Chapter 258 The Demon's Trail in the Scorched Cave

The afternoon sun was intense, baking the earthen walls of Kaoshan Village until they were slightly hot to the touch.

In the courtyard, everyone had gathered. Chen Mu stood upon the steps, his gaze sweeping over the people before him.

Wan Chongshan's eyes were red-rimmed, his hook-sickle spear gripped tightly in his hand. Feng Qing silently checked his quiver, while Shen Suning stuffed several medicine pouches into her pack. Ling Xiaoning followed closely behind her, neck stiffened, clutching his short sword with an expression that clearly said, "No one is going to leave me behind."

Captain Ding and his companion stood slightly to the side. Zhao Mo remained expressionless, the leather pouch at his waist bulging, filled with who knows how many strange and curious items. Liu Quan carried his large chest on his back and was currently rummaging through it, muttering something under his breath.

"The sun is just right; the bats are at their laziest right now. They're either sleeping or drowsy, and their reactions will be at their slowest."

He didn't look up, yet his hands moved with great dexterity.

"If we enter the cave now, we'll catch them completely off guard."

Chen Mu nodded slightly and was just about to speak when a burst of hurried footsteps suddenly sounded from outside the courtyard gate.

Wang Laogen rushed in with several villagers. The old village chief was panting, sweat beads clinging to his graying beard. As soon as he entered, he dropped to his knees before Chen Mu with a thud.

"Lord Chen, this old man... this old man has a favor to ask of you!"

Chen Mu stepped forward and helped him up.

"Please speak, Village Chief."

Wang Laogen raised his head, his eyes bloodshot, his lips trembling.

"Lord Chen, those girls... if they are still alive, you must save them and bring them back."

"If... if..."

He couldn't continue, his throat working as tears streamed down his aged face.

"If they are already... already gone, please bring them back anyway so they can come home. You cannot leave them all alone in that monster's cave... I beg of you!"

The villagers behind him also knelt one after another, kowtowing incessantly.

Wan Chongshan turned away, staring at the courtyard wall, breathing heavily, but he did not tell the villagers about the worst-case scenario.

Chen Mu was silent for a moment, then said in a deep voice.

"Rest assured, everyone. Whether they are alive or dead, I will certainly bring them back."

Wang Laogen nodded repeatedly, wanting to say more, but he was supported by the villagers behind him. Chen Mu did not delay any longer and turned to look at the group.

"Let's move out."

The six of them mounted their horses and galloped toward the mountain shadows outside the village. The sound of hooves shattered into a chaotic rhythm, kicking up a trail of dust.

The scorching sun hung high in the sky, causing the mountain trees to droop in the heat. Occasionally, a breeze would blow, but it carried a wave of dry heat.

Wan Chongshan led the way, guiding the group through the mountain forest. He was far too familiar with these mountains; having grown up here, he could find every small path with his eyes closed. Crossing the mountain ridge and bypassing the dense forest, the terrain ahead suddenly narrowed, revealing a hidden mountain hollow.

Before they even got close, the smell of something charred rushed to meet them.

Everyone reined in their horses, stunned by the sight before them.

It was a hillside that had been scorched by fire. The once-dense shrubbery was now reduced to charred, broken branches, sticking out of the ground at odd angles, while a few tiny saplings had been burned down to mere trunks.

The air was filled with a heavy, smoky odor mixed with a stench that made people frown and choke.

Wan Chongshan dismounted and walked quickly ahead. The others followed closely behind, stepping on the charred earth, until they finally saw the cliff face. A fissure, about one person wide, had cracked open in the cliff, partially covered by the remains of burned vines.

"That's it."

Wan Chongshan lowered his voice, pointing at the gap.

Chen Mu scanned the surroundings and nodded slightly.

This place was shaded, damp, and overgrown with shrubs, and the fissure in the cliff face made it an excellent location for bats to nest. If not for the fire Li Tiezui had set, which burned away the mountain's shrubs, they might have wandered nearby for three days and three nights and still not discovered this hidden cave entrance.

