"Clang, clang, clang...!"
A dense barrage of crossbow bolts swept past before their eyes, covering every space they could move into. Only the recess Xu Bangzi had ducked into remained untouched.
He seemed terrified, his face as pale as paper and his body pressed tightly against the wall. After waiting a little while, he finally saw the rain of bolts stop, and the fine threads retract, drawing the bolts back into the walls.
Inside the distant Secret Chamber, Apu and the others had also escaped harm. But as Ren Ye and Jiang Qin watched Xu Bangzi, a trace of puzzlement appeared on both their faces, though neither showed it very clearly.
After the barrage, Xu Bangzi waited a moment longer before venturing out of the recess, moving nimbly away from the little corridor.
"You greedy bastard, you almost got me killed!" Panting, Xu Bangzi glanced at Old Qu on the floor and cursed furiously, "Who told you to touch things?!"
Old Qu had taken a bolt in his back and another in his thigh, suffering fairly serious external wounds. Yet as he lay on the floor, his face was extraordinarily excited as he shouted, "The Treasure-Gathering Basin! I got the Treasure-Gathering Basin! It's a supreme treasure...!"
"Old Liu, take the Treasure-Gathering Basin out of his hands and put it back." After calling from inside, Ren Ye ran out with Jiang Qin and the others. "We haven't opened this chest. We can't touch things in the Dragon Vault, or anyone from the Wang Family who comes here will definitely realize someone's been inside."
"All right."
Old Liu nodded in acknowledgment, then bent down to snatch the Treasure-Gathering Basin from Old Qu.
"You dare steal my supreme treasure? I'll kill you! Kill you!" Brother Qu, normally so steady and wise, kicked wildly