Han Shuangjiang's Shame and Anger

Han Shuangjiang couldn't figure out why Chu Huai Xu insisted on entering through the same entrance as her.

Wasting an entrance like this wasn't a good move, statistically speaking.

If he was worried she'd struggle alone against the trials and get overwhelmed, that shouldn't be the case either.

Since that senior had designed ten entrances, the original intent was probably one per person, right?

If someone was capable enough, they should be able to handle the trials.

So, after a moment of thought, she spoke up: "Maybe we should split up. If I find anything here, I'll bring it out to you."

Before entering the secret realm, she'd already made up her mind.

If she really got something, she'd just give it all to Chu Huai Xu.

The earlier trouble had started because of her, and he'd solved every problem. She always kept things clear.

She'd wanted to give him the Jade Token Fragment from the start, but he refused.

Unexpectedly, Chu Huai Xu still held his ground, shaking his head at her words.

"Trust me, we go together," he said.

"Fine." Han Shuangjiang didn't argue further.

The experienced Chu Huai Xu knew well that so-called opportunities weren't something you could just share with someone if you wanted to.

He wasn't about to gamble on probabilities or test his luck.

He'd rather believe that this girl, carrying immense fortune, was his lucky charm.

—Watch closely, this is how you use a World Protagonist!

Before entering the seventh cave entrance, Han Shuangjiang glanced at the eighth one next to it, feeling a bit regretful.

"Don't look. Trust your first instinct," Chu Huai Xu said.

"I trust you too. Maybe you'll bring me good luck." He was straight-up using the World Protagonist as a "treasure-hunting mouse."

The cold-faced girl's lips pressed together slightly at that, feeling like this grinning fool was putting pressure on her.

No time to waste—others were already charging into the caves, so they couldn't afford to delay either.

The two walked in, finding the space quite narrow.

It had a bit of that feel from "The Peach Blossom Spring": at first, it was so tight it barely fit one person, then after a few dozen steps, it opened up wide.

But just as it got spacious, another fork appeared with two paths.

"Feels like a maze," Chu Huai Xu said, squinting.

Han Shuangjiang nodded and suggested, "Should we leave marks?"

"Sure, whatever." Chu Huai Xu didn't care—if she wanted to, she could.

For him, it wasn't necessary, since he had the Map function.

Anywhere he'd been, the Map would unlock for later reference, so no marks were needed.

But in a dungeon, precise location tracking wasn't possible unless there was a level advantage.

Soon, Han Shuangjiang felt like this man was pressuring her again.

"Which way?" he asked.

The iceberg sighed inwardly, glanced left and right, then chose the right.

"Okay, let's go." Chu Huai Xu blurted out some English, leaving Han Shuangjiang baffled, but she quickly followed.

Sure enough, not long after, they hit another fork, this time splitting into three paths.

"Pick one," Chu Huai Xu said again.

Han Shuangjiang looked it over and suggested, "How about... the middle one?"

"Alright, that's the one!" He agreed readily.

Then, Chu Huai Xu kept walking straight ahead without stopping.

Leaving Han Shuangjiang alone at the fork to make a mark. By the time she finished, he was already far off. She pressed her lips together hard, watching his brisk strides, then jogged to catch up.

Just like that, the two passed ten forks in a row.

Then they stepped into a large open space, with a full six paths ahead!

Chu Huai Xu started pressuring Han Shuangjiang again.

"Pick one."

The cold-faced girl's face grew even colder, a hint of displeasure showing.

"Can't you pick one yourself?" she frowned.

She'd already said all the opportunities were his—why did she have to make every call?

If they took the wrong path, she didn't want him blaming her.

"Nope." Chu Huai Xu said, sounding quite shameless.

"I'm telling you, I'm hopeless with directions." He started bullshitting.

Han Shuangjiang was still a young girl after all, and hearing this, she grew even more displeased. "Then why don't you leave marks?"

There was a hint of grievance in her heart—she felt like she was stuck doing all the grunt work while he just strode ahead without even pausing.

"Isn't it because I'm deliberately walking ahead to scout the way? How do you know there's no danger here? What if it's more than just a maze?" Chu Huai Xu said with utter confidence, his reasoning sound.

Han Shuangjiang stared at him, dumbfounded, and silently cursed in her mind: "This shameless Dead Fox!"

As it turned out, while she was giving him a nickname, he had the same idea.

"You're always wearing that cold face all day, and when you get mad like this, it's even colder. Big Ice Block, hurry up and pick—which of these two paths?" Chu Huai Xu was unusually impatient, urging her on.

"Big Ice Block?" Han Shuangjiang was baffled, thinking only: "That sounds awful!"

Little Ice Block might've been a bit cute, but Big Ice Block just felt stupid and clunky.

Fuming, she went back to pure instinct and jabbed a finger at the left one. "Then this one!"

