Chapter 39: Block the door, come
The scene shifts back to near the ruin’s exit.
Luo Chen sat cross-legged, exhaling a turbid breath, his aura now steady.
He opened his eyes, looking toward—
Luo Yuanshan stood with his back to him, posture firm, like a silent sentinel. Despite occasional distant noises, he only glanced briefly before resuming his stance.
“He’s really that obedient?”
Luo Chen muttered, a flicker of doubt in his eyes.
From the moment he saw Luo Yuanshan, he hadn’t fully let his guard down.
Luo Yuanshan’s story sounded reasonable, but something felt off.
So, he feigned severe injury, scolded him, assigned him to guard duty, and secretly watched his every move.
Yet, so far, Luo Yuanshan hadn’t done anything suspicious.
This eased Luo Chen’s wariness slightly—but only slightly.
He needed to keep testing him.
At that moment, hurried footsteps echoed from the ruin’s exit.
Luo Chen looked up.
A gaunt figure stumbled out, bloodied, face ghostly pale.
“Luo Yan?”
Luo Chen frowned.
He hadn’t expected this guy to escape Luo Jiutian.
Before he could speak, Luo Yuanshan, previously still, suddenly charged toward the wounded Luo Yan.
“Wow, Skinny Ghost, you’re alive?!”
“Hey, hey, hey—what are you doing?!”
Luo Yan yelped, but before he could finish, a heavy fist slammed into his chest.
Boom!
He flew back, snapping a tree, rolling to a stop.
“Cough, cough!” Spitting blood, his face paler, he gasped, “Big guy, you sick?!”
Luo Yuanshan didn’t let him finish, chasing with two more punches, sending Luo Yan tumbling, battered.
“Stop, stop!” Luo Chen’s face changed, shouting, “Luo Yuanshan, what the hell are you doing?!”
Mid-punch, Luo Yuanshan froze at the command.
He withdrew his fist, stood, and turned to Luo Chen, his honest face full of confusion.
“Young Master, didn’t you say to attack anyone who approaches?”
Luo Chen: ?
Luo Yan: “…”
Luo Yan took a deep breath, trying to calm himself and avoid losing it.
Stay calm, don’t stoop to the level of a dumb teammate.
Big body, small brain—don’t argue with an idiot.
Luo Chen suppressed the urge to spear Luo Yuanshan, turning to Luo Yan: “Alright, how’d you escape?”
Wiping blood from his mouth, Luo Yan stood, gritting his teeth.
“Young Master,” he pointed at Luo Yuanshan, tone serious, “I burned my essence blood to cover his retreat, fighting Luo Jiutian to the death.”
He lowered his hand, continuing: “But in less than ten breaths, I was spent, thinking it was over. Then—”
“Then?”
“Luo Jiutian slipped, thud, and fell into a trap.”
“Huh?”
Ignoring Luo Chen’s confusion, Luo Yan continued: “Then that beastly shadow appeared from nowhere, diving into the trap after him. I didn’t stay—seized the chance and fled the chamber.”
Luo Chen listened, silent, staring at Luo Yan.
After a long pause, he said: “That’s so bizarre—how am I supposed to believe it?”
Luo Yan clasped his hands, gaze firm: “Every word is true. If I lied, punish me however you see fit.”
Luo Chen stayed quiet, eyes lingering on Luo Yan’s face.
He wasn’t convinced so easily, but he couldn’t find flaws.
Luo Yan’s post-essence-blood exhaustion was unmistakable—he’d just experienced it himself.
And Luo Jiutian’s absence somewhat corroborated the trap story.
The beastly shadow likely dissipated after his escape, only to reform in the chamber and target Luo Jiutian.
It all seemed plausible, but something felt off.
Luo Chen frowned, his mind racing.
“Young Master!”
Luo Yuanshan’s voice interrupted, not giving him time to think: “The secret realm’s closing soon. Let’s seize the chance to grab the Tempering Origin Persimmons in the central region!”
Luo Chen, mid-thought, looked annoyed at the interruption.
But hearing the suggestion, he paused.
“Wait…”
His eyes narrowed, recalling: “When we confronted Li Daming, the Li and Xiao families were fighting over the persimmons.
We and the Su family interrupted their battle, but chasing Luo Jiutian pulled us away from the central region.”
Luo Yuanshan’s face lit up: “So—”
“If the Li and Xiao families haven’t cooled off, they might still be fighting,” Luo Chen smirked. “We go back, maybe reap the rewards.”
“Young Master’s brilliant!”
Luo Yuanshan gave a thumbs-up, full of admiration.
Luo Chen lifted his chin, basking in the flattery.
But then, Luo Yan spoke: “What if they’ve reconciled and split the treasure? Wouldn’t we be wasting our time?”
Luo Chen’s expression froze, unable to retort, when Luo Yan added: “And… what if Luo Jiutian escapes and pulls a ‘mantis stalks cicada, oriole behind’ on us?”
Luo Chen’s lips twitched.
He knew these were valid concerns, but the tone grated him, like he was being challenged.
He snorted: “If they’ve reconciled, we retreat—no pointless fights. As for Luo Jiutian…”
He glanced at the ruin’s exit: “He’s still stuck inside. What’s there to worry about?”
Even so, he scanned the surroundings.
His gaze landed on a large, solid gray-white stone.
Its texture matched the ruin’s walls almost perfectly.
A spark lit in his mind. He walked over, circled it, glanced at the exit, and his eyes gleamed with excitement.
Perfect size!
Overjoyed, he raised his spear, channeling spiritual energy to its tip, and thrust at the stone.
Bang!
The spear hit, the stone trembled, shifting slightly forward, but its surface remained unscathed, not a crack.
Luo Chen’s lips curved.
He turned to Luo Yan: “Stay here, recover, and be ready to move.”
“Yes.”
Luo Yan nodded, sitting cross-legged to regulate his breathing.
Then Luo Chen looked at Luo Yuanshan, who was scratching his head: “Block the door. Come.”