vstars Chapter 134 A Temporary Alliance Harbors Malicious Intent; The Female Lead Sees Through the Treacher
Chapter 134 A Temporary Alliance Harbors Malicious Intent; The Female Lead Sees Through the Treacher
The eerie laughter echoed in the empty hall, the sound like a cold hand, drilling straight into people's hearts through their ears, sending chills down their spines.
Dai Yao rubbed her arms, goosebumps rising on them. She muttered to herself, "This background music is too scary. Can't you change it to something more upbeat?" However, all she got in response was the echo and the increasingly eerie smile of the woman in white. The smile seemed particularly glaring in the dimly lit hall, like a glimmer of light in the darkness.
Just then, a figure flashed out from the side hall and stood between the woman in white and Dai Yao.
The newcomer, dressed in simple blue robes, possessed a beautiful face and a cool demeanor; it was Lingyin. She bowed to the woman in white, her robes rustling softly as she spoke, her tone neither humble nor arrogant: "Senior, we meant no offense, we merely wish to pass through. Please grant us your convenience." The woman in white merely chuckled strangely, her laughter echoing throughout the hall, completely ignoring Lingyin's words. She continued to stare intently at Dai Yao, as if she were a tempting piece of Tang Sanzang's flesh, making Dai Yao feel as if ants were crawling all over her.
“Senior…” Lingyin wanted to say something more, but Dai Yao stopped her. Dai Yao walked over to Lingyin with a grin, her footsteps making a soft thud on the stone slabs, acting as if they were old friends: “This fairy sister, I think you’re quite a clever person too. How about we form an alliance and explore the secrets of this Immortal Palace together? Many hands make light work!” Lingyin was clearly taken aback, seemingly not expecting Dai Yao to make such a suggestion. She gave Dai Yao a deep look, a barely perceptible glint flashing in her eyes, a glint that disappeared in an instant like a shooting star, before nodding and saying, “Alright, this Immortal Palace is fraught with danger these days, having more helpers would certainly be safer.” And so, a temporary alliance was hastily formed.
As they ventured deeper into the Celestial Palace, Dai Yao noticed that Ling Yin was consistently leading them to secluded corners, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Furthermore, her actions at crucial points were quite strange. For instance, at a fork in the road, Ling Yin insisted on taking the left, while Dai Yao's intuition told her she should take the right.
Dai Yao was conflicted. On one hand, she felt that Lingyin might have a problem, but on the other hand, she was afraid that she was just being paranoid. After all, in this perilous immortal palace, having more helpers was always a good thing. Moreover, Lingyin's cultivation was clearly higher than theirs, and if a fight broke out, they might not be her match. Yet, those clues made her unable to completely trust Lingyin.
"Yaoyao, what's wrong? You look so pale?" the mysterious figure asked with concern, his voice steady and calm. Dai Yao shook her head, forcing a smile. "Nothing, it's just that this celestial palace feels eerie and unsettling." She paused, then added, "Let's be careful, I have a feeling..." Before she could finish, Lingyin suddenly stopped. The sudden pause in the silence sent a chill down everyone's spine. She pointed to a deep, dark cave entrance ahead and said, "I think we should go in and take a look." A strange smile curled at the corner of her lips, a smile like a cold snake slithering across her face, bearing a striking resemblance to the white-clad woman from before...
Alarm bells rang in Dai Yao's mind. She instinctively took a step back, her foot scraping the ground slightly. She gripped the talisman tightly in her hand; the rough paper rubbed against her palm. Dai Yao took a deep breath, the cold air filling her lungs as she tried to suppress her unease. Everyone could see through Ling Yin's actions! On the surface, she cheerfully agreed, "Great! Maybe there's some treasure hidden inside!" But inwardly, she was furiously thinking: "I'll probably see the King of Hell before I see any treasure!"
