And sure enough…
She really was lucky! After passing through the corridor, she was greeted by fresh scenery. No more strange structures covered in carvings and monotonous walls that made her dizzy. It seemed she had finally escaped.
Lin Yue turned back. The structure behind her still stood tall and imposing. No one would ever guess it hid a maddening labyrinth inside.
The sight ahead showed a lush, verdant forest. It looked refreshing, almost too alive. Because of how dense it was, tall grasses and thorny bushes grew wildly between the trees. Not ideal, but nothing she couldn't handle if she was careful.
Even so, she couldn't relax. Just because she left the labyrinth didn't mean she was safe now. She had no choice but to lighten her steps and move quietly.
And just as expected, even with her footsteps light as feathers, Lin Yue could still hear faint sounds of approaching steps. They were getting closer.
They must've sensed her general location even if they couldn't pinpoint it. She was still very much in danger. Lin Yue needed to think, fast.
The footsteps drew nearer. She quickly hid behind a tree, avoiding direct confrontation until she figured out her next plan.
Not long after, the robed figures arrived at the spot she had passed moments earlier. They weren't far at all. Thankfully, the numerous branching trees gave her enough cover to blend into the surroundings.
"I can sense traces of the same faint spiritual energy around this area. Too bad that brat has no cultivation for us to track. But she's surprisingly lucky… she actually managed to alter the structure and mechanisms of the building."
The one speaking was the same person Lin Yue had seen in the main hall. This time he had another black-robed figure with him, taller than the first.
"So careless! You can't even handle such a small task. What's the point of guarding this place for years if you're this useless? Search the area!"
Judging from his tone, the taller robed figure was furious. He looked ready to explode. If they found Lin Yue, she'd be done for.
"Understood."
Unfortunately for them, while they were busy lecturing each other, the person they were talking about had already slipped away. Lin Yue pushed through the thorny bushes in haste. She didn't have time.
The thorns scraped her soft skin, leaving painful-looking marks. But Lin Yue didn't feel any pain. Her instincts screamed that survival mattered more than anything.
She kept running, careful not to make noise. It didn't help much. Their hearing was too sharp, and the rustling bushes immediately gave away her direction.
"There!"
They chased after her relentlessly. Their speed was frightening. In seconds, they were closing the distance.
Frustration prickled at Lin Yue. Her eyes scanned her surroundings rapidly, searching for any opening or advantage.
Just then, a faint sound reached her ears: flowing water. There was a water source nearby. The soft splashing revealed more. It wasn't just water…
It was a waterfall.
A spark of hope flickered. Her pace quickened slightly, even though it barely widened the gap between her and her pursuers.
When she reached the water, the current wasn't too calm, nor too rough. It looked harmless on the surface, but harmless things were often the most dangerous.
She took a deep breath. Her pursuers were closing in. She had to risk it. She would dive, hide underwater. At least her tracks would temporarily disappear.
She braced herself and jumped. The water was icy cold, stabbing into her already scraped skin.
The splash marked her entry. The black-robed figures instantly noticed and rushed toward the water. Whether she survived or not, they would catch her.
Lin Yue didn't expect them to be this persistent. Did she look that tasty to them or what? This was turning into a chase underwater.
Her oxygen ran low. Her lungs burned. She swam upward desperately, her face turning pale.
They chased her into the direction of the waterfall's drop.
Lin Yue got closer.
Closer…
Closer…
One of the robed figures finally panicked. It was like a stone dropped on his head. If the girl fell, they would suffer huge consequences.
"She's going to fall! Don't let her fall!"
But it was too late. Lin Yue had already reached the edge. The water flowed endlessly, then dropped into an abyss with no visible bottom. It was a massive waterfall, and anyone falling from it would surely die.
"You want to catch me? Too bad. I'll have to say… adiós."
The next second, Lin Yue truly fell. Her body dropped through the air, swallowed by the rushing water and the darkness below.
"After her!"
The black-robed figures were furious. They jumped after her without hesitation. It would be humiliating to fail at catching someone who didn't even have cultivation. Completely disgraceful.
What they didn't know was that Lin Yue hadn't actually fallen. She was hanging onto a thick vine growing near the waterfall. She knew that certain plants thrived in damp, misty areas like this.
But she still didn't know how she would get out of this situation. Her hands gripped tightly, her body swaying dangerously over the drop.
Her stamina was almost gone. Her hands numbed. The cuts on her skin began to sting.
She couldn't waste any more strength. Her eyes scanned her surroundings for an escape.
A detail caught her attention. The water flow in one section fell differently. The sunlight's reflection also didn't match the rest.
Only one explanation remained.
There was a hollow space behind the waterfall. A cave.
Excitement lifted her spirits. She could at least rest safely for a while.
She carefully adjusted her grip on the vines and climbed toward the rocks. They were slippery and covered in moss, but she didn't give up.
However, just as she was about to reach the opening, her foot slipped. Her face went pale instantly. Her heart nearly stopped.
She almost fell.
Luckily, her hands held tight. Otherwise she would have been shattered at the bottom.
Lin Yue steadied her breathing, though her arms trembled. She wasn't clumsy, but the loose rock had been unexpected.
Finally, with painstaking care, she reached the cave. The moment she stepped inside, her legs gave out. Cold, hungry, exhausted, wounded… it was a miracle she was still alive.
The cave was dark and cold. She quickly remembered the dual-colored jade orb she carried. It could emit light.
She took it out carefully. And yes, it glowed faintly, just enough to illuminate the cave.
But something else shocked her.
It wasn't because the light.
It was the presence of someone else inside the cave!