Yang Kai quickly realized that a barrier-like presence had materialized around them.
He figured Sun Ying had activated the restrictions they had set up the night before, to prevent any stragglers from escaping.
Yang Kai furrowed his brow, sensing that something was slightly off.
"Let's go!" Sun Ying waved his hand and led the way inside. The rest followed in single file.
The mine shaft was deep, and the tunnels inside had grown winding and branched in numerous directions over the years of excavation.
Along the way, gnaw marks lined both sides of the corridors. The tin ore that had been exposed to the open air was all gone — likely devoured clean by those Gold-Eating Beasts.
These demon beasts fed on minerals. Having consumed everything on the outer edges, they had pushed deeper into the interior, roughly several li from the entrance. They were also fairly spread out, making it convenient for the Lone Pride Alliance members to capture them one by one.
Before long, a fork appeared in the tunnel ahead.
Sun Ying probed with his senses briefly and issued his orders: "Miss Yun, your squad has the most people. Take this branch. With your strength, you should be able to handle it. Xinyu's squad is smaller, so I need to stick with them. If anything unexpected happens or you run into something you can't handle, signal immediately. I'll rush over to back you up."
Yun Xuan nodded solemnly and led her squad members, along with Yang Kai, down the left passage.
"Miss Yun, be careful out there," Zhou Luo said with a tender look on his face.
There was no response. Yun Xuan didn't seem to have heard. Ruan Xinyu let out a mocking laugh, looking at Zhou Luo with disdain. "Save your breath," she snorted.
"Alright, we're heading in too." Sun Ying was well aware of the romantic entanglements among these young people and had no desire to get involved. He waved his hand and led the others down the other branch.
After following Yun Xuan for a stretch, Yang Kai quickened his pace to catch up and asked softly: "That senior activated the restrictions ahead of schedule. Won't that cause problems?"
"What kind of problems?" Yun Xuan looked at him, puzzled.
"This way, without him deactivating them, the Gold-Eating Beasts can't get out — but neither can you."
"That's exactly the point. We're here to capture the Gold-Eating Beasts. Why would we need to get out?" Yun Xuan frowned, then suddenly understood. "You're worried something dangerous might happen?"
Yang Kai gave a slight nod.
Yun Xuan chuckled softly. "You worry too much. Ruan Xinyu and her team have been scouting this area for over ten days. Uncle Sun personally inspected the situation here as well. He certainly wouldn't have activated the restrictions early unless he was certain there was no danger. If we really run into something we can't handle, Uncle Sun will come help."
Hearing her say that, Yang Kai felt he had no grounds to press the issue further. He nodded lightly and said no more.
Yun Xuan glanced at him, then added in a quiet voice: "Being cautious is good, but a man needs to be bolder. That's how you accomplish things."
Fearing that speaking too loudly would startle the Gold-Eating Beasts, Yun Xuan not only lowered her voice but also leaned her lips close to Yang Kai's ear.
A faint, intoxicating fragrance drifted into his nose and mouth. Yang Kai's expression stiffened.
Yun Xuan looked surprised, and a hint of red crept across her cheeks. Her breath, delicate as orchid, whispered: "Stay behind me from now on. Don't move unless I tell you to."
Yang Kai smiled inwardly, thinking that this young woman really did treat him like some inexperienced boy? He might not look old, but the things he had experienced over the years were far too many to count.
"Captain!" Just then, the bearded man gave a quiet shout. The seven or eight members of the squad froze in place, holding their breath, their eyes locked on a corner up ahead.
From around that corner came a chewing sound. Releasing his Divine Sense discreetly, Yang Kai could clearly sense a pulse of life.
"One of them," Yun Xuan said, her face lighting up. "Lucky."
"Heh heh!" Ji Hong let out an odd laugh and cracked his knuckles. The other squad members all looked excited.
Under everyone's gaze, Yun Xuan quickly made a series of hand signals. The members understood immediately, nodding one after another as they silently fanned out.
Faint, subtle energy fluctuations drifted back. Yang Kai saw two fighters arranging something on the ground — likely setting traps — while the others posted up around them on guard, to make sure the commotion didn't alert the Gold-Eating Beast.
Before long, they were done.
Ji Hong glanced back at Yun Xuan.
She gave a firm nod.
Ji Hong's face twisted into a savage grin. He licked his lips, and a massive two-handed axe suddenly appeared in his hands — a full zhang long. The moment it materialized, a piercing killing intent and the stench of blood erupted from it.
Gripping the great axe with both hands, Ji Hong bounded forward, posturing and making a show of force toward the corner ahead.
The chewing sound stopped abruptly. Yang Kai clearly sensed that the life presence around the corner had shifted — it was growing dangerous, bit by bit.
Ji Hong's provocation had enraged the Gold-Eating Beast.
Thud, thud, thud… The ground began to tremble, growing more violent, more ferocious by the second. Then, without warning, a head topped with twin horns burst into view from around the corner, its surface gleaming with silver light. Between those silver horns, bursts of golden radiance flared outward — a powerful energy fluctuation surging with considerable force.