At the same time, Dai Yao secretly activated her cheat ability—the special ability to sense the direction of qi flow. She saw that Ling Yin's qi wasn't just ordinary black; it was as if she'd fallen into a dye vat, a shiny, oily black, even blacker than a coal mine owner's face! If this were modern times, she'd definitely be a professional villain! This is for sure, this woman is definitely suspicious!
The mysterious figure noticed Dai Yao's unusual expression and gently took her hand; it was dry and warm. Leading her aside, he whispered, "Yao Yao, you don't look well. Are you feeling unwell?" Dai Yao forced herself to remain calm and whispered, "I feel... Ling Yin seems a bit off." The mysterious figure's eyes deepened, and his tone became firm: "Don't be afraid, I will protect you." These simple words were like a reassuring pill, instantly calming Dai Yao's previously panicked heart.
Dai Yao took a deep breath, deciding to play along. She flashed a bright smile and said to Lingyin, "Fairy Sister, let's go!" With that, she took the lead, her steps firm and powerful as she walked towards the deep cave entrance. Lingyin watched Dai Yao's retreating figure, a chilling smile playing on her lips.
The cave was pitch black, so dark that one couldn't see their own hand in front of their face; the darkness enveloped them like thick ink. Dai Yao gripped the mysterious figure's hand tightly; his grip was strong, giving her a sense of security. They groped their way forward step by step, the path rugged and uneven, occasionally bumping into protruding rocks. Suddenly, a faint light appeared ahead, flickering in the darkness like a lone star in the distant sky.
"Wait!" The mysterious figure suddenly grabbed Dai Yao, his grip so strong that Dai Yao swayed slightly, his tone grave. In the dim cave, the faint light grew clearer and clearer, finally revealing an ancient stone door, intricately carved with patterns that seemed to have a life of their own, winding and twisting, faintly exuding an ancient aura, an aura carrying the musty smell of dust.
A faint fragrance filled the air, a delicate and elegant scent, like that of spring flowers in full bloom, refreshing and delightful.
"Wow, it looks like there's some treasure hidden here!" Xiao Meng's eyes lit up, as excited as if she had discovered a new continent, her voice full of excitement.
"Treasure? I think it's a clue to treasure." Dai Yao blinked innocently, but secretly she became more vigilant, a hint of caution flashing in her eyes. Ling Yin's smile grew even brighter, almost painful to Dai Yao's eyes, so bright that Dai Yao felt a chill run down her spine. This woman was about to unleash a powerful attack!
The stone door slowly opened with a heavy scraping sound, revealing a magnificent, golden chamber. Various rare treasures were piled up like mountains, gleaming with dazzling light, so bright it was almost blinding, like countless tiny suns exploding before one's eyes. Xiao Meng exclaimed in surprise and was about to rush in, her steps hurried.
"Wait!" The mysterious figure swiftly grabbed her. "There might be a trap here."
“This young man is quite cautious,” Lingyin chuckled, a hint of ruthlessness hidden in her laughter, a glint of sinister intent flashing in her eyes. “However, I’ve already cracked the mechanism of this secret chamber, so everyone can go in without worry.” With that, she took the lead and stepped into the secret chamber, her steps light and graceful, as if she were dancing.
Dai Yao chuckled inwardly: Little brat, trying to play mind games with me? This old lady has been through the wringer in palace dramas! She followed Ling Yin discreetly, with the mysterious figure and Xiao Meng close behind.
In the center of the secret chamber stood a huge stone tablet, covered with densely packed characters that looked like a swarm of tiny insects crawling on it. Lingyin pointed to the tablet and said mysteriously, "This is the clue to the treasure. As long as we decipher the characters, we can find the location of the treasure."
Just then, a sudden change occurred! The walls around the secret chamber suddenly began to move, making a loud rumbling sound like thunder. Countless sharp blades emerged from the walls, their blades gleaming coldly, and attacked the group!
"Ah!" Xiao Meng screamed in fright, the sound echoing in the secret room. She hid behind the mysterious figure, her body trembling.
Lingyin laughed triumphantly: "Hahaha! Die, all of you!" The laughter was arrogant and grating.
