Chapter 106

Edited By: Mim

At the base of Xian Naiyue Mountain, Qin Ne awaited with ten heavily armed warriors. When Xie Lanxu appeared, all eleven men dismounted from their horses and bowed deeply from afar.

When Qin Ne noticed Li Zhi accompanying Xie Lanxu, a flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes.

“Are the preparations complete?” Xie Lanxu asked.

“Everything is ready, Your Highness,” Qin Ne replied. “We can enter the mountain at any time. These ten warriors are trusted comrades from the army. They are prepared to face any danger for Your Highness.”

As Qin Ne spoke, the ten warriors cupped their hands together and shouted in unison, their voices firm and resolute:

“We are ready to risk everything for Your Highness!”

Standing beside Xie Lanxu, Li Zhi whispered cautiously:

“Where are we headed now?”

“To retrieve the treasure in the mountain.”

Xie Lanxu took the lead, and Li Zhi hurried to follow on her horse.

Qin Ne and the ten warriors mounted their horses in two groups of five, forming a protective formation around Xie Lanxu and Li Zhi.

The group followed a winding, narrow trail for about the time it takes for a single incense stick to burn. Snow began to fall, and the temperature dropped sharply. The ground was blanketed in snow, and the trees on the mountain were clad in shimmering silver, creating a wintry canopy overhead. Occasionally, tracks resembling plum blossoms appeared beneath the trees.

The vast mountain was eerily quiet, save for the soft whisper of the wind through the snow.

The higher they climbed, the stronger the wind blew.

Li Zhi strained to navigate through the swirling snow, her vision barely enough to make out the path ahead.

Xie Lanxu frequently paused to assess the surroundings and check landmarks.

After about an hour, Xie Lanxu stopped in a dense forest and ordered everyone to dismount.

“This should be the place,” he announced.

Leading the group, Xie Lanxu moved northwest, and the others quickly followed.

The perpetual snow of Xian Naiyue Mountain made every step arduous for Li Zhi. Her boots sank deep into the snow with every step, the cold biting through to her calves. By the time they reached a cave at the base of the mountain, her limbs were numb, nearly devoid of sensation.

“Light the torches,” Xie Lanxu commanded.

At his order, Qin Ne directed the ten warriors to ignite their torches.

As the flames illuminated the area, Xie Lanxu approached Li Zhi, removed his outer coat, and draped it over her shoulders. Li Zhi wanted to decline but found herself too cold to even speak, her lips trembling uncontrollably.

The coat was lined with soft sable fur and retained Xie Lanxu’s warmth. The moment she put it on, a comforting heat enveloped her.

“I’m not cold,” Xie Lanxu said preemptively, as if anticipating her question. “Even if I were, I wouldn’t feel pain.”

With torches in hand, Qin Ne and the warriors waited for Xie Lanxu’s next command. The flickering light cast eerie shadows on the cave walls and floor.

“Let’s go,” Xie Lanxu said, taking the lead with a torch.

He tightly held Li Zhi’s hand as they ventured deeper into the cave.

The cave was dark and damp, the path seemingly endless. Even after walking for as long as a stick of incense burns, there was no sign of treasure.

The firelight extended only a few steps ahead, beyond which was impenetrable darkness.

Li Zhi kept her senses sharp, scanning for any peculiar details. Suddenly, something overhead caught her attention.

A dense, undulating mass stretched across the ceiling, resembling stalactites.

Curious, she borrowed Xie Lanxu’s torch and held it up to illuminate the ceiling—

What she saw made her blood run cold.

A vast colony of bats hung from the cave ceiling, packed tightly together in layers.

The sight sent a bolt of terror through her, but she bit down hard to stifle her scream, forcing it back into her throat.

Even Qin Ne and the ten warriors, seasoned men though they were, appeared visibly unsettled.

“They’re hibernating,” Xie Lanxu said calmly, folding his hands behind his back as he observed the bats. “As long as we remain quiet, we won’t wake them. Let’s move on.”

Suppressing her lingering fear, Li Zhi followed Xie Lanxu deeper into the cave with even greater caution.

The silence was oppressive, broken only by the sound of their footsteps. After another half incense stick’s time, they finally came upon a faintly visible stone gate.

Energized, Qin Ne hurried ahead to examine the gate, holding his torch close to inspect it thoroughly. Once satisfied that it was safe, he called for Xie Lanxu and the others to approach.

Xie Lanxu motioned with a nod, and Qin Ne instructed the strongest warriors to step forward and try to push the gate open.

Two burly men threw their weight against the stone gate—but it didn’t budge.

Two more joined them.

Despite the combined strength of four men, the gate remained immovable.

Frowning, Li Zhi scrutinized the gate closely, her gaze settling on one particular detail that caught her attention.

“Is there a small gap in the center of this door?”

Li Zhi pointed at the stone gate, her sharp observation breaking the tense silence.

Qin Ne immediately brought his torch closer, and in the flickering light, the faint outline of a one-foot-long slit in the middle of the stone gate was revealed.

“This gate is designed like the entrance to an underground palace,” Qin Ne said. “Behind this door is likely a fallen automatic stone lock, pressing against the outer stone door.”

“So we need a specially designed tool to reach through the gap and prop open the stone blocking the door?” Li Zhi asked, her brows furrowed in thought.

Qin Ne glanced at her, visibly impressed.

“Exactly, Miss.”

