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Zhang Yunyuan did not answer, but silently added a piece of firewood to the fire.
The flames licked at the new firewood, making a soft crackling sound, and the firelight grew brighter, completely dispelling the last trace of shadow between the two.
Wugensheng burst into laughter, his laughter piercing the night sky and startling several roosting birds.
In that laughter, there was the relief of finding kindred spirits, the joy of being understood, and even more so, the boundless ambition ignited for the future.
He reached out and patted Zhang Yunyuan's shoulder heavily.
"Yun Yuan, I take back what I said before."
You are not my confidant.
Zhang Yunyuan looked at him with a puzzled expression.
Wugensheng grinned, revealing a set of white teeth. His smile was as bright as a child's and as radiant as a hero's.
"You are my best friend."
Chapter 39 What is the Human Cave?
The lingering warmth of the campfire settled into a silent understanding between the two.
The words "closest friend" are heavier than the night in the valley and warmer than a flickering flame.
The smile on Wugensheng's face slowly faded, replaced by an expression that was a mixture of relief and solemnity.
He looked at Zhang Yunyuan, and those eyes, which always held a hint of amusement, now reflected complete trust.
"Since we're close friends, there are some places I should take you to see."
He stood up and dusted himself off.
“Come on, I’ll take you to my real ‘home’.”
Zhang Yunyuan didn't ask any more questions, and simply followed silently.
After cleaning up their tracks, the two ventured once more into the mysterious and enigmatic Valley of Heaven.
This time, Wugensheng's journey no longer seemed like he was exploring a new path, but rather like he was returning home.
He skillfully navigated around clusters of fragrant plants, crossed a stream shimmering in the moonlight, and finally stopped in front of a cliff face covered by thick vines.
He reached out and pushed aside the vines that hung down like a waterfall, revealing a dark opening just wide enough for one person to pass through.
Above the cave entrance, someone used a sharp tool to carve three characters on the rock. The strokes were deep and powerful, yet they carried a hint of indescribable confusion.
"I carved it when I first came here and had nothing else to do."
Wugensheng smiled somewhat embarrassedly.
"Back then, I thought about this problem every day, but I couldn't figure it out."
He bent down first and went in.
The cave is a hidden world inside, not a straight passage, but a maze of interconnected caves of all sizes, resembling a giant natural labyrinth.
“I call this place He Renwei Cave.”
Wugensheng's voice echoed slightly in the cave.
He pulled a tinderbox and a torch from a crack in the rocks near the entrance, lit them, and the dim light instantly dispelled the darkness.
The firelight illuminated the first cave they were in.
The place was quite spacious, with a simple stone bed and a polished wooden table on the floor, and some pots, pans and other household items in the corner.
Clearly, someone once lived here for a long time.
Zhang Yunyuan's gaze was quickly drawn to several items hanging on the stone wall.
They are several oil paintings.
In this primitive cave, these brightly colored paintings stand out as an extremely jarring yet harmonious presence.
The person in the painting is the same.
A little girl with pigtails, big eyes, and an expression that always carries a hint of bewilderment and curiosity.
Sometimes she chases butterflies among the flowers, sometimes she sleeps soundly while hugging a rag doll, with a trace of drool hanging from the corner of her mouth.
The painting skills are not particularly refined, and in some places they even appear rather clumsy, but every stroke is filled with an indescribable tenderness and appreciation.
"My drawing is not good, please excuse it."
Wu Gensheng's voice carried a rare hint of unease.
He walked up to one of the paintings, stretched out his finger, and gently traced the outline of the girl in the painting through the air.
That face, which always wore a carefree smile, was now filled with the tenderness of a father.
“This is my daughter, Feng Baobao.”
He spoke in a low voice, as if sharing a huge secret.
"When I first joined Quanxing, I was arrogant and offended people I shouldn't have, and I was hunted down all the way."
“I risked my life to escape here and hid in this cave for a full six months.”