This time, she was the one who strode forward quickly, not bothering to leave a mark either.

Chu Huai Xu watched the sulking Cold-faced Girl and felt no irritation—in fact, he found it amusing.

The colder she got, the more he inexplicably wanted to tease her.

Relying on his Map ability, Chu Huai Xu had no intention of leaving marks.

He gazed at Han Shuangjiang's alluring silhouette, at the sway of her graceful hips and waist as she took long strides, and immediately quickened his pace to catch up.

But once he caught up, he suddenly slunk back to leave a mark at the intersection.

The girl he'd called Big Ice Block looked back, let out a soft snort, and felt much more at ease, quite satisfied.

What she didn't know was that Chu Huai Xu was secretly alarmed.

The reason was simple: the Map had recorded all ten previous intersections.

But this one hadn't been recorded!

According to the system's Map function, everything ahead was pitch black, but as long as he moved forward, the path he walked would appear on the Map and be saved.

Yet this path didn't. He'd just taken a dozen steps, and it was still completely dark—no new road had appeared on the Map!

The Map only showed the large open space they'd just passed. After choosing the second path out of six, no new path had been generated, as if it was stuck.

"Is my permission level too low?"

Chu Huai Xu was baffled by this and decided it was better to leave a mark first.

The two of them kept walking and choosing like this for nearly an hour.

Han Shuangjiang's confidence began to wane.

"The space beneath this Cold Pool is actually this vast!" she couldn't help but exclaim.

"And we started by entering through ten separate entrances. After walking this long without meeting anyone, it means the inside really isn't connected."

"Could it be that we made the wrong choice from the start?" She looked at Chu Huai Xu, voicing her thoughts.

"It's normal for you to lack confidence," Chu Huai Xu said.

In his view, Han Shuangjiang had only just entered the world of cultivation. She hadn't encountered any opportunities yet and didn't know she carried great fortune, that she'd stumble into endless lucky breaks in the future, as if the whole world revolved around her.

It was like people who think they're lucky—they only realize it after constantly tasting the sweetness.

Chu Huai Xu looked at her and abruptly changed tack. "But I have faith in you. No pressure, Big Ice Block."

Han Shuangjiang: "..."

Then why don't you pick the damn path yourself, you Dead Fox, you bastard!

The Cold-faced Girl took a deep breath and could only grit her teeth and continue playing the guessing game.

She still didn't understand why she had to be the one to choose. She felt no need to take responsibility for it.

And so, they spent another half hour wandering around in there.

They never found their way out of the maze, nor did they come across any marked intersections—meaning they hadn't looped back.

"How about you pick instead?" Han Shuangjiang was no longer mildly annoyed; she'd grown a bit dejected.

Choosing and walking, over and over, as if it would never end.

Throughout the whole process, you keep doubting yourself.

She didn't know if she'd chosen wrong, but she didn't know if she was right either—only endless confusion remained.

If she were alone, with her stubborn nature, she wouldn't feel this way. She might even have pushed herself harder.

But the problem was, she'd been making choices for Chu Huai Xu the whole time.

A person's Mindset changes because of that.

Hearing that she refused to pick anymore, Chu Huai Xu didn't answer her question. Instead, he asked, "Are you hungry?"

"Seriously, you pick. I feel like I've been leading you into dead ends." Han Shuangjiang ignored his question.

"It's noon already. Want to eat the flatbread we packed?" Chu Huai Xu said.

"Why do you have to force me to choose? What's the point?"

"Have a piece?" He pulled out two flatbreads directly.

Han Shuangjiang fumed, her beautiful eyes glaring daggers at him. The icy chill around her thawed slightly, and her anger brought her to life, lending her a different kind of allure.

Under his gaze, Chu Huai Xu had already started munching.

"Really not having any?" He held the bread out to her.

"Fine." She said coldly, her face stiff.

After they'd eaten their fill, the two set off again.

About the time it takes a stick of incense to burn, Chu Huai Xu noticed Han Shuangjiang seemed to be hesitating, on the verge of speaking.

He figured she was back to not wanting to make a choice, so he didn't ask.

But after a while, she still looked like she wanted to say something, and she seemed really uncomfortable.

She had long, slender legs that could barely keep up with his brisk strides when walking fast, but now she was slowing down more and more.

As a seasoned companion, he paid close attention to details—that was how he gave his clients top-notch service and emotional value.

Chu Huai Xu had a guess and started, "You wouldn't be—"

He was cut off by Han Shuangjiang, whose cheeks had flushed a faint red.

This time, she hastily picked a path. "Let's take the middle one. You... you go ahead. I'll catch up in a moment. Don't wait for me."

"And... and don't look back!" Her voice dropped at the end, then rose again on the last two words, and she lowered her head slightly.

She clearly didn't dare meet his eyes, yet her expression was a mix of shame and indignation.

Chu Huai Xu's guess was right—she needed to pee.