After that severe nonsense, it was unknown whether Zhang Xiaofans body was originally strong or Bi Yaos persuasion had an effect. The high fever that had been persisting gradually subsided a bit, and Zhang Xiaofan slowly regained his consciousness and became clear-headed again. However, the illness was still not light, and he mostly rested in bed.

  On this day, Bi Yao was idle in the cave and finally walked to the four sentences left by Mrs. Jinling, looking at them carefully, and couldnt help but sigh. Zhang Xiaofan sat beside her and couldnt help asking: "Why are you sighing?"

  Bi Yao hummed and said, "Im sighing for the lady. Shes so talented and beautiful, but she was wronged by you stinky men, suffering a lifetime of pain, how unfulfilling!"

  Zhang Xiaofan was speechless.

  Bi Yao carefully read the few sentences again, and suddenly let out a "hmm" sound, discovering an unusual place. The last word of the fourth sentence was "suffering", and below it, the character for "mouth" was deeply recessed, greatly different from the other characters. Her eyes rolled over once, and she almost immediately reacted, stretching out her hand to take the Huan Xin bell from her waist and comparing it, finding that its size was just right. She couldnt help but let out a cheer.

  "Whats wrong?" Zhang Xiaofan asked from behind.

  Biyao turned around and smiled at him: "Were saved!"

  Zhang Xiaofan was startled and immediately became spirited, happily saying: "Really?"

  Biyao inserted the bell, seeing no reaction, she tried turning it left and right. After a moment, suddenly the sound of "ka ka" echoed inside the stone cave, the stone wall shook, Biyao was greatly shocked, holding the golden bell she hastily retreated. Only to hear a loud rumbling sound, originally the smooth stone wall had collapsed one layer, revealing the inner layer, on which were also inscribed texts like the heavenly book of the inner chamber.

  Zhang Xiaofan was initially delighted, but as he looked around the stone wall, his face gradually turned ugly. It seemed that this mechanism was only set up by Mrs. Jinling to cover up the text on the stone wall and there was no way out. This time, he was extremely disappointed.

  Bi Yao, however, was intently staring at the text on the stone wall, the thing left behind by Madame Jinling, which was hidden so tightly, it must not be an ordinary object. After a long time, her face was filled with emotions, but the tone of regret was even heavier, and she said in a low voice: "So this is the Infatuated Curse."

  Zhang Xiaofan was impatient on the side, came over and took a few glances, but saw that the first few sentences were:

  Nine You Yin Spirits, Various Heavenly Gods and Demons

  I offer my flesh and blood as sacrifice.

  Three lives and seven generations, forever falling into hell.

  For loves sake, even death is no regret.

  ……

  He knew at a glance that this was an evil curse in the evil way, but looking at Bi Yaos expression, he was overjoyed and couldnt help humming a sound, saying: "Is there any indication of the way out here?"

  Bi Yao was taken aback and said, "No."

  "Whats the use of learning then?" Zhang Xiaofan said lightly.

  Bi Yao remained silent for a long time before speaking: "You dont know the origin of this infatuated curse, this incantation has been passed down in our Holy Teachings since ancient times, but its said that no one has ever been willing to use it?"

  Zhang Xiaofan listened and became curious, saying: "How?"

  Bi Yao sighed and said, "This incantation is said to have been understood by a wise female ancestor from the Tian Shu, but it can only be cultivated by women. Its said that this is transformed from a womans pure blood into a fierce curse, with unparalleled power..."

  She hadnt finished speaking when Zhang Xiaofan interrupted her, with a look of disdain in his eyes, saying: "Then just call it Lethal Blood Curse! Whats the point of talking about Infatuated Love Curse, Evil Devils Way, or 附庸风雅?"

  Bi Yaos face changed, but she immediately paused and said in a low voice: "What you said is also right, even if it was Old Lady Jinling herself, wasnt she useless in the end?"

  Zhang Xiaofan ignored her.

  ※※※

  The two stayed here for a few more days, and Zhang Xiaofan would often take a look at the "Tian Shu" during his leisure time, while Bi Yao would stare blankly at the text on the stone wall that she called the "Chiqing Zhou".

  The first volume of "Tian Shu" actually doesnt have any practical cultivation methods, the whole article is full of profound words and can be considered as a general outline. Zhang Xiaofan learned the true methods of Buddhism and Taoism, so he could understand this passage, but only barely. As for the realm where heaven and man are united as one body, Zhang Xiaofan was still unable to comprehend it, was it saying that he should simultaneously merge and apply the two great true methods "Taiji Xuanqing Dao" and "Mahayana Prajna"?

