Chapter 8: Entering the Cave of Ten Thousand Insects

Gongsun Miao swept his gaze over the surroundings and soon spotted Xiao Yang amidst the crowd. A cold glint flashed in his eyes. "That boy didn’t run?" He had sent people to investigate yesterday; Zhou Jingpeng had given that boy a good sum of silver to help him escape. Yet, unexpectedly, Xiao Yang hadn’t fled.

“Go bring Xiao Yang here,” he ordered the law enforcement team beside him. But before anyone could move, Xiao Yang walked over on his own.

“My dear elder uncle, there’s no need for all that trouble. I’ll come,” he said calmly.

“Hmph!” Gongsun Miao snorted coldly. In the past, someone like Xiao Yang wouldn’t have even warranted a second glance from him. Now, targeting him was only meant to make Zhou Jingpeng suffer.

“Where’s your master?” he asked sharply.

Xiao Yang replied without arrogance or servility, “My master is too busy for trifles like this.”

Upon hearing this, the crowd shook their heads and chuckled quietly. In their eyes, Xiao Yang was nothing but pitiable.

“In that case, enter the Cave of Ten Thousand Insects now,” Gongsun Miao said, giving a meaningful look to his men.

The members of the law enforcement team, all seasoned, strode quickly to the entrance of the cave, pulling out a specially crafted key to open the door. But just then, a figure rushed over.

“Senior brother, you mustn’t go in! You’ll die!” It was Zhou Yan, her eyes swollen from prolonged weeping, a sight that pained Xiao Yang.

“Silly girl, trust me, I’ll be fine,” he said, taking Zhou Yan’s hand.

This scene drew a wave of murderous glares. Zhou Yan was the renowned beauty of the Giant Spirit Sect; many talented youths had admired her for years but to no avail. If none could win her, so be it, but now she’d thrown herself into the arms of a so-called good-for-nothing. Instantly, every man present regarded Xiao Yang with hostility.

“That damned loser—why won’t he hurry up and die? He’s such an eyesore,” grumbled a bald youth, faint traces of martial energy flickering on his skin, clearly a young martial artist.

“Hmph! He’d better die in there. If he doesn’t, I’ll show him a fate worse than death.”

“That useless wretch dares to touch Junior Sister Zhou!”

Xiao Yang said nothing, but Zhou Yan could not hold back. “Shut up, all of you! If anyone dares speak ill of my senior brother again, I won’t let it go!”

Though many were displeased, none dared voice their discontent too loudly, settling for muttered complaints.

“Damn loser!”

Though Xiao Yang could still hear them, he said nothing, silently memorizing the names of all those present. Once he emerged from the cave, he’d make sure to have a word with them.

At that moment, Gongsun Miao’s voice rang out. “Men, lock Xiao Yang in the Cave of Ten Thousand Insects for seven days. If he survives, all his crimes will be pardoned.”

“Yes, sir!” Two enforcers stepped up to Xiao Yang, intending to escort him in, but Zhou Yan blocked their way.

“I’d like to see you try,” she declared.

“Hmph!” Gongsun Miao’s figure flickered, and in an instant, his hand was clamped around Zhou Yan’s wrist.

“Take Xiao Yang below.”

“Yes, sir!”

Zhou Yan struggled, but Gongsun Miao’s grip was unyielding. “Senior brother!” she cried, tears streaming down her face in desperation.

Xiao Ding Tian hurried forward to comfort her, telling her not to worry. “Don’t cry, silly girl. This is nothing.”

Gongsun Miao, perhaps fearing Zhou Yan would cause more trouble if she stayed, immediately took her away. As she was led away, Xiao Yang quickly called after her, “Yan’er, don’t cry. I’ll be fine. Come here to meet me in seven days.”

“Senior brother, I’ll remember! If you dare lie to me, I’ll hold it against you forever!” Zhou Yan, unable to break free, answered tearfully. The two soon disappeared from view.

The enforcers prepared to push Xiao Yang into the cave, but he refused. “No need. I’ll walk in myself,” he said, striding toward the entrance.

The rooster in his arms let out a loud crow.

Creak!

The gate opened.

Without a backward glance, Xiao Yang entered.

Only then did the crowd realize he’d brought a rooster with him into the cave. “Idiot! He actually took a chicken in there!” someone scoffed.

“Fools really do think differently from the rest of us.”

Many mocked him before dispersing. The day’s entertainment was over; the next time Xiao Yang emerged, he would likely be nothing but a pile of bones.

“Hahaha! What a windfall!” Zhao Youcai looked excitedly at the betting slips in his hand. After calculating, he realized he’d made at least thirty thousand silver this time. Even for him, that much would take months of toil to earn.

“Heh, I even got that fool’s jade pendant,” he chuckled, pulling it out for another look before stowing it away, packing up his stall, and leaving. All he had to do now was enjoy a good day’s sleep, and the money would be his.

“Today is a lucky day…” he hummed as he walked away.

“So dark!” Xiao Yang muttered instinctively. The first thing he noticed upon entering the cave was the foul stench. He covered his nose and pulled a fire striker from his robes, igniting it.

When he finally saw what lay before him, his scalp tingled. The ground ahead was a riot of color—who knew how many poisonous insects writhed there? Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, he nervously set the rooster down.

“Chicken Tyrant, do your best!” he murmured, silently praying for no mishaps. Last night, he’d thought about it; calling the rooster “Big Rooster” was too plain, so he’d given it a formidable name—Chicken Tyrant, inspired by the breed’s reputation as king among mottled chickens.

Chicken Tyrant hit the ground, clucking twice, eyes darting everywhere. Just then, a centipede as thick as a finger, evidently hungry, charged at Xiao Yang. But halfway there, it was snapped up by a ruthless beak.

With the centipede swallowed, Chicken Tyrant’s eyes gleamed, evidently delighted by the taste. Without hesitation, he plunged into the swarm, launching a wild slaughter.

The poisonous insects were stunned. They’d always treated this place as a feeding ground, waiting here for easy meals. Today, at last, a living person had come, and they’d hoped for a feast. Who could have predicted a chicken would appear instead?

Sensing danger, the insects grew fiercer, hurling themselves at Chicken Tyrant—only to be pecked to death one by one. This enraged the entire swarm, and all the poisonous creatures attacked with abandon.

As a result, not a single bug approached within ten feet of Xiao Yang.

“Looks like there’s a way in here,” Xiao Yang soon discovered a stone door within the cave, piquing his curiosity.

He glanced back at Chicken Tyrant. The battle was now at its peak, both sides too absorbed to pay him any mind. This left Xiao Yang a little embarrassed; clearly he was the one being punished, yet he had nothing to do.

“Well, since I’m idle anyway, I might as well take a look inside.”