Volume 1, Chapter 10: The Secret Path’s Luminescence Kindles Resentment

Darkness clung to the group like viscous ink. A faint glimmer of light, distant as a star, served as their only guide.

Lin Fan led the way, his short blade gripped tightly, its edge reflecting a cold, dim sheen. He moved with extreme caution, his footsteps muffled by the damp earth and unknown gravel beneath him. Xia Jiang followed closely behind, her breathing shallow; she clutched the corner of Lin Fan’s garment as if it were her only source of security. The air was thick with a damp, decaying odor, laced with a faint, sickly sweetness that made one feel uneasy. From the surrounding stone walls, water droplets fell at intervals, their rhythmic ticking magnified in the silence—like the insistent beat of a drum striking at their nerves.

Zhang Meng and Zhao Ling’er followed, their eyes sharp and vigilant, scanning the shadows for any sign of danger. Elder Liu brought up the rear, his pace unhurried and his gaze profound, as if he had already seen through everything.

As they drew nearer, the light grew clearer and increasingly blinding. When they finally crossed the last threshold of darkness, the space suddenly opened up. It was a vast chamber hidden deep within the mountain, its walls embedded with glowing minerals that bathed the entire area in brilliance. In the center, a high stone dais was piled with precious treasures, shimmering with a dazzling, golden luster. The group stood stunned, mouths slightly agape, breathing in the sight with hushed gasps.

However, before they could collect themselves, a discordant atmosphere arose. Qian Ning’s eyes were filled with greed. He shoved Zhang Meng aside and strode toward the dais, hands on his hips, the fat on his face trembling with excitement.

"These treasures are mine! No one even think about trying to take them from me!" Qian Ning’s shrill, grating voice shattered the peace of the chamber. He swept his cold, predatory gaze over the others as if looking at a flock of sheep waiting for the slaughter. He considered himself of noble status—the grandson of an Elder of the Treasure Medicine Pavilion—and felt these riches belonged to him by right.

"Qian Ning, what is the meaning of this?" Zhang Meng glared at him, detesting such arrogant, bullying, and insatiable behavior.

"What is the meaning? Exactly what I said!" Qian Ning sneered, his eyes filled with disdain. "Do you losers think you are worthy of touching these treasures? If you know what’s good for you, get out of my sight!"

The atmosphere turned volatile. The joy of discovery was instantly swept away, replaced by deep apprehension. No one had expected that in this place of treasure, the first thing they would encounter was not wealth, but the malice of the human heart.

Just as the others were at a loss, Zhao Ling’er stepped forward. "Qian Ning, I believe we should distribute these treasures fairly. We all completed the mission together, so it is only natural that we share the rewards."

Qian Ning’s eyes flickered with a hidden, sinister smile, though he quickly composed his expression, his lips curling upward as if he were happy to accept the proposal. "Fine, Zhao Ling’er, since you put it that way, I won't make things difficult for you. However, we must discuss the specific distribution. How can we ensure it is truly fair?"

Zhang Meng and Elder Liu exchanged glances. Though still suspicious, they felt a temporary sense of relief that Qian Ning had agreed to negotiate.

"Zhao Ling’er is right," Zhang Meng nodded. "We should work out a reasonable plan."

Elder Liu added in a deep voice, "Qian Ning, your behavior just now was excessive. Since you are willing to discuss this, I hope everyone can remain calm and work together to resolve the matter."

***

The group gathered to deliberate. Xia Jiang kept a tight grip on Lin Fan’s clothes, her eyes filled with unease, yet she knew the conflict had been temporarily defused.

As they debated, Zhao Ling’er noticed complex runes carved into a stone wall beside the dais. She walked over, curious, and began to study them. Suddenly, a sound of grinding metal echoed through the chamber. The runes on the wall ignited, and a beam of light shot forth, illuminating the entire room.

"Look out!" Lin Fan shouted. A massive mechanical beast burst from the wall, its metallic body gleaming coldly as it lunged at them with razor-sharp claws.

Lin Fan and Zhang Meng immediately sprang into action, dodging the beast’s strikes with agility, weaving around it in search of an opening. Xia Jiang, standing to the side, was breathless, her hands balled into fists, her body trembling.

"Zhang Meng, we have to hold it back! We can't let it hurt the others!" Lin Fan shouted, his gaze resolute. The power of the mechanical beast was beyond imagination; every swipe of its claws whistled through the air, causing the ground to shudder.

