Chapter 41 - Antler

Drip! Drip!... Drip!

This was the amplified sound of water droplets dripping from the beautiful blue crystal stalactites on the roof of the cave.

Light sounds that people normally don't hear were echoing in this empty cave accompanying Ji Yao who was leaning against the cold cave wall.

This place was bone-chilling cold but Ji Yao felt nothing despite having spent the entire night in this place. He had no idea if Qilin Hao would even show up today especially after bleeding from her mouth.

To be honest, they didn't have much of a relationship but he still couldn't help worrying about her. Each time he came here she would silently accompany him soothing his chaotic mind. Granted, it would have been nice if they spoke but she still tried to be there for him.

This cave alone was a testament to that although this also got him wondering why she left them for Prince Rui and was now in a stone-cold palace that looked like it never saw the light of day.

Ji Yao chewed on the dried fruit he took from the ship before he left. This is what he survived on ever since he got into the cave but he wasn't aggrieved. He didn't mind eating this for a week as long as he gets some answers from Qilin Hao.

Just as a piece of dried peach touched his lips he heard a splashing sound coming from the pool. Curious, he looked in that direction only to find a pigment-less fish with its head peeking out on the surface of the pool.

He had seen these cavefish before but hadn't been close enough to take a look. Ji Yao curiously walked over in slow footsteps hoping not to scare the little guy. But even if he reduced his body size like antman the cavefish would still be spooked away.

As expected the little guy disappeared under the surface of the water and swam towards the deepest depths of the pool with its large fins flapping fervently creating mesmerising ripples.

Ji Yao who was crouched down at the edge of the cave pool suddenly witnessed the cavefish swim back to the surface and splash water in his direction in provocation. Taken aback, he wiped the water off his face but unfortunately, he couldn't do anything about his hair. The lapel of his robe was also wet.

Ji Yao wanted to stand up and distance himself from this crazy cavefish that had it in for him. Unfortunately, he didn't stand up fast enough which meant he was a victim of another splash of terror and he was quite certain it was the same fish.

Ji Yao pushed his hair back before twisting it to remove excess water that was dripping down his back. His robe was soaked through making him very irritable.

This fish seemed to have some type of beef with him for eating its ancestors. But who could blame for him eating sichuan poached fish fillets in hot chilli when it tasted so divine?

Just as he was thinking this the cavefish came back for thirds and this time it swept its tail vehemently and splashed enough water to drench his entire body. Ji Yao spat out a mouthful of water trying to hypnotize himself by repeating the words 'be the bigger man' and 'it's just a tiny fish' to calm himself but his nature wouldn't allow it.

When it happened the first time he thought it was an accident and when it happened the second time he thought maybe it was his fault for standing so close to the edge of the pool but when it happened for the third time in a row.... Ji Yao would naturally not let that entitled fish go.

He intended on surviving on dried fruit but now it seemed fish was on the menu. In a swift move, he took off his wet outer robe and brocade boots not forgetting to neatly arrange them before diving after the cavefish that was about to resurface.

Cavefish, "....."

This was no ordinary fish because of its surroundings. The amount of seraphic energy seeping from the antler Qilin Hao threw into the pool had acted like the tree of knowledge making this poor fish smarter than the rest of its species. It just wanted to get Ji Yao's attention and show him something but who would have thought it would get chased by a torpedo.

Ji Yao had grown up at sea and swimming was a prerequisite so the poor cavefish stood no chance but just as he reached out to grab the sucker, it suddenly shifted directions and swam into a smaller crevice that could only fit a fish.

A bubble escaped from Ji Yao's mouth as he cursed internally. Not even a hand could fit in that place. Flustered, he was contemplating zapping the rock when he felt a familiar soothing aura coming from a few feet away.

This was what comforted him when he was eight and every other time he was here. It was the kind of warmth that enveloped him like a baby in their mother's womb.

Back then he had just thought it was a special constitution of the cave as Hyesong continent was not short of these spiritual places after the incident 50 years ago.

Assuming it was some type of stone or plant that made this place special, he swam over only to find a broken antler with a thick layer of blue crystals covering its surface.

His heartbeat quickened as he stared blankly at the antler. He felt a burning desire to grab it and embrace it growing the longer his gaze remained on it. His heart bled for the Nocru who had their antler broken though he didn't necessarily know why he empathized so much.

He reached out to grab it but he was suddenly pushed back by a force powerful enough to throw his body out of the pool. His body slammed against the roof of the cave barely missing the stalactites by an inch.

Because the force was too great he barely had time to gather himself when he fell to the ground with a loud thud. This time he wasn't lucky because his face was scratched by the sharp edge of a rock.

"Ya Ya, are you okay?" was the sound of his mother's voice who had finally decided to show up. The nickname made him stiffened so much that he almost bit his lip.

Qilin Hao seemed to notice his subtle movements so she said, "Isn't that what your father calls you?.... For one, I think it's cute."

Ji Yao ignored her as his finger brushed against the bleeding wound on his face. He looked down at the blood on his index finger with a complicated gaze. It took Qilin Hao calling him twice to bring him back to earth.

Ji Yao looked up at her with a childlike expression that she couldn't resist the urge to pinch his cheeks. The only hurdle was that she couldn't so she could only stare at him with a solicitous gaze.

"What is that down there?" he asked but when he saw her reluctance to answer he had a hunch as to who that antler belonged to, "why? Why would you do that to yourself?...... Is that why you are vomiting blood, uh?"