  Although he knew the hope of survival was slim, there were some temptations in his heart. Zhang Xiaofan quickly tried to cultivate according to the direction said in "Tian Shu", but at the same time, using these two great techniques was not easy. In an instant, he was already surging with energy and blood, and had to stop abruptly. For several days in a row, there was no progress at all.

  But what followed was an even bigger problem in front of them - there was no food.

  Cultivators who practice the Tao, although they can ascend to heaven and enter the sea, are ultimately still mortal. It is said that seniors with high moral integrity can practice the art of Bigu, neither drinking nor eating, but no one has ever seen it. After entering this cave, Zhang Xiaofans dry rations were lost, and although fortunately there was still clear water to drink in the cave, there was only Bi Yao who had brought dry rations, which was not enough for them to eat. Even if the two of them repeatedly economized, they would soon finish eating.

  They didnt know how long they had been in the cave, but it was probably only two days worth of work. Zhang Xiaofan and Bi Yao stared blankly at their empty food bag.

  "Alas!" Bi Yao sat on the platform, next to that pile of dry bones, yet she didnt feel uncomfortable at all. It seemed that a demonic sect woman was indeed different from ordinary people after all. However, at this moment, she had a worried look on her face.

  Zhang Xiaofans condition improved quickly, and his fever had almost subsided. Except for some weakness in his body, everything else was fine. At this moment, he heard Bi Yao sigh and turned his head to look at the demonic cult woman. What entered his eyes was that the woman in green clothes was sitting on the edge of the platform, with her feet dangling in mid-air, swaying gently, causing the harmonica around her waist to ring out "ting-ting-tang" repeatedly. If it werent for the environment and knowing her identity, Zhang Xiaofan would have almost thought she was still an innocent and naive girl.

  It just looks like this, but Bi Yao is more haggard than when they first met. Her daughters family still goes to the small waterfall every day to wash and comb their hair, so they look as beautiful and clean as ever, without any dirty feeling. However, in recent days, she has obviously become thinner. Thinking of this, Zhang Xiaofans heart moved. From a young age, he had heard his masters and seniors teach that the people of the demonic path were selfish and cruel. But now, in this mountain cave, for what reason would this demonic woman still give half of her limited food to him?

  Zhang Xiaofan was lost in thought, unaware that Bi Yao had looked over at him. Seeing Zhang Xiaofan staring blankly at her for who-knows-how-long, her face suddenly turned red as she scolded: "What are you looking at?"

  Zhang Xiaofan was startled and quickly turned his head around, saying "N-nothing."

  Bi Yao was behind him, but she didnt loudly scold him as he had imagined. Instead, after a long while, a sigh came from her, saying: "Were trapped in this mountain cave, on the verge of death. You dont have to be so restrained."

  Zhang Xiaofan was taken aback, slowly turned around, and looked at Bi Yao. He saw that her slightly thin but still beautiful face had a faintly helpless smile on it. He couldnt help but blurt out: "Actually, when I was seriously ill, you didnt have to give me most of the dry rations to eat. That way, you could also live for a few more days, and who knows...".

  "Maybe its just like that?" Biyao suddenly interrupted him.

  Zhang Xiaofan was stunned for a moment, shook his head and said in a low voice: "Maybe you can be saved."

  Biqiao slightly shook her head, a faint smile appearing on her face. "I dont want to die," she said, "but Id rather not spend my last moments in this desolate cave, staring at a skull and another corpse slowly rotting away. If thats the case, Im afraid Ill go mad before anyone even comes to rescue me."

  Zhang Xiaofan couldnt help but shudder at her description, this indeed wasnt a life for humans.

  Bi Yao looked at him and said lightly: "Whats wrong, are you scared too?"

  Zhang Xiaofan immediately straightened his back and said loudly: "Whats going on?!"

  Bixiaos mouth curved into a smile, and her eyes gradually took on a subtle gentleness as she gazed at him. In a soft voice, she said, "Will you promise me one thing?"

  Zhang Xiaofan frowned and said, "What?"

  Bi Yao smiled faintly and said, "Weve already finished all the dry rations, except for some clear water, theres nothing else to eat. Im afraid we wont last seven days before starving to death."

  Zhang Xiaofan remained silent.

