Chapter 43

She hadn’t understood what was going on with the Stone Giant before, but connecting its sudden increase in strength with the sluggishness it showed when the treasure chest was being opened, Zhu Ming guessed that its eyes not only served to lock onto prey.

Its eyes could absorb energy. So what was providing that energy? And why did its movements slow when the white smoke spread?

The answer was obvious now.

It was light.

The pinkish-purple glow emitted by the Fluorescent Stones was the Stone Giant’s energy source.

Zhu Ming unbuttoned her shirt, tore off both sleeves, shook the shirt out, and draped it over the Stone Giant’s eyes.

The massive, rigid body immediately slowed. A moment later, the Stone Giant stopped moving entirely.

Zhu Ming stepped down its arm to the ground. The weather here was warm, so wearing only a sports bra wasn’t too cold.

She bent over to shake the dirt from her hair, tied the cuffs of the two sleeves shut to use as makeshift bags, and began collecting the scattered soil on the ground. Her tools were limited; she had to use her hands. Zhu Ming couldn’t see her own appearance right now, but she could imagine she probably looked like a mud monkey.

She packed up all the soil she could gather, but it was only half a bag—it didn’t seem like enough…

Some more soil was scattered in the deep pit. The Stone Giant’s leg was wedged diagonally inside it. Its body was massive, but the pit was large too.

Zhu Ming cautiously braced herself against the Stone Giant’s leg and climbed down a little, planting her feet against the pit wall and the stone leg to hold herself steady. She collected the soil that had spilled onto its leg. There was more at the bottom of the pit, but it was too deep, and the gap between the Stone Giant’s thinner lower leg and the pit wall was wide. Getting down there would make it very difficult to climb back up.

Zhu Ming tied the cloth bag shut, looked up, and suddenly realized her position wasn’t exactly easy to climb out of either.

She slung the bag over her shoulder and tried to jump and shift her limbs upward. Unfortunately, her movements were stiff, seemingly still affected by her waist injury, causing her attempts to fail repeatedly.

Zhu Ming couldn’t get up.

She was stuck in the deep pit, just an arm’s length from the ground.

A bit embarrassing.

What was even more embarrassing was the sound of soft, pattering footsteps approaching. Yin Yu appeared at the edge of the pit.

She looked down at Zhu Ming in the hole and greeted her, “Hi, Mingming, I’m back again.”

Zhu Ming: “…”

Her expression shifted several times—first confusion, then sudden realization, then a mix of shock and anger. “You’d wait this long just to trap me?!”

Yin Yu smiled. “My patience has always been good. Besides, how can you call this trapping you? I simply chose the more secure option. Rather than gamble on opening another treasure chest, it’s easier to just take what’s already available.”

Zhu Ming was propping herself up on all fours to avoid falling further. Over time, she inevitably began to tremble, but she refused to show weakness. She looked up at the woman above and sneered, “You want to steal the soil I collected? Come down and take it if you dare!”

Yin Yu watched her for a moment before saying, “Still holding on? If you are, I can always just leave.”

Zhu Ming snapped, “Nonsense. Of course I can. Do you think I don’t have the means to deal with you? Just wait until I get up there!”

Yin Yu simply crouched down, resting her chin on her hand with a smile. “Really? I thought Mingming let me leave earlier because her waist was injured. You seem rather uncomfortable.”

Zhu Ming: “…”

Although Zhu Ming tried her best to appear normal, the injury was on her waist, and hints of abnormality inevitably leaked into her movements.

Just as Zhu Ming had seen through Yin Yu earlier, Yin Yu quickly saw through Zhu Ming now. She chuckled teasingly, “Mingming only scared me with her bow and arrow. Even now, you’re only threatening me—you haven’t actually tried to hit me yourself. You’re far too kind.”

Zhu Ming remained silent.

