Chapter 83: Going to the Dwarves' Land

Chen Hao understood that the oath concerning the Eternal Spear could not be broken, so he nodded and asked, "The problem now is, how do we get out? Ever since the king got that thing and holds it in his hands day and night, without that thing, how can we win?"

Feng Yan lowered his head, silent, thinking. He fully grasped Chen Hao's meaning, but the fact remained that they had not obtained the kingdom's treasure, and the only chest they had found in the cave had already been given to the king, and now they began to worry.

They had not obtained a treasure of their own, or rather, they never discovered any treasure; the few locations that hid secret relics, Feng Yan only took an iron rod, and that rod has long since vanished.

The two fell into contemplation, regretting why they hadn't taken more items; after the king got the Treasure Chest he kept it in his hands constantly, even while sleeping.

Yet they also understood that this thing could not be forced.

Finally, Feng Yan spoke, "Let's go; no need to overthink."

So the two, with Wang You, prepared to slip out of the palace under cover of night; this place was about to become a ground of controversy.

Moreover, after the king received the chest that Feng Yan had dropped, he clutched it daily, even in sleep, holding it to his chest; the soldiers guarding the sleeping quarters thought the king had gone mad.

While the king slept, two soldiers began a quiet, back‑and‑forth discussion.

One soldier asked, "Since the adventurer Feng Yan gave the chest to the king, he doesn't seem like a king anymore?"

The other soldier thought for a moment, then agreed, "Seems so; it's been less than two days since the king got the chest."

Their Q&A, accompanied by the night, lulled everyone into slumber, even the worried, and the night finally took on its proper shape.

The night was silent; Feng Yan and Chen Hao walked slowly, trying not to make a sound, until they reached the palace gate, where the soldiers had already fallen asleep leaning against it.

The two smiled, knowing that this would save them much effort and allow them to reach the golden phoenix‑tree forest before dawn.

They tiptoed quietly, and when they stepped outside the gate, Feng Yan looked back and saw a soldier clutching Wang You tightly.

Wang You stood still, nervous inside but forcing a calm expression, gently slipping the soldier's hand free and inching forward.

"No one loves us gate‑keepers, because there's no profit here. Back home we were praised as heroes, yet under the king's feet we're just pitiful watchmen," the soldier muttered dream‑like, his words full of resentment and deep sorrow.

While listening, Wang You slowly approached Feng Yan and Chen Hao; the soldier's mumbling, though a complaint, also hinted at a problem.

The only ones despised are the poor.

Wang You had reached Feng Yan's side; the soldier was still on her. Feng Yan felt a surge of anger but held back, gently removing the soldier from Wang You.

"No one loves me!" the soldier continued his sleep‑talk.

Feng Yan understood something; he produced a gold piece and shoved it into the soldier's hand. The glittering gold caused the soldier's hand to clamp shut instantly, and he collapsed to the ground.

Feng Yan smiled, glanced at Chen Hao and Wang You, and said, "Perhaps. Money can be a sin, but aren't we sinful too? We bind ourselves with this corrupt thing, yet remember, unlike that object, we still have a soul, even if it brings no wealth."

After speaking, Feng Yan signaled they should leave. The soldier watched their retreating backs, then clenched the gold in his hand. He had long heard at the gate of these adventurers insulting the Prince, yet he bore them no grudge, because the tale everyone quietly praised was the adventurers' frightening wealth.

The soldier stretched out his hand, lowered his head to the gold, which felt heavy and genuine, like a weight pressing on his heart; he knelt toward the direction the adventurers had gone, praying they would depart safely.

Feng Yan, Chen Hao, and Wang You turned back, puzzled by the soldier's actions, yet mostly moved.

Chen Hao laughed, half‑joking, half‑serious, "You know, isn't that our old saying: money makes you a lord, money can do anything?"

Hearing that, Feng Yan lowered his head, silent, and kept walking.

