Peaceful Jianghu - Chapter 133
Xiao Dao thought it over and over, and realized that this was indeed the best method, although it might also be very dangerous.
Xue Beifan patted the knife and pointed to the red umbrella placed at the bow of the boat. "Take this umbrella with you. If I really end up fighting Xue Beihai to the point of mutual destruction, you can use this umbrella to escape."
"Run away with an umbrella?" Xiao Dao didn't quite understand.
"This umbrella can illuminate your way out. It is said that there are many other paths in the Crystal Palace, which can only be seen by those who carry the red paper umbrella."
Xiao Dao frowned and lowered his head. Xue Beifan's words and actions seemed to indicate that he had no intention of returning alive.
After a long silence, Xiao Dao finally spoke, "So, what were your original thoughts?"
"Huh?" Xue Beifan was taken aback.
"When you originally wanted to use me, what were your thoughts?" Xiao Dao looked up at him.
Xue Beifan hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Actually, I think it won't be so easy for my elder brother to get the Holy Martial Emperor's Scroll. He needs someone who is proficient in mechanisms to help him take the scroll down."
Xiao Dao thought for a moment, "I just stumbled into the Beihai Sect by chance... But on my first day at the Beihai Sect, Xue Beihai almost kicked the bucket. Could it be that this was also part of his plan? Did he plan this whole thing from the very beginning? This person is truly terrifying. When exactly did he start scheming?"
“That’s very much like his usual style.” Xue Beifan sat down next to Xiao Dao. “Originally, I planned to take a gamble, bring you into the Crystal Palace, and then see how things went.”
"Oh..." Xiao Dao nodded with a smile, "So, originally you weren't considering my life or death, but now you're worried about me getting hurt, right?"
Xue Beifan was also a little embarrassed. Before he could speak, Xiao Dao asked, "Why not do it this way? So many of us can go in together, deal with your older brother, and then I can slowly search for the Holy Martial Emperor's Register. No matter how powerful Xue Beihai is, you've all said he's in a bad situation right now. With you, Chonghua, Wang Bibo, Shen Xinghai, and so many others, do you think we can't beat Xue Beihai?"
Xue Beifan shook his head. "It's impossible for so many people to go in."
"What do you mean?" Xiao Dao didn't quite understand.
"The Crystal Palace is full of traps. The more people go in, the easier it is to trigger them. If that happens, the entire Crystal Palace will be flooded, and no one will be able to get out."
Xiao Dao sighed. Nothing worked. That monster Xue Beihai had really created a dead end that was hard to break.
Thinking of this, Xiao Dao looked up at him and asked, "Then what were you thinking when you told me to go back and not come to the Beihai Sect with you?"
Xue Beifan was silent for a moment, then said, "Actually, I still think this way."
Tell me about it.
"I want to go into the Crystal Palace by myself." Xue Beifan laughed nonchalantly. "At worst, we'll all die in there. I'm just afraid that I'm not skilled enough and will be defeated by Xue Beihai. If I manage to give him half of my health, and he finds the Holy Martial Emperor's Register, then the world will be in chaos."
Xiao Dao frowned. "Of course not, I'll go with you."
"It's very dangerous."
"I'm not afraid," Xiao Dao said with great confidence.
"You believed me based on only my side of the story? Aren't you afraid I'm lying to you?" Xue Beifan looked at Xiao Dao.
Xiao Dao shook his head again, "Don't be afraid! No one in the world is worse off than you. You should worry about yourself!"
Xue Beifan was both amused and exasperated, gently stroking Xiao Dao's long hair, "You really are a strange woman."
"Let's find the entrance to the Crystal Palace first."
"Now that we've found the dragon bones, we still have no clue what to do." Xue Beifan also seemed preoccupied. "If we delay any longer, I'm afraid my elder brother will master his kung fu."
“Let’s think about it again.” Xiao Dao slapped his forehead, stood up, and spun around. “I really feel like I’ve seen this picture before, but I just can’t remember where…”
"After my brother was injured, he bled out half of his blood. He shouldn't have gone very far. Could he be nearby?"
"ah!"
Reminded by Xue Beifan, Xiao Dao immediately clapped his hands, "I remember now! It really is right under my nose!"
Xue Beifan was puzzled.
"Come on, I'll take you there." Xiao Dao led Xue Beifan out of the Beihai Sect and down the mountain to the cave where Xue Beihai had been injured and hidden that day. When she found the seriously injured Xue Beihai, this cave was the best hiding place, so she didn't think much of it and went in.
Xiao Dao led Xue Beifan into the cave, pointed to a mural or stone pattern on the wall in front of them, and compared it with the dragon bone, "See? It's exactly the same!"
Xue Beifan was surprised—indeed, the pattern on the stone wall was the same as the one on the dragon bone.
"Could the entrance be here?" Xue Beifan reached out and gently pushed the stone wall, but there was no reaction. He then looked at Yan Xiaodao.
Xiao Dao groped around and finally found a stone at the base of the wall. He reached out and touched it, smiled, told Xue Beifan to move aside, and then twisted the stone with force.
A rumbling sound came, and the stone door was lifted, revealing a bright and deep passage that stretched to the far end. You could also hear a splashing sound, similar to the sound of seawater lapping against the shore.
Xiao Dao and Xue Beifan exchanged a glance—could this be the real entrance to the North Sea Crystal Palace?
...
【poison】
Although this Crystal Palace is an underground palace, its walls are inlaid with luminous pearls of all sizes, making it as bright as day and as dazzling as starlight, leaving people in awe.
Xiao Dao and Xue Beifan went down the tunnel. As soon as they stepped onto the stone steps, they heard a "bang" and the stone door behind them closed.
"Oh no!" Xiao Dao exclaimed anxiously, reaching out to touch it and stamping his foot. "It's the Death Gate!"
"The Gate of Death?"
"That means this door can only be entered from the outside, not exited from the inside. To get out, we'll have to find another entrance." Xiao Dao frowned. "We came in too hastily."
Xue Beifan frowned as well. Wasn't it going to mean facing Xue Beihai so soon...?
"Since we're here, let's make the best of it." Xiao Dao quickly came to a conclusion and patted Xue Beifan on the shoulder. "Maybe it's fate."
Xue Beifan, however, felt uneasy. Entering silently would leave no one else knowing, and if something happened to Xiaodao, her parents and older brother would be waiting for her…
"Let's go!" Xiao Dao seemed quite excited. I'd been wanting to see just how beautiful the Beihai Crystal Palace really was!
"Xiao Dao." Xue Beifan grabbed her.
"What's wrong!" Xiao Dao retorted, "You're being so fussy."
"Don't be impulsive, what if we encounter danger..."
"You said you would protect me!" Xiao Dao squinted at him. "You said before that you wouldn't let me be in danger, and that you would definitely protect me if I was in danger. Are you trying to go back on your word?"
Xue Beifan stared at her blankly for a long time, then smiled and nodded, "Of course I acknowledge it."
Xiao Dao was delighted and walked towards the front of the passage.
The Crystal Palace lived up to its name. The further down you went, the louder the sound of the waves became. In addition to the luminous pearls, there were many glowing stones all around, colorful and inlaid in the walls.
Stepping down the last step, Xiao Dao opened the stone door that flashed before his eyes.
A sea breeze blew by, a clear sea breeze carrying the unique salty smell of the sea.
The cries of seagulls could be heard. Xiao Dao found it incredible and took a step forward. Under his feet was soft white sand, and in front of him was clear blue seawater.
Even Xue Beifan was captivated by the magnificent sight; the Crystal Palace of the North Sea was even more beautiful than he had imagined.