Kai's gaze remained locked on the young disciple, cold and unreadable. His arms were folded, body relaxed, but his aura was sharp, sheathed just enough not to kill... yet. After a pause, he finally spoke."I'm here for the scroll," he said bluntly, voice devoid of pleasantries. “The maps—the one that leads to the fragmented scrolls.”The disciple stiffened immediately, eyes narrowing. His gaze darted toward Zora, suddenly sharper, more calculating. "Wait... you're the one," he muttered, pointing at her with a stunned look. "You're the thief that broke in three nights ago—caused that entire uproar. The one everyone’s still talking about. The map thief."Zora, unbothered by the accusation, simply grinned and lifted a hand in mock salute. “Guilty,” she said with a wink. “And my name’s Zora, by the way. You can drop the whole ‘map thief’ title. I think it’s a little... excessive.”Kai snorted behind her, arms still crossed. “That’s literally what you are. Might as well tattoo it on your

The air in the luxurious hotel lobby shifted.Zora’s eyes twitched. Kai's jaw tightened.They had both just endured a cramped flight, a long ride across a city they didn’t know, and now—this clown? Kai didn’t move at first, just stared at the over-dressed brat like he was a stain on his boots.The manager came rushing down a flight of stairs the moment the loud demand echoed across the lobby. His shoes clicked against the marble, his smile oily and wide.“Sir! Sir! It would be our honor to clear the hotel for your private function,” the manager said, bowing so low it was almost embarrassing. “Your card will be processed immediately. Please, allow us—”Kai raised a brow. “Seriously?”The manager straightened slightly, hearing the irritation in his voice. “With all due respect, sir, can you offer what this esteemed guest has just offered us?”Zora narrowed her eyes. “And what did he offer?”The manager puffed out his chest. “Ten million yuan. Instant transfer.”Kai gave a soft snort. “M

Kai turned just in time, his boot grinding lightly against the gravel as his gaze settled on the figure approaching from the shadows.An old man, stooped and slow-moving, walked toward them with deliberate care. He was dressed in dull gray robes that fluttered faintly with the wind, and he leaned on a wooden cane, each step measured as if his bones would snap from the weight of existence itself. His white beard hung to his chest, thin and unkempt, and his sunken eyes looked pale—too pale for someone with breath still in their lungs.“You shouldn’t go in,” the old man said, his voice aged and tremulous. “The cave swallows everything. Cultivators, warriors, even sect elders have entered over the years. None ever came back out. Not one.”Zora folded her arms with an audible scoff, already rolling her eyes. “Every cursed ruin has its old storyteller,” she muttered under her breath. “Let me guess. He’s going to beg us not to awaken the vengeful spirit inside.”Kai didn’t move. He didn’t ev

The cave grew colder as they moved deeper in. Dampness clung to the air, the walls breathing with a strange, unsettling pulse. The torchlight from the enchanted flame cast eerie shadows across the rough stone, stretching shapes that looked too alive to be still. With each step, the silence thickened. The outside world felt like a distant dream—irrelevant, unreachable.None of them said a word, the gravity of the unknown weighing heavily on their steps.Then something skittered past, a quick blur of motion near Zora’s feet.She let out a sharp yelp and jumped back instinctively, nearly colliding into Kai. The sudden movement earned a loud, disdainful scoff from the two girls in the group.“Seriously?” one muttered, shaking her head. “It’s probably a rat.”The other rolled her eyes. “No wonder she clings to every man like she’ll faint if she breathes too hard.”But before anyone could comment further, the three boys sprang forward like valiant knights drunk on delusion.“Don’t worry, La

Hearing this, the two boys and the ladies turned sharply toward Kai. Their faces were taut with annoyance and disbelief, but beneath the surface, there was a flicker of unease. One of the boys stepped forward, arms crossed over his chest.“How the hell do you know all that?” he asked, his tone laced with skepticism.Kai didn’t even bother to look directly at him. Instead, he let out a low chuckle, smooth and deliberate, like someone who’d just been asked if the sky was blue.“How do I know?” he repeated, then finally looked at him with that cold, dissecting gaze that made even proud men forget how to stand tall. “Because I actually use my brain. You might try it sometime.”He swept an arm slowly around the cave, his voice rising just enough to make sure they all heard him. “Look around you. Properly, this time. Not with your nose in your stupid books, but with your goddamn senses. Do you see any grass? Any vines? Any moss? Hell, even fungi? No? That’s because this place isn’t just lif