Once Chen Minzhi finished flipping over his half of the tablet for all to see, Cong Lu also did as well by showing his half. Together, one had the number “three” engraved on it while the other had the number “eleven”. Combining those two characters together, that equaled to the number “thirty-one”. If their guesses are not off, the strange number indicates they needed thirty-one members as the second condition prior to entering the second cave tunnel, otherwise it wouldn’t activate!
“Do you see now Phoenix Lord? We need thirty-one members to continue on with the Star Cave Venture. If we have people leaving now then it would be detrimental to everyone present.” Chen Minzhi opens up his hands in a shrugging manner like he’s also helpless over the predicament.
Technically the person wasn’t wrong in his logic. The Kai Jiang Manor originally had eleven, but they unfortunately lost one due to the person’s carelessness while reaching this spot. Now adding in Hong Ming Yue’s team and the rest, the numbers still hovers around twenty-nine in total only, and that’s in light of Feng Shen and Dao Nu’s arrival just now.
It’s no secret to everyone participating in this venture to want less competition, imagine what sort of mixed feelings they must be feeling now to learn their efforts in eliminating the enemy just turned out to be their own downfall. What sort of iron was this?
“We still lack two more. In that case, why don’t we go back and knab the Phoenix Lord’s remaining members. If I remember correctly, there’s still that lolly girl and brute back in the fourth cave tunnel before my party left.” Hong Ming Yue suggests from the side despite her unwillingness to benefit others.
The two precious Nine Realm Reincarnation Dan pills that she came for have already been taken by others and there’s nothing notable of valuable left in this place. If she doesn’t press on to fresher pasture then it would mean she’s going back empty-handed. Whether it be for her family’s sake or her own ego, that’s an outcome she wouldn’t permit by any standard.
“They can’t enter the number two cave tunnel, I will not permit that.” Feng Shen’s not going to allow this to happen.
If he also puts Lan Caier and Little Crow into danger while Ling Yue’s whereabouts remains unknown, then he would be the greater sinner to everyone whom he cares for.
In response, Hong Ming Yue immediately scoffs a grunt of disdain over the boy’s proclamation.
She’s hated the Phoenix Lord ever since that incident at the clothing store back at Da Xia, that’s why she had such negative opinion of the boy. But then just as the ice beauty was ready to throw some sarcasm in the foe’s way, what she got in return was a cold hard glare that shook her soul.
The girl’s not blind, that look and aura was nothing like the kind, gentle air she’s used to from the opposition. In fact, it’s so intimidating and strong that she’s got the illusion a ferocious beast was currently standing across from herself. That’s how oppressive the boy was right now.
“I say we bring Brother Hou Qi over instead,” it was then that Princess Qing Bi adds her own suggestion and reduced the tension.
“I don’t have any opinion on this, anyone will do for me so long as we get the last two.” Chen Minzhi grinned playfully. From the onset, his appearance looked very spooky for some reason despite the lack of threatening air.
As for Cong Lu, the royal guard captain didn’t speak. It’s as if he’s contemplating something in his own head and couldn’t be bothered to take part in the argument.
For a while there, nothing moved due to the differing opinions until a soft feministic voice interjected itself. “Why not add us to the number then?”
Feng Shen was thunderstruck by the sound signature. He recognized it immediately and shot his eyes over to the direction. There, his eyes sparkled with delight and relief at the familiar figure slowly coming into the light.
“Feng…” Ling Yue’s words didn’t even have time to finish before the girl’s waist became tightly bound by a pair of powerful arms.
The boy actually unabashedly hugged her in front of everyone!
She was stiff as a rock right now due to all eyes landing in their direction. However, between her own embarrassment or the comforting of the one hugging herself, the choice was obvious for this girl.
“Feng Shen, I am fine~” Ye Ling Yue Murmuring in the boy’s ear, Ling Yue pushes him back a bit to force that pair of hand loose so she could get some air.
Though reluctant, the overreacting Feng Shen could only relent. He too has noticed the extra attention coming their way after cooling down in the head. Nevertheless, that’s not going to stop him from examining the girl up and down to make sure Ling Yue was fine in every way he could imagine. Aside from being a little red in the cheeks, there’s nothing else wrong according to his assessment.
As for everyone else, the reactions varied: Hong Ming Yue’s expression naturally grew dark at the appearance of her half-sister, Chen Minzhi delighted like he’s discovered a new land mass, and the rest surprised by the girl’s ability to make it this far by herself alone.
“Miss Ye, it’s good seeing you back with us in good health. But that’s not going to work either. Even with you, we’re still missing one last person.” Coughing awkwardly, Cong Lu attempts to defuse the last bit of uncomfortable atmosphere in the air, which seemingly worked out well to his own defense.
“Then what if we add him too?” As she says that, Ye Ling Yue then held up the little furball in her possession for all to see.
“What a lovely little fella!” Princess Qing Bi cries out like a girl discovering the most adorable thing.
Talk about an attitude change. What happen to the “mutt” and ugly little thing she was spouting before when they were outside?
“Stand back Qing Bi, Little Squeak doesn’t like others getting too close to him.” Blocking the princess’s path was none other than Feng Shen.
The former not willing to give up just yet immediately snuck another glance at the little furball by looking sideways. It was then where she received the growling reception, showing off how dangerous the little guy actually was.
Jolting back a step in the next second, the princess was horrified to find the cuddly little creature to be so ferocious despite the adorable appearance. The razor-sharp fangs, the sharp glistening claws, just looking at them was enough to send chills down the girl’s spine.
“That’s settled then. Though the jade did say thirty-one, there’s no clue indicating it must be that number. But since we’re all here, let’s avoid any mistakes or casualties until we’re through alright?”
After some discussion, Cong Lu and Chen Minzhi quickly came to a decision and began organizing things.
But before they headed out though, Feng Shen made sure to use this free time to ask his woman on what happened. Ling Yue didn’t divulge the matter about Xue Pian Ran, but she did mention Consort Luo’s attempt at trapping her inside the sealed chamber. As for the last bit about the boy’s illness being able to be cured, she figured this wasn’t the best time to be talking about such stuff after hesitating.
“You are still not dead?” Hong Ming Yue confronts her half-sister with those glaring eyes.
“Ho, it couldn’t be that Princess Ming Yue wants to come fight me for the Ninth Realm Reincarnation Dan pill would you? Let’s not forget, we are all on the same boat at this point. Thirty one people, not one less.” Ling Yue scoffs a laugh, dismissing the foe.