable pain and suffering. He has taken advantage of our wives and daughters, exploiting their beauty for his own selfish desires. He has shown no remorse, only arrogance and contempt for us."

Shui Jian nodded, his fists clenching at his sides, "We have been tracking him for this moment," he added, his voice firm. "Each of us has a score to settle with Chen Haoyu. Let us make sure he pays for every bit of suffering he has caused us."

Feng Jun, his twin swords glinting in the dim light, stepped forward as well. "He thinks he can hide behind these walls and illusions forever," he said, a grim smile playing on his lips. "But we have learned from our mistakes. We are stronger now, and we won't be fooled again."

"Then we march forward," Ming Zhao said, gritting his teeth.

The immortals nodded in agreement; their resolve hardened by the words of their leaders.

"We will not be cowed by his mockery," Yueliang Shen continued, his gaze steely. "Together, we outnumber him, and together, we will ensure that justice prevails."

As the immortals' collective resolve solidified, the tension in the air thickened like a storm about to break. They stood at the mouth of the cave, a ragtag assembly of vengeful gods, each with their own vendetta against Chen Haoyu.

Yueliang Shen took a deep breath, the cool, fragrant air filling his lungs. "Alright, enough talk. It is time for us to end this."

With a nod, he led the charge, his steps quick and determined. The others followed, their weapons ready, their eyes sharp. The cave was dimly lit, the faint glow of phosphorescent fungi casting eerie shadows on the walls.

Li Mingzhi glanced at Feng Jun as they moved deeper into the cave. "Remember the plan. We stick together, no matter what tricks he pulls."

Feng Jun smirked, his twin swords at the ready. "I've been waiting for this. Let's see him try to escape this time."

The sound of their footsteps echoed off the stone walls, mingling with the distant dripping of water. The cave seemed to stretch on endlessly, a labyrinth designed to confuse and disorient. But the immortals pressed on, their Qi filled with murderous aura.

The initial beauty of the place felt increasingly sinister as they delved deeper. The blossoms' scent grew almost overpowering, mixing with the dank aroma of ancient stone.

The Immortals moved cautiously inside the cave, their eyes darting around for any sign of Chen Haoyu or his devious tricks. The walls seemed to close in on them, the path narrowing and twisting in a maze-like fashion, casting eerie shadows that danced with their every movement.

"Stay alert," Li Mingzhi whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of their footsteps. His hand gripped the hilt of his zhe-shan, the intricately designed fan he carried everywhere. It wasn't just for show; the fan was his weapon of choice, both elegant and deadly. "Chen Haoyu will not make this easy for us."

As if on cue, the moment Li Mingzhi took a step forward, a soft click echoed through the cave. Everyone froze in their tracks. Shui Jian, who was right behind Li Mingzhi, had his eyes wide open and whispered, "Did you hear that?"

Before anyone could react, a section of the floor gave way beneath them. Yueliang Shen, always quick on his feet, leapt forward, avoiding the sudden drop. Even Shui Jian, Ming Zhao and Feng Jun moved in a split second and jumped forward with a flash.

But Li Mingzhi wasn't as lucky. He slipped, his fingers catching the edge of the pit just in time. The ground crumbled under his grip, tiny rocks and dust falling into the darkness below. His heart raced, the sense of impending doom creeping up his spine.

"Help me!" Li Mingzhi shouted, panic rising in his voice. The darkness beneath him felt alive, pulling at him with a strong, relentless force. He could feel it trying to drag him down, its grip tightening around his legs like icy fingers.

Shui Jian immediately dropped to his knees, reaching out a hand. "Hold on, Elder Li! Just hold on!"

Li Mingzhi's fingers were white with strain as he clung to the edge. "I am trying! This thing is strong— it is like it wants to swallow me whole!"

Yueliang Shen, having regained his balance, rushed to help. He grabbed Li Mingzhi's arm, his muscles straining as he pulled. "We have got you, Elder Li. Just do not let go!"

