Chapter 99 Treasure Hunt Side Quest
Three hundred li west of the capital is Wolong Mountain.
Here, towering peaks rise amidst swirling clouds and mist, and ancient trees reach for the sky. Because it is rarely visited by people, and because countless terrifying legends about "mountain ghosts eating people" and "ghost soldiers borrowing the way" circulate among the people, this place has almost become a forbidden zone for Da Gan.
However, today, this desolate, deep forest has welcomed a group of uninvited guests.
"Ouch... I'm exhausted..."
Jiang Mianmian used a freshly broken tree branch as a cane, trudging through the thick layer of decaying leaves, muttering to herself.
Why is this mountain so high? And why isn't it over yet?
This is what they call treasure hunting? This is clearly wilderness survival! My legs are about to break!
[I should have had Shen Jin carry me... No, I'm destined to be the richest woman in China, I can't be so delicate! For gold, let's go!]
Shen Jin walked ahead of her, clearing the way. He wielded his longsword, cutting down the thorns and vines that blocked his path. Hearing the complaints behind him, he stopped, turned, and extended his hand:
"Your Highness, the road is slippery. Let me hold your hand."
"No need to lead!"
Jiang Mianmian stared at the faintly visible mountain peaks ahead, her eyes burning with the flames of money. "I smell it! It's the smell of gold! I have strength!"
Shen Jin chuckled helplessly.
This woman gets all excited whenever she thinks about money.
“Your Highness,” Yingyi returned from scouting ahead, his expression grave, “the situation ahead… is not quite right.”
"What's wrong?"
“It’s foggy ahead. And… this fog is a bit strange. I just went in and took a look around, and no matter which way I went, I always ended up back where I started. It’s like… I encountered a ‘ghost wall’.”
"Being trapped in a maze?"
The expressions of the accompanying guards changed slightly. Encountering something like this in the deep mountains and forests was indeed unsettling.
"What's there to be afraid of!"
Jiang Mianmian stepped forward and glanced at the thick, impenetrable white fog. "What ghosts are there in this world? The so-called 'ghost wall' is nothing more than getting lost due to a lack of visual references and psychological suggestion."
[Tch, being uncultured is truly terrifying.]
This is a classic case of a miasma forest combined with a disordered magnetic field! I've walked through the misty forests of the apocalypse countless times!
She pulled a disc-shaped object from her bosom—a compass.
"Follow me!"
Jiang Mianmian waved her hand and stepped into the mist first, declaring, "I have the 'Dragon-Seeking Ruler'! It's a cure for all kinds of directionally challenged people!"
Although everyone was skeptical, seeing how certain the princess was, they had no choice but to bite the bullet and follow.
As soon as we entered the fog, visibility dropped drastically, and we could barely make out the backs of the people in front of us. All around was eerily quiet; there wasn't even a bird's call, only the rustling of footsteps on withered leaves, a sound that sent chills down our spines.
"Your Highness... are you sure this... this 'ruler' will work?" Yingyi looked at the pointer in Jiang Mianmian's hand that was spinning wildly, her heart pounding.
"Don't make a sound."
Jiang Mianmian stared at the compass, her brows furrowed slightly.
[The magnetic field is indeed interfering. This place is quite something; it seems the people of the previous dynasty put in a lot of effort to hide their treasure.]
However, you think you can trap me? No way!
She put away the compass, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath.
[Special Ability - Perception Activated!]
Although her primary ability is strength-based, nourished by the spiritual spring water, her five senses far surpass those of ordinary people. She can clearly perceive the flow of wind, changes in humidity, and even... the subtle fluctuations in the Earth's magnetic field.
"Take ten steps to the left."
“Turn right and go around that crooked tree.”
"Go straight, don't look back!"
Jiang Mianmian directed with her eyes closed, like a blind person, but her steps were unusually firm.
Shen Jin held her hand tightly, never leaving her side. Looking at her focused profile, he felt a strange sense of peace welling up inside him.
She always manages to surprise him, no matter what.
They walked for about half an hour.
The white fog in front of us suddenly thinned. A gentle breeze blew by, and our vision opened up.
"It's out! It's really out!"
Shadow One shouted in surprise.
When everyone turned around, they saw that the eerie mist had been left behind. In front of them stood a massive mountain peak shaped like a reclining dragon.
At the foot of the mountain stands a huge stone tablet, covered in moss, but three powerful characters are still faintly visible—
【Hidden Dragon Abyss】.
"Found it!"
Jiang Mianmian jumped up excitedly, "This is it! This is the place shown on the treasure map!"
[Mountains of gold and silver! Sister's here!]
She couldn't wait to rush over, but Shen Jin grabbed her arm.
"Wait a minute."
Shen Jin scanned his surroundings warily. "It's too quiet here. Since this is an important place from the previous dynasty, it can't be as simple as just a fog."
Before he could finish speaking...
"Crack—"
A very faint click of a mechanism echoed in the silent valley.
A seemingly ordinary stone slab suddenly sank beneath Jiang Mianmian's feet.
"careful!"
Shen Jin reacted quickly, pulling her into his arms and flying backward.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Countless arrows shot out from the grass in all directions, covering the spot where they had just stood like a torrential rain.
If it had been half a second slower, Jiang Mianmian would have been riddled with arrows by now.
"Wow!"
Jiang Mianmian patted her chest, still shaken. "So cruel? A greeting gift of being pierced by a thousand arrows?"
[Does the former royal family suffer from paranoia? Even after so many years of national subjugation, their intrigues are still so sharp?]
Shen Jin stared coldly at the poisoned arrows that glowed with blue light.
"It seems we've found the right place."
"With such tight defenses, what's hidden inside... is definitely more than just weapons."
He looked down at Jiang Mianmian and tightened his grip on her hand:
"Stay close to me. The road ahead... may not be easy."
Looking at the deep entrance to the "Hidden Dragon Abyss," Jiang Mianmian felt not fear, but rather even more excitement.
The more mechanisms a treasure has, the more valuable it is!
Fortune favors the bold! I'm going all in for my hot pot chain!
She gripped Chen Jin's hand in return, her eyes resolute:
"Let's go! Go and empty the coffers of that former crown prince!"
Shen Jin: "..."
Although her motives are impure, as long as she doesn't run away, everything else... is up to her.
The group prepared their equipment and set off towards the entrance to the unknown ancient tomb.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com