Inside the dark cave, a shattering scream of pain echoed, making the very air vibrate. A dark shadow writhed violently on the ground, its cries a guttural testament to unimaginable torment, while Qingyu stood by, her face a mask of helplessness, unable to halt the agony the black shadow endured. After a long, agonizing eternity of pain, the black shadow's ragged breathing slowly, tremulously, returned to a semblance of normal. Qingyu gently helped the trembling form onto a cold stone bed. She gazed at it, her expression a mix of deep concern, yet, a sly, almost hungry smile slowly, luxuriously, bloomed on her painted red lips.
"Zhihao, I told you to be careful," Qingyu purred, her voice laced with a playful chiding.
A weak, pained groan escaped Zhihao. "I... I didn't expect those three people to become hunters."
"I'm not afraid of the two men. I'm afraid of the woman standing next to them," Qingyu admitted, a rare flicker of genuine apprehension in her eyes.
Zhihao scoffed, a touch of his usual arrogance returning despite his pain. "You're afraid of women, but not those two men?"
Qingyu's eyes narrowed. "Remember how I got you out?"
"You told me an immortal man didn't behave the way he should," Zhihao recalled, a hint of grudging admiration in his tone.
"That immortal man may be her," Qingyu said, rolling her eyes with exasperation. "You were seriously injured. You should stay here and recover. Where's Baoshi?"
"He's not with you?" Zhihao asked, a touch of surprise in his voice.
"I told him to wait for me here. If he's in trouble, we won't be able to help him," Qingyu explained, her brow furrowing with genuine worry.
"He's a big man, he can take care of himself," Zhihao dismissed, though a subtle tremor in his voice betrayed his own lingering weakness.
Qingyu's worry deepened, a shadow crossing her face. "He once told me, 'If we do evil, he will hunt us down one by one and lock us back in the Souls Collection Realm.'"
"I'm not afraid of some immortal men or women," Zhihao declared, a defiant glint in his eyes.
"You don't understand," Qingyu pleaded, her voice rising with urgency. "Once he comes back to protect the northern fortress, we can't stop his power. Whatever we've worked so hard for the past five hundred years will be in vain. You can never be reunited with your body!"
"Then we'll ensure that he will never step into Horsemen Land," Zhihao snarled, his fist clenching, though he was still prone.
"We're so close to knocking down the fortress, opening the Demon Gate, and releasing our brothers and sisters to roam freely in this world. I will not give up for anything! You rest here. Let humans do our work for us," Qingyu declared, her eyes burning with fierce determination.
"Qingyu," Zhihao commanded, his voice gaining strength, "tell the spiders and worms to prepare for tomorrow. I will make one last attack before leaving this place."
"Zhihao, but..." Qingyu began, her worry evident.
"No, but!" Zhihao roared, pushing himself up despite the pain, his eyes blazing with fury. "I've never been so humiliated! I will not accept it! I want that hunter Guozhao Baiyu dead. That is an order!"
Qingyu bowed deeply, her expression grave. "Yes, your highness."
"Guozhao Baiyu..." Zhihao seethed, his fists clenching white-knuckled.
A vibrant buzz of excitement filled the air as many people gathered for the food competition.
Mayor Lim, beaming, stood in the center of the stage and boomed, "Waterfall Citizens! Two days ago, we held a marriage contest, but it didn't go the way I hoped. Today, I've prepared a dumpling eating contest, and the winner will take away the princely sum of one hundred gold ingots!"
A thunderous cheer erupted from the assembled citizens; their voices filled with anticipation.
"We're cooking dumplings over there!" Mayor Lim announced, pointing to a monstrous pot that could easily feed ten people. "Each plate will have ten dumplings. We'll count the plates later. Let's get started!"
Everyone applauded wildly, a chorus of "Mayor Lim! Mayor Lim!" rising from the crowd.
Zhao Renshu turned to Guo Baiyu and Ping'an, a mischievous glint in his eye. "You two wait here."
"Renshu, where are you going?" Ping'an asked, a hint of confusion in her voice.
"I want to participate in that contest!" Zhao Renshu declared, already striding towards the stage, a determined grin on his face.
"Let him be," Guo Baiyu said with a knowing smile to Ping'an. "Look over there. That short man."
Ping'an followed Guo Baiyu's gaze. A short, fat man stood, literally licking his lips with fervent anticipation.
"He's the spirit who possessed Fu Li," Guo Baiyu whispered, his voice low and serious.
"What should we do?" Ping'an asked, her eyes widening in alarm.
"Let's wait for him to enter the stage. Once he does, he'll be locked there. He won't be able to escape," Guo Baiyu explained, a grim satisfaction on his face.