The long-haired woman, even while crouching, exuded an air of grace and composure. She extended a pale, slender wrist downward and said, “How about this: you give me that bag of soil, and I’ll pull you up. How does that sound?”

It sounded nice, but Zhu Ming didn’t believe her. She lifted her eyelids, gauged her distance from the ground, and said, “What if I throw the soil up to you first and you just walk away?”

Zhu Ming rarely trusted Yin Yu. She demanded, “You come down here. Pull me out first, then we’ll talk.”

Yin Yu countered, “And will you give me the soil then?”

Afraid Yin Yu might change her mind and leave, Zhu Ming softened her tone slightly. “If I can’t get up, this bag of soil will never reach your hands anyway. Get me up first, then we’ll talk. Since you’ve already figured out I’m injured, surely you’re not afraid I’ll go back on my word?”

Yin Yu narrowed her eyes at her. After a moment, she clapped her hands lightly and said, “Fine, I’ll get you out first.”

Zhu Ming reluctantly freed one hand to reach upward. Supporting her body with one hand and both feet was strenuous, and her outstretched hand was still some distance from the ground. Yin Yu simply took off her trench coat to keep it from getting in the way, braced one hand on the Stone Giant’s leg, and leaned her entire upper body into the pit.

Zhu Ming grabbed her hand.

“Remember to grip tight,” Zhu Ming emphasized.

“Got it.”

Yin Yu’s cool hand clasped Zhu Ming’s feverish one, and she began pulling Zhu Ming up. But just then, a sly, cunning smile curved at the corner of Zhu Ming’s mouth.

In the next instant, a powerful force transmitted from their joined hands. Yin Yu was abruptly yanked downward. At the same moment, Zhu Ming’s body twisted, shifted, and flipped with incredible agility, betraying not a single trace of impaired movement. Pushing off the stone with her foot and twisting her waist, she used the momentum from pulling Yin Yu to flip herself right up.

As for Yin Yu, she let out a light gasp and was thrown down into the pit before she could react.

In the blink of an eye, their positions were reversed. One was up and one was down, only now, the one on top was Zhu Ming, and the one in the pit was Yin Yu.

All that time she’d wasted was finally worth it—she’d managed to trap Yin Yu at last. Zhu Ming couldn’t hide how utterly elated and refreshed she felt; she could barely suppress the smile tugging at her lips. She looked down condescendingly at Yin Yu standing at the bottom of the pit. “Know what they call this? Those who scheme against others will be schemed against in turn. Hahahahaha. Bleh.” She even made a face.

No one understood Yin Yu’s patience and her obsession with her better than Zhu Ming. Just knowing how she haunted her like a persistent ghost, and how she had the patience to get close to her for months before making a move, Zhu Ming knew she wouldn’t leave so easily.

The light at the bottom of the pit was dim. Yin Yu stood within it, her expression unreadable. She looked up, neither angry nor annoyed. “So that’s how it is. I didn’t expect Mingming to deceive me too. Not bad.”

Zhu Ming glanced provocatively at her clothes. Wearing that long cheongsam, which was so restrictive for movement, must be terribly inconvenient. It wouldn’t be easy for Yin Yu to climb out now.

She picked up Yin Yu’s trench coat and conveniently draped it around her own shoulders.

Standing at the edge of the pit, Zhu Ming hugged her arms and looked down haughtily, just as Yin Yu had done earlier. “Speak. What species are you? What was your motive in getting close to me? Where have you been for these seven years? Why did you suddenly come back? What’s your scheme? Confess now. If your crimes are pardonable, I’ll pull you up.”

“And if I don’t tell you?” Yin Yu was always full of questions.

“If you don’t, you can just float around freely in that pit,” Zhu Ming sneered.

“Alright, let me think.”

Zhu Ming looked down at her, her expression much more subdued. Opportunities like this didn’t come often. Given Yin Yu’s disinclination to lie, her words were generally quite credible.

