The middle-aged man's eyes widened in disbelief. "You… you must be from our island nation too! Your pronunciation is even more accurate than mine!"
"Cut the nonsense," Xu Mu snapped. "Answer my question."
"We're from the Shinto Division of the Shrine Association," the man explained hurriedly. "We came here under the command of our shrine priestess."
"Shingū Fuka?" Xu Mu frowned.
"You know our Lady Priestess?" The man's shock deepened.
"That's right. I've heard of her," Xu Mu replied calmly. "How did she learn about this place?"
"That, we don't know." The man shook his head.
"What happened just now? Why were you two running out in a panic?" Xu Mu's eyes remained fixed on the palace interior. His perception couldn't penetrate the darkness within.
"There's something strange inside," the man said with a trembling voice. "There's a door in the main hall. Lady Shingū Fuka said she would go in first, check if it was safe, and come back to report—but she entered before dawn and never returned. Later, our members went in two at a time to search for her… none of them came back."
"I see," Xu Mu said coolly. "So you two cowards stayed behind."
The younger man opened his mouth to retort but swallowed his words.
"When did you discover this ruin?" Xu Mu asked.
"Just before dawn today," the middle-aged man replied.
"Only your group?"
"Yes. Only our Shinto members. We didn't see anyone else."
Xu Mu stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"We're leaving," the man said, grabbing his companion's sleeve. They turned to go.
"Xu Mu, you're just letting them go?" Meng Wanyue whispered.
"If they leave—"
"The location of this ruin will be exposed!" Dai Xingluo interrupted, sword already flashing as she dashed forward.
"Xingluo! Wait!" Xu Mu shouted.
Her blade was already an inch from the man's neck when he turned around, so terrified he nearly collapsed.
"I told you everything! Why won't you let us go?" he cried.
"The reason's simple," Xu Mu said, adjusting his hair calmly. "When I mentioned Shingū Fuka, did you think we were merely acquaintances? Truth is, she's pursuing me."
"What?! Impossible!" The young man blurted out. "To inherit the Shinto line, she must remain pure!"
The older man raised a hand to silence him. "Just tell us what you want."
"My goal's simple," Xu Mu said evenly. "Since Shingū Fuka has done much for me in her pursuit, I'll repay her by returning two of her traitors. You two will go back inside and lead the way."
The men's faces drained of color. So that's what he meant.
"My time's valuable," Xu Mu added. "Either you die now or go ahead and lead us."
The two exchanged a look, sighed in despair—better to die boldly than cower—and turned toward the palace doors.
Xu Mu smiled faintly and gestured to his team. "Follow them."
"Brother, you're so clever," Dai Xingluo said brightly, sheathing her sword. "Letting them go first as bait—if there's danger, they'll trigger it first. You're smarter than me. Looks like from now on, I'll be completely wrapped around your finger."
Xu Mu gave her a side glance. If he had hesitated even a second longer, both of those men's heads would've been rolling by now. This woman was terrifying.
At least Meng Wanyue had the sense to hold back until he decided. Dai Xingluo, on the other hand, charged first and asked questions later.
He shook his head slightly. As long as she stayed loyal, he wouldn't complain.
"Brother Mu, what did you say to them?" Chen Xuan asked, hoisting his woven sack onto his shoulder.
He only knew a few words in the island language—like "no," "comfortable," "annoying," and "pervert."
The others looked curious too.
Xu Mu didn't hide much—he summarized the conversation, omitting only the part about Shingū Fuka chasing after him.
By then, they'd slipped through the narrow gap into the palace interior.
There were no windows—only the dim shaft of light from the door. The deeper they went, the darker it grew.
Xu Mu glanced around. This seemed to be the main hall—bare walls, smooth surfaces, no carvings or murals to glean information from.
Deeper inside stood another door, carved with grotesque spirits whose fangs jutted past their lips.
"This must be the back door of the hall," Chen Xuan mused, "leading to a courtyard or something."
"That's it," the middle-aged man said, voice trembling.
"Then quit talking and go first." Xu Mu gestured at him.
The man knew there was no escape. Step by step, he advanced into the black passage.
Xu Mu kept his senses locked on him. Ten meters in, the man vanished completely.
Ten meters—yet gone. Not a trap, Xu Mu thought immediately, but… a formation.
"You, next," he said, pushing the young man forward.
This time, Xu Mu followed closely behind. The others trailed after him.
Soon, the young man reached the same spot—and nothing changed visually. Still just a tunnel.
Then suddenly he shouted, "Lady Shingū!" and bolted ahead into the empty air.
"Wait!" Xu Mu yelled.
But the man didn't react—he simply vanished, just like the first.
Xu Mu turned to the others with a half-smile. "So… should we head back and take a nap instead?"
Chen Xuan grinned, tightening his grip on his sack. "Brother Mu, why go back? Ancient ruins are awesome—I love this place!"
"I don't want to miss this chance either," Miao He said.
"I'll follow your lead," Meng Wanyue added, uninterested in treasure but trusting him completely.
"Brother," Dai Xingluo said sweetly, "let's go. Risk and reward always go hand in hand."
Xu Mu nodded. "Alright then, let's go together."
A few steps later, the scenery transformed. The dark tunnel dissolved into a vast green prairie beneath clear sunlight, with snowcapped peaks in the distance.
Beautiful—too beautiful.
Xu Mu frowned. An illusion array?
He turned to speak—but just then, Meng Wanyue lifted her dagger and thrust it toward her own eye.
"Wanyue! What are you doing?!"
Xu Mu grabbed her wrist—
"You—what are you—ah! Ow!" Meng Wanyue yelped, stumbling backward and shoving him away. "You're so annoying!"
Xu Mu blinked, bewildered, then looked to Chen Xuan—who was currently headbutting his own backpack over and over.
He was stunned. What the hell is going on now?!