As eight o'clock approached, there was no one in sight outside the cave. The surroundings were empty and utterly barren, as though this place had always been destined to remain silent and cold. Not even the hardiest plant grew here.
"Be careful in a moment. If they ask who you are, tell them you're my servant. Understand?" Feng Gu warned him. Though Zeng Mu felt somewhat uncomfortable with that, he did not argue and could only nod in agreement.
"Oh, and hurry up and take off that necklace. Put it inside your Elemental Artifact, or they'll recognize you," he added.
"I can't. This thing is rather unusual. It won't go inside an Elemental Artifact," Zeng Mu said.
"Then put it in your pocket or tuck it into your clothes. Just take it off, quickly!"
Zeng Mu did as he was told and removed the Blackstone Necklace. This was the first time he had taken it off in over three years.
He did not know whether he was imagining it, but the instant he removed the Blackstone Necklace, he felt a sense of emptiness, along with a loss of strength. Like a soldier stripping off the soft armor worn against his skin, he felt profoundly uncomfortable.
Fortunately, this would not last too long. His only thought now was to finish their business quickly and put it back on.
The two of them ambled into the cave.
The cave was not very deep. After walking roughly ten meters, they reached the end, where a stone wall as smooth as a mirror blocked their path. Even on this lightless night, they could make out that black mirror. It looked exceedingly strange. Zeng Mu had never seen stone so smooth before.
Once inside, neither of them spoke. Zeng Mu held his breath and waited