With Zhang Nu and Liu Hai deliberately giving him opportunities, Lin Xiao’s abilities improved significantly. However, since he rarely used his powers, he struggled to bring out their full potential. If he wanted to master his abilities, he had to use them more frequently.
"I feel much better now," Lin Xiao said. "My body feels lighter, and I’m no longer as exhausted as before."
Hearing this, Liu Hai and Zhang Nu finally felt relieved. Even after all this, if Lin Xiao still couldn't improve, they wouldn’t know how else to help him.
"Good, that’s what we wanted to hear," Liu Hai said, grinning. "Don’t worry. With us around, your abilities will keep improving. It won’t be long before you stop feeling dizzy after using them."
Lin Xiao nodded. Meeting these two truly felt like the greatest stroke of luck in his life.
As they continued moving forward, a sudden discomfort surged through Lin Xiao’s body. Something ahead felt… wrong. An overwhelming sense of danger gripped him, and every fiber of his being urged him to stop.
"We shouldn’t go any further," Lin Xiao warned, "There’s something deadly inside that cave ahead. My body is telling me not to go any closer, and my instincts are rarely wrong."
Zhang Nu paused, considering Lin Xiao’s words. Since it was from Lin Xiao, the warning had to be taken seriously. If he sensed danger to this extent, then whatever lurked inside that cave was no ordinary threat.
Still, they couldn’t just turn back without knowing the truth.
"I understand how you feel, Lin Xiao," Zhang Nu said, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "But we can’t just walk away without seeing what’s inside that cave. We need to know if whatever’s in there is truly evil."
"If it is, then we have to eliminate it before it causes harm."
Lin Xiao frowned deeply. Why was Zhang Nu always like this? Back in the village, Zhang Nu had taken on this same role—intervening, fighting for others, refusing to ignore injustices. Even now, at Apricot Spring Town, he was doing the exact same thing. Did Zhang Nu never grow tired of carrying such burdens?
"Zhang Nu, why do you insist on meddling in things that don’t concern us?" Lin Xiao asked, frustration evident in his voice. "We don’t have to get involved. We could just leave and move on."
"Instead, we keep slowing down, getting caught up in one situation after another, putting our lives at risk over and over again."
Zhang Nu sighed. He knew Lin Xiao wasn’t wrong, but he couldn’t turn a blind eye when people needed help.
"Lin Xiao, we can’t let fear dictate our actions," Zhang Nu said.
"Yes, we’re traveling, trying to grow stronger—but we should also stand for something. Power without purpose is meaningless."
"If we turn our backs on every problem just because it’s inconvenient, then what’s the point of becoming stronger?"
Lin Xiao didn’t know how to respond. He couldn’t understand Zhang Nu’s way of thinking.
Before the argument could escalate, Liu Hai stepped in.
"Alright, alright. You’re both right in your own way," Liu Hai said, raising his hands to ease the tension.
"We’re a team. We don’t need to fight over this, " he continued, "Honestly, I think Zhang Nu has a point. Challenging ourselves is part of how we grow stronger."
Lin Xiao pursed his lips. If both Zhang Nu and Liu Hai had agreed, there would have been no point in arguing further.
"Fine," Lin Xiao relented. "But if things go south, we retreat immediately."
Zhang Nu and Liu Hai nodded.
"Of course. Survival comes first," Zhang Nu assured him.
With that, the three of them continued forward.
Meanwhile, deep within the cave, the swirling black mist stirred. It had been observing their approach.
"Interesting," a voice murmured from the darkness, "I thought they would turn back… yet they continue forward."
"They’re after me, are they?"
A low chuckle echoed through the cave.
"Very well. Let’s see if these fools are worth my time."
Unaware of the entity's growing anticipation, Zhang Nu, Liu Hai, and Lin Xiao pressed on toward the unknown.