  Bi Yaos face was calm, but the words she spoke next made Zhang Xiaofan look like he had seen a ghost, greatly shocking him: "In a few more days, if Im not doing well, then just kill me first."

  Zhang Xiaofans mouth was agape, pointing at her, yet unable to utter a word. But unexpectedly, Bi Yao remained calm and continued to say unbelievable and shocking words: "After I die, my physical body will still be here. If you wholeheartedly seek survival, then eating my flesh might allow you to live for a while longer."

  Zhang Xiaofan almost fell to the ground.

  After a long time, he finally came to his senses from the great shock, and immediately said to himself in his heart: "The people of this demonic sect are indeed all monsters, they can even do such things!" But looking at Bi Yaos expression, it was surprisingly calm, and his heart was even colder, he couldnt help but take a step back, pointing at her with trembling fingers, saying: "You... what did you say?"

  Bi Yao looked at her, the warmth in her eyes seemed to thicken a bit, but in Zhang Xiaofans eyes, it seemed even more toxic than all the poisonous substances in the world combined.

  "Arent you thinking of going back to Qingyun Mountains Dazhufeng Peak to see that Linger Shijie of yours? There are also several fellow disciples of yours in this Wanbian Ancient Cave, they will definitely come looking for you. The longer you live, the greater the hope is that theyll find you, right?" Biyao slightly lowered her head, but her tone was still as calm as ever.

  But Zhang Xiaofan didnt care about her tone at this time, and she didnt even notice how she knew about Linger Shizis affairs. She just pointed at her angrily and said: "You... you actually called me to eat... You evil demons and heretics are simply unreasonable! Shameless, disgusting, I... you...

  He grew angrier as he spoke, but his words were not very clear. He repeated "I, I, I" and "you, you, you" for half a day, yet didnt say anything substantial. However, his reaction seemed to be within Bi Yaos expectations. She wasnt angry or mocking, just staring at him blankly for a while. When Zhang Xiao Fans heavy breathing finally calmed down, she slowly said: "Whether or not you eat me is up to you, but you must kill me first!"

  "Its come again." Zhang Xiaofan suddenly became angry and said: "Dont think that I will collude with you demons, give me some dry rations, and Ill return this flesh to you, if you want to drag me down, absolutely not!"

  Bixiao slowly shook her head and said, "No, Im afraid."

  "Rubbish," Zhang Xiaofan said habitually, "I wont fall for your trick... Eh, what did you say?"

  It was as if at this critical moment, Bi Yaos mood had undergone an unprecedented change. She seemed to have fallen into some kind of memory, and a look of fear that Zhang Xiao Fan had never seen before appeared on her face. Then, she shook her head heavily, as if trying to shake off some thought.

  "Do you know what its like for a person to wait for death?" she said in a low voice.

  Zhang Xiaofan was taken aback for a moment, and vaguely felt that she seemed to have another hidden intention. His curiosity arose, and he said, "What?"

  Her eyes twitched slightly at the corners, and as she faced this youth who was her only companion in the face of death, she found it difficult to control her emotions. Even her voice trembled with a hint of confusion and emptiness: "When I was six years old, my mother took me back to Huqi Mountain Liu Fox Cave to see my grandmother. Unexpectedly, you were on your way to attack at that time. The evil monk Pufang from Tianyin Temple used the magic treasure Floating Alms Bowl to collapse the entire Liu Fox Cave, burying me, my mother, and my grandmother alive under the ground."

  Zhang Xiaofans body suddenly shook, a bad premonition, even a chill, rose from his heart, cooling him from head to toe.

  Bi Yao seemed to have completely fallen into the painful memories, her eyes staring straight ahead, empty and hollow, just like her tone of voice, flat and hollow, with the deepest pain: "At that time, I was so scared that I wailed loudly, extremely afraid. It was a small cave, because there were several large rocks supporting us, we could barely survive, but Grandmas injuries were too severe, she soon passed away. Mother took me to cry in that dark place, and then buried Grandma."

  "We were buried deep underground, with only a few drops of water seeping through the rocks, and all around us was a vast expanse of hard, cold rock. I was very scared, but Mother kept telling me: Xiaoyao isnt afraid, Father will definitely come to rescue us."

  Zhang Xiaofan held his breath and listened carefully, with a hint of inexplicable strangeness and faint fear, as if he felt that something was about to happen.