Zhu Ming tapped her fingers lightly, patiently awaiting Yin Yu’s answer.

Yin Yu didn’t stall for time. She soon spoke: “First question: I can tell you my body is human. Second question: although I said I don’t want to tell you, I’ve actually already answered part of it. Third question: I traveled around the world, going to all the places I needed to go. Fourth question: because the preparations are complete. It was time to return. Fifth question: that’s too troublesome to explain. Can I skip it?”

Zhu Ming: “…”

How was this confession any different from no confession at all?

Zhu Ming took three deep breaths, centering her qi. “O-kay. One last question: why me?”

No matter what conspiracy she was plotting, no matter what goal she sought, why target her?

Yin Yu was silent for a moment, then a faint, nostalgic smile appeared on her face. “This question is the same as the first five. It’s a long story. Some things are destined.”

Destined for Yin Yu to come and infuriate her to death?

Zhu Ming’s fists clenched hard again. She nocked an arrow and drew her bow directly into the deep pit. “Still being stubborn? Guess what happens to that skin of yours if I loose this arrow?”

Her temper must be far too good for Yin Yu to be so utterly reckless. Threatening her life—she didn’t believe she couldn’t force an answer out of her.

But unexpectedly, Yin Yu said, “Ah, Mingming has betrayed my trust, broken my heart, and treats me so poorly. I’m feeling less and less inclined to explain.”

Zhu Ming was speechless. This woman was twisting the story, making it sound like it was her own fault. Absolutely shameless.

“How about this: if Mingming treats me a little better, I might disclose some information at my discretion?” Yin Yu helpfully proposed.

“In your dreams!” Zhu Ming rejected the idea without a moment’s thought. The next second, she released her fingers, and a Crimson Flame arrow shot toward the bottom of the pit.

It seemed Yin Yu wasn’t in a hurry to get out. She probably wasn’t backed into a corner yet. She needed to be harsher.

Her aim was poor, but the blast radius of the Crimson Flame’s detonation was large. In the limited space of the deep pit, it was bound to cause Yin Yu harm. Then she’d learn her lesson.

However, that fiercely burning rocket shooting toward the pit bottom vanished midway.

Like an eraser wiping it away, it completely disappeared before Zhu Ming’s eyes.

Zhu Ming’s heart leaped. Yin Yu’s supernatural ability. But even now, the full nature of Yin Yu’s ability hadn’t been completely revealed.

The woman standing at the bottom of the pit said, “Since Mingming refuses, forget it. Actually, I have a question too…”

In the next second, the woman in the pit, just like that rocket, vanished right before Zhu Ming’s eyes. Immediately after, Zhu Ming felt a familiar presence pressing close behind her, appearing at her back.

In an instant, goosebumps erupted down Zhu Ming’s spine. A thick sense of crisis enveloped her. An icy hand touched her waist, sending a jolt of electricity through her, and a cascade of soft, silky hair spilled over her shoulder.

From the corner of her eye, Zhu Ming saw Yin Yu standing slightly behind her to the side, bending down a little to peer at her.

It was but a fleeting moment, and Zhu Ming’s mind instantly conjured images of Yin Yu revealing a sinister grin or a menacing, sharp-toothed cackle. But in reality, Yin Yu just looked at her with eyes curved into smiling crescents and asked:

“What exactly happened to Mingming back in the Illusory Realm?”

Zhu Ming: “…”

In the space of a breath, Zhu Ming bolted forward without looking back. Moving like a fleeing rabbit, she swiftly vaulted over the Stone Giant and made a run for it, taking the bag of soil with her.

Tch, like she was going to answer her question!

…

Draped in the trench coat, Zhu Ming wandered around in circles for a while. She opened another treasure chest and found some food inside. What she could carry, she packed in the other sleeve. What she couldn’t, she ate on the spot.

After several tries, Zhu Ming noticed a pattern.

