Xie Lianhuan: I Think I Said the Wrong Thing. I'm Screwed!

With Zhang Qiling and Yu Zhi joining them, their progress took off. No one even saw what the two did, but an entrance opened in the southwest corner. Everyone followed behind them in silence. They knew this was another hidden passage, and an extremely dangerous one.

For one thing, they didn't want to miss the sound of a mechanism activating. For another, they were afraid of Yu Zhi's methods, and that was the main reason. Once those vines wrapped around someone, nothing was left!

Yu Zhi had shown that trick precisely to make them put aside any unnecessary little schemes. Now, it seemed he had achieved his goal.

"This is connected to the volcano's crater. Once the mechanism is triggered, the magma inside will flood in instantly. Don't touch anything or wander around," Zhang Qiling warned coldly.

"Yes, Master Zhang." "Yes, Master Zhang." Everyone answered at once.

Since they could talk, this place apparently wasn't sound-activated.

"In a moment, line up and follow in my footsteps. Don't take a wrong step. One wrong step, and everyone dies." With that, Zhang Qiling wrapped an arm around Yu Zhi's waist and moved swiftly forward.

Everyone thought, He really can't bear to let go of him for even a moment. But his skill gave him courage, so they'd better worry about their own lives and hurry after him.

When the six from the Nine Gates made it through without mishap, the two were nowhere in sight. They saw only a beam of light shining toward them, and the open stone door in the wall was still slowly descending with a creak.

"Fuck, hurry the hell up, or we won't make it!" The six scrambled through before the stone door came down.

As soon as they entered, they found it very bright. Coming in from the darkness so suddenly, they were dazzled and could only squint through narrow slits to look around. The place was bright, with tall bronze pillars packed densely all around. Lamps stood atop the pillars, their candle flames burning brightly. It was extremely hot here, at least forty degrees, hot enough to make them want to strip off their clothes.

"Fuck, King Wannu really spared no expense. Those are eternal lamps, all made with merfolk oil. How much would it take for so many lamps?" Pangzi exclaimed.

"He really did spare no expense," Wu Sansheng agreed.

"Enough talking. Hurry and catch up with those two. Can't you see they've disappeared? Get moving, unless you're planning to stay here and dry yourselves out!" Huo Ling ran into the distance as soon as she finished. It was too hot here, and she couldn't stand it anymore. But he had also deliberately needled Wu Sansheng, simply because she couldn't stand the sight of him. Of everyone here, Wu Sansheng was the one she looked down on most. He had too many schemes, and Xie Lianhuan came second because he was a little short of brains. Both brothers were equally detestable to her.

"Let's go, hurry," Chen Wenjin chimed in.

After the others ran out one after another, they found they had emerged from a cave. Below them was a basin, plainly a covered volcanic crater.

Huo Ling held the map and looked up again. "So this is the crater. I never imagined it would look like this."

Chen Wenjin also looked up. A little sunlight filtered in. Then she looked at the plants below. "That King Wannu really knew how to pick a place. Who would have thought we'd come out of a tomb into a forest? A dense forest like this inside a snowy mountain-it's hard to imagine these tropical plants growing somewhere so cold."

"It's because this extinct volcano provides the necessary warmth," Qi Yu said.

"It's really magnificent. This King Wannu was a fucking genius. No, Wang Zanghai was the fucking genius. He built the imperial mausoleum and palace using the surrounding mountains. The craftsmanship truly surpassed nature itself," Pangzi said.

"Look over there." Wu Sansheng shone his powerful flashlight straight into the distance.

Standing on high ground, they could see a magnificent complex of buildings deep in the forest. The towering walls loomed darkly, hiding the full view, and they could vaguely make out a river in front.

"Let's hurry. We can't see them anymore. We have to catch up. It's bound to get more dangerous from here on."

Yu Zhi was also struck by the sight of the forest. It was magnificent. He checked for a rich concentration of wood-element energy here, but unfortunately, there was none at all.

Paying no attention to the people behind them, the two headed straight for the palace complex in the inner area.

"Is there something wrong with this river?" Yu Zhi asked, looking at the three-meter-wide moat. For a moat, it was far too shallow and narrow.

"This river is a mixture of mercury and concentrated acid. The entire channel is made of special blue bricks and stone," Zhang Qiling explained.

"Then how do we get across? How did you get across before?" Yu Zhi was curious. It was three meters wide. Surely he hadn't jumped across?

"I jumped across."

"All right, that really is a straightforward method." But on second thought, ordinary people really couldn't cross a three-meter gap. It was more effective than any mechanism.

Zhang Qiling leaped across with Yu Zhi, easily reaching the other bank. They looked at the dark gate tower before them, which appeared to be twenty or thirty meters tall.

"Is the inner hall next?"

"Yes. We'll reach it after going through the corridor."

"Where's King Wannu?"

"In the burial chamber in front of the Bronze Door, behind the inner hall. It won't come out here, but there will be a lot of Corpse Bugs." The closer Zhang Qiling got to the Bronze Door, the clearer his memories became.

"Then when you came here before, did you have to fight him?"

"No. It's a gatekeeper too, in a way. The Zhang Family won't touch him."

"How many days do you think it is until you have to enter the door?"

"I can't tell, but it's not that urgent. There's enough time."

"Then let's wait for them and make sure they get the Longevity Pill first."

"All right."

Zhang Qiling lowered his head and kissed Yu Zhi's forehead. The closer he got to the Bronze Door, the less he could control himself. Now he wanted nothing more than to stay glued to Yu Zhi every moment, and sometimes he wanted to hide him on his person and take him along.

The six people on the other side reached the river and all saw Zhang Qiling kiss Yu Zhi's forehead. They were shocked-utterly shocked.

That was Zhang Qiling, Mute Zhang, the man who usually never said a word, taking the initiative to kiss someone else. Were they seeing things?

Yu Zhi and Zhang Qiling had long since noticed the people arriving on the other side, but neither cared. Zhang Qiling had never cared about anyone watching or sizing him up, and Yu Zhi cared even less. He wished everyone knew Zhang Qiling was his.

"What are you standing there for? Hurry up and come over." He really couldn't stand the sight of the lot of them gaping like fools.

"Ahem, ahem, all right." The others awkwardly looked everywhere but at them.

"Mr. Yu, how do we get across? Walk straight over?" Xie Lianhuan asked, scratching his head.

"Idiot." Huo Ling couldn't bear to look at him.

"Jump across," Zhang Qiling answered.

"All right, all right."

Yu Zhi watched the six back up for a running start and jump across with ease. He clicked his tongue inwardly. They really are an important supporting cast. Before the protagonist was even born, their luck and strength were both top-notch.

"Let's go. Don't waste time."

The eight had now reunited and walked toward the city wall together.

Xie Lianhuan walked behind the two, looking at Yu Zhi one moment and Zhang Qiling the next. In the end, he couldn't hold back and hurried over to Yu Zhi's side.

"By the way, Mr. Yu, what's your relationship with Master Zhang? Give me a hint." The gossipy look on Xie Lianhuan's face was impossible to hide.

"You really want to know?" Yu Zhi asked with a smile.

The question caught Xie Lianhuan off guard, and he didn't know how to answer. Then he noticed that Zhang Qiling also seemed very interested in the answer, and his heart jolted. I'm screwed! Could it be that Zhang Qiling hasn't secured his place yet? Wouldn't asking that have offended him? And he's a ruthless one, too!