Hearing him speak, Shi Chun was certain that it wasn't him gagging his mouth, and he was relieved that it wasn't a man.

He sighed in relief, but was even more astonished. Was it Bian Weiyin?

In fact, he had realized right from the start that it was Bian Weiyin. There were only three people in the hole, and he knew exactly where each was positioned, especially since Bian Weiyin was leaning close to him. He had felt her distinctive aura when he had embraced her earlier.

If he had suspected that it was Wu Jinliang, he would have slapped him long ago, not letting his tongue stir continuously in his own mouth.

The reason he doubted was because he couldn't believe it. Why?

He truly couldn't believe it, to the point of doubting his own basic judgment abilities. He subconsciously raised his hand to touch the face close to him, reaching the earlobe and feeling the earmuff, then moving downwards decisively and without hesitation, he touched her chest, pinched it, and then froze.

The person opposite also dared not move after being pinched.

In the darkness, the two of them, mouths pressed together, remained motionless, feeling each other's breath.

Later, Shi Chun was the first to move his hand away.

Bian Weiyin's mouth slowly withdrew, but she snuggled against his shoulder, gently wrapping one of his arms in her embrace, and stayed quiet.

"What were you eating, Chun Tian? Why didn't you speak?" Wu Jinliang's voice rang out again as he crawled over, groping blindly until he touched Shi Chun's shoulder, then reaching up to Shi Chun's face.

Slap! Shi Chun waved his arm away, "Stop groping blindly, go away."

He was truly afraid Wu Jinliang would feel Bian Weiyin snuggled up against him.

Wu Jinliang, pained by the slap, chuckled and sat back down. He had feared some monstrous creature had come in, causing trouble; it was a relief nothing happened.

In a strange state of mind, even though Wu Jinliang was nearby, Bian Weiyin didn't feel his presence. She whispered softly, "My mother was beautiful and held herself in high regard, but she always felt oppressed. From a young age, I would hear her say that women are no less capable than men, citing empresses as examples.

My mother always told me that my grandfather and father favored sons over daughters. So, from a young age, I aspired to perform well in front of them, striving in my cultivation and deeds, trying to display good character in hopes of gaining their approval.

Later, when my brother got into trouble and was expelled from the Sect, I clearly remember the angry look on my father's face as he turned to me and told me seriously that I was doing well, that I was his only hope, and the future of Wukang Mountain depended on me.

I was incredibly motivated at the time, meticulous in my efforts, not daring to make any mistakes, striving for that day. Only when my brother returned did I realize that my father's words about expelling my brother from the Sect were spoken in anger and his so-called hope in me was merely a way to comfort himself after his outburst.

In order to repent my brother and support his ascension, you went to the extent of pursuing Xiang Laner, and how meticulously you planned it. It turns out my long efforts were just a joke. You can't understand my feelings. If it's not meant to be, then don't, but why deceive me? If my future is doomed not to have much, to just be about getting married and having children, why deceive me to make so many sacrifices? I cannot accept it; I will never accept it, unless I die…"

Hearing this, Shi Chun vaguely understood the reason behind her words, explaining why she had tried to kill him back in Lankang City.

Wu Jinliang, unaware of why she was so emotional, cheerfully tried to console her, "Senior sister, it's not worth making life and death decisions over such matters. If you had been through what Chun Tian and I have, just picking any incident to compare, you would realize your troubles really aren't significant. You don't know. Chun Tian and I have been regarded as mouthfuls in others' mouths since we were young. Who did we blame? We just accepted it when there was no other way. Otherwise, it would have been very painful."

Bian Weiyin asked, "What does 'mouthfuls in others' mouths' mean?"

Wu Jinliang chuckled, "You haven't heard, have you? In the Land of Exile, resources are scarce, sometimes abundant, sometimes tight. During the tight times, it's possible to starve to death. When it's abundant, you can't stuff yourself to death, and if you keep food too long, it goes bad, so people would raise children as a backup for famine times.

When famine struck, children without parental protection were often cooked in a pot. Some parents, too hungry to bear it, yet unwilling to eat their own children, would exchange theirs with others.

We survived out of luck, and didn't hold grudges against those who almost ate us. Chun Tian was even thankful to them, later helping those people leave the Land of Exile. Using Chun Tian's words, from then on, all debts were settled, nothing further owed.

So, when it comes to family matters, there's no other way. When you encounter unavoidable situations, you just have to accept it. If you really fight it out, there will be no turning back, and the result will be either you die or I die. Can you bear that in a family matter?"

After his ramble, the scene fell silent again.

Shi Chun didn't know what to say; at that moment, Bian Weiyin seemed carefree and out of character, tracing circles in the palm of his hand with her fingertips.

After a while, Bian Weiyin, resting her head on his shoulder, softly spoke again, "What if we can't get out?"

Gan Tangyu had said something similar before, seeking the same underlying meaning.

Shi Chun replied, "Find a way out until we succeed."

Bian Weiyin asked, "What if?"

