Chapter 77: The Cave About to Collapse

Everything turned out to be sudden; looking at the wooden box in front, several people began to feel doubtful.

Was the previous difficulty just this?

Holding such doubt, several people stared fixedly at the box ahead; the stone wall at the top of the cave entrance had already been broken through by the eight-legged horse ridden by Aoding, light streamed through that large opening; previously, several people stood in place looking at that shabby appearance—the treasure chest, rather than being called a treasure chest, was better described as a broken wooden box, on which hung a rust‑covered lock that seemed ready to blow away into iron filings at the slightest gust.

In the end, no one dared to step forward; they all stood in place staring at the box. The red lava had already receded, leaving a shallow pit below. The so‑called deep pit earlier, under the light shining from above, was merely neither deep nor shallow, not really a deep cave entrance. Chen Hao looked down at the mouth, lost in thought. He furtively glanced at Yang Xin and Wang Tingwan, noticing they also furtively glanced this way; their eyes met, but they tacitly looked away.

After all, nobody wanted to be the instigator; both sides desperately avoided striking first, yet hoped the other would act first. They appeared to be on good terms, like comrades, yet also terribly hostile, as if they would become enemies the next second.

The four remained in a standoff, unwilling to back down, yet each secretly wanted the other to wade into the muddy water. They didn't want the prize before them to fly away, but that prize came with dangerous elements they desperately wanted to avoid; the best solution—let the other side take action!

Yang Xin's eyes shifted; he seemed to have an idea. He approached Feng Yan, trying to deliberately provoke him, mocking: "Feng Yan, want to give it a try? Maybe you can bring back Wang Tingwan—she's originally yours, right?"

Feng Yan gritted his teeth, his face grim, and uttered a single word in a low voice.

"Get lost!"

Yang Xin smiled, slowly returned to Wang Tingwan's side, then took her hand, trying to thoroughly provoke Feng Yan. He first grabbed Wang Tingwan's hand, placed it on his chest, then half‑knelt on the ground, using what seemed his most romantic method to anger Feng Yan.

Feng Yan kept turning his head, trying hard not to look, but from the corner of his eye he could still catch a glimpse of the scene. Chen Hao looked at Feng Yan with some worry, trying to comfort him. Feng Yan knew this was a method to provoke him, but he couldn't—he couldn't not be angry! Before him was the girl he liked most; in front of Feng Yan, her various movements looked utterly romantic, the very way he had once dreamed of, now merely realized in reality.

But the only difference from his dream was that the person was not himself.

"Ah! Why, why is this like this!" Feng Yan shouted, then drew the black sword at his back; a phantom flashed, the sword tip already aimed at Yang Xin's forehead—only a light strike would pierce the person before him!

But Feng Yan stopped; a cold wind blew past his face, and Yang Xin saw the black sword tip halt before his eyes. The next second would be his game‑over, yet he hadn't even seen Feng Yan's move!

Yang Xin swallowed a breath in his stomach, then slowly calmed; on that hand, a crossbow bolt was already nocked.

Feng Yan glanced at the crossbow bolt in Yang Xin's hand and understood; in fact they both knew the treasure chest below would definitely be taken, but what were they afraid of? It was truly Yang Xin's crossbow bolt—during the Blood Maple Forest encounter, Feng Yan realized the bolt had a lethal, sure‑kill ability; if not for the Adventurer's Book in his hand at that time healing his wounds, Feng Yan would already have met game‑over.

Feng Yan stared at the crossbow bolt, gradually grasping Yang Xin's intent, then slowly walked over to Chen Hao, whispering a while; Chen Hao's brows tightened, then relaxed into a smile. Yang Xin and Wang Tingwan looked at them, puzzled, still doubtful.

Chen Hao pulled Feng Yan aside and asked concernedly: "No problem?"

Feng Yan nodded, speaking with confidence: "Rest assured, I can do it!"

Yang Xin watched Feng Yan step by step approach the cave mouth below; he fixed his gaze on Feng Yan's movements, seeing Feng Yan step by step reach the cave entrance, look down, then throw his black sword downward!

"What! He just threw the sword away—what is Feng Yan preparing to do?" Yang Xin exclaimed in shock, eyes wide, staring at Feng Yan's action. Yang Xin was utterly baffled; Feng Yan's move was the Lilliputian Kingdom's strongest weapon, also his trump card, yet he simply tossed it away!

Feng Yan's mouth twitched slightly; he caught Yang Xin's astonished expression in his peripheral vision, then leapt!

Something even more unbelievable happened! Yang Xin watched the dilapidated box slowly float up, while Feng Yan sat atop it; the box hovered in midair, and Feng Yan, seated on the box, looked down contemptuously at Yang Xin, then grabbed him and flew toward the exit!

"I won't let you get away that easily!" Yang Xin shouted, and the crossbow bolt in his hand shot forth!

Whoosh— the bolt emitted a sharp sound; Chen Hao seized the opportunity, hurling the metal object given by the clan chief at the crossbow bolt.

Clang!

The arrowhead emitted a cracking sound, then the surroundings began to shake violently, stones raining down—it was bound to collapse without a doubt.

Yang Xin and Wang Tingwan watched Feng Yan and Chen Hao slowly fly upward, carrying the ramshackle box; finally they lowered their heads to look at Wang Tingwan below, yet still flew downward!

"I know, this is your choice." Chen Hao said, accompanying Feng Yan as they flew downward toward Wang Tingwan's direction.

"Why?" Wang Tingwan watched the two people rushing back toward them; she knew it was Feng Yan's idea, yet still didn't know what to say, so she just gazed at Feng Yan; their eyes met, Feng Yan felt an inevitable pang in his heart, then he averted his gaze.

At that very moment, Feng Yan felt he had defeated Yang Xin this time, and utterly, completely!

"Let's go!" Feng Yan said, glancing at Wang Tingwan; the look that once held resentment was gone, replaced by a gentle, tranquil gaze.

Only this time did their gazes fully meet; Feng Yan did not avoid her eyes, the two locked gazes, and Feng Yan smiled. Wang Tingwan also smiled; they shared that smile, looking at each other, and at that moment Feng Yan finally let go of his burden.

Feng Yan smiled and said: "Thank you for appearing in my life, bringing warm memories to that gray period of my past."

Wang Tingwan still smiled, not responding to Feng Yan's words; she nodded, which counted as her reply.

Thud!

Huge stones rained down; the cave was slowly beginning to collapse!