"Brother Zhao."

Chen Mu turned to Zhao Mo. Zhao Mo nodded and took the bulging leather pouch from his waist, fishing out a palm-sized bronze compass—the tracking disk.

He squatted down, holding the compass in his palm, and closed his eyes to focus for a moment. The thin needle in the center of the disk began to tremble slightly, then suddenly started spinning wildly, turning so fast it seemed to be pulled by something, unable to stop.

Zhao Mo's brow furrowed tightly.

"The Demonic Qi is definitely here, and it's very dense, but it's exceptionally chaotic. The tracking disk cannot pinpoint an accurate direction."

He paused and looked up at Chen Mu.

"There should be a large number of monsters inside the cave—either burned to death or still struggling. Their auras are all mixed together, making it impossible to tell if that Bat King is still alive."

Liu Quan leaned in to take a look and smacked his lips.

"This needle is spinning like a windmill; it's definitely useless."

Chen Mu did not speak immediately, instead staring at the dark, gloomy cave entrance. After a moment, he said in a deep voice.

"Regardless of whether it's dead or alive, we must go in and see. If it's still alive, we'll take its life while it's weak; if it's dead, we must confirm the status of those four girls..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but everyone understood what he meant.

Wan Chongshan gripped his spear shaft, his Adam's apple bobbing.

"Brother Chen, I'll take the lead!"

Chen Mu shook his head.

"You are familiar with the terrain, but the situation inside the cave is unknown. I will go."

Wan Chongshan wanted to say more, but Chen Mu stopped him with a raised hand.

Liu Quan stepped forward at this moment, rummaging through his large chest to find a few beads the size of longans, handing one to everyone present.

The beads looked gray and dull in the sunlight, nothing special, but they felt heavy and slightly warm to the touch.

"These are called fluorescent beads, a little gadget I came up with myself."

Liu Quan chuckled and explained.

"They don't look like much during the day, but they glow once it gets dark. Although the range of illumination isn't large—only about two or three feet—it's better than being completely blind. Once we enter the cave, hold these in your hands; they'll definitely be useful."

Ling Xiaoning took one, turning it over to examine it, and muttered.

"Brother Liu, just how many good things do you have in that chest of yours?"

Liu Quan patted his chest triumphantly.

"There's plenty. Today, for the sake of Chief Wan, I'm going all out."

Wan Chongshan patted his shoulder, accepting the gesture.

Chen Mu gripped the bead and swept his gaze over the group.

"Brother Zhao and I will take the lead, Miss Shen and Xiao Ning will be in the middle, and Brother Feng and Brother Liu will bring up the rear. Once we enter the cave, you must stay close and not get separated. If you encounter an enemy, signal immediately; do not be greedy for merit and rush ahead."

Everyone nodded one after another, each gripping their weapons tightly.

Chen Mu took a deep breath and squeezed sideways into the fissure.

The cave entrance was indeed narrow. Chen Mu inched his way in sideways, the rocks scraping painfully against his shoulders. The others followed behind him one by one.

Liu Quan was the last to squeeze in. He took the Crimson Flame Demon-Binding Net out of his wooden chest and quickly set it up on the inside of the cave entrance, tightening the opening. If that monster wanted to rush out, it would definitely be caught right in the net.

"Done."

Liu Quan clapped his hands and lowered his voice.

"If it wants to get out, it has to get past this net first."

The group then continued to walk deeper inside.

The cave was far more spacious than the entrance; the further they went, the wider it became. Every few steps, the view opened up before them.

This was a naturally formed karst cave. The ceiling was extremely high, beyond the reach of sight. The walls were jagged with strange rock formations, and the ground was uneven and rugged, covered everywhere in a thick layer of bat guano. It felt soft and squishy underfoot and emitted a pungent, foul odor.

What was most shocking, however, were the bat carcasses on the ground.