Chapter 35: Every Power Has Its Match

"I’ll go ahead and scout the path."
Heiwa was the first to step forward, his gaze resolute as he pointed toward the ancient tomb.

"Go on."
"Come back soon."
"Stay safe."

Heiwa hadn’t expected this bunch of freaks... so heartless.
Utterly rotten.
He only wanted to encourage everyone, keep their spirits up, and spread some positivity. But who could have guessed they’d be such monsters?
So unreliable.
So terrifying.

"Staying here isn’t a solution. If we don’t make it back to the tavern, our bodies will likely vanish in this tomb," Wang the Fatty reminded everyone.

"When we came to catch the corpse ginseng monster, this tomb was perfectly fine. How did it change as soon as we left?" Li Changlu fixed his gaze on Wang the Fatty, questioning him.

Wang the Fatty shook his head, admitting he didn’t know.
"Haven’t you gotten lost inside several times? Shouldn’t you know better than us?"
"As long as you walk toward the exit, you somehow end up back at the deepest part of the tomb. So I haven’t actually gone further inside; I just keep trying to get out."

...

The black skeleton monster was still trying to get rid of its paper diaper.
But now, no one found the scene amusing.
Everyone was facing the threat of disappearing in the ancient tomb.
No way out.
No way in—who knew what was waiting inside?

"Let’s go. Since we’re here, we might as well adapt. Waiting here is pointless; our chances of getting out are zero. If we don’t venture in, we’ll never know whether what lies beyond is a cliff or an exit. Instead of awaiting our doom, why not take a bold risk?"
Li Changlu broke through everyone’s silent thoughts, speaking with earnest conviction.

"Right, well said! I can’t help but want to take a look inside."
"Oh, alright."
"Li, I never expected you to be so decisive, so willing to burn your bridges."
"That’s called burning the boats, not smashing pots and carving swords, please."

Heiwa was baffled. His own attempts at encouragement had backfired, while Li Changlu’s understated words seemed to fill him with strength, making him fearless, eager to charge ahead.
He couldn’t understand it...
Until he saw Li Changlu slumped on the ground, unmoving, and realized—
It was another poisonous dose of motivational nonsense. So enticing, so toxic.

"What are you up to now? Come on!" Heiwa urged Li Changlu.
"I don’t know why, but I can’t move my legs. Could it be the skeleton monster scratched me earlier?"

"Ah, I’ve lost all feeling."
"Ah, am I going to be disabled?"
"Ah, looks like I’ll have to sit here and wait for your triumphant return."
"Ah, damn me, how could I be so useless?"

Li Changlu beat his legs, tears and snot streaming, nearly fainting from grief, though his performance was rather exaggerated.
Wang the Fatty and Heiwa shook their heads—how could someone be so shameless in broad daylight?

"It’s fine, I’ll carry you."
Xiao Qing smoothed her hair and smiled sweetly.
Without waiting for Li Changlu’s consent, she grabbed him, slinging him over her shoulder like a hunter cheerfully carrying his prey...
One thing subdues another—this seemed the only phrase Li Changlu could think of.
He was just pretending to be a coward.
Was she insane...?
Did she not understand the art of seeing through but not exposing a lie?
And moreover...
She was a girl, carrying a grown man like this...
Was that appropriate?

Li Changlu resigned himself, letting Xiao Qing carry him into the tomb.
Heiwa and Wang the Fatty followed closely behind.
Xiao Qing chatted with Wang the Fatty about their recent experiences, including the acquisition of the bonfire skill book.

"Did you bring that book?" Wang the Fatty asked curiously.
"Brought it."
"Didn’t bring it."
Li Changlu and Xiao Qing answered simultaneously. Li Changlu was cautious; ever since he rescued Xiao Qing at the bar, he felt the bonfire skill book was more than just a hidden reward for an E-level quest.
It seemed many people had their eyes on it.
So he didn’t want anyone to know the book was in his possession.
But who could have guessed simple Xiao Qing would be so honest.

"Brother, you misunderstood—I’m not interested in the book, just curious," Wang the Fatty hurried to explain to Li Changlu, who was slung over Xiao Qing’s back.
"Do you know what the book does?" Li Changlu asked him.
"Not exactly, but that group of monsters is looking for it, and they’re desperate. So it must be valuable," Wang the Fatty replied.
"That group—what are they after, and why did they want to capture Xiao Qing?"
Li Changlu pressed him.
"I know you won’t believe me if I say I don’t know, but honestly, I just couldn’t stand seeing so many monsters bullying a girl, so I stepped in."

"If it weren’t for Brother Fatty, I might have been taken away," Xiao Qing nodded gratefully.

Li Changlu still felt Wang the Fatty was hiding something. There were good people in the world, but there’s always a reason behind their actions.
Unprovoked kindness could sometimes be frightening.

As they walked, they arrived at the main chamber’s entrance.
Last time, the stone doors of the tomb had been open, probably forced by grave robbers.
So Li Changlu and Heiwa had entered without effort.
They hadn’t had time to wander—
Their target was the corpse ginseng monster.
They finished the job and hurried back to the tavern to hand in the quest.

Now, before them, the stone doors had transformed into two armored stone monsters wielding axes and swords.
They paced back and forth, guarding the entrance behind them.

"How do we get past?"
"Fighting is out of the question. That black skeleton monster was a lesson; these monsters without demon power points seem to absorb them and grow stronger?"
The more you hit them, the more they thrive.

Li Changlu analyzed carefully, unable to think of a better solution. He sighed, "Unless we grow wings and fly over."

But as soon as he spoke, he realized something was wrong.
Oh hell, of course—
Xiao Qing had already taken two steps back, carrying Li Changlu, and was preparing to run.
Accelerate...
Dash...
Leap...

Xiao Qing, with Li Changlu slung over her shoulder, sprang forward, attempting to vault over the stone monsters guarding the tomb entrance.
She truly was a simple and unpretentious tomboy.
Absolutely insane.
Exhausting.
Terrifying.
Thrilling.

The two stone monsters noticed the intruders, raising their stone axes and swords, ferociously swinging at the charging Xiao Qing and Li Changlu.
Blades flashed, death looming.
Xiao Qing’s leap seemed a fraction too slow; her body was falling, not clearing the stone monsters, but dropping straight toward their swinging weapons.

Li Changlu squeezed his eyes shut in terror.
Mother, I’m about to die.