He looked around the simple cave, his gaze becoming somewhat distant.
"Everything in this cave was built by me little by little back then. For me, this place is like another home."
Just then, a deep roar came from a dark passage leading into the depths of the cave.
Immediately afterwards, a huge figure slowly emerged from the darkness.
It was a giant ape that was pure white, nearly ten feet tall, with bulging muscles, and exuding a primal and powerful aura.
Its eyes, however, were not as cloudy as those of wild beasts; instead, they were clear and bright, possessing an almost human-like wisdom.
The giant ape blocked Zhang Yunyuan's path, its sharp eyes fixed on him, and a low, warning growl emanated from its throat.
"Old Bai, don't scare my friend."
Wugensheng, seemingly oblivious to its hostility, stepped forward and casually patted its arm, which was thicker than his own thigh.
The giant ape "Old White" let out a low growl, but its gaze remained fixed on Zhang Yunyuan, filled with scrutiny.
"It's called the White Ape, and it was the original owner of this cave."
Wugensheng explained with a smile.
"When I first came here, I fought with it, and neither of us gained the upper hand. But after a while, we became neighbors."
"It doesn't hurt people, but it doesn't like outsiders either. If you want to get past it, you'll have to rely on your skills."
Wugensheng calmly stepped aside, crossed his arms, and looked like he was watching a good show.
Looking at the white ape before him, Zhang Yunyuan could clearly sense the pure and powerful Qi within its body.
This strange beast's strength is probably no less than that of an ordinary top-tier expert.
He didn't act immediately, but simply stared silently at the white ape.
He showed no hostility, nor did he display the slightest fear; his eyes were as calm as an ancient well.
A moment later, Zhang Yunyuan slowly raised his hand, not in an attacking stance, but by opening his palm, a gesture representing goodwill and peace.
The white ape stared at him for a long time, its intelligent eyes blinking as if it were thinking.
It moved closer and sniffed at Zhang Yunyuan, making a gurgling sound in its throat, similar to a feline's way of showing affection.
Immediately, its massive body moved aside, clearing the way to the depths.
Wugensheng clapped his hands and laughed.
"Interesting. This is the first time Lao Bai has let someone pass so easily."
"Looks like it thinks you're a good kid too."
After passing through the passage cleared by the white ape, the two arrived at a more spacious cave.
The place is deserted, with only countless dark forks in the road leading to unknown depths.
Just as Zhang Yunyuan was about to go deeper, Wugensheng stopped him.
Wugensheng stood in the center of the cave, his smile fading, his expression becoming more serious than ever before.
“Yun Yuan, there are no traps inside this ‘What is Human Cave’, but it hides a true secret.”
He looked at Zhang Yunyuan, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of challenge and anticipation.
"I'm going to give you a test."
"If I can find that hidden place on my own, I will tell you all the secrets of this cave, along with everything I know."
"This is both a test and a further exploration of your understanding and abilities."
Zhang Yunyuan met his gaze and instantly understood.
This is the final and most crucial hurdle.
Once he crosses that threshold, he will gain Wugensheng's complete trust.
He uttered only one word, his voice not loud, but unusually firm.
He turned around, his gaze slowly sweeping across the empty cave and over the bottomless side paths.
Where could it be hidden...?
Chapter 40: The Nine-Bend Winding Path Contains Mysteries
Zhang Yunyuan did not act immediately.
He stood still, slowly closed his eyes, shutting out Wugensheng's gaze, which held a mixture of testing and expectation, as well as the unfathomable forks in the road around him.
He didn't blindly rush into those maze-like side paths to try his luck, relying on his agility.
Since Wugensheng has set up this test, the answer can never be found by brute force.
He immersed himself entirely in his inner vision, and his mind became completely clear.
Immediately afterwards, he released the restraints on his own "Qi," allowing it to diffuse outwards like a trickle, gently contacting and merging with the ancient and pure Qi field that was omnipresent in the cave.