The two men struggled to keep pace. The clanging of metal on metal rang out incessantly as sparks showered the room, lighting up their strained faces. Lin Fan could feel the violent vibrations traveling up the hilt of his blade with every block, his hands aching. Zhang Meng fared even worse; his sword was nearly knocked from his grip multiple times, and beads of sweat poured down his forehead.

The beast grew faster and stronger. Suddenly, it lashed out, striking Zhang Meng squarely in the chest. He let out a muffled groan and was sent flying like a broken kite, crashing to the ground and coughing up a spray of blood that stained the floor.

"Zhang Meng!" Zhao Ling’er gasped, her face turning deathly pale. Xia Jiang covered her mouth, tears welling in her eyes, her body shaking as she clung to Lin Fan.

Elder Liu’s expression darkened. "Lin Fan, be careful! The power of this machine is no trivial matter."

Qian Ning stood to the side, a sinister smile on his face. He secretly hoped the beast would kill both Lin Fan and Zhang Meng so he could claim all the treasure for himself.

While dodging, Lin Fan carefully observed the beast’s movements, searching for a weakness. Suddenly, his eyes locked onto the creature’s neck. There was a critical connection point—it seemed to be the key to the machine’s operation. A bold idea sparked in his mind.

Seizing a momentary gap in the beast’s attack, Lin Fan leaped forward with lightning speed, landing directly at its neck. He channeled all his inner energy into the tip of his blade and drove it hard into the joint.

With a sharp *click*, the connection snapped. The mechanical beast froze, its massive body crashing to the ground and sending up a cloud of dust.

The group erupted in cheers. Zhao Ling’er and Xia Jiang sighed in relief, smiles breaking across their faces. They looked toward Lin Fan, who wiped the sweat from his brow and sheathed his blade with a confident smile.

***

Elder Liu walked over and patted Lin Fan on the shoulder. "Well done, Lin Fan! If not for you, we likely would have all perished here today."

Lin Fan smiled modestly. "You are too kind, Elder. I only did what had to be done."

Qian Ning’s expression was terrifyingly dark. He had not expected Lin Fan to defeat the beast. He glared at him, his heart filled with resentment. "Now, shall we continue our discussion on the distribution of the treasure?" Qian Ning asked with a forced, thin-lipped smile, a cold glint in his eyes.

The group worked together to study the mechanisms around the dais. Relying on her understanding of the runes, Zhao Ling’er directed the others to shift the stone blocks and adjust the settings. *Click-clack* sounds echoed through the chamber, each movement accompanied by the group’s nervous breathing. Lin Fan pressed his palm against the cold stone, feeling the patterns and carefully moving the blocks according to her instructions.

The air was thick with the smell of dust and the grating, unpleasant sound of grinding stone. As the final block fell into place, the treasures in the center of the dais began to rise slowly. Gold light shimmered, reflecting on their excited faces.

However, just as they let their guard down, a loose stone fell from above, striking Zhao Ling’er’s ankle. She let out a soft cry, her face turning pale.

"Ling’er, are you alright?" Lin Fan was the first to rush over, crouching down to check her injury. Her ankle was swollen and red, a shocking sight. Lin Fan carefully removed her torn boot and took out some hemostatic powder from his tunic, gently applying it to the wound. The cooling sensation eased her pain, and she looked at Lin Fan with gratitude, a strange emotion stirring in her eyes. Lin Fan then took a clean strip of cloth and carefully bandaged her wound, his touch as gentle and meticulous as if he were handling a fragile treasure.

Xia Jiang stood to the side, a sting of jealousy rising in her heart. She bit her lip and turned her head away.

After some deliberation, they decided to split the treasures equally. Though Qian Ning was unwilling, he dared not openly oppose them under Elder Liu’s watchful gaze.

Just as they began the distribution, Elder Liu let out a sharp cough, drawing everyone’s attention. His gaze was piercing as he scanned the group, finally resting on Qian Ning with a playful, dangerous smile. The air seemed to freeze as everyone held their breath, waiting for the Elder to speak.

"Qian Ning, I am very disappointed with your performance just now," Elder Liu’s voice was low, yet carried a chilling authority. "Did you truly think I saw nothing?"

Elder Liu walked slowly toward Qian Ning. The young man’s obese frame began to tremble uncontrollably, and sweat poured down his face. The others looked at one another, filled with curiosity and unease, wondering how Elder Liu would deal with him. Only Xia Jiang looked toward Lin Fan, her eyes seemingly filled with a flicker of expectation.

Elder Liu stopped in front of Qian Ning and slowly reached out his hand, as if about to speak.