After much effort, the arrangements were finally made, and the hundred people entered the passage at the bottom of the tower one by one in a grand procession. With so many people pouring in at once, the underground passage seemed rather narrow and cramped. Fu Jiuxin held Dou Akou tightly, not letting anyone touch or wipe her even slightly.
Upon arriving at the large cave oozing with petrified smoke, everyone couldn't help but marvel. Then, at the exit, there were indeed three forks in the road, each winding and meandering, stretching out into who-knows-where.
Everyone dispersed as previously arranged, agreeing to return by the same route two hours later and meet up on the ground.
Dou Akou and her group were the same people as before. Despite the humiliation the Third Miss suffered yesterday, being thrown onto the greasy ground by Fu Jiuxin, she showed no displeasure today and was still teasing Dou Akou with a smile. However, Pi Xiaoli, on the other hand, suddenly looked at Fu Jiuxin with a solemn and respectful awe.
Ding Zisu was unaware that Xu Liren had personally arrived here. As the underground maze gradually came into view, she became increasingly impatient, and even Dou Akou noticed her impatience.
Their group chose the same path they had taken the day before and slowly ventured deeper into the area. Young Master Gongsun Mo led the way, stopping every now and then to test the paving stones with his toes to make sure there were no traps before continuing.
The path had very few forks, and whenever they encountered a fork, another group would go in to explore, only to catch up again shortly afterward, saying that they were all dead ends. They were all martial artists, and their footsteps were extremely light, so the cave was quiet, and even their breathing was almost inaudible.
After walking for a short while, they gradually heard the gurgling sound coming from underground. At first, they thought it was an underground river, but upon closer listening, they realized that the sound was not like the usual clear and melodious sound of water. Instead, it was thick and heavy, slow and hissing, like the sound of a giant python crawling across the ground.
Clearly, everyone had made this connection and began to panic. At this moment, Fu Jiuxin said calmly, "It's the sound of grease flowing."
Everyone was taken aback upon hearing this, but then, remembering the stony resin that had just seeped out of the cave, they felt relieved. One of them couldn't help but say, "There's so much stony resin underground, it's a pity it's not a gold or silver mine, so it can't be sold for money."
No one paid him any attention. Gu Huaibi thought to himself, this petroleum jelly is far more valuable than gold and silver.
The path was so deep and seemingly endless that the group walked on. At first, there were some forks in the road, but later even those disappeared, leaving only a winding path with no end in sight. The light was dim, illuminated only by flickering candlelight, and shadows loomed on the stone walls on either side. There were no other sounds, and it was as if time itself had ceased to pass, as if they were destined to walk on like this endlessly, for a lifetime.
This oppressive feeling that arose from the bottom of their hearts quickly spread throughout the group. Some people became anxious and couldn't help but shout, "Could this road lead to the underworld?!"
He should have kept quiet, because once he did, it immediately caused an uproar. Even Tang Xunzhen, who considered himself brave, felt a chill run down his spine.
The team was demoralized, and everyone longed to turn back immediately and run to the surface to enjoy the sunshine. This passage seemed to possess a strange and chilling evil aura. It stretched silently all the way to the unknown depths of the earth. There were clearly no traps or dangers, yet everyone felt a cold, dark fear of never seeing the light of day from the bottom of their hearts.
Even before they suffer physical harm, they are on the verge of a mental breakdown.
Gu Huaibi stopped and calculated the time. They had been walking non-stop for an hour. Martial arts practitioners are naturally agile, but after walking like this, the road showed no sign of ending. It really reminded people of the path to the underworld described in ancient books.
Perhaps these living people are mixed in with the unseen spirits, heading to hell together.
He stopped and said in a deep voice, “Turn back. We’ve walked for an hour, and it will take another hour to turn back, which will be just the time to meet up with the other groups. Third Young Master, please mark the spot where we are standing, and we’ll come back tomorrow. Supernatural and bizarre things are utterly absurd. If I hear any of you say such things again, don’t blame me for treating you as a treacherous spy who tries to sow discord, and killing you on the spot!”
