Seizing the Opportunity

"Look! There's someone..." Cheng Yuxun shouted.

Lin Ruowei was laboriously hauling ore when she heard his voice but paid it little mind—seeing people around was hardly unusual.

Yet, her maid beside her also froze, staring into the distance.

"Young Mistress, someone really is flying over! Riding a snail... It looks like that man!"

That man?

Him?

Puzzled, she followed their gaze.

At that glance—

Lin Ruowei, too, stood rooted in shock!

After just a few seconds of wide-eyed staring, her clear eyes flickered with astonishment and delight!

"It's him?!"

"The expert who fought on the ancient ship that day!"

The captain and maid's suspicions were confirmed, their eyes gleaming with excitement.

"It really is him!"

"To think he actually crossed the vast sea alone—how extraordinary!"

Watching Yi Feng leisurely approach on his snail, the trio brimmed with emotion, as if reuniting with an old friend in a distant land. Suppressed hope and exhilaration surged in their eyes!

What thrilled them most, however, was that this newcomer was far beyond the controlled perimeter of their mining camp.

In other words, he hadn't been captured.

If they could enlist his help to send word, it would be their best chance.

Lin Ruowei tensely stared into the distance, her voice trembling.

"This... this fellow cultivator crossed the sea and now appears before us. Fate must have brought him here—truly, heaven leaves no path untrodden."

"Even if he's no match for the Black Dragon Divine Guards, just getting a message out could save us!"

Cheng Yuxun clenched his fists, nodding fervently.

"Exactly!"

"He's an outsider like us, so he's trustworthy. With his skills, he’ll surely succeed in sending word and helping us escape!"

But their joy was short-lived. Within moments, their faces darkened.

In their line of sight—

Yi Feng continued drifting lazily forward, utterly oblivious to danger, as if aimlessly wandering.

And now, he was about to enter the mining zone!

Heaven-sent salvation was moments from falling into enemy hands!

Cheng Yuxun paled, stamping his foot in desperation.

"Disaster!"

"This brother doesn’t know the peril here—he’s still advancing! What do we do?!"

He whipped around to see Lin Ruowei equally frantic.

"It’s over..."

"Our cultivation is sealed—we can’t warn him. If this continues, our last hope is lost!"

Once inside, Yi Feng would be discovered and share their fate, dashing any hope of rescue.

Lin Ruowei grew increasingly desperate.

Scanning the area and spotting no sentries, she gritted her teeth.

"Our only choice is to risk signaling him to stop. Even if the guards catch us, there’s no other way!"

Her resolve stunned Cheng Yuxun.

Despite being a woman, her decisiveness rivaled any seasoned leader!

In this dire moment, it was their only option.

Exchanging determined glances, they nodded.

Lin Ruowei climbed onto a cart, waving frantically at the distance—silent but clear in her warning.

Cheng Yuxun and Yu'er followed suit, waving desperately.

Not far off—

Yi Feng swayed on his snail, sighing gloomily.

After days of "hunting" in the sea—enough fish to last lifetimes—he’d grown bored. He’d hoped landing in the legendary Fallen God Realm would bring excitement.

Yet here he was, stuck in a wasteland without even a hair of adventure!

Had he taken a wrong turn?

Just as existential doubt crept in, he spotted figures waving at the mountain’s base.

Squinting—

A dust-covered man and two women gestured wildly, as if hitchhiking.

Confused, Yi Feng peered closer.

The trio was filthy, faces smudged like tunnel diggers. They seemed familiar...

After inching nearer, he finally recognized the man—the captain from the ship!

Well, well.

Fancy meeting acquaintances here.

No wonder they were flagging him down.

Perhaps they could share useful intel.

Heartened, Yi Feng urged his snail forward.

"Whoosh!"

In a blink, he landed before them, dismounting with a courteous fist-palm salute.

"Such enthusiastic waving! Long time no see."

Yet—

His greeting hung in the air unanswered. The trio stood frozen, arms mid-wave, eyes wide as statues.

After all that urgency, they’d suddenly "crashed"?

Yi Feng scratched his head, baffled.

Meanwhile, Lin Ruowei’s heart plummeted from elation to ashes.

Their last hope had just evaporated.

Who could’ve predicted his snail’s blinding speed? In an instant, he’d crossed into the mining zone—dooming them all.

After a stunned silence—

Yu'er slumped weakly to the ground.

Lin Ruowei’s face twisted with guilt as she forced a stiff bow.

"Fellow cultivator..."

Their shattered expressions deepened Yi Feng’s confusion.

"What’s going on? You called me over, but now you’re mute?"

His question jolted Lin Ruowei.

Her actions had tragically misled him!

In her "cleverness," she’d ruined their only chance.

Shamefaced, she bowed lower.

"Forgive me!"

"My recklessness has doomed you too!"

Yi Feng’s bewilderment peaked.

His eyes nearly bulged into anime-style confusion circles.

"Doomed me?"

Lin Ruowei swallowed hard, forcing out the truth.

"Since landing in the Fallen God Realm, we’ve been imprisoned here—cultivation sealed, forced to mine under the Black Dragon Divine Guards’ watch."

"We’d hoped you’d send for help... but now you’ve entered the mining zone. This place is under constant surveillance. You’re trapped like us—"

"This is my fault. Punish me as you will!"

Her head dipped further, noble robes soiled, hair nearly brushing the dirt in abject remorse.

Cheng Yuxun also bowed, bracing for Yi Feng’s wrath.

Yet—

No anger came. Instead, Yi Feng’s eyes sparkled.

"Mortal danger...?"

This was his lucky day!

After a month of searching, opportunity had finally knocked!

Seeing their wretched state and heartfelt apologies, the situation seemed dire indeed...

Yi Feng perked up instantly!

"Quick, tell me what's going on?!"