"Damn it, you old bastard! You actually resorted to underhanded tactics!" Dai Yao shouted, feigning panic, but in reality, she had already secretly activated her cheat ability. She clearly sensed that Ling Yin's aura had become chaotic and disordered at this moment, like a tangled mess, full of flaws.
The opportunity had arrived! Dai Yao's eyes instantly sharpened. She moved with lightning speed, closing in on Ling Yin in a flash. Her speed was so great it created a gust of wind. She grabbed Ling Yin's wrist; Ling Yin's wrist was slender and cold. The speed was so fast that Ling Yin had no time to react. Dai Yao sneered, her powerful aura exploding instantly, as if she were the ruler of this celestial palace. She forcefully pushed Ling Yin towards a mechanism button.
With a crisp "click," the sound echoed in the silent chamber, revealing that Lingyin was trapped inside a massive iron cage.
"You...you actually..." Lingyin stared at Dai Yao in disbelief, her eyes filled with anger and resentment, as if fire was about to shoot out of them.
"Hehehe," Dai Yao made a face at her, "You're still too green to mess with me!"
Seeing Dai Yao escape danger, Xiao Meng excitedly hugged Dai Yao's arm, feeling her body heat, and said with admiration, "Sister Yao Yao, you're amazing!"
Dai Yao found a tattered map on Ling Yin's body. The map's paper was worn and rustled to the touch; it was part of the treasure map. She unfolded the map and carefully examined the routes on it.
The mysterious figure walked up to Dai Yao and asked gently, "Yao Yao, what do we do next?"
Dai Yao's lips curled into a mysterious smile: "Of course..." She paused, her gaze falling on a spot marked with a red skull on the map, "...Let's go treasure hunting!"
Xiao Meng jumped up excitedly: "Great! We're going on a treasure hunt!"
Dai Yao put away the map, turned to look at the mysterious figure, a sly glint in her eyes: "But before that, shouldn't we divide the spoils... no, I mean, distribute the loot?" She pulled out several bottles of pills from her storage bag and, as if by magic, handed them to Xiao Meng and the mysterious figure. The pill bottles felt cool in her hands. "Here, one bottle each, to replenish your energy. The road ahead won't be easy."
Xiao Meng took the pill, excitedly opened the bottle, and smelled it: "Wow, it smells so good! What kind of pill is it?"
"A body-strengthening pill, specially prepared for someone with a small frame like you." Dai Yao said this nonsense with a straight face, but secretly she was laughing to herself: This was a good thing that she had scavenged from Ling Yin, and you couldn't buy it on the market even if you had money!
The mysterious figure accepted the pill, smiled slightly, and said nothing more. He understood Dai Yao; he knew that although she seemed unreliable, she was actually meticulous and wouldn't do anything in vain.
"Sister Yao Yao, where are we going next?" Xiao Meng asked curiously.
Dai Yao smiled mysteriously and pointed to a place marked with a red skull on the map: "Of course, we're going...treasure hunting!"
"Yay! Let's go treasure hunting!" Xiao Meng cheered excitedly, grabbing Dai Yao's hand and running forward.
The mysterious figure shook his head, smiled indulgently, and followed.
However, just as they were preparing to continue their treasure hunt according to the map, a group of people appeared in front of them, blocking their path. These people wore uniform silver armor that would have reflected a blinding light in the sunlight (if any), and they carried long halberds, exuding a powerful aura that pressed down on them like a solid wall. The air suddenly froze, and Dai Yao and Xiao Meng's smiles also froze on their faces.
"It seems..." Dai Yao narrowed her eyes, a hint of danger in her voice, "we've run into a little trouble." The mysterious figure gripped his sword tightly, the hilt providing a solid feel. His sharp eyes swept across the area ahead, and he said in a deep voice, "Prepare for battle." A cold smile curled at the corner of Dai Yao's lips, and she said softly, "Very well, let me see what these guys are really made of!"