Chapter 54: Entering the Cave

"Could it be? Is this the demeanor of adventurers?" a spectator whispered.

"Who knows? But these two adventurers are really interesting!" another person remarked.

Under the crowd's gaze, Feng Yan and Yang Xin's pose was extremely unnatural; they displayed their so-called adventurer demeanor while preparing to insult the other spiritually with that pose, both holding their heads high and chests out. Although their steps looked ordinary, their slow-motion-like actions made Chen Hao and Wang Tingwan watching feel ashamed, they turned away, thinking, I don't know these two guys.

Finally, they arrived before the king, performed their respects, and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

The king had also finally waited until they finished walking; he felt his life slowly ebbing away in his body, and when they reached his presence, he had already reached the end of his life, but seeing them before him, he felt as if he had gained life, and hurriedly said, "Adventurers, stop quickly; I, a border king, can't afford this—please rise, I only ask a few of you for help."

"No problem, Your Majesty!" several replied together.

The king solemnly said, "I ask you to bring out the treasure of Li Kingdom!"

"I will not disgrace the king's mission!" Yang Xin hastily replied, then said, "Shall we set off immediately?"

"Since we are taking the kingdom's treasure, how can we set off immediately? We must first prepare a banquet for you!" the king ordered, "Go, prepare the meal!"

"No need!" Feng Yan stopped him, then continued, "We don't need the meal; just prepare a few jugs of good wine for us, that's enough—no need for all this trouble."

"This?" the king glanced at the surrounding ministers, then looked at the red-clothed devil beside him and asked, "Is that alright?"

The red-clothed devil showed a faint, hardly noticeable smile, nodded, and said, "Your Majesty, since adventurers are travelers of this continent, they must possess abilities unknown to us, so we should respect their choice."

The king laughed after hearing, then continued, "Just do that—soldiers, hear my order: please lead the adventurers to the ruins of Li Kingdom!"

"Yes!" the soldiers replied in unison.

The crowd felt great dissatisfaction, thinking, how can our nation's treasure be dug up by them? Even if they are adventurers, that's not right—it's our own property, letting an outsider handle it—is that really okay?

The Prince of Li Kingdom curled his lips into a smile; he knew this journey was arduous, not to mention dangerous, and a moment's inattention could cost one's life there. He thought that place would be the best tomb for Feng Yan, and even come with his nation's funerary offerings—this would be fine too! So he feigned enthusiasm and said, "May you return victorious; I will wait here with my father for your good news."

Chen Hao looked back, seeing their different expressions, but he didn't care; he only wished this game would end soon, and he began to miss his family, returning to reality to spend a happy New Year's Eve back home.

The soldiers led the few people slowly along the road; along the way, a group learned of these matters through gossip, stopped to watch the guiding soldiers and the adventurers who had come from afar. They also knew their nation's treasure would be taken by these people, but what could be done? Having no means, and no corresponding wealth, they could only secretly curse that the adventurers would not find it, and also not want them to find it and then die somewhere.

"What's going on outside?" Zhang Xiaobo heard the sound, poked his head out of the pharmacy, and asked the herbalist.

"You don't know?" the herbalist asked, then explained, "The king has invited several adventurers from afar to dig up the nation's treasure; I'd say it's better not to, after all, that place is quite sinister."

Upon hearing the herbalist say the word "sinister," Zhang Xiaobo immediately perked up and asked, "How exactly is it sinister?"

"Well, at that time it was strange; after all, the treasure had long existed, and once a bounty hunter accidentally stumbled into its location—the very cave entrance—you tell me how it was?" the herbalist spoke enthusiastically, then asked Zhang Xiaobo.

"How was it?" Zhang Xiaobo followed up, asking.

"Back then, the bounty hunter felt curious, went to the door, pressed his ear to it and heard some sounds; something unknown was pulling on an iron chain, as if trying to break free from its restraints. Moreover, this place wasn't just scary—what's more striking is that when the bounty hunter prepared to enter, a swarm of red-eyed bats appeared!"

The herbalist seemed quite excited as he vividly described it; Zhang Xiaobo listened, thinking, and then asked, "So, does Li Kingdom's treasure have anything valuable inside?"

Upon hearing that, the herbalist froze, saying, "I don't know about that, but it's said that the Dwarf Tribe's god created things for the dwarves, which have now been remade into a piece of clothing, and supposedly it's the sturdiest armor in the Dream Continent!"

Zhang Xiaobo nodded, indicating, then told the herbalist, "Well, I'm off first!"

The herbalist still had more to say, but Zhang Xiaobo had already vanished, catching up with Feng Yan and Yang Xin's steps; Feng Yan and the others had arrived, and they watched the soldiers dig up the surrounding earth, revealing a gate—though it couldn't really be called a gate, just a small hole.

Feng Yan thought to himself, "Does this count as a gate, not a dog hole?"

"A dog hole? Kind of interesting, I'm getting more excited." Zhang Xiaobo looked from above, then laughed, "Don't disappoint me, Feng Yan, Chen Hao—I started because of you, but now we're all stuck here."

"Then when you come out, see if there's anything fun to do." Zhang Xiaobo took the Adventurers' Book in his hand and left.

Sunlight filtered through the golden phoenix tree grove; in the sun's glow, the golden phoenix leaves looked like golden leaves, shimmering—perhaps that's what people spend their lives seeking as play. Indeed, who could leave such a thing? It is the beginning of all sin and the embodiment of all beauty.

The dwarves stood beneath the golden phoenix tree grove, and the chieftain asked, "What is our purpose?"

"Freedom, to regain our courage, for the dignity of my god Odin!" the dwarves replied in unison.

"Then set out, guard the adventurer Feng Yan!" the chieftain said.

Outside, the soldiers told the few adventurers, "This is where the Li Kingdom's treasure lies."

Sunlight shone on their faces; they were all face-conscious, but how could this be dignified? The door's size is like a dog hole! How can one play with it? It looks as if the king is toying with them, yet what can they do?

"What's wrong?" Yang Xin asked with a mocking tone, "How about you go first?"

"No, no, no, please you first." Feng Yan declined, then assumed a humble posture.

Elsewhere, the prince received the soldiers' report, he laughed and said, "I deliberately had them dig a dog hole overnight last night; the real door is actually inside the dog hole—I just wanted to see you, Feng Yan, crawl into a dog hole, hahaha."

The prince laughed triumphantly; Feng Yan felt helpless, about to lie down and prepare to crawl in, but Chen Hao grabbed him and asked, "Are you stupid? It's just a matter of one sword strike—why crawl?"

Feng Yan understood, and swung his sword directly; a puff of smoke rose, revealing the true gate. Feng Yan looked and said, "Now that's right—then I'll go ahead and fall in! Goodbye!"

Having said that, they entered the cave; Yang Xin and Wang Tingwan followed, though unwilling, Yang Xin really wanted to see him crawl into a dog hole, but now he can only imagine it; thinking of this, he kept saying, "Really, I got excited for nothing."