Wang You was puzzled why they could joke like that, as if they were from another world, and asked the two, "Why do you say that money can do anything?"

Confronted with Wang You's question, the two fell silent; they did not wish to answer, nor could they, for it was an answer she—or rather they—didn't know.

"Let's go; the question has no real meaning, it's just a joke," Feng Yan said while walking, using the joke as an excuse. They didn't want to answer, nor could they.

"Why?" Wang You tried to press, but faced Feng Yan's joking deflection—essentially a question he didn't want to answer—so she remained silent and followed quietly.

Money? Power? Or anything else, Wang You wasn't sure; in her only memory, it was just when the Prince was about to humiliate her, that the two saved her on the great hall's stage.

Thinking of that, Wang You smiled, thinking, if I could help them in any way, that would be good.

The long night saw Feng Yan, Chen Hao, and Wang You walking a pitch‑black path; a vast dark forest loomed ahead, and they realized the destination was near.

They kept moving forward, listening to a brook's gentle flow and the air's faint foul stench.

Feng Yan frowned; Chen Hao also understood that fierce fighting had taken place here.

Wang You felt fear, then her foot seemed to kick something, and she let out a terrified shout.

Feng Yan and Chen Hao jumped at the sound, and without asking Wang You what happened, they looked down and saw a skull.

Feng Yan picked up the skull, held it, and reassured Wang You, "It's fine, we'll be there soon."

Chen Hao surveyed the surroundings, finding the area surrounded by corpses—some reduced to bones, some with rotting flesh, and a massive flock of crows circling the bodies, feeding on the decay.

After observing, Chen Hao said to Feng Yan, "You're right; a large‑scale battle did occur here, but now we should leave first—the stench of these corpses is unbearable."

Feng Yan nodded, agreeing, and they quickened their pace together.

Feng Yan took Wang You's hand, pulling her as fast as possible through this hellish ground.

Ah—ah, the crows croaked hoarsely, sending a chill down the spine.

As the group emerged from the corpse pile, they caught their breath at the lakeside; they were now close to the Dwarves' camp.

Feng Yan shouted loudly, "Jin Meng! Come out!"

The words rang, and Jin Meng appeared before the three of them.

When he heard the call, Jin Meng was still very surprised; he thought that adventurers like that, or those guys with many gold nuggets on them, could not possibly come here at night.

Seeing Jin Meng appear, Feng Yan said directly, "Now, you must tell me everything that has happened recently."

Jin Meng recounted everything in detail; Feng Yan and Chen Hao listened attentively, thought it over, then nodded, and ordered, "Got it. Tomorrow you'll bring the clan chief here to prepare for the great decisive battle!"

Jin Meng nodded and went to rest.

Chen Hao yawned and also prepared to rest.

"Good night," Chen Hao said.

"Hmm, good night," Feng Yan replied, but he knew he wouldn't be able to sleep; after all, it would be a sleepless night.

The king, atop the great hall, held the Treasure Chest, his eyes greedy as he imagined what treasures lay inside; the chest was so ornate, surely the contents were priceless.

The king remained lost in a beautiful dream.

The Red-clothed Devil had not appeared before the king for a long time; he stayed in his laboratory all day until an explosion rang out, followed by loud laughter.

"Hahaha! Success! Now the enhancement potion can be mass‑produced! It's that simple—just add a little animal blood!" the Red‑clothed Devil roared, his laughter and the explosion drawing the guards.

"Sir? Are you alright?" the soldiers asked.

Red-clothed Devil did not answer the soldier's words, but directly shoved the red potion in his hand into the soldier's hand, then said: "Please deliver this to the Prince, the strengthening potion can be mass-produced!"

"Yes!" The soldier, not yet understanding the situation, ran straight toward the Prince's palace.

The Prince was awakened by the soldier at the door, about to flare up, but seeing the potion in the soldier's hand, his face instantly broke into a smile.

Then he ordered: "Assemble outside the main hall of Wanggong tomorrow!"