Baoshi, despite an inner voice of caution, found the allure of the dumplings too strong to resist. His feet, almost of their own accord, carried him onto the stage. He was the very last contestant to join. His mouth watered uncontrollably, saliva practically dripping from the corners. He could barely contain his eagerness.
"One..." Mayor Lim began, building the suspense.
A wide, greedy smile stretched across Baoshi's face.
"Two..." Mayor Lim continued, his voice resonating.
Baoshi could almost hear the dumplings calling to him, a siren song of savory delight.
"Three!" Mayor Lim boomed.
In a flash, Baoshi snatched ten dumplings and crammed them into his already huge mouth. Zhao Renshu, observing the gluttonous display, quickly put two in his own mouth and began chewing with fierce determination.
After twenty minutes, the third player threw in the towel, groaning in defeat. An hour of relentless chewing later, contestant number one gave up, followed shortly after by contestant number five. After consuming an astonishing forty dumplings, Zhao Renshu began to feel a terrible dizziness, unable to chew or swallow another bite. He stumbled off the stage, looking utterly green.
"How do you feel?" Ping'an asked, her voice laced with concern.
Zhao Renshu clutched his right hand to his abdomen, his face pale. "I'm going to throw up. You two wait here."
Zhao Renshu hurried to the back of the stage and, true to his word, promptly vomited all the dumplings he had just eaten. As he turned, a red handkerchief was extended to him. He gratefully snatched it and wiped his mouth.
"Thank you, Miss Huang," Zhao Renshu mumbled.
Huang Hongse rolled her eyes at him, a mocking smirk on her lips. "It's embarrassing. You didn't even make it past twenty."
"Hey!" Zhao Renshu protested, a flicker of indignation in his eyes. "The last I checked was forty-two!"
"You're too poor," Huang Hongse taunted, "you just wanted to win that hundred gold ingots."
"Why are you still here?" Zhao Renshu countered, turning to flirt with her, a playful gleam in his eye. "You missed the kiss." He pursed his lips together and made an exaggerated kissing sound.
"Pervert," Huang Hongse scoffed, turning her head away, though a faint blush touched her cheeks.
Zhao Renshu chuckled, undeterred. "Okay, just kidding. Miss Huang, let bygones be bygones. I would rather not be your enemy. In addition, I need your help. Do you remember the two spirits we encountered that night? One of them is here right now, and we're trying to catch him. I hope you and your sister can help protect the citizens." He suddenly felt another wave of nausea, covered his mouth with the red handkerchief, and promptly vomited again. "Sorry, it's full of vomit. I'll wash it and return it to you."
"No need," Huang Hongse said quickly, a slight grimace on her face.
"What about the other thing?" Zhao Renshu asked, his voice still a little shaky.
"I let my sister know. Where's Peizhi?" Huang Hongse inquired.
"Baiyu took care of it already," Zhao Renshu replied, nodding.
Zhao Renshu and Huang Hongse made their way back to the contest arena.
"You two have the same last name. Are you two brothers?" Huang Hongse asked, a curious tilt to her head.
"Yes," Zhao Renshu replied simply, a faint smile on his lips.
"What about the woman?" Huang Hongse pressed.
"Are you talking about Ping'an?" Zhao Renshu questioned, turning to Huang Hongse, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"Ping'an? I've never heard the name of any woman called Ping'an," Huang Hongse said, a puzzled frown on her face.
"Now you have," Zhao Renshu giggled, clearly enjoying her confusion.
"Is she related to the two of you?" Huang Hongse asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Yes, we've known each other for nearly five years," Zhao Renshu confirmed, his gaze softening slightly.
"What is her maiden name?" Huang Hongse inquired, her tone persistent.
"Gouzhao," Zhao Renshu answered, a subtle shift in his demeanor.
"Why does she have the same last name as you two?" Huang Hongse pushed, sensing something unusual.
Zhao Renshu stopped, turning to face Huang Hongse, his playful demeanor replaced by a serious expression. "Miss Huang, there's one thing I would like to ask you to do."
"Ask," Huang Hongse prompted, sensing the gravity of his request.
"It's difficult for Ping'an's upbringing. Please do not ask or mention her surname in front of her. Her biological father doesn't allow her to use his surname," Zhao Renshu explained, his voice low and earnest.
"Then you two feel sorry for her. You two allow her to use your surname?" Huang Hongse deduced, a hint of sympathy entering her voice.
"We don't feel sorry for her. She must use our last name because she is ours wif...."
Suddenly, the ground began to tremble violently.
Zhao Renshu and Huang Hongse exchanged a startled glance. In unison, their voices filled with alarm, they cried, "The competition arena!"
The two hunters, their expressions grim, rushed towards the now shaking competition arena.