CHAPTER 26 — BEFORE THE HOLLOW ABYSS
Jason Wu woke to the soft rustle of silk and the scent of lotus tea—Li Xueyin's tea. For a moment he wasn't sure where he was, until his blurry vision focused on the worried girl leaning over him.
"You're awake…" she whispered, her voice trembling with relief.
Jason blinked. His whole body ached like he'd gone five rounds with a six-armed demon ox, but he managed a weak smile. "If… if this is heaven, it's better than I expected."
Li Xueyin's cheeks reddened instantly. "Idiot! You passed out in the arena!"
Longwu Sword interrupted inside Jason's mind,
["Correction: you passed out ON her. A gentleman should not use unconsciousness as a courting method."]
Jason groaned, "Shut up…"
But deep inside, he remembered how it all started:
—finding a rusty, ugly sword that wouldn't shut up
—accidentally activating its spirit
—Li Xueyin stumbling into him at the market that same day
All those pieces felt connected now, like stepping stones leading him here.
"Jason." Li Xueyin picked up the pendant she'd given him during the duel. "This resonated when you needed it. I'm glad it worked…"
Jason took her hand gently. "It worked because it came from you."
Leon Fong barged into the room, ruining the moment completely.
"BRO! YOU'RE ALIVE!"
He threw his arms wide as if aiming for a tackle.
Li Xueyin immediately stepped between them. "No."
Leon froze mid-hug and lowered his arms like a scolded puppy. "Alright… fair."
Jason laughed through the pain. "Leon… glad to see you too."
---
### THE PAVILION MASTER'S DECISION
Pavilion Master Xueyin entered the chamber with the calm presence of a mountain topped with wisdom—and a little annoyance.
"Jason Wu," he said. "You withstood my test. Few disciples in this generation could."
Jason tried to stand but nearly toppled over. Leon caught him by the arm.
The Pavilion Master continued, "You have the strength, but you still lack experience in the unknown. That is why your next step is the Hollow Abyss."
The room grew quiet.
Li Xueyin tensed. "Father… the Hollow Abyss is unstable right now."
"Which is why Jason must go," Pavilion Master Xueyin replied. "It is shifting. A rift like that always reveals something valuable before it fully collapses."
Longwu hummed thoughtfully.
["Ah, yes. The Hollow Abyss—where one wrong step kills you instantly. Delightful vacation spot."]
Leon shivered. "Can't we go somewhere safer? Like a volcano? Or a battlefield? Or a crocodile pit?"
Jason exhaled slowly. "No avoiding it, huh."
Pavilion Master Xueyin gestured toward him. "You will have three days to prepare. Supplies, talismans, formation anchors, and a small team. Choose people you trust."
Li Xueyin immediately stepped forward. "I'm going."
Her father gave her a stern look.
"Xueyin, your talents lie in commerce, medicine, and artifact creation, not—"
"I'm going," she repeated, voice firm as steel.
"Jason is going into a dangerous rift. I can support him with stabilizing talismans."
Jason blinked, touched and panicked at the same time.
"Xueyin… that place is really dangerous—"
She narrowed her eyes. "Do you want me to stay behind?"
Jason instantly folded. "No, ma'am."
Longwu cackled in his mind.
["Good answer. She'll make an excellent empress one day."]
---
### PREPARATIONS BEGIN
The next three days were chaos.
Jason trained until his muscles screamed.
Leon sparred with him using exaggerated poses ("THIS IS THE DRAGON-TIGER-LEON-SPECIAL!").
Li Xueyin crafted stabilizing seals late into the night.
The Pavilion's elders delivered Void-Repelling Crystals—rare treasures capable of slowing down spatial distortion.
During one evening break, Jason sat alone on the pavilion roof with Longwu across his lap.
"I used to think I'd stay a nobody forever," he murmured. "Just another outer disciple sweeping floors…"
Longwu responded with soft sarcasm:
["And now look at you. Attracting women, enemies, and pending death trials. You've grown."]
Jason chuckled. "You remember when I first picked you up? You were a rusty piece of junk."
["Excuse me!"] Longwu protested.
["I was merely preserving my true power. Rust is an aesthetic choice."]
Jason smirked. "Sure."
Li Xueyin appeared behind him quietly.
"Jason… your mind is heavy."
He turned. "Just thinking."
She sat beside him, shoulders touching faintly. "We'll face the Abyss together. I prepared these—"
She placed two bracelets made of fine star-steel.
"They synchronize qi flow. If one of us is in danger, the other will feel the pulse."
Jason's chest tightened. "Thank you, Xueyin."
Leon climbed the roof loudly, ruining the moment again.
"GUYS! SUPPER TIME! I BOUGHT FRIED RICE FOR—AH! Sorry, sorry! Continue whatever romantic scene this is!"
Jason threw a pebble at him.
---
### THE NIGHT BEFORE DEPARTURE
Before dawn, the team gathered:
- **Jason Wu**
- **Li Xueyin**
- **Leon Fong**
- **Wei Qing** (volunteered herself because "someone must keep you idiots alive")
- **Lan Yuren** (assigned to lead formations)
They stood at the gate of the Pavilion. Mist rolled across the ground like pale fingers.
Pavilion Master Xueyin handed Jason a scroll.
"This contains the latest map of the Hollow Abyss. It may change the moment you enter."
Jason bowed deeply. "Thank you, Pavilion Master."
"Return alive," the Pavilion Master said.
"And Jason—"
Jason looked up.
The Pavilion Master's voice softened.
"Protect my daughter."
Jason's resolve hardened like forged steel. "Always."
Li Xueyin's cheeks flushed red.
Longwu hummed proudly.
["Look at you, boy. A future patriarch in the making."]
At dawn, the gates opened.
The Hollow Abyss awaited.