Every time a treasure chest was opened, it triggered a shift in position. But she hadn’t yet figured out what the rule behind these shifts was.

Today, she had obtained a bit of food and some soil—it was a gain. Zhu Ming decided not to open any more chests. Instead, she would follow the direction indicated by the Person Pointer and hurry back as quickly as possible.

Rather than wandering aimlessly through the maze searching for people, it was better to regroup at the entrance. Wenren Tu and A-Zou would likely make the same choice.

Zhu Ming solved a puzzle, opened a door, and groped her way toward the southeast corner.

After opening perhaps the fourth door, Zhu Ming suddenly heard a familiar sound.

Tsng—

It was that sound that had made the Stone Giant flee!

Zhu Ming whipped her head around but saw nothing.

Another invisible enemy.

She couldn’t help but quicken her pace, moving forward, turning a corner, trying to turn another corner as fast as possible. That was how the Stone Giant had moved before.

Tsng—

But… why did the sound seem closer now?

Thankfully, the sound didn’t move continuously. It sounded about every five minutes, representing one movement. Zhu Ming continued toward the southeast corner and finally managed to shake it off.

Since she was no longer opening chests, Zhu Ming gradually made her way toward the entrance. Along the way, she ran into Bai Lianxue and her friend, a girl named Sun Ningning.

“Zhu Ming?” They met at a corner. Seeing Zhu Ming’s disheveled state, Bai Lianxue was quite surprised.

“What a coincidence.” Zhu Ming nodded. “Are you two still making your way through here? I’m planning to head back.”

Bai Lianxue said, “We also plan to head back. This maze is a bit strange. Every time you open a chest, it changes your position. We’ve completely lost our bearings.”

Zhu Ming gestured with her chin. “Together?”

“Sure.” Bai Lianxue agreed. As for Sun Ningning, she wasn’t very familiar with her; she hadn’t spoken much.

Zhu Ming wondered if someone else opening a chest could affect her own position. However, everyone had already spent a long time in the maze and was probably thinking about heading back. If no one opened any more chests, the positions wouldn’t change, and the maze wouldn’t be so complicated.

As the three of them walked, they faintly heard five muffled bell tolls from behind.

After that, the light from the Fluorescent Stones embedded in the walls dimmed by a shade, as if urging those still lingering in the labyrinth to leave quickly.

About half an hour later, the three arrived at the Moon Group’s entrance.

Sure enough, Wenren Tu and Yun Zouchuan were already waiting there. The moment she saw Zhu Ming, Wenren Tu couldn’t help but rush over, tears welling up in her eyes. “I just knew you couldn’t be dead… What the heck are you wearing?” Why did it look so familiar?

Zhu Ming said smugly, “Yin Yu’s clothes!”

Wenren Tu gasped sharply. The look she gave Zhu Ming was one of utter exasperation, like she felt she’d failed to live up to expectations. “You got separated, and instead of hurrying back, you went with Yin Yu—Zhu Ming, I told you to toy with her feelings, not sacrifice your own body!”

Look at that disheveled hair! Look at that body caked with layer after layer of grime! Look at that smug attitude, wearing Yin Yu’s clothes when she had her own!

Wenren Tu could practically imagine the shameless scene of these two, passion rekindled, rolling around on the ground like two horny animals.

Zhu Ming quickly realized what misunderstanding Wenren Tu had jumped to. She erupted furiously, “I took Yin Yu’s clothes! Mine are torn!”

“So intense that your clothes got ripped?” Wenren Tu was horrified.

“What nonsense are you imagining?! My clothes had another use!” Zhu Ming quickly clamped a hand over her mouth. “Stop saying crazy things. I’ll explain later.”

Yun Zouchuan, who wasn’t very familiar with Zhu Ming’s past, chimed in casually, “Actually, she’s not bad. Someone who can tolerate the boss’s temper must be pretty rare.”

Zhu Ming: “…Careful I don’t deduct your bonus.”