His ruthless methods immediately silenced everyone. They hurriedly turned around and walked back in a hurry. The few timid girls, including Miss Ding Zisu, stayed close to the middle of the group, not daring to fall behind.
They only breathed a sigh of relief when they reached the cave with flowing petrified rocks that they had seen upon entering. Once they reached the ground and felt the intense heat and brightness of the sunlight, they realized they were truly alive, and the chill and eeriness in their hearts dissipated.
When Gu Huaibi and his group reached the ground, several small teams were already waiting there. The leaders handed Gu Huaibi the blueprints. Most of the forks in the road were dead ends. One road was extremely winding and twisting. When they reached the exit, they found themselves back not far from the tower. The rest of the group was in the same situation as Gu Huaibi and his group. The road had no end, and they dared not go any further, so they had to return and make further plans.
Nine teams came up, but the last one hadn't returned even after half an hour. Everyone immediately felt a chill, knowing that this team was likely in grave danger. They hadn't expected to return safely anyway; the fact that they hadn't encountered a single trap along the way was already strange, and now the disappearance of this entire team confirmed their suspicions.
Gu Huaibi gritted his teeth. He was the one who led the group down, and now they had all been wiped out. He couldn't explain this to the other sects, so he had to go down and check on them, even if it was just for show. So he immediately prepared to go down the tower.
Just then, a dark figure appeared through the door leading to the bottom of the tower. The crowd shouted, "They're coming up! They're coming up!"
Fu Jiuxin, with his sharp eyes, grabbed Gu Huaibi's shoulder as she was about to go and greet him: "Wait."
The figure staggered closer and closer, then with a "thud," it collapsed in the sunlight. It was a bloodied body, lying on its side, one eyeball protruding from its socket, held together by a blood vessel, barely hanging on. The eyeball even rolled around a few times, its pale light sweeping over the crowd before finally bulging out, dead.
Author's Note: Damn it~ While writing this chapter, I realized I've ruined the phrase "Chu Shi Jian" (楚蚀剑)! Aww!
scouting in secret
This scene was truly terrifying.
Dou Akou's scream was stuck in her throat. She jumped, tightened her grip on Fu Jiuxin's arm, and swallowed the last scream along with her saliva.
Fu Jiuxin felt pity for her when he saw her pale face. Originally, he didn't want Chu Shi or Shi Zhi. These material possessions were not his to give up. Whoever wanted them could fight to the death. He only wanted to live a peaceful life with his A Kou.
But she insisted on finding the Chu Erosion Sword for him, and against her will, she was drawn into this treacherous storm of human nature. He sighed and pinched Dou Akou's chubby cheeks: "Akou, let's stop playing and go back to Longfeng Town, okay?"
Dou Akou understood what Fu Jiuxin was thinking, and she shook her head: "No. We've finally made progress. If we leave now, we won't be able to find Master's Chu Shi Sword."
Besides, even if it weren't for Chu Shijian, just to be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with her master, and to be by his side instead of hiding behind him when things happen, she had to force herself to face all of this. He was just a dead man; she still had a lot to learn and grow.
Fu Jiuxin then stopped mentioning going back, and simply hugged Dou Akou even tighter.
Gu Huaibi and the others turned the deceased over to examine him, their expressions grave.
The man died a gruesome death, his body riddled with countless wounds, none of which were caused by a single weapon. At a glance, there were at least three or four different types. The Third Young Master Gongsun Mo shook his head and said, "This man had arrow wounds, burns, and his face was bluish-purple, as if he had inhaled poison gas. I wonder what his squad encountered."
Silence fell upon them. Of the ten men in that group, only one barely escaped the tunnel, his body riddled with wounds, and he died a gruesome death before their very eyes. They all felt a chill creep up their spines, like a venomous snake slowly coiling around them, and secretly rejoiced that they hadn't been assigned to that group.
