For a long moment, Han Yu just lay there, staring up at the low ceiling of the side tunnel. Every part of his body ached.
But… he was alive.
Barely.
"…Still got it," he whispered hoarsely.
Somewhere behind the wall of collapsed stone, two very unlucky Core Condensation disciples were coughing up their lungs.
Han Yu gave a weak grin, even as blood trickled from his temple.
The echo of the collapse still rumbled in the distance, and the cave's structure didn't seem like it would hold much longer.
But Han Yu had no intention of stopping.
He dragged himself up, wiped the blood from his brow, and continued forward, deeper into the unknown.
Han Yu winced as he pressed forward, coughing out dust and ash with every step. The tunnel he was in had narrowed considerably, and his surroundings were barely visible through the thick smoke still wafting in from the collapsed corridor behind him.
Even with an illuminating talisman, he couldn't see far.
