Chapter Fifteen: The Impostor Red Sun (Part Two)

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Could this be the habitat of the flower demon tribe? But why was there seemingly no reaction at all to their sudden intrusion? Filled with doubt, Shi Jun looked up and saw a small hole above—he guessed that was where he had fallen from just now.

Just as he was about to look down more closely at the scene beneath his feet, a sudden bloom— the once dark, dense net changed color, shimmering with iridescent light as if it had suddenly come to life.

Within seconds, the dazzling colors vanished again, and the great net returned to an inconspicuous withered wood hue. Looking further down, all he could see was a swirling mist, leaving him uncertain what strange things lay beneath the net.

Shi Jun was puzzled when he heard a splash—Chi Yang had also fallen right beside him.

Shi Jun quickly reached out and helped Chi Yang up, concern in his voice: “Are you alright?”

Chi Yang shook her head, smiled briefly without answering, then pushed herself up with her hands. Her beautiful eyes flickered as she surveyed the cave’s interior, her eyes gleaming with an unrestrained joy.

In the distance, muffled explosions were faintly audible, but they sounded mild, and inside the cave, the ground’s tremors were hardly perceptible.

“This is strange… how did I get here? And what place is this?” Shi Jun gradually recalled the events before he lost consciousness, scratching his head in confusion. “Chi Yang, didn’t you and Brother Zi Sheng go down to the lake just now? What happened exactly? Where are they?”

Chi Yang turned and smiled, her enchanting eyes brimming with affection. Suddenly, she leaned in and gently pressed her soft lips to his cheek, mumbling softly to herself, “Wonderful, truly wonderful! You have no idea how happy I am!” With a graceful leap, she twirled into the air and lightly landed on the flower-budded stone wall. Extending her snow-white hand, she delicately plucked a small blue bud before focusing intently. Then, pulling and tugging, she gathered a dozen or so buds of various colors into her arms before flying back to the great net and sitting cross-legged, quietly smiling as she laid out all the buds before her.

Shi Jun never expected the usually cold and indifferent Chi Yang to act so warmly. Bewildered, he reached out to cover the half of his face she had kissed. His blood surged, and his heart raced with nervous excitement. Yet unexpectedly, Chi Yang darted away again to pluck more flowers. Shi Jun was utterly perplexed, only able to watch her in stunned silence—both delighted and confused.

After a moment’s hesitation, he finally asked, “Chi Yang… what’s wrong? Why are you picking all these flowers? Wouldn’t it be better to leave them on the vines? It feels like such a waste.”

“Shh…” Chi Yang put a finger to her lips, signaling him to be quiet. Then, picking up the blue bud again, she smiled and without hesitation, began tearing off its petals one by one.

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The blue bud, stripped of its petals, was reduced to just a few milky-white stamens trembling slightly. A circle of silver-blue light radiated from the stamens, reflecting on Chi Yang’s pale face. To Shi Jun’s eyes, it suddenly looked eerie and unfamiliar.

At this moment, Chi Yang stared fixedly at the glowing stamens, her fingers weaving a series of hand seals. Yet no change came to the stamens. Disappointed, she sighed, casually tossing the damaged bud aside. She then picked up a large pink bud and rapidly tore off its petals as well.

Shi Jun’s expression grew increasingly grim, but he remained silent, quietly picking up the flower Chi Yang had discarded, his gaze deep in thought.

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Although Shi Jun was never particularly fond of flowers, he had never before torn off healthy blossoms merely for his own amusement. Chi Yang’s current behavior was truly baffling, planting a seed of suspicion deep in his heart.

“What are you waiting for? We finally got in here—are you going back empty-handed?” Chi Yang turned to him with a teasing smile. “Hurry and pick more. We can’t linger too long; if the big explosion starts, nothing will be left, and it’ll be hard for any of us to escape safely.”

“Is that so?” Shi Jun replied calmly, his eyes fixed on the familiar yet strange woman before him. Suddenly, he snorted coldly. “Why are you pretending to be Chi Yang?”

At this, Chi Yang, who was in the middle of “destroying” the sixth bud, paused in surprise, then flashed a bewitching smile. “You! You’re so mean! Since you figured it out, why keep pretending? Seems you’re not sincere enough with me!” Her words were ambiguous, leaving Shi Jun confused.

Just then, a distant rumble sounded again, and the massive net trembled slightly beneath them.

“Chi Yang,” she frowned and stood. “Why’s it happening so soon? Looks like we can’t waste any time!” She crossed her palms and waved them like two jade butterflies fluttering up and down. As she murmured softly, a strong wind swirled and danced around the cave. In an instant, all the flower buds in the cave were swept from their vines, swirling around and settling on the great net, completely surrounding Shi Jun and Chi Yang.

