Before pressing forward into the mysteries of the Coin tattoo, Mu Yan knew he needed to rest—both his body and mind were drained from the battle. His limbs trembled from exhaustion; his thoughts were sluggish as if weighed down by an invisible force. The cavern around him was vast, stretching deeper into the rock face than he had initially realized. Shadows flickered across the uneven stone walls, cast by the faint bioluminescence of fungi clinging to hidden crevices. The distant trickle of an underground stream echoed softly through the chamber, its gentle flow adding a rhythmic undertone to the otherwise silent depths.
His soaked clothes clung to his skin, the cold biting into his very bones. He attempted to start a fire, rubbing stiff hands together and striking stones, but his movements were slow, unsteady. Even summoning a flicker of flame through cultivation proved impossible in his weakened state. Accepting his condition, he slumped against the cavern wall, listening to the distant chittering of rodents scurrying through the unseen tunnels beyond.
Above, stalactites hung like frozen daggers, droplets of moisture falling in irregular intervals to feed the ecosystem below. The cave stretched further than his vision could reach, with corridors branching off into unknown darkness. He suspected it had once served as a natural sanctuary for beasts or even travellers who had discovered its hidden depths.
His eyelids drooped, exhaustion claiming him despite the uncomfortable chill.
Suddenly, a rustling followed by hurried footsteps jolted him awake. His instincts flared—his muscles tensed, his fingers reached for his knife. Someone was approaching, scaling the same treacherous path he had climbed.
Emerging through the narrow entrance was a girl, barely older than him. Her appearance told a tale of hardship. Mud clung to her torn clothes, the fabric frayed at the edges. Scratches lined her exposed arms, wounds gained from a frantic escape through rough terrain. Her breath came in ragged gasps—how had she managed to scale the vines?
She froze upon noticing him, her wide eyes flickering with shock. "Ah! I'm sorry! I didn't know someone was here! I—I didn't see anything!" she blurted out, covering her eyes in embarrassment.
Confused, Mu Yan glanced down and realized his wet clothes lay beside him, drying. His skin was bare, the fire he had failed to start now seeming like an even greater necessity. Heat rushed to his face as he scrambled to grab the damp fabric, hastily dressing.
"You can open your eyes now," he muttered, still flustered.
The girl peeked through her fingers before lowering her hands, visibly relieved. "Can I stay here while the storm abates?"
Mu Yan exhaled, his tension easing. "Of course. There's enough space for both of us."
"Thank you," she sighed, visibly drained.
"You're welcome. My name is Mu Yan. What's yours?"
"Qin Ying," she answered, her teeth clattering from the lingering cold. "Nice to meet you."
A piercing gust swept through the entrance, funneled through the rocky passageway, bringing a sudden chill. Their wet clothes did little to shield them. Unable to bear the cold, they crept further into the cave, searching for warmth.
As they ventured deeper, Qin Ying suddenly gasped, eyes lighting up as she spotted a plant sprouting from a narrow fissure in the rock. She rushed forward, fingers plucking two small red fruits, inspecting them with delight.
"Hmmm, these look good!" she said, taking a bite and savoring the taste.