Shi Chun responded, "There's no 'if,' there's no other choice but to get out."

Wu Jinliang chuckled. Chun Tian was still the same Chun Tian, which reassured him.

Bian Weiyin, unable to bring up her intended topic, stayed quiet for a bit, then softly said, "I was humiliated, but I have not lost my honor."

Shi Chun responded, "I know."

Bian Weiyin, "You have seen my body, and I can't find another person."

What kind of wild and ruthless words were these? Wu Jinliang pricked up his ears, opened his mouth, bared his teeth, and stared with both eyes in the darkness, falling completely silent.

Shi Chun, "Zhao Shanqi has seen it too."

Bian Weiyin, "He's dead, you're not."

Shi Chun, "I don't know what's good about me. I have no family background, no wealth, no power, and I'm dark-skinned. People used to curse at us, calling us lowly troublemakers. Moreover, you know I had other intentions for going to Wukang Mountain. I really don't know what you see in me. Is it because I saved you? Or is it because of our current situation, and you're afraid we'll abandon you and you're just trying to survive?"

Bian Weiyin leaned on his shoulder, lightly shaking her head and murmured, "I don't know, maybe all of those. I don't understand either. Perhaps the darkness makes people want to indulge. In the light, I wouldn't dare do that. Maybe matters between men and women are just about the right time, place, and harmony. Missing any bit of that, I wouldn't have done it just now."

Shi Chun was silent for a moment, then said, "I have someone I like."

Bian Weiyin, "Does she like you?"

Her response was very calm because she too was a woman. A man just coming out of the Land of Exile, she didn't think any normal woman would fancy him. And if it were a woman from the Land of Exile, could she really compete with her?

She did have her shortcomings, but after all, she had once been the City Lord of Lankang City and had her own intellect.

With this statement, she pushed Shi Chun deep into a hole, into a pit he no longer wanted to climb out of, devoid even of the desire to try. Indeed, would that person like him?

Bian Weiyin had already obtained her answer from his silence and softly said, "You can doubt all you want, I've made my choice. Trust or not, let time decide. In darkness, no one sees anything, maybe we'll never get out. Shi Chun." She shook the man's arm.

Shi Chun uttered a sound of acknowledgment.

Bian Weiyin asked, "Is my body good-looking?"

Shi Chun refused to answer.

"Oh heavens, what sins have I committed to have to listen to this?"

Wu Jinliang's wail arose, followed by the sound of his head thudding against the wall. He finally understood what the smacking noise was. It wasn't someone eating.

Later, Shi Chun formally told Bian Weiyin that he had just gone out, exhausted a lot, and needed to recuperate, which made Bian Weiyin release him and he continued to tend to his injuries.

After recuperating, Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang left Bian Weiyin behind again, mounted the Wind Scale and went out once more to search near the deep pit area for the whereabouts of the red-glowing monsters, but still found nothing.

However, on the way back this time, Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang killed a lone monster, broke open its body, and extracted a glowing blue object, discovering it was indeed an Insect Extreme Crystal.

As they released it, the spinning Insect Extreme Crystal immediately flew away, vanishing into the endless darkness.

The relationship between the monster and the Insect Extreme Crystal baffled them.

After extinguishing the Sandalwood Gold in his hand, Wu Jinliang clicked his tongue, "Damn, with so many monsters, there must be countless Insect Extreme Crystals. If we could get them all, we'd definitely take first place once out."

Shi Chun, "The idea is nice, but not realistic. We don't have many windows of time to get out, can't waste time here, and my right eye can't handle it."

Wu Jinliang nodded, "That's true. It's just a thought. Getting out is what matters."

Seeing the monsters approaching from the sounds, the two hurriedly mounted the Wind Scale and escaped.

Returning to the cave, Shi Chun continued to recover from the toll his superpower took on his right eye. Once his strength was restored, he and Wu Jinliang headed out again.

This time, as soon as they neared the deep pit, Shi Chun immediately had Wu Jinliang shine a light, and the two plunged into the pile of monsters, slashing wildly. After attracting countless monsters with their noise, Shi Chun immediately pulled Wu Jinliang and ran.

They went straight back to the cave to meditate and recover.

Recovery was quick since the exertion was minor.

Once recovered, Shi Chun again pulled Wu Jinliang out, returning to the previous spot, and like before, plunged down and created a commotion by fighting wildly before immediately running off again.

On the way back, Wu Jinliang sensed something amiss and asked, "What are we actually doing?"

Shi Chun, "Since we can't find it, we'll make it come to us. Isn't it a leader? With constant disturbances like this, I don't believe we can't lure it out."

Hearing this, Wu Jinliang laughed and clapped, "Exactly, let's keep this up."

Both quickly meditated to recover upon reaching the cave.

Bian Weiyin in the cave sensed something was off too and felt her way to Shi Chun, asking, "Is everything alright?"

Wu Jinliang quickly intervened, "Sister, try to control yourself a bit. It could be pitch black here, but just because we can't see doesn't mean we can't hear."

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