“Quick, help me gather them! There’s no time!” Chi Yang scolded, giving Shi Jun a reproachful glance. She directed the wind with her fingertips, stuffing the piled blossoms, which resembled a small mountain, into the sleeves of her garment. Strangely, though, no matter how many flowers she stuffed in, her slender sleeves never seemed to bulge—much like Shi Jun’s bottomless treasure pouch. As the flowers on the net diminished, Shi Jun suddenly felt cheated—this woman before him was definitely not the real Chi Yang!

With a loud “rumble,” one side of the cave suddenly collapsed. Huge stones, wrapped in lush vines, fell onto the net, causing it to shake violently. Shi Jun and “Chi Yang” immediately lost their balance and fell onto the net.

“Shi Jun, are you alright?” the woman called anxiously.

“Who exactly are you? What kind of demon are you, and what do you want?” Shi Jun jumped up furiously, flipping his hand and preparing to unleash the “Cold Frost Earth Shaking” spell. “Speak! Why are you impersonating Chi Yang and deceiving me?”

The woman resembling Chi Yang blinked innocently, a faint smile playing on her lips as she tilted her head. “Why are you so angry? I came because I was worried about you. Don’t you like me? When I kissed you just now, your heart was beating so fast.” She pointed to his chest.

Shi Jun flushed with embarrassment but quickly felt a surge of anger. “I’m asking you! Who are you really? Why are you lying to me?”

The woman who looked so much like Chi Yang smiled softly, spread her hands, and gracefully turned around. Her black hair shimmered with silver light, cascading like a waterfall. Her short silver armor barely covered her alluring figure, leaving her arms and thighs bare, and her snow-white feet exposed. Her pale skin gleamed with silver specks. Tall and slender, her laugh changed into a deep, seductive tone that was irresistibly tempting: “I am Silver Hook, but I am also Chi Yang.”

Though her figure, hair, and attire were vastly different from Chi Yang’s, her face was unmistakably the same—only less cold and stubborn, and more charming and amiable.

“Enough. I’ll tell you this: in my heart, I truly like you, just like your dying little lover. Come with me. We can’t waste more time here!” Silver Hook spoke softly, reaching out to take Shi Jun’s hand.

Shi Jun retorted angrily, “This is outrageous!” Without another word, he slung his golden bow across his back, formed seals, and leapt upward toward the hole above.

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“Wait!” Silver Hook shouted, grabbing Shi Jun’s ankle and yanking him back down.

Shi Jun shouted in frustration, “What do you want?”

Silver Hook gave him a pitiful glance, grasped his arm, and spoke gently, “That path won’t work. If we want to leave, maybe there’s still a chance through here.” She pointed to the collapsed rock face.

Shi Jun’s heart tightened. He didn’t know what scheme this demoness named Silver Hook was plotting. Coldly, he said, “How I go is none of your business. Stay out of it.” He broke free and, wary, leapt up again.

Silver Hook exclaimed in alarm, “Are you seeking death?” She raised her hand, sending a silver whip flying toward Shi Jun.

This time, Shi Jun was prepared. Midair, he bent his waist, spun around, and flicked his fingers, unleashing “Cold Frost Earth Shaking.” A vast white mist surged toward Silver Hook.

Silver Hook dodged hastily, drawing the silver whip back and waving it in all directions, absorbing the intangible white mist. Lifting a brow in anger, she scolded, “Ungrateful scoundrel!” With her other hand, she summoned a long sword, which transformed into a huge white snake. Its blood-red tongue flickered unpredictably as it lunged at Shi Jun with an open mouth.

In desperation, Shi Jun grasped at the air and used “Object Mastery.” Though he hadn’t used this spell since his last trip to the Underworld, it was the first magic he had learned and came naturally to him. Moreover, his understanding and skill with Underworld magic had greatly improved recently. This time, his use was extraordinary—a gleaming, razor-sharp long blade appeared in his hand, arcing fiercely in midair to strike the snake’s head diagonally.

A jet of white liquid sprayed from the snake’s neck, and its head emitted a long, wailing shriek. Shi Jun caught sight of Silver Hook’s face darkening with fury as she charged forward. Without hesitation, he threw the long blade.

“Pfft!” The blade struck Silver Hook squarely in the lower abdomen.

The blade stopped her momentum. She clutched her stomach, bent over, her expression one of disbelief—her face pale as she stared at Shi Jun.

Shi Jun hadn’t expected to hit Silver Hook so decisively. Normally, he should have fled immediately, but seeing her face, so much like Chi Yang’s, a sudden gloom fell over him, and an inexplicable guilt rose in his heart.