Normally, any sane person wouldn't leave these things lying around, gathering dust, untouched.
Holding the torch, Lu Ze walked step by step deeper, soon reaching the end. On the wooden wall at the very back, it was covered in claw marks, each one deep enough to be seen clearly.
"It's shocking to see, what kind of creature could be so violent?"
Suddenly, in the darkness, a pair of eyes faintly lit up. Red eyes were particularly conspicuous in the darkness, and then, like ghost fire, they darted rapidly in the dark.
"What is that?!"
He forcefully threw the torch forward. It rolled a few times in the darkness, successfully illuminating the surroundings and revealing the owner of the red eyes.
She was entirely red, like a phantom. Her long black hair, unkempt for a long time, was covered in countless dust. Her red eyes stared fiercely at Lu Ze. One of the two horns on her head was broken, and her right hand was nowhere to be seen.
"You are Hu Qiandai, aren't you? To become like this, I truly don't know what you've been through. Don't be afraid, I'm here to save you. I can purify the corrupting power of the abyss for you. Don't be scared."
Lu Ze cautiously fumbled forward, his right hand slowly reaching out to stroke Hu Qiandai's head. However, the latter, without hesitation, opened her mouth wide and bit down fiercely on Lu Ze's right hand.
But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't break Lu Ze's skin. With her teeth, even if she gnawed for a lifetime, she probably wouldn't be able to inflict any harm.
"Good girl, soon, your suffering will be over."
For some unknown reason, Lu Ze looked at Hu Qiandai with a hint of pity. Looking at her appearance, she must have been a graceful young lady back then, someone who should have had a bright future, met someone she loved, and lived a peaceful life.
But to protect her homeland and defend her country, she resolutely abandoned her originally stable life and joined the resistance. Facing the monsters from the abyss, even when swallowed whole, she never gave up any opportunity.
Although she successfully tore open her stomach and escaped from the monster's maw, she herself was infected with the corrupting power of the abyss, gradually losing her senses, becoming unable to distinguish friend from foe, and even directly challenging her own Thunder God.
But in the end, she was no match. Not only was her right arm severed, but one of her horns was also broken. Perhaps out of mercy, Ying did not kill her, but merely told her to flee quickly into the forest, and she was never heard from again.
The Black Abyss White Flower was stuck into the ground, its power silently blooming in the darkness. After a while, the originally red face gradually faded, revealing fair, tender skin.
The broken red horn also gradually grew back, though it was still a bit tender. It would likely need some time to recover.
As for the severed right arm, it gradually healed and regrew, and her entire appearance changed.
Hu Qiandai, who had originally looked like a beast, gradually revealed a human form. However, because her clothes had long since been ruined over these hundred years, she was now practically naked.
Lu Ze discreetly averted his gaze and took out a clean jacket from his system space, quietly draping it over her. After all, this was not something he should be looking at.
"Can you speak? If you can, please stand up, put on these clothes, and I'll take you home."
Having just recovered, Hu Qiandai was not yet fully conscious. She just stared blankly at Lu Ze, her two red eyes fixated on him as if she had seen something she liked.
As if making up her mind, Hu Qiandai loosened her lips that had been biting Lu Ze's hand. It seemed she remembered her indecent state during the past century. She looked down at herself. Although much improved, she was still dirty all over.
She quickly stood up. As she rose, the jacket draped over her fell off. Lu Ze saw her completely, and his face instantly turned red.
He turned his head away a little awkwardly, only to be pulled up by Hu Qiandai. She completely disregarded the fact that she was still undressed.
"You want me to go somewhere with you?"
As if understanding his meaning, Hu Qiandai nodded with her lips tightly shut. She seemed to have regained a little spirit and said intermittently:
"I... want... to take... a bath."
Hearing her desire to clean herself, Lu Ze agreed. But couldn't you put on clothes first! It's so awkward, being seen naked... Wait, what if you can't get married later.
Seeing that she had no intention of dressing, Lu Ze had to personally help her put on the jacket and also gave her a pair of shorts, which she put on with a little guidance.
"Let's go, didn't you want to take a bath?"
Upon hearing that she could go, Hu Qiandai directly grabbed Lu Ze's left hand and pulled him to run quickly. They soon left the cabin and came to the deck, then with a light leap, they bumped right into Seele, who was walking over.
"Lu Ze? Who is this girl..."
Seele frowned as she looked at Hu Qiandai. Because the other person was wearing Lu Ze's clothes, she quickly conjured up some key plot points in her mind. Could it be...
"Don't overthink it. This was the purpose of this trip. Her name is Hu Qiandai, a friend of Raiden Ei. I'll briefly tell you her story."
After a quick explanation, Seele also looked at Hu Qiandai with pity. If it were her, could she have survived these hundred years?
Hu Qiandai looked at the two of them and pointed with her finger to a distant place, indicating she wanted to go there.
"Is there something there? Didn't you say you wanted to take a bath?"
Lu Ze looked at Hu Qiandai with some confusion, but there was no other way, they couldn't argue with her, so the two of them could only follow silently.
Before long, they saw a pool emitting steam. It looked like a natural hot spring. There were no lightning strikes nearby. Could this... be found on Seirai Island?
Upon reaching their destination, Hu Qiandai looked at the clothes on her body, which were inconvenient. She immediately took them off and then, with a light leap, jumped into the pool.
"Wow, this is just a hot spring! It makes me want to try it too."
But Master Zhang was still waiting over there. I'll go tell him and ask him to go back first. We can fly back later, it's not that far, and I can go find Raiden Ei directly.
Meanwhile, Seele had already silently taken off her clothes and walked into the hot spring without any hesitation, sitting inside and soaking.
"Ah, it's been so long since I've bathed in a hot spring. What a pity Bronya isn't here."
Across from her, Hu Qiandai was rapidly scrubbing dirt off her body and even rinsed her teeth with hot water. After all, after a hundred years without brushing her teeth, one can imagine how foul they must have been.