Silently, Gu Huaibi took a piece of paper from the deceased's arms. It was the blueprint he had given to each group leader before entering the tower. The blueprint was relatively clean, with some places marked with crosses and others with circles on the winding route. However, one place was covered with densely packed bright red crosses, a bloody and shocking sight.
That must be the place where those ten people perished one by one. According to the Third Young Master, their group first encountered the hidden crossbow traps, then the rolling stones and poison gas. One by one, their teammates died, but the captain persisted in marking each trap with a bright red X as a warning. Finally, with his last bit of strength, he escaped from the bottom of the tower and conveyed the message to the survivors.
He was covered in wounds and blood, his original appearance unrecognizable. Even if they could see him clearly, they wouldn't recognize him; he was probably just a member of some minor sect. Gu Huaibi remained silent for a long time, then took two steps back and performed the most solemn bow to the corpse on the ground. Afterward, he stood up, said nothing more, and went to arrange the funeral.
Because of this major incident, Gu Huaibi was overwhelmed with work, having to appease the sects whose members had died, bury the dead, and devise new plans. Tang Xunzhen was also assisting him, and the two of them were so busy that they didn't even have time to catch their breath.
In comparison, another couple, Fu Jiuxin and Dou Akou, had a much more relaxed life. It was already the height of summer, and Dou Akou, being plump and sensitive to heat, didn't want to sleep with Fu Jiuxin at night. This man was hot-blooded, and while they slept together, he couldn't resist making love to her. Each time, Dou Akou had to take a cold shower, drenched in sweat, and she also had to be careful that Fu Jiuxin wouldn't become aroused again while she was showering. After several such incidents, she pouted and refused to sleep with Fu Jiuxin anymore, instead sending him to sleep on a makeshift bed on the floor, while she monopolized the cool mat.
She was sleeping soundly on the bamboo mat that night when she felt the area warmed by her body heat. So she turned over, intending to roll to the other side, but was unexpectedly woken up by Fu Jiuxin.
Dou Akou opened her eyes groggily and saw Fu Jiuxin dressed in all black, with his eyes shining brightly as he stared at a certain part of her body.
Dou Akou followed his gaze and noticed that because of her sideways posture, her clothes were wide open, exposing half of her soft breasts. She was startled, thinking, "Oh no, I'm going to be tormented by my master again." Sure enough, she saw Fu Jiuxin slowly lean down, his arms bracing on either side of her, his handsome face getting closer and closer…
Dou Akou felt a surge of heat in her chest and closed her eyes to wait. Instead of receiving a kiss from Fu Jiuxin, she was pulled up by him: "Akou, get dressed, quick."
So, sir, you didn't want *that* thing... Dou Akou was actually a little disappointed!
After she finished dressing, she noticed Fu Jiuxin was dressed in black and asked in confusion, "Sir, where are we going?"
Fu Jiuxin said in a deep voice, "The road I went on during the day."
As they spoke, they left the house and headed straight for the tower.
The guards who had been stationed on both sides of the tower had been withdrawn, because Gu Huaibi was certain that after what had happened during the day, no one would dare to sneak in on their own. So the tower stood there quietly, its spire soaring high, pointing straight to the star-studded sky.
Fu Jiuxin led Dou Akou down the road that they could never reach during the day. They came down in the bright sunlight and walked for an hour before being disturbed by the strange and eerie atmosphere of the road, almost having a mental breakdown. Now, they were descending the tower in the dead of night, with not a single ray of light along the way, only illuminated by the flickering candlelight in Fu Jiuxin's hand, making it all the more sinister and terrifying.
When they came during the day, they were very cautious with every step because they didn't know if there were any traps. But now that they were familiar with the road, Fu Jiuxin simply used his lightness skill to carry Dou Akou and swiftly move forward.
They had traveled for an hour during the day, but Fu Jiuxin arrived at the place they had marked in just half an hour—the Third Young Master had planted a dart there.
