The ambush in the jungle had originally been aimed at Zuo Wuyou. Yang Kai had simply stumbled into it by chance.
No one had expected that at such a critical moment, the Holy Son of the Divine Cult guided by fate would suddenly descend from the heavens, causing the undercurrents that had been simmering to erupt in an instant.
After a moment's reflection, Yang Kai understood.
Zuo Wuyou had indeed said to those ambushers earlier, "Aren't you all here for me?"
"Regardless, I should thank you," Yang Kai said.
Zuo Wuyou replied, "The Holy Son is too kind. We cannot stay here long — we need to leave as soon as possible."
Though he had killed quite a few enemies, he was ultimately fighting alone and couldn't hope to wipe them all out. Word of the Holy Son's appearance had surely already spread. Targeting a single Zuo Wuyou, the enemy might show a measure of concern, but it hadn't reached the point where they would stop at nothing to eliminate him. However, if news of the Holy Son got out, they would undoubtedly come with everything they had to wipe him from existence.
"But Brother Zuo, your injuries…" the slender young man gazed at Zuo Wuyou with worry.
Zuo Wuyou waved dismissively. "It's nothing serious. Escorting the Holy Son—" Before he could finish, he suddenly coughed up a mist of blood. His aura plummeted to its lowest ebb, and his face turned deathly pale.
"Brother Zuo!" The two young men cried out in alarm, rushing forward to support Zuo Wuyou as he swayed on his feet.
Yang Kai looked at him and said, "It seems we'll need to hide here for a while."
A bitter expression crossed Zuo Wuyou's face. "Please, Holy Son, give me half a day."
Yang Kai gave a noncommittal response.
Zuo Wuyou clearly needed urgent healing. The battle just now had drained him enormously, and he had only managed to suppress his injuries through sheer will, driven by concern for the Holy Son's safety and the future of the Divine Cult. Now that his hidden wounds had erupted, he was temporarily unable to move.
Before long, Zuo Wuyou was settled down, eyes closed in meditation as he cycled his breath and tended to his injuries.
The two young men who had brought Yang Kai here stood guard nearby, while Yang Kai himself had little to do.
The intelligence he currently possessed was far too sparse. The only thing he could confirm was that this world still existed within Mu's Space-Time River.
When the wave of the Space-Time River had crashed down, Yang Kai hadn't dodged, and had been swept here — only to find that his arrival coincided with some unknown prophecy concerning a Holy Maiden of a cult in this world…
If he wanted to learn anything about his situation, the first step was clearly to meet that Holy Maiden.
Yang Kai harbored certain suspicions, but until he actually met the Holy Maiden, he couldn't confirm them.
Before that, however, there were some minor nuisances to deal with.
The secret chamber fell silent.
Roughly two hours later, a sudden disturbance broke the stillness.
Zuo Wuyou, who had been meditating with closed eyes, snapped them open. Disbelief filled his face as he muttered in a low voice, "Impossible!"
The moment the word left his lips, the entire mountain trembled.
It was as though someone outside was unleashing powerful strikes against the cliff face where their secret chamber was hidden.
"Brother Zuo!" The slender young man cried out. "Our position has been exposed — those people have caught up!"
Zuo Wuyou's expression turned grave.
This secret chamber was one of the Divine Cult's outposts. When he had returned earlier, he had carefully scouted the surroundings and confirmed he hadn't been followed. How had the enemy found them?
If he hadn't been certain this location was safe, he wouldn't have stayed here to heal.
And yet, they had come regardless.
"Activate the protective formation — now!" Zuo Wuyou barked.
The other young man immediately produced a jade slip, channeling his power into it to activate the chamber's defensive barrier.
The attacks outside grew fiercer, and the rumbling intensified.
"Zuo Wuyou! I know you're in there. Hand over your Holy Son, and I'll spare your life!"
Zuo Wuyou's face changed at the voice. "Yan Peng! That old fox came personally."
He hadn't flinched when besieged in the jungle, yet now he looked as though he were facing a mortal enemy. Clearly, this man called Yan Peng was not to be trifled with.
After a pause with no response from within, the Yan Peng outside let out a cold snort. "You'd refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit? Fine — don't blame this old man for being ruthless!"
As his words fell, a violent wave of power rocked the chamber, sending it shuddering.
The young man holding the jade slip staggered and said urgently, "Brother Zuo, the defensive formation won't hold much longer!"
Zuo Wuyou immediately planted his sword and rose to his feet. He drew a deep breath and spoke in a low, steady voice: "Zheng Hai, Liu Ji — when the time comes, I'll carve a path for you. Take the Holy Son and run."
"We can't escape, Brother Zuo!" Zheng Hai, the slender young man, said with anguished fury. "Let's fight them to the death!"
A flicker of sorrow passed through Zuo Wuyou's eyes. How could he not know they couldn't outrun the enemy? But after so many years of perseverance, he had finally caught a glimpse of dawn. To give up now — how could he possibly accept that?
Gritting his teeth, he said, "Listen to me, both of you. No matter what happens, you will protect the Holy Son. Get him out of here. Until the very last moment — do not give up!"
Boom… boom… boom…
Loose rubble rattled and cascaded down from above. The chamber wouldn't last much longer.
Zuo Wuyou leveled his sword before his chest, his expression resolute, his bearing that of a man prepared to meet his end head-on.