Chapter 63: An Encounter

Mutian Yoshinobu’s suggestion met with no objections from Xiao Zhang or Lia.

The group crossed the arched bridge and reached the other side of the altar, walking for about two minutes through a spacious corridor. Suddenly, Mutian Yoshinobu whispered, “Here’s one!”

At the end of the corridor was a door to a side hall. Mutian Yoshinobu paused at the entrance, looking up to see a stone plaque with three characters that Xiao Zhang didn’t recognize.

Xiao Zhang also noticed the plaque, staring at it intently for a moment to memorize the three characters before entering the hall.

Once everyone was inside, Mutian Yoshinobu quickly closed the grand doors behind them and finally exhaled in relief.

“It’s safe here,” Mutian Yoshinobu sighed, then smiled, “No monsters can enter this room. Even those patrolling shrimp and crab soldiers never set foot in places like this.”

Xiao Zhang looked around as he entered.

The side hall was quite spacious—about the size of a classroom, square and orderly.

The room was filled with gold, silver, and jewels. The only oddity was that all these treasures were in shades of stone.

Mutian Yoshinobu had already produced two candles from somewhere, lighting them and brightening the room considerably.

“Why is it that monsters can’t attack us in here?” Lia frowned. “Did this boss-level dungeon also set up a safe zone?”

“I have no idea. All I know is, monsters can’t get in,” Mutian Yoshinobu replied with a slight smile. “We’ve encountered monsters before—chased and running everywhere. But as soon as we ducked into a room with a plaque like this, the monsters immediately gave up the chase. Even if we were right under their noses, those shrimp and crab soldiers would act as if they saw nothing and turn away. In short, any room with a stone plaque like that is safe.”

Lia pondered this, then turned to Xiao Zhang. “Do you recognize the writing on the plaque?”

Xiao Zhang thought for a moment. “It should say ‘Jewel Pavilion.’ It seems every Dragon Palace has rooms like this.”

As he spoke, Xiao Zhang walked over to the injured man, pulling a first aid kit from his pocket and offering to tend his wounds.

The man, whose name was Charlie, didn’t say much but looked at him with gratitude and murmured, “Thanks!”

When Xiao Zhang pulled aside his shirt, he saw a deep, clean cut on Charlie’s shoulder, the flesh split open with an unnaturally sharp edge.

“How did this happen?”

“I was slashed by a shrimp soldier’s sword,” Charlie said with a wry smile.

Xiao Zhang opened the first aid kit, applied some medicine, and bandaged the wound, staunching the bleeding.

Watching Xiao Zhang’s practiced hands, Mutian Yoshinobu couldn’t help but ask, “You’ve had some training, brother?”

Xiao Zhang smiled faintly. “I learned some basic first aid back home.”

“Do you happen to know someone called the Grievous Wraith?” Mutian Yoshinobu asked casually.

Xiao Zhang paused, pretending not to understand. “Who?”

“Oh, nothing.” Though Xiao Zhang feigned ignorance well, his act didn’t escape the old fox Mutian Yoshinobu.

Mutian Yoshinobu pulled out a sheet of paper and sketched a rough map of the area.

“There’s a problem,” he said. “We’ve been wandering around here for over an hour and have explored nearly every part of the Dragon Palace. But we can’t get into the main hall at the top. The doors are closed; we can’t even set foot on the steps, as if some force is blocking us.

“In the other two halls, shrimp and crab soldiers patrol constantly. They appear and vanish unpredictably, and we never know where they’ll turn up. We’ve fought a couple of times and killed quite a few, but sometimes when we backtrack, the rubble from the battles is gone—as if these things can never be wiped out.”

After finishing, Mutian Yoshinobu turned his gaze on Lia.

Xiao Zhang, having finished bandaging Charlie, sat down as well. Studying the hastily drawn map, he pondered for a moment before saying, “It seems the White Dragon’s true form must be in the main hall. Has anyone else managed to get inside?”

Mutian Yoshinobu smiled bitterly. “We followed that little dragon there before. But just as he was about to enter, we were discovered—and that’s when Charlie got hurt.”

“So there’s probably some main storyline we haven’t triggered yet,” Xiao Zhang frowned. “Maybe we can only enter after that little white dragon goes inside.”

“Sitting here won’t solve anything. We might as well go take a look,” Lia said, already getting to her feet.

Xiao Zhang considered briefly, then agreed, “All right. We don’t have much time left. Let’s head to the main hall and see if we can find any clues.”

The group stood together. Xiao Zhang glanced at Zhao Bai, hesitating—he had thought of leaving Zhao Bai behind in this safe room, but realized Zhao Bai would never agree, and he himself would not feel at ease. He dismissed the idea.

They exited the Jewel Pavilion and made their way down the corridor. This time, luck was with them; they encountered no shrimp or crab soldiers. After turning two corridors, they reached the outer gallery of the side hall, where they saw a passage ahead. In the main chamber of the side hall, various vessels were displayed, along with several stone guardian statues.

Xiao Zhang took a closer look, then suddenly walked over and grabbed the halberd from one of the stone guardians, weighing it in his hand with a smile. “This will do as a weapon.”

Lia’s eyes lit up and she took one as well.

Watching them, Mutian Yoshinobu tossed aside his nearly broken stone spear, snatched a shield from another guardian, while Charlie picked up two small stone stools.

Zhao Bai was drawn to the sword at a stone guardian’s waist; he took not only two for himself but stowed several more in his inventory.

“This cursed dungeon is infuriating—our own weapons don’t work,” Charlie muttered. “If only I still had my gun…”

They continued forward and reached the side hall’s main doors. Just as they were about to push them open and step out, two people appeared from the other end.

Qi Guanbei and Marcus walked side by side. Qi Guanbei’s hair was disheveled and he looked rather battered, blood at the corner of his mouth. Marcus was panting, limping as he walked.

At the sight of Xiao Zhang’s group, both men were startled at first, then, recognizing Xiao Zhang and Mutian Yoshinobu, Qi Guanbei’s face relaxed into a wry smile. “Xiao Zhang, I can’t believe you’re still alive. I thought you were done for. Where’s Zhao Bai?”

Xiao Zhang sighed and pointed at Zhao Bai. “Qi Guan, we’re lucky to be alive ourselves—we fell into a trap. How did you two end up here?”

“It’s a long story.” Qi Guanbei shook his head. “To put it simply, it was a hard journey. There’s not much else to say.”