They stopped there, looked ahead, and saw that it was still a road with no end in sight, as if there was a black hole at the end, waiting for them to walk into a trap.
Dou Akou wasn't too afraid because Fu Jiuxin was there, but she was still puzzled: "Sir, what are we doing here?"
"This road leads to a palace where treasures are hidden."
Dou Akou's eyes widened slowly: "Ah!"
News of the daytime squad's complete annihilation had already spread far and wide. Everyone assumed that the place where they perished was where the treasure was located; otherwise, the city lord of Haohui City wouldn't have gone to such lengths to lay down so many traps. This seemingly endless road, like those interconnected caves, was probably just a maze leading to some exit on the surface. Therefore, when Dou Akou first heard Fu Jiuxin say this, she was startled, and then suddenly understood.
"Does the gentleman mean that this is the right path, and all the other paths are just to confuse people, and that place full of traps is just a smokescreen to deceive people?"
Fu Jiuxin nodded: "Akou is smart."
Dou Akou chuckled and seized the opportunity to compliment Fu Jiuxin: "It's all thanks to your excellent teaching, sir."
Fu Jiuxin glanced at her, took her hand, and continued walking forward.
This road, designed with ingenuity, possesses a quiet, narrow space and an endless, winding path that can easily incite madness. Even the seemingly random scribbles on the walls, illuminated by candlelight, transform into eerie smiling faces. But upon closer inspection, they are merely chaotic lines, which, when the gaze shifts, seem to conjure bizarre faces again. Everything that appears haphazardly designed and arranged—a stone placed by the roadside, a scratch on a brick—actually carries a hidden meaning, designed to drive people mad.
Fu Jiuxin composed himself. He was meticulous and strong-willed, unmoved by the temptations of the secret passage. Dou Akou, on the other hand, was innocent and naive. To put it nicely, she was simple-minded; to put it bluntly, she was slow-witted and a bit silly. In addition, Fu Jiuxin was dressed in tight black clothes tonight, which accentuated his perfect figure: broad shoulders, narrow hips, long legs, and a slender waist, with well-defined and muscular muscles. Dou Akou was completely focused on him, secretly drooling, and was not affected by the deliberately created environment.
The two walked without incident for an unknown amount of time when Dou Akou's eyes lit up. Pointing ahead, she exclaimed, "Sir, look! Something is glowing! We've reached the end!"
Fu Jiuxin dared not let his guard down, slowed his pace, and shielded Dou Akou behind him as he walked over step by step.
Dou Akou was right. After walking for a long time, the road finally came to an end. And the glowing thing was actually an upward staircase made of fluorite, emitting a pale green light in the darkness. Looking at it this way, it seemed more like a path leading to the underworld.
It seems this was a deliberate design by the city lord of Haohui City.
Fu Jiuxin and Dou Akou remained unmoved and slowly climbed the steps. After the last step, a wide and spacious corridor opened up before them. On both sides of the corridor were rows of stone doors, all tightly closed. At the end was a huge bronze door, on which was carved a five-clawed dragon.
Dou Akou was stunned by the scene before her, her heart surging with emotion. It took her a long time to find her voice: "S-Sir..."
Fu Jiuxin responded softly, and the two of them walked towards the bronze door together. They pushed the door, but it didn't budge. There was a dent on the door, and judging from its shape, it was exactly like the jade tablet.
Dou Akou suddenly realized: "Sir, put that jade tablet in this indentation, and the door will open!"
Unfortunately, the jade tablet was in Liu Qingdai's hands.
Fu Jiuxin gave a faint "hmm," seemingly uninterested in what lay behind the door. He said, "Akou, did you see it? The Chu Shi Sword is definitely behind this door, but I don't have the jade slip to open it. You should give up. After we go back, we'll pack our things and head back to Longfeng Town, okay?"
As he spoke, he turned Dou Akou around, pulling her hand. Dou Akou was about to answer him when she noticed Fu Jiuxin stiffen. She asked, puzzled, "Sir, what's wrong—"
Then she caught a glimpse of that person out of the corner of her eye, and she was speechless.