  "But here its always pitch black, and Father never came. I was so scared in that dark hole, my stomach was growling with hunger, and I couldnt stop crying. I still remember Mother sighing beside me, holding me tightly in her arms, and constantly telling me: Xiaoyao dont be afraid, Xiaoyao dont be afraid, Mother wont let anything happen to you, your Father will definitely come to rescue us!"

  Bi Yaos face gradually turned pale, but she continued to say: "But Dad still didnt come, and I was already starving, crying to Mom for food. Mom searched the cave again and again, but never found anything. Later on, I was so hungry that I didnt even have the strength to cry, and just lay in Moms arms whimpering. Suddenly one day, Mom found a piece of meat!……”

  Zhang Xiaofan almost simultaneously with Bi Yaos words, saw her body tremble.

  "I was so hungry that I didnt care about anything, and after eating, it seemed like I fell asleep comfortably. It seemed like at that time, my mother also smiled in the darkness. Like this, my mother would find a piece of meat for me every now and then, and I survived like this, but my mothers voice gradually became weaker. Finally one day, I called her, but she didnt respond, and from then on, I was left alone in the darkness, waiting for death."

  Biyao slowly turned her head, looking at Zhang Xiaofan. Zhang Xiaofan was stared at by her gaze and couldnt help but feel a chill in his heart. "Do you know the taste of waiting for death? Do you know the smell of your mothers corpse slowly rotting next to you? Do you know what its like to live in fear forever, never being able to see clearly around you?"

  Every time she asked a question, Zhang Xiaofans body would shake slightly.

  Bi Yao fell silent, while Zhang Xiao Fan didnt even dare to breathe loudly. Finally, she seemed to wake up from a dream, yet still appeared dazed and confused, and continued in a trance-like state: "One day, suddenly, a beam of light shot down from above my head, I was so scared that I shouted out loud and hid in the deepest corner. Then, the light grew brighter and the opening above grew larger. I heard Father calling out my name and Mothers name. Next, I saw Father jump down and stand in front of me."

  "He didnt look at me first, but instead looked at my mother. Just now when it was bright, I only looked up and forgot to look at Mother. When I remembered, Father had already blocked the view, and I couldnt see Mothers body. But I clearly saw Fathers body shake, as if he had turned into stone. Then, following Father, Qinglong Uncle, Baitu Uncle, and Xuanwu Uncle all jumped down, each one stunned in place, not moving."

  "I suddenly became very scared, even more than I was waiting for death in this darkness. I called out softly: Father. Father slowly turned around, the three uncles lined up behind him, blocking Mothers body, and I still couldnt see Mother. I asked softly: Father, where is Mother?"

  Zhang Xiaofan saw clearly, Bi Yaos body shook slightly with every word she spoke, as if the girl who asked the question was right in front of them.

  "Dad didnt say anything, but his face was terrifying. I was small, but I knew that at that moment he really wanted to kill me, his own daughter! But in the end, he didnt lay a hand on me. He saved me and carried me out of that dark cave. Just before we left, I snuck a peek from Dads shoulder down below. Moms body had been buried by my three uncles, only one hand was sticking out... but for some reason, that hand..."

  Bixiaos voice suddenly fell silent, Zhang Xiaofan was shocked and looked at her, only to see Bixiaos face pale, eyes tightly closed, and her entire body straightened up and fell down, as if she had fainted. Zhang Xiaofan almost subconsciously rushed over and supported her, feeling icy cold to the touch, almost like a lifeless person.

  After he recovered from his illness, his body was weak and it took a lot of effort to lay Biyu flat on the platform. Looking at her pale face, Zhang Xiaofan suddenly realized that his entire body was already completely drenched in cold sweat.

  That night (although it was unclear whether it was actually nighttime, but Zhang Xiaofan intuitively thought it was evening), Bi Yao remained unconscious, but in her dreams she would occasionally call out "mother" and "father", the positions of the two people suddenly reversed, with Zhang Xiaofan taking care of her instead.

  But this seemed to be a deeply painful past for Bi Yao. In her delirium, she cried out several times, covered in cold sweat. Zhang Xiao Fan was at a loss, until finally, Bi Yao unintentionally flailed about and grabbed his shoulder, leaning against him. It was as if she had found some sort of support, and gradually calmed down, quietly falling asleep. But her hands were tightly grasping Zhang Xiao Fans clothes, even digging her fingernails into his skin, causing him to grit his teeth in pain. Yet, looking at Bi Yaos pale face, he couldnt bear to leave her, so he endured the pain and let her lean against him, sleeping peacefully.