Chapter 222 - The Scum Is Observant

Chen Han finally stopped teasing Li Tian after he saw his wife's wronged expression, which just made him want to tease him more. But, to not make his wife mad, he dropped his itchy claws that wanted to pinch Li Tian's cheeks.

Since Li Tian, although a cultivator, but he is more like a scholar than a cultivator, he has slender limbs and paler skin. He looked like a young master of a wealthy family instead of an orphan.

Li Tian sighed in relief when he saw Chen Han took a step back from his teasing. He looked around and saw the scorched ground and walls, as well as the ceiling. "Burning the bones… won't the souls of the dead haunt you, resenting you?" he asked.

Chen Han shook his head. "No." He answered. "Burying the corpse is trapping their soul beneath the soil. Leaving their flesh to rot in the soul is binding them in the place. Thus, cremating the corpses is the way to liberate their soul, not only from their mortal body, but also from the land." He explained.

Li Tian nodded. "I understand." He said. Some places have different customs.

Chen Han smiled. "After I fought the walking skeletons and burned all the bones, I noticed something." He said.

"What is it?" Li Tian asked. In their situation where their future – their life and death unknown, it is better to see more than see less.

Chen Han held Li Tian's hand as they walked out of the passageway and they were met with a wide hall. They saw a light in the distance.

"Fire?" Li Tian wondered.

Chen Han nodded. "The creatures are afraid of fire, I guess." He said as they walked towards the giant fire. "They retreat when they feel the heat. It's as if they will be blinded by the light, and be burned by the heat. Fire will be our weapon to defend ourselves against them." he said. "Ah Sheng." He muttered when he saw the crumbles of bread on the floor.

Li Tian's eyes widened. "Cheng-shidi and da shixiong were here!" he exclaimed.

Only Cheng Sheng and Fei Yin would have the luxury to eat at this situation. Chen Han's expression was complicated because of the thought, but nevertheless, they are happy to find that Cheng Sheng and Fei Yin are alive. "There are traces of bread crumbles." He said when he looked at the floor.

"Cheng-shidi's heart is big to waste his food just to leave us a sign." Li Tian sighed.

Chen Han. "…" honey, your focus is on the wrong side? He recovered his expression and cleared his throat. "Let's go. Don't erase the sign for Sun Yi, Feng Mo and others to see." He told Li Tian.

Li Tian nodded. "Yes!" he answered and they followed the trail of bread crumbles made by Cheng Sheng.

The earlier they regroup, the better.

The Bridge of the Abyss.

"A-Ah Hei… do we have to cross the bridge?" Qian Lin asked in a nervous tone. Fear and anxiety were in his eyes as he looked at the swinging bridge made with wooden planks and knotted vines.

"There's no other way." Jing Hei hardened his heart as he held Qian Lin's hand tight. He felt his heart ache seeing Qian Lin's pale face.

"B-but… we don't know where it'll lead us…" Qian Lin tried to resist, though he knows it's to no avail.

"Ah Lin…" Jing Hei hugged Qian Lin to appease his lover. "We have to move forward if there is no way behind us." He told him.

Qian Lin understands, but his fear is eating him. He could feel his muscles are tense and his body is trembling just thinking of the wide, gaping hole beneath their feet when they cross the bridge.

"Don't worry. I'll be here… I'll be here… I am here." Jing Hei repeatedly appeased Qian Lin. "Close your eyes – " he whispered as he led Qian Lin towards the bridge.

The moment Jing Hei covered his eyes, darkness filled Qian Lin's vision. However, compared to the darkness around them, there was warmth mixed with the darkness brought by Jing Hei. Before he knew it, Qian Lin already stepped on the first wooden plank on the bridge. When he felt his body sank, his hand holding Jing Hei's hand tightened.

Jing Hei didn't, never let go of him. He gave Qian Lin strength by holding Qian Lin's hand tighter. When he felt Jing Hei's familiar touch, Qian Lin's tense nerves relaxed. He let himself be led away by Jing Hei.

…

"Almost there - !" Jing Cheng muttered as he groaned while he pulled up Jing Bai.

"Ha – " Jing Bai breathed as he pulled himself up using his other arm.

"AAAHH!" Jing Cheng screamed as he exerted all of his strength, then finally, successfully pulled Jing Bai up the floor.

"AH!" Jing Bai exclaimed when his body fell on the floor. "Ouch." He cried when he fell face first, and his nose and forehead ached. "Haa…" he sighed in relief as he raised his head. He turned and saw Jing Cheng lying beside him. his chest heaved up and down and he's sweating profusely. His face is red as he catches his breath. "Da ge... thank you." He said.

Jing Cheng isn't blood-related to them. Their parents are friends with Jing Cheng's parents and, after Jing Cheng was orphaned, their parents adopted Jing Cheng. They call him 'da ge' since Jing Cheng is the eldest among them.

"You're welcome." Jing Cheng answered as he raised his body to sit up. Suddenly, his eyes caught something. "Jing Bai." He called.

"Hm?" Jing Bai hummed as he pushed himself up the floor. Then, he turned. "A hanging bridge?"

"Not only a hanging bridge." Jing Cheng said and pointed something to him in the darkness.

Jing Bai squinted his eyes before he widened them when he finally saw the two figures Jing Cheng saw crossing the hanging bridge. His heart beat wildly in excitement and joy. "AH HEI – mmph!" his voice muffled when Jing Cheng suddenly covered his mouth. He turned to his, his gaze asking.

"Shh!" Jing Cheng said. "Don't distract them! One misstep and they'll fall! " he told him and pointed the swinging bridge. "Also, Qian Lin has acrophobia!" he reminded him.