"How did we end up on the wrong path?"

Seeing Zhao Guo'an looking so serious, Xiao Feng patiently asked.

"Do you remember the T-junction we encountered before seeing the single-log bridge?

At that time, we analyzed that one of the two paths must be the right one. Then, Jiu Ye was acting all mysterious, so we chose the path that Darcy and his team had taken.

Then we ended up here, and there's no path forward. Darcy's teammates vanished without a trace, leaving us with one puzzle after another, which made you think that solving these mysteries would lead us to the next path."

At this point, Zhao Guo'an paused and asked, "Am I right?"

Xiao Feng noncommittally said, "Go on."

"What I mean is, it's very possible that even if we find some mechanism, it's purely a deadly trap, not the way forward," Zhao Guo'an said seriously. "Perhaps we should turn back, return to that T-junction, and take the other path."

Xiao Feng thought seriously for a moment, then said, "Actually, you're wrong. The reason I insist on staying here is partly to find the next path. However, for now, I think the most important thing is no longer finding a way forward."

"Then what is it?"

"Of course, it's to find a way to kill this spider and avenge my Shihan!" Xiao Feng righteously declared. "If that girl wakes up and finds out I didn't avenge her but turned tail and ran, what do you think she'll think?

How big of a blow would that be to her little heart?

Imagine if the person you trusted and admired unconditionally just turned and ran after you were bullied, wouldn't you feel hurt and disappointed?"

"..." Zhao Guo'an was stunned and speechless. "So, you're actually risking staying here to protect your personal reputation?"

"A person lives for their face, just as a tree lives for its bark," Xiao Feng shamelessly replied. "Do you think there's something wrong with what I'm doing?"

"Yes!" Zhao Guo'an nodded heavily, speaking seriously. "And it's a big problem!"

"Hold that thought; we don't have time for your lectures right now," Xiao Feng said impatiently.

Zhao Guo'an grabbed Xiao Feng by the collar. "Protecting your reputation is understandable, but the problem is you can't risk everyone's lives for your personal interests!"

"Ha, learning to moralize now, huh? We've known each other for quite a while. Do you think I'd do something reckless without confidence?"

"At least I don't see where your confidence is. If you really have confidence, take down this spider right now and show me."

In fact, Xiao Feng's confidence wasn't about taking down the giant spider immediately but rather being able to protect himself.

The giant spider was indeed powerful, but after so long, it couldn't always maintain its peak state. At the moment, as long as he didn't fight it head-on, he could basically ensure his safety.

Just as Xiao Feng was about to retort, Jiu Ye suddenly screamed out, "Ah!"

Following that, he staggered back a few steps and fell to the ground.

The scream caught everyone's attention, and Xiao Feng had to temporarily abandon his argument with Zhao Guo'an and quickly walked over.

"What did you find?" Xiao Feng asked.

Jiu Ye, pointing at the wall in front of him, said with a trembling voice, "This, this wall...it's soft."

"Soft?" Xiao Feng was instantly dumbfounded.

The others who heard and came over also looked utterly astonished.

The surroundings were all stones; if it's soft, can it still be called stone?

Fujiwara Keiaki drew his long sword and slowly approached the direction Jiu Ye pointed.

"Be careful, Uncle Fujiwara!" Su Yuzhuo warned.

Fujiwara Keiaki nodded to show he understood, and after getting closer, he slashed forcefully ahead.

The result was shocking!

Because the expected clear sound of the blade hitting stone did not occur. Instead, there was a sound like cutting into leather—strange beyond words.

Fujiwara Keiaki immediately withdrew, and at this point, there was no need to say it aloud; everyone already knew that there was definitely a problem with this wall.

"Maybe you didn't notice, but when I cut over just now, I clearly felt that the wall recessed inward a bit, like cutting meat with a dull knife," Fujiwara Keiaki said, putting away his long sword and concluding, "This wall is indeed 'soft'."

As soon as he said this, everyone looked at each other in astonishment. A wall that's soft? They hadn't even heard of such a thing, let alone seen it.

"Let me try." Xiao Feng stepped forward, walked to the wall, and pushed forward with his hand.

The next moment, a hint of suspicion flashed across his eyes.

Because when he pushed, Xiao Feng clearly felt the wall being pushed by him, but it quickly rebounded, just like stepping on a trampoline, full of elasticity.

Just then, Lin Zhiyan's voice shouted from behind, "Get back!"

Before Xiao Feng could react, a chain wrapped around his waist, pulling him uncontrollably backward.

Instead of resisting the force, Xiao Feng used it to retreat, while looking forward to see what had happened to make Lin Zhiyan use such a method to pull him back.

About two and a half meters off the ground, two blood-red spheres appeared, dazzling like rubies, standing out sharply against the black wall.

This was also why Xiao Feng noticed them first.

Su Yuzhuo looked at Lin Zhiyan, who had pulled Xiao Feng back, with a hint of complexity in her eyes but said nothing, focusing instead on the situation before them.

"Are those rubies?" Jiu Ye said dazedly, "My God, this is the first time I've seen rubies this large. Just one must be worth tens of millions!"

One can't blame Jiu Ye for such a big reaction.

Because as decorative items, rubies are relatively common in daily life, mostly on rings or necklaces, usually about the size of a fingernail.

However, appearing before everyone now were two rubies the size of washbasins. Their luster was so bright that it was almost blinding!

"Old Xiao, we're going to strike it rich!" Zhao Guo'an said excitedly.

When it came to greed, Zhao Guo'an surpassed Xiao Feng. Otherwise, the two wouldn't have planned to scam Su Yuzhuo and Lin Zhiyan in the first place.

Xiao Feng made a pause gesture, saying expressionlessly, "Let me correct you: it's not 'we,' it's 'me.' I'm the one getting rich!"

"..." Zhao Guo'an.

"No, they're not rubies," said Jiu Ye, standing up with Sun Shijie's support, with a serious expression. "Rubies don't look like this."

"If they're not rubies, then what are they?" Xiao Feng said irritably.

This old guy couldn't be serious?

Changing his mind every few minutes.

You said they were rubies, and now, not even two minutes later, you're saying they're not. What on earth do you want?

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