"Tch!" Yang Kai sighed, shaking off the exhaustion that clung to him. Despite the lingering ache in his body, a spark of excitement lifted his mood.
"After refining the Heaven Devouring Insect, I feel like I can control those insects!" he said aloud, his voice tinged with wonder. Sitting cross-legged in the insect king's cavern, he closed his eyes and focused his mind, reaching out with his senses.
Moments later, a rustling sound echoed from outside the cave. It grew louder, more insistent, until Yang Kai's eyes snapped open. A grin spread across his face. "Oh, it works!" he laughed, the sound bouncing off the stone walls. Beyond the chamber's threshold, a swarm of demon insects had gathered—some as small as his palm, others towering like beasts. They stopped just outside, as if the cave were a forbidden sanctum, their multifaceted eyes glinting in the dim light.
The smaller insects, though weak individually, were vast in number, a writhing tide that could overwhelm through sheer volume. But it was the larger ones that truly thrilled him—third and fourth-order Monster Beasts, with two colossal specimens at the fifth order, equivalent to True Element Boundary masters. With these at my command, who would dare mess with me?
Yang Kai thought, his confidence surging. This treacherous journey into the nest had been worth every risk.
Rising to his feet, he stepped toward the entrance. The insects parted before him, opening a path like a living sea. Feeling a rush of triumph, Yang Kai left the king's cave behind and headed toward the spot where the women were resting. For days, they'd been trapped in a haze of horror, haunted by the nest's terrors and the uncertainty of his survival. Their nerves were frayed, their hope dwindling—until now.
As he neared their hiding place, the faint glow of dawn pierced the jungle canopy. Mo Yanyu, Di Yalan, and Mu Yu Die sat huddled together, their faces pale with worry. The crunch of his footsteps broke the silence, and their heads whipped up, eyes wide with a mix of fear and anticipation. When they saw him, relief flooded their expressions.
"Yang Kai!" Mu Yu Die cried, her voice cracking as she leapt to her feet. The others followed, and in an instant, they rushed to him, throwing themselves into his arms. Joy and tears mingled as they clung to him, the tension of the past days melting away in the warmth of their embrace. For a fleeting moment, the jungle's dangers faded.
But then, self-consciousness crept in. Mu Yu Die stepped back, her cheeks flushing with a shy smile. Di Yalan coughed awkwardly, regaining her composure, while Mo Yanyu pulled away, her gaze dropping as a faint blush colored her face.
Yang Kai chuckled, his arms lingering a heartbeat longer before he let go. "I'm back," he said, his tone steady and reassuring. "And I've brought something with me."
Before they could respond, a low hum filled the air. The women stiffened, their eyes darting to the underbrush as a mass of insects emerged—large and small, their glossy exoskeletons shimmering in the faint light. They surrounded the group, a living wall of clicking mandibles and twitching limbs. Mu Yu Die gasped, her hand tightening on her zither, while Di Yalan reached for her sword. Mo Yanyu edged closer to Yang Kai, her breath catching in her throat.
"Don't be afraid," Yang Kai said, raising a hand. "They're under my control now."
At his gesture, the insects stilled, their movements eerily synchronized. They formed a protective ring around the group, obedient and unthreatening.
The women stared, astonishment replacing their fear. "How…?" Mu Yu Die breathed, her voice barely above a whisper.
Yang Kai's grin widened. "The insect king. I defeated it, and the swarm answers to me now."
Di Yalan's brow furrowed, though a flicker of admiration shone in her eyes. "You took down the king? By yourself?"
He nodded, his expression sobering. "It was close. But I managed. And now, we've got an advantage."
Mo Yanyu's gaze softened, her fear giving way to something warmer, her usual sharpness dulled by relief.
"We can't stay here," Yang Kai said, turning to the group. "But with these insects, we'll be safer moving forward. Let's get out of this nest."
He focused his mind, directing the swarm. The larger insects lumbered ahead, clearing a path, while the smaller ones fanned out like scouts. "Follow me," he said, gesturing to the women. They fell into step behind him, the insects parting to let them pass, then closing ranks at their rear.
As they emerged from the nest, the jungle loomed before them—vast, wild, and treacherous. The women stayed close, their fear lingering but tempered by trust in Yang Kai's newfound power. They didn't press him for details about the cave, content for now to follow his lead.
With the swarm at their side, they stepped outside.
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The next few days on the island unfolded at a measured pace. Yang Kai, ever cautious after their recent trials, resisted the urge to plunge deeper into the unknown. Instead, he sought a secluded nook—a sheltered ledge beneath an overhanging cliff, where the air was cool and the noise of the island's wildlife muted.
Here, he could cultivate in peace, channeling his energy to refine his control over the insect swarm that now answered his will.
But more than that, this respite gave him the chance to study the tortoise shell he'd pried from Master Karu's lifeless grasp.
The shell was a relic of age and mystery, its surface smoothed by time yet etched with cryptic markings—lines, curves, and symbols that hinted at a purpose.
Sitting cross-legged on the mossy stone, Yang Kai turned it over in his hands, his fingers tracing the grooves. It was more than a trophy; it was a map, he was certain of it. The question was where it led.
He glanced up, his gaze settling on Mo Yanyu, who sat nearby sharpening her blade with rhythmic precision. Since their harrowing escape from the insect nest, she'd been quieter, her sharp tongue tempered by something unspoken. Yet her mind remained as keen as her weapon, and Yang Kai trusted her insight.
"Mo Yanyu," he called, his voice steady but inviting. "Come take a look at this."
"What is it?"
"This tortoise shell," Yang Kai said, holding it out. "I think it's a map. I've been staring at it for hours, but I can't piece it together. Maybe you can."
Mo Yanyu took the shell, her fingers brushing his for a fleeting moment. She studied it intently, her brow creasing as she tilted it to catch the light. "These markings…" she murmured, her voice trailing off. "They're familiar."
Di Yalan and Mu Yu Die, drawn by the exchange, joined them. Di Yalan peered over Mo Yanyu's shoulder, her pragmatic nature already at work. "What do you see?" she asked.
Mo Yanyu pointed to a cluster of curved lines. "These could be rivers or trails. And these symbols—maybe landmarks or places of importance."
Mu Yu Die, her delicate fingers hovering near the shell, tilted her head. "Wait," she said, her voice soft but firm. "That shape there—it looks like the mountain we passed two days ago. The one with the twin peaks."
Yang Kai's eyes sharpened. "You're sure?"
"Yes," Mu Yu Die replied, growing more certain. "The peaks were jagged, like horns. If that's on the map, then this spot here—" she tapped a nearby marking—"might be where we are now."
Di Yalan nodded, her arms crossing as she considered the idea. "Let's match it to what we've seen. If we can pin down our location, we'll know where this map is taking us."
The four of them huddled around the shell, the air buzzing with quiet excitement. Mo Yanyu, drawing on her knowledge from the Red Cloud Sect, offered insights into the island's lore.
Mu Yu Die's memory of the twin peaks anchored their discussion, and Yang Kai listened, piecing it all together.
After an hour of debate, they reached a breakthrough. "It's a map of the island," Yang Kai concluded, tracing a path with his finger. "And it leads here—deep in the interior. A cave, maybe, or some ancient site."
"The treasure?" Mu Yu Die asked, her eyes bright with hope.
"Probably hidden there," Yang Kai said. "But look at this." He pointed to jagged lines along the route. "These could mean trouble—beasts, demons, or worse."
Di Yalan's lips pressed into a thin line. "Nothing we haven't faced before. With your insects, we've got an edge."
Yang Kai smirked. "True. We'll set out at dawn. Be ready."
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