Chapter 43

“Master Chen, that cat of yours is pretty bold,” Master Long said. Nobody could see his expression underneath the gas mask.

Chen Hao said with a bitter smile, “Master Long, I had only just obtained this cat not long ago and am in the midst of teaching it, so it still has the nature of a wild animal. I’d originally placed it outside, but it didn’t listen to my instructions and barged into the evil place. Err, this won’t affect anything, right?”

Master Long said, “Can’t tell for sure. But that cat of yours is not simple. From the looks of it, it must have sensed that there’s good stuff inside the Dragon’s Den and was attracted by it. Too bad though, dangers are hidden everywhere in an evil place. For a cat demon to actually dare fool around like that… if something happens to it, don’t be too sad, Master Chen.”

He sounded like he was gloating.

Even if it was a cat demon, it was still a demon, after all. It was harder to find a demon than a cultivator. Although he sounded like he didn’t care, he actually felt very envious. If Chen Hao were to lose this cat, it would make him feel much more comfortable.

Chen Hao was speechless. He silently wondered what good stuff could there possibly be in the tomb, such that this little fellow—whom even Master Long feared—dared to enter the evil place.

Ring ring!

Suddenly, several lights started lighting up, dispelling the darkness before their eyes, and revealing to them what was inside the den. Xue Chuang had come in with his men, and they were setting up the lights.

Narrowing his eyes, Chen Hao couldn’t be bothered about the black cat anymore. He sized up his surroundings.

This was a passageway, more than ten meters long and less than four meters wide. There were bricks piling up their surroundings. As it was right next to the waterbed, the walls in the passageway were filled with moss, the ground was wet, and there was even a piece of debris from the explosion on the ground. This passageway seemed like it had been abandoned for several centuries.

After careful observation, Chen Hao noticed that the moss on the wall was different from ordinary moss—it was a greenish-black color. Clearly, under the influence of the dark energy over a prolonged period, it brought about some changes in the moss, and it had turned into a new type of moss now.

“Be careful, everyone. You mustn’t touch anything here.” Master Long reminded.

Actually, he didn’t have to remind them. Xue Chuang and the rest were covered up like astronauts, and each and every one of them acted with caution for fear that they would be infected with the germs here.

“Master Chen, let’s continue walking. This is the Dragon’s Gate. Once we enter this gate, we’ll get to the outer palace. Under ordinary circumstances, there would be traps inside. Mm. Perhaps that black cat of yours has already helped us clear those traps.” Master Long’s tone was ambiguous.

Chen Hao’s mouth twitched.

Damn. I’ve already treated you with enough respect, yet you speak with such a vicious tongue. Why are you cursing my cat time and time again? Has my cat eaten your rice or drank your water? For you to dislike it so much.

As Chen Hao criticized silently, whatever fondness he had felt for Master Long disappeared.

Although I’m not quite fond of that glutton Blackie either, it’s my cat. I can criticize it, but others aren’t allowed to do so.

They continued walking and came to the end of a passageway.

Indeed, when they got to the end, they saw a wider space in front of them. They could vaguely see a palace now.

Chen Hao felt amazed that in the ancient times where technology was so not advanced, the people then could come up with such a major project. The wisdom and capability spent into constructing this were impressive.

After surveying his surroundings, Master Long said, “It’s less than a thousand feet. Seems like there’s paranormal activity in this Dragon’s Den. The method of construction of this den has changed accordingly. This is bad. If there are changes to the tomb, it’d be difficult to find the Dragon’s Coffin Chamber.”

Chen Hao said, “Whether we find it or not, let’s discuss after we pass through this external palace. The trap that you mentioned seems to be untouched. Could it be that it’s worn out due to old age and is not working anymore?”

Master Long snorted. “Unless the tomb has been destroyed, the trap will still be functioning. Mm. Let Manager Xue pull two cable lines, illuminate it, then look again.”

A moment later, Xue Chuang brought in his men to pull the cable lines and set up two laser lights.

Suddenly, the large external palace became incredibly bright.

Everyone was dumbfounded.

This was a palace with tens of thick pillars supporting the ceiling.

In the middle was a white jade walkway that went straight to the main door of the palace. On the left side was a pond, and surprisingly there were lotuses in the pond. Over the pond, there was a curved bridge.

On the right side was a square, and on the square, two rows of army weapons racks and tens of people could be seen standing on each side.

Wait a minute. Tens of… people!

Suddenly, everyone felt a gust of cold air running up their feet to their heads, nearly making them piss in their pants.

“Master Long, there’s someone there.” Xue Chuang screamed in panic, his legs going numb.

Master Long said, sounding displeased, “I saw that. They’re not living people. What’s there to be afraid of?”

Not living people?

Xue Chuang paused in surprise, then looked over carefully.

Indeed, those people were wearing armor and holding rifles, standing perfectly straight, and not moving at all. If they were alive, they should be showing some reaction.

This should be something like the Terracotta Army.

Heaving a sigh of relief, Xue Chuang awkwardly glanced at the quiet Bai Ru, his face turning as red as a monkey’s bottom right now under his gas mask.

However, Xue Chuang didn’t see that Bai Ru’s face had turned pale now as well, and her body was quivering. It was just that she was focused on Chen Hao, waiting for him to help her turn things around. By the time she reacted, she had heard Master Long say that those weren’t living people, so she wasn’t startled by that.

Even Chen Hao broke out in cold sweat.

F*ck. These fake people were too unexpected. I nearly lost my face.

“Master Chen, there are three paths ahead. It’s where the traps for the outer palace are located. According to my teacher’s secret records, in the outer palace of the Dragon’s Den, there are two chances to die and one chance to live. Which path do you say is safer?” Master Long suddenly asked.

Chen Hao paused, before looking over carefully.

It did seem like there were three paths.

One path was a bridge over water, the path in the middle was a white jade walkway, and the third one was a square.

Chen Hao didn’t dare speak carelessly, so he asked, “Master Long, did your teacher’s secret book say which path is safer?”

Master Long replied, “No. The secret book only said that the Dragon’s Den is where the energy of the land converges, so it shouldn’t be sealed completely. This is why there exists the setup of two chances to die and one chance to live. As for what the setup is like, as it’s done by the people who constructed the tomb, without a map, we can only barge in by force.”

Barge in by force?

Are you kidding me?

I came here for two reasons. First, to expand my horizons and accumulate experience. And secondary to that, to earn money.

There’s clearly a one-third probability of survival. Isn’t it like courting death? No way am I doing that. At most, I’ll just give up on remuneration. No big deal.

“Doesn’t seem like a good idea to barge in by force. It’s too dangerous.” Chen Hao shook his head and rejected the idea.

With a smile, Master Long asked, “Master Chen, are you scared?”

Chen Hao’s mouth twitched. You make it sound like you aren’t scared.

“It’s not a matter of being scared or not. Since there are traps, we should be getting professionals to resolve this. It’s irrational to barge in by force.” Chen Hao rebutted.

Master Long said, “We don’t have time for that. If we’re getting outsiders in to help, it’s going to take more than a few days. A delay might bring about unexpected changes. If there exist evil spirits in there, if we wait till they have completely awoken, we’d be in big trouble. How about this? Master Chen, you and I will each choose a path to barge in by force. What do you say?”

Chen Hao very much wanted to refuse. But he was too embarrassed to say that out loud.

After a momentary silence, Chen Hao gritted his teeth and nodded. “Okay, Master Long. Which path do you choose?”