Heaven-relying Sword And Dragon-slaying Sabre

"I actually think it is so fun in here," Zhang Wuji replied, "Why must we go back?"

Zhu Changling angrily said, "There is nothing to eat here, why stay?"

Zhang Wuji laughed and said, "Isn't it better not to eat human's food? Then you can cultivate the way of the immortals."

Zhu Changling was enraged, but he knew that as soon as he used force, perhaps Zhang Wuji would jump over the cliff. "All right," he said, "You can stay here and rest for a moment. As soon as I find another way out, I'll be back here to get you. Don't go too near the cliff, you might fall down."

Zhang Wuji said, "What concern it is to you if I live or die, exist or perish? If you are still dreaming of me leading you to the Bing Huo Island, I suggest you let it go."

Zhu Changling did not answer; he went back to where they came from. When he arrived at the big pine tree, he took the path to the left. This side of the cliff was more dangerous, but without having to look after Zhang Wuji, he managed to move faster. After more than an hour of climbing, he reached the top of the cliff. Again he did not see any way out. Zhu Changling looked over the cliff and heaved a long sigh. After staring blankly to the emptiness for a long time, he dejectedly went back to the platform.

Without asking, Zhang Wuji could see from his expression that he failed to find a way out; he thought, "I was hit by the Xuan Ming Shen Zhang [black/mysterious and dark divine palm]. The cold poison is not easy to get rid of. I won't have too much time to live. No matter where I die, it's all the same to me. On the other hand, he has been blessed but failed to enjoy it in his vain attempt to become 'the most revered in the Wulin world', that unexpectedly he has to accompany me on this world of ice and snow, and die of starvation. It's a pity, it's a pity!"

At first Zhang Wuji detested Zhu Changling for his treacherous scheme, even after they fell over the cliff together and escaped dangers, he still made fun of him several times, but as now their hope of escaping alive had been cut short and he saw Zhu Changling hung his head dispiritedly, Zhang Wuji began to feel pity on him instead. "Zhu Bobo," he warmly said, "You are already old, you have enjoyed all kinds of splendor and happiness, if you die now, what else do you have to regret? Don't be sad."

Zhu Changling had always yielded to Zhang Wuji because he had not given up yet; he still hoped that in the end he could swindle Zhang Wuji into leading them to the Bing Huo Island. But now as he saw his path to life had been cut and he was left in this desperate situation, all because of this kid, how could he suppress his resentment? He stared menacingly toward Zhang Wuji, with eyes spouting raging fire.

Seeing the abrupt change of Zhu Changling's expression, from that of a gentle and good-natured old man to a beast, Zhang Wuji could not help but feel very scared. He cried out in fear and ran away.

"Where can you run?" Zhu Changling roared, reaching out to grab Zhang Wuji's back. He was determined to torture him really bad, he wanted Zhang Wuji to experience the worst possible pain before he died.

Zhang Wuji ducked forward one step, and saw the dark shadow of what seemed to be a cave on the mountain wall to his left. Without thinking he jumped into the cave. 'Rip!' a piece of his pants was torn and his thigh was cut by Zhu Changling's claw. Zhang Wuji staggered along toward the inside of the cave. Suddenly 'bang!' his forehead bumped onto a mountain rock so hard that he saw stars dancing in front of his eyes. He knew that if Zhu Changling could tear his face to pieces right now he would use any savage method to torture him. Therefore, in his fear, he desperately struggled to enter further into the cave. He did not have the luxury of considering that if he entered this dark hole, might be trapped inside and it would be more difficult for him to escape the enemy's poisonous hands. Fortunately, the deeper he went, the narrower the cave got. Crawling for more than ten 'zhang' later, he could barely push his way forward. Zhu Changling could no longer follow him. Zhang Wuji crawled several more 'zhang' forward and then he suddenly saw light ahead; he was delighted, he moved his hands and feet faster toward the light.

Zhu Changling was anxious and angry at the same time. "I won't hurt you," he called out, "Quickly come out!" But how could Zhang Wuji heed his call?"

Zhu Changling exerted his internal energy into his palm and struck the rock wall. The mountain rock was incomparably solid, when the palm hit the rock, his hand was shaken and he felt severe pain in the center of his palm, while the rock wall was not damaged in any way whatsoever. He took his short saber out with the intention of digging the rock loose so that the passageway would be somewhat wider, but he only dug a few times when 'snap', his blue-steel short saber was broken into two.

Zhu Changling was furious. He sent his strength to his shoulder and squeezed his body through the opening. Sure enough, he advanced about a foot forward, but to move any further was totally out of question. The solid rock walls were crushing his chest and back, and to his shock, he could not breathe. If he did not want to die of suffocation, he had no choice but to withdraw. Unexpectedly, his body was stuck in between the solid rocks; he could neither move forward nor withdraw backward. He was so frightened that he felt his soul was leaving him. With his entire strength his arms pushed on the rock and his body was pushed about a foot back, but there was a burst of acute pain on his chest as one of his ribs broke.