The pull from the pit was unnaturally strong, a dark force that seemed to defy all logic. Even an Immortal like Li Mingzhi was struggling against it. His feet dangled over the abyss, and despite his best efforts to fly out, he couldn't lift himself against the relentless force.

He could feel the pit tugging at him, a cold, unyielding drag that promised to pull him into its depths if he lost his grip.

"Why is this so strong?" Li Mingzhi grunted, his voice filled with frustration and fear. "It is like this hole wants to eat me alive!"

Shui Jian's face was pale, but his grip was steady. "Just hang in there! We are not letting you go!"

Li Mingzhi could hear the desperation in Shui Jian's voice and saw the determination in Yueliang Shen's eyes. They were not going to let him fall, no matter what. The pit below seemed to whisper promises of an endless fall, and Li Mingzhi's heart pounded harder.

"Pull harder!" Yueliang Shen yelled, sweat dripping down his brow. "We are almost there!"

The ground around them trembled, adding to the chaos. Rocks tumbled into the pit, their echoes bouncing off unseen walls. Li Mingzhi's arms ached, his muscles screaming for relief.

He looked up at Shui Jian, seeing the strain in his friend's eyes. "I don't know how much longer I can hold on!"

"Don't you dare give up on us now!" Shui Jian shouted back, his voice cracking with effort. "We need you, Li Mingzhi. You are not going anywhere!"

But unlike Li Mingzhi, many other Immortals were not so fortunate. Several, less quick to react, had already vanished into the bottomless abyss.

Their screams for help echoed up, filled with despair and fear, before being swallowed by the darkness. The looks of panic on their faces were the last thing seen before they were consumed by the void.

One Immortal, who had narrowly escaped the same fate, was on the other side of the pit, his face a mask of horror. "We lost them... just like that," he whispered, tears welling up in his eyes.

"Focus, you all!" Feng Jun barked, though his own voice shook. "We cannot afford to lose anyone else."

But Li Mingzhi and the others could not spare a glance for their fallen comrades; they were too focused on his own survival. "Just a bit more!" he urged, his voice hoarse and strained.

Finally, with a final, mighty pull, they hauled Li Mingzhi up and away from the pit. He collapsed on the ground, panting heavily, his body trembling from the adrenaline rush. "Thank you," he breathed, looking up at his comrades with profound gratitude. "I thought... I thought I was done for."

Shui Jian clapped him on the back, his own relief evident in his eyes. "We are not losing anyone else today. Not if we can help it."

"Hmmm..." Li Mingzhi muttered as he stood up, dusting off his robes. His heart was still pounding as he looked back at the deep chasm that had appeared out of nowhere. A few Immortals on the other side of the hole stared back at him, their faces a mix of fear and relief.

"If they had been just a step ahead," Li Mingzhi thought, "they would have been lost in that bottomless pit with no end in sight."

Yueliang Shen knelt beside him, inspecting his scraped hands. "That was too close. Are you alright Elder Li?"

"I will live," Li Mingzhi replied, his voice steadying. "But we need to be more careful. Chen Haoyu's traps are more devious than we thought."

While everyone looked confused, scared, and lost, the ground suddenly shook again. The floor of the cave began to reform, rocks and dirt swirling as if controlled by an unseen hand. In a matter of seconds, it was like nothing had happened. The pit was gone, the floor solid and unblemished.

"It is like it never even happened," murmured one of the Immortals, disbelief in his voice. "What kind of sorcery is this?"

"This place is messing with our heads," Shui Jian said, shaking his head. "We need to stick together and move carefully."

Feng Jun, still breathing heavily from the exertion, looked around warily. "Careful where you step," he warned, his voice grim. "Chen Haoyu's traps are everywhere. We cannot afford to be careless."

"Agreed," Li Mingzhi nodded, his determination hardening. "We need to think like him, anticipate his moves."

A younger Immortal, spoke up, his voice trembling slightly. "What if the whole cave is one big trap? How can we know what is real?"

Li Mingzhi said with his tone still hoarse and breathless, "We stay vigilant and trust each other. We have come this far..."

"We won't let Chen Haoyu's tricks defeat us."

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