Sigh of an old friend
This person's appearance here is both reasonable and unexpected.
Dou Akou still remembered how Chen Bo had tormented her at Fu Jiuxin's palace, so when she suddenly saw Chen Bo appear behind them in this gloomy tunnel, she was terrified and instinctively hid behind Fu Jiuxin.
Because she was pressed tightly against Fu Jiuxin, she could clearly feel the tension in the man's muscles beside her, his entire body on guard. However, he appeared calm and composed, giving Uncle Chen a slight nod: "Uncle Chen."
Chen Bo's hawk-like eyes darted between Dou Akou and Fu Jiuxin, and he walked slowly toward them with a gloomy face.
Dou Akou sensed that Fu Jiuxin's chilling killing intent grew stronger with each step Chen Bo took closer. By the time Chen Bo stood in front of them, his entire body was tense, like a bowstring ready to be drawn.
Unexpectedly, Uncle Chen did not make a move. He glanced at Fu Jiuxin, snorted coldly, walked around them, and went to the tightly closed bronze door.
He stood before the bronze door for a long time, silently gazing at the soaring dragon on it, his face filled with melancholy, as if recalling something. After a long while, he finally spoke: "Young Master—the reason Uncle Chen still respectfully calls you Young Master is because of the City Lord; after all, you are his grandson. Young Master, our Siyou Kingdom has had six City Lords, each one working diligently and tirelessly, never daring to slacken in the slightest. It is the blood and sweat of six City Lords that have brought us a prosperous and peaceful Siyou Kingdom. The City Lord, with foresight, ordered the construction of an underground labyrinth at the bottom of this tower to accumulate all of Siyou's wealth from its founding to the present day, so that if Siyou were to decline one day, we could rely on this wealth to rise again. Behind this door is our Siyou's backing! But if the old City Lord knew in the afterlife that the Young Master not only had no intention of restoring the kingdom, but also handed over the Shizhi mine for a woman, he would surely die with his eyes wide open in disbelief!"
Chen Bo's loud voice echoed in the empty underground palace. He was excited and looked crazy, as if he wanted to summon the spirit of the old city lord and teach Fu Jiuxin, this unfilial grand-disciple, a lesson.
Fu Jiuxin remained silent.
The Kingdom of Siyou had been in decline for fifty years. Chen Bo searched far and wide, but only found a few dozen descendants. Like Fu Jiuxin, these people were only a few years old when the disaster struck. They had been taken away from Siyou by their parents and settled in other lands, their memories of Siyou already very vague. And once the restoration began, there would inevitably be casualties and turmoil, shattering their peaceful lives. Perhaps Siyou would eventually rise again, but that rise would be built upon the blood and flesh of these innocent citizens.
Chen Bo may not be unaware of this principle, but he has devoted his entire life to the revival of the Siyou Kingdom, and his obsession has seeped into his very bones, driving him to madness.
Fu Jiuxin sighed inwardly and said, "Uncle Chen, I am honored that you still call me Young Master, but I am not worthy or capable of bearing this title. I would appreciate it if you could find someone else."
After he finished speaking, he pulled Dou Akou away. As they passed by Uncle Chen, they heard him shout, "Stop! Young Master, don't you want to know what's behind this door? Don't you want the jade tablet that opens the door?!"
Fu Jiuxin didn't turn around, but Dou Akou couldn't help but look back. She saw Uncle Chen standing in front of the bronze door, holding a gleaming jade tablet in his hand, which was the key to open the bronze door.
Fu Jiuxin remained unmoved, his feet never stopping, and in the blink of an eye he had darted more than ten feet away. Dou Akou saw Chen Bo's straight back suddenly bend. He slowly hunched over, like all old people of this age, standing there decrepit, his white hair at his temples fluttering in the wind.
At this moment, he was nothing more than a pitiful and ordinary old man.