Chapter 52 – Beneath the Hollow Stone
The damp air clung to Mochen's skin like mildew, suffocating and thick. He pressed forward, footsteps echoing faintly against the endless stone of the cavern, the torch in his hand casting shadows that wavered like ghosts. His senses were on edge—nerves stretched thin like strings ready to snap—but the scent didn't lie.
Chen Xinyu had been here. Recently.
"Damn it," he muttered, running a hand across his brow, already damp with sweat. The scent led him to this hollow stretch of wall, an unremarkable piece of stone in a maze of unremarkable stones. But this was the end. The trail vanished here, like a flame swallowed by water.
He turned back, eyes wild. "Where is it?!"
Lingque, following behind with Tang Tang, paused. "What is it, Mochen?"
"I can't find him," he said, voice unsteady. "His scent—his presence—it stops here. There's nothing beyond this wall. No crack, no mechanism. It doesn't make sense."
Tang Tang's small face was pale under the flickering light. "Maybe… maybe it's hidden?"
"I've looked," Mochen snapped, then caught himself. He pressed a hand to his forehead, closing his eyes. "Sorry. I just—he's here. I know it. But I don't know how to reach him."
Lingque frowned, fingers flexing restlessly. She turned to Tang Tang, crouching slightly to meet her gaze. "Did you see the person who took you? The mastermind?"
Tang Tang shook her head. "They wore a mask. I couldn't see anything. No leader either. But I heard someone say…" She trailed off, hesitating.
"What?" Lingque urged gently.
"That the 'Master' needs flesh to bless the town," Tang Tang said softly. "They believe if they offer people… he'll protect them."
Lingque's face darkened. "So they offer human sacrifices like incense to a god, just to live in their illusion of peace?"
Her voice was low and bitter. "No wonder none of them flinched."
Meanwhile, Mochen turned back to the wall and slammed a palm against it. His shoulders trembled—not from exertion, but from helplessness.
"Why," he whispered. "Why can't I reach you?"
Elsewhere, deeper within the cave's bowels.
The air was cooler here, tinged with a faint metallic scent. In the flickering lamplight, Hua Ling lay half-reclined against a cushioned divan, sweat dampening his fringe. His hand was still curled around Xinyu's, grip faint but persistent.
Xinyu sat at his side, posture tense, gaze watchful. He pressed his fingers to Hua Ling's forehead, then his pulse. The fever had not worsened. A small relief.
But Hua Ling stirred, lips parting. Words slipped out—fragmented, muffled.
"I must protect him…"
Xinyu leaned closer. "What?"
The words came again, clearer this time. "I must protect… him…"
Xinyu's heart clenched. He raised a hand without thinking, brushing aside a lock of hair that had fallen over Hua Ling's brow. Then, without realizing, his fingers drifted—hovering at the curve of his cheek, then against soft lips.
He froze.
A flash of memory struck him—those lips, closer than they should've been, the warmth of breath brushing his own. The half-lucid night Hua Ling had whispered his name and clung to him as if he were a dream.
Xinyu jerked back, breath caught in his throat. "What am I thinking?" he whispered, turning his face away.
Footsteps.
The torchlight shifted.
He snapped into motion, slipping Hua Ling's hand from his own. Two guards were approaching down the corridor, laughter low and lazy, unaware of what waited.
Xinyu hid in the shadows. When the moment came, he struck—quick, efficient. A blow to the neck. Another to the ribs. Both guards crumpled like sacks of grain. He dragged them out of sight and returned to Hua Ling's side.
"Let's go," he muttered under his breath, hooking an arm under the man's shoulders. But as he lifted him, Xinyu nearly stumbled.
"He's heavier than he looks," he grunted. "How is he all limbs and still this heavy?"
Hua Ling's eyes fluttered open.
"…Xinyu?"
Xinyu stiffened.
"You're… here," Hua Ling whispered, a lazy smile ghosting across his lips.
Then he leaned in, breath warm against Xinyu's cheek. He sniffed lightly—recognition dawning.
"You smell like… rain," he murmured. "It's you…"
"Shh, don't talk. We need to leave."
"Mister Xu…" Hua Ling's voice was clearer now, steadier. "He's the demon. We must stop him."
Xinyu froze. "What did you say?"
Their eyes met.
In the dim chamber, their faces were inches apart. Xinyu could feel Hua Ling's breath. His words had been steady, but now his eyes looked dazed again—like the fever was reclaiming him.
Xinyu swallowed. He meant to say something—ask more—but found himself captivated instead by the curve of Hua Ling's lips, the tremble in his lashes.
He turned away.
Just then, a rustle from the darkness.
Chi Ruyan emerged, eyes sharp. "What happened to him?"
"Drugged," Xinyu replied, steadying Hua Ling. "I'll explain later."
"I know where that bastard is," Chi Ruyan said, kneeling to help. "We don't have much time."
Hua Ling's body went limp again. His head dropped against Xinyu's shoulder.
Xinyu frowned. "Do you know the way out?"
Chi Ruyan nodded. "I'll take him. You go find Lingque and Tang Tang—there might be more rooms beyond this one."
Xinyu hesitated only a moment, then nodded. "Take him to safety."
With one last look, he turned and vanished down another passage.
Elsewhere. The scent shifted.
Mochen stiffened. A current ran up his spine like lightning striking bone.
"He's moving," he said aloud.
Lingque blinked. "What?"
"He's alive," Mochen said, a small, crooked smile tugging at his lips. "He's moving."
He stepped forward—and then froze. A figure approached from the shadows, slight and cloaked.
Mochen raised a hand to halt the others, his eyes narrowing. But then the figure drew close enough for the light to reveal familiar features.
"Xinyu!"
He ran.
Xinyu, surprised, braced for impact as Mochen barreled into him and wrapped his arms around him tightly, breath ragged with relief.
"You're—You're safe…" Mochen said, voice trembling.
"I'm fine," Xinyu said, startled. He patted Mochen's back awkwardly. "Shidi… We have bigger problems."
Behind Mochen, Lingque's voice rang out. "Xinyu!"
She rushed over, dragging Tang Tang behind her. Xinyu's heart lifted at the sight of them both unharmed.
"We found her," Lingque said breathlessly. "But what happened to Hua Ling?"
"He's safe," Xinyu replied. "With Chi Ruyan. We were right. The mastermind—"
"It's Mister Xu," Mochen said at the same time.
Tang Tang gasped. "No. That can't be. He's… He's my father's closest friend."
Xinyu looked at her, gaze steady. "I'm sorry, Tang Tang. But I saw it with my own eyes. He's the one behind it all. This town… all the disappearances… the false god—he's been feeding off them."
There was a silence then, heavy with horror.
Tang Tang trembled. "He said he was doing this for us…"
"No," Lingque said coldly. "He's doing it for himself."
Xinyu exhaled. His heart was still pounding. But for now, they were together. The pieces were falling into place.
He straightened. "Let's finish this."