He walked back to the group of ten warriors, where one of them rummaged through their supplies and retrieved a long, collapsible iron lever. Once assembled, the tool was as tall as a person.

“Your Highness’s foresight is unparalleled. This lever will indeed come in handy,” Qin Ne praised.

One of the strongest warriors stepped forward, carefully inserting the iron lever into the gap.

The room fell silent as everyone held their breath. Finally, a faint click echoed from behind the door.

“I’ve hit something! There’s definitely something wedged behind this door!” the warrior exclaimed with excitement.

More warriors joined in, gripping the lever together and applying their combined strength to push.

Though Li Zhi couldn’t see what lay beyond the door, she could tell from the warriors’ strained faces and sweat-soaked brows that they were contending with a massive weight.

At last, a deep rumble reverberated through the cave as the obstruction shifted. The automatic stone lock was dislodged, allowing the gate to partially open—just wide enough for a person to squeeze through sideways.

“The stone lock still blocks the way. I’ll go inside to move it,” Qin Ne volunteered.

Receiving Xie Lanxu’s nod of approval, he slipped through the narrow gap. Moments later, the sound of heavy objects being moved echoed from behind the gate.

When the door finally swung fully open, Qin Ne emerged, his forehead damp with sweat. Behind him, a massive stone slab now rested against the cave wall—it had been the obstruction blocking their way.

With the path cleared, the group ventured into the mysterious chamber.

Inside the stone gate was an intricate maze of branching paths, each as dark and lifeless as the next.

“Stay vigilant. There may be traps,” Qin Ne warned, moving to the front to lead the group. Eight warriors accompanied him as vanguard while two remained behind to guard the rear.

The dim light from their torches cast long shadows on the walls, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

“Oof!”

A sharp cry broke the silence as three warriors collided.

“The passage narrows here. Only two people can walk side by side,” Qin Ne instructed, organizing the group into pairs.

Suddenly, the distinct sound of gears locking into place echoed in the air.

“Watch out!”

Qin Ne’s shout came a second too late. The sharp whoosh of arrows slicing through the air filled the passage.

Li Zhi barely had time to process what was happening before she felt the rush of air above her head. The next sound was the sickening thud of arrows piercing flesh, followed by the heavy collapse of bodies onto the ground.

Three men lay dead, arrows lodged in their skulls, their blood pooling onto the icy stone floor.

Li Zhi froze in shock, her gaze fixed on the lifeless bodies. Only she and the shortest warrior among the group—whose height had spared him from the arrows—remained unscathed. The surviving warrior was pale and visibly shaken, his hands trembling from the close call.

Having lost three men so early into their expedition, everyone grew tenser. Torches waved frantically, illuminating every corner to avoid triggering more traps.

At some point, Xie Lanxu silently took Li Zhi’s hand. She glanced at him under the dim torchlight, noting his calm, composed expression.

Unlike the rest of them, who were paralyzed by fear of the unknown, Xie Lanxu remained completely unaffected, as if he were impervious to danger.

But Li Zhi’s heart sank.

His calm demeanor wasn’t just because he lacked fear—it was because he had anticipated the traps.

He knew where the mechanism was. He knew it wouldn’t harm her.

The realization hit her like a cold blade.

Why had Xie Lanxu allowed Qin Ne’s men to fall victim to the trap?

Her unease deepened, and when she looked at Xie Lanxu again, his inscrutable expression sent a chill down her spine.

Using rocks to test the ground ahead, the group narrowly avoided several more traps. Finally, under Xie Lanxu’s guidance, they emerged from the maze into a vast stone chamber.

The chamber was empty except for a massive inscription carved into the far wall—a single, imposing “Cui” character.

Xie Lanxu strode forward to the inscription. Taking out a dagger, he slashed his palm and let the blood drip into the grooves of the character.

The blood trickled down, filling the carved lines until the character glowed a deep crimson.

With a faint click, the wall began to split open along the inscription, revealing a hidden door. Xie Lanxu pushed it open, and an eerie wind swept out from within.

Behind the door, a narrow stone bridge stretched across a cavernous abyss, connecting to a platform on the opposite side. There, a staggering hoard of treasure gleamed under the torchlight—gold, silver, and jewels piled so high they seemed to reach the heavens.

Gold bricks lay at the bottom like a shimmering foundation, while intricately crafted artifacts and precious stones glittered atop the mound. The treasure filled the cavern like an ocean of wealth, waves of golden light washing over the room.

Li Zhi held her breath, awestruck by the sight.

But before anyone could step forward, the sound of footsteps echoed from the maze behind them.

A group of unfamiliar soldiers emerged, clad in the armor of royal escorts and armed with sharp blades. Their stern gazes were fixed on Xie Lanxu and his group.

Behind them, Xie Fengshao appeared, adorned with a golden crown.

His gaze briefly swept over the treasure before landing on Li Zhi. His expression softened, but when he turned to Xie Lanxu, his eyes hardened into cold steel.

“Hiding the existence of Cui Dynasty’s treasure and attempting to keep it for yourself?” Xie Fengshao’s voice was icy. “Xie Lanxu, I could kill you here and now, and Father wouldn’t fault me.”

Xie Lanxu remained silent, his head slightly bowed, a faint smile playing on his lips as though entirely unbothered by Xie Fengshao’s accusation.

Finally, he spoke, his voice calm and steady, “You’ve arrived.”