Pi Ping’s gaze softened slightly, again waving for Nali to leave.
Nali stood rooted, so Pi Ping helplessly wrinkled his brow, staring at her sternly, turning to lift his robe’s hem and step into the treasure pile.
Each of his steps sparked a crisp tinkling sound, and as he moved towards the cave’s center, he sank deeper into the treasures, his steps growing slower.
“Alright, you really should go now.” Pi Ping’s voice was not loud, but amplified by the stone cave, revealing a mocking tone.
Nali’s lips pressed tight. She bowed deeply, stepping back towards the cave entrance. After taking this step, she felt much more relaxed, turning to quickly walk out.
“Thank you, let’s not say goodbye this time.” Pi Ping’s voice came from behind, pausing briefly before saying with relief, “And don’t forget to look back. This is the only thing I can do for you.”
Nali’s steps halted as she left the cave entrance. As she looked back, a clear sound emerged from the cave, like a low hum of a blade piercing metal. She knew Pi Ping had destroyed the entire cave with that powerful black dagger.
She reflexively stepped aside.
The sound of gold and silver colliding became continuous, merging into a profound, low resonance, like hundreds of bronze drums being struck simultaneously, or the sharp collision of two armies at the moment of clash.
The entire coastal rock formation disintegrated before her, grinding and sinking downward.
The ground cracked open, indiscriminately swallowing treasures and stones.
Hot lava rolled up, filling the earth’s wounds, then cooled by the descending seawater with a sizzling sound, forming a new uneven surface. Water vapor spread, surrounding the area like a dense sea fog.
When the steam finally dissipated, the waves continued to quietly strike the rocks. White wave crests climbed over the obstacles onto the newly formed rock face, leaving deep and shallow traces.
The cave facing the sea, which had hidden a clan’s generations of heart’s blood, was as if it had never existed.
Nali stretched her stiff body, looking around, momentarily uncertain where to go. As if responding to her question, the scene suddenly changed.
She was suspended again in a boundless height, surrounded by intertwining world lines.
