Chapter 746 746: 2 Perspectives
Finally, I saw what Qi Mengqi had seen, so he must have. Here, I wanted Li Qi to take a look at what was inside the coffin.
But who knew, just as I stepped forward, there was a sudden flash behind me, and a dagger lightly grazed my neck. I smelled a hint of gunpowder on him. I didn't even know who I was—blind gold.
Gold leaned close to my ear and said in a cold voice: "Don't move. If you make even the slightest motion, this dagger will follow your neck the entire way."
Meng Ke naturally had the invisible gold medal in his possession. He stared at me with calm eyes, his hand placed slightly forward, his fingers resting softly against his arm. It felt like he was watching.
"Monkey, it's simple for me to keep the coffin for myself."
Meng Ke raised his eyebrows and replied, "The coffin is empty. How could it be? If you don't believe me, you can check it yourself."
Jinmu, blinded by Li Qi and those dull-witted people, said, "Monkey, don't fool me. You tricksters are infamous in this circle. Hand over the goods quickly. Not only that, but my life will end up in your hands."
Meng Ke chuckled. "You have no idea how good I am, do you? Meng Ke pays no heed; what I said was meaningless. He is not, however, alive anymore! You will be joining him."
After that, Zhu Jian's longsword, angled after a chew, sliced deeply into the board, embedding itself by half a meter.
Looking at the invisible gold, I swallowed lightly. My fingers trembled slightly. Only now did I realize that blind gold was tight. People like me felt light and unanchored, unaware of being taken hostage.
The Blind King snarled at me: "You brat, let me advise you to speak honestly. Do whatever I ask of you, and don't cross the line. Understand?"
Then, he forcefully pushed me toward Jin and shoved me toward the coffin. As the onlookers restrained Li Qi, they opened a seam within the joint, offering a secondary perspective on Jin.
The blind gold shifted slightly.
When I turned around again, the gold inside the coffin had vanished. My beautiful red blade was drawn, and I slowly approached the coffin, peering inside to see a black hole finally revealed within. Meng Ke stood watching the door and said to me: "Go down."
In shock, I looked at Meng Liqi and asked: "Go down? What happens if I go down? This door is far too deep, and I need to descend! What if something happens after I die?"
Meng Ke gazed coldly at me, then kicked me forward. As I fell, I heard him say while searching me, "You're already dead! Your house will have pensions. It cannot be said here."
I closed my eyes and caught sight of my own body.
As I kept falling, a shadow silently wrapped itself around me. I saw the Shadow Spirit that my aunt had sent me. I almost forgot! People shaped like shadows have no faces, only torsos.
The Shadow Spirit descended and crashed hard to the ground, forming a hole. Looking at it from atop the Shadow Spirit, I marveled and said, "Should I call you by another name?"
The shadow nodded, then shook its head.
Since I didn't know what to call it, I extended my hand toward the Shadow Spirit and smiled. "Nice to meet you again, I suppose Ann Hao. Actually, I truly want to work with you."
The Shadow Spirit tilted its head and stared at me, replying, "Learn from me, watch his hand." When I looked, I saw the shadow Ling. I stretched my hand forward, smiled, and extended a hand for a handshake with him. The Shadow Spirit's hand felt cold and soothing.
Not long after, the Shadow Spirit clasped my hand and slowly merged into my body.
Amazed, I observed myself until a sudden wind swept the air. I quickly withdrew from him.
With a loud bang, Meng Ke landed on the spot where I had been standing. Startled by the sand blown by the gust, I stepped back, barely outpacing Meng Ke.
With gravity, Meng Ke said, "You know this hurts you."
Meng Ke stared coldly at me and sneered, "Standing before me—is that unlucky for you?"
"Don't push me away!"
Meng Ke ignored me, shoving me inch by inch, slowly forcing me forward.
I reluctantly followed Meng Ke and Li Qi, with only scattered light filtering through the cluttered remains of Li Qi's room, without any of its original brightness.
Eventually, I approached Menglu and curiously asked: "Where am I supposed to go?"
Monica's emerald eyes shone like an animal's gaze.
"I don't know, but I stand on blind territory. Ahead lies an unexpected challenge."
I grunted discontentedly and slowly distanced myself from the monkeys.
Gleaming ahead first, then encountering a door, now leading to another deep pit.
Exiting the cavern, I arrived below the cliff, where daylight greeted me. I found myself atop a towering mountain. Meng Ke spotted a path, glanced at me, and said, "Follow me."
Afterward, I carefully descended the steep mountain trail. For my part, I left for some time and ventured to the valley.
Seeing the lushly forested valley, I puzzled over what made blind gold here.
And the Mongolian woman, holding my blade, used it to hack at grasses taller than humans, leading me onward.
Uncertain how many times I'd traveled here, my silence weighed on me. The backpack strapped to my back felt unbearably heavy. Tired to the core, I longed to quit this journey altogether.
Meng Ke glanced at me and said, "Rest!"
Sitting a moment, my stomach growled loudly. Li Qi's voice reached me: "I'm starving! The bag alongside the river has food. Where's the meal?"
The monkey shot me a cold glare and scooped a handful of dirt.
As Meng Ke and I dined together, I looked up to seek his attention! Meng Ke said sharply to me, "Far to your east, there's a stream. Bring the kettle in your backpack and fetch some clean water. While you're there, catch some fish."
Watching Meng Ke silently, I packed my things, zipped my bag, rifled through curiously, and eventually retrieved Li Qi's black box. Without Meng Ke noticing, I took the pan and exited with purpose.
A hundred meters ahead, I heard the water babbling. Glancing at Meng Ke's position, I murmured, "Youth has its sacred moments!"
Approaching the brook, I placed my kettle on the bank. Washing my hands first, I poured fresh water into the kettle inside.
Pulling up my pants, I threw them into the river. Near my aunt's temple downstream, the creek housed tender, plump fish I had often caught.
Before long, with my practiced technique, I pulled three huge carp from the stream. Returning to a banana-leaf-woven basket near the creek, I loaded the fish and carried them back.
When I returned to our resting spot, I found it deserted—emptied by the monkey who had taken secrets with him.
Wandering into the forest, I shouted loudly: "Who? Show yourself. No need to hide from me." With my strong Shadow Spirit in tow, why fear petty fish thieves? I bellowed into the woods.
Receiving no response, I rushed to prepare a second fish, flipping the skewers atop the grill. Soon, the fish was roasted! Its tempting aroma filled the air; if not for that scent, I wouldn't have noticed the sound behind me again. This time, I chuckled—it felt like I'd fallen into a trap once again.
I saw yet another figure snatch the fish from my hands. He was less of a man, more of a humanoid monkey, towering in stature.
The monkey, upon catching my gaze fixed on the Queen before him, grinned widely, snatched the fish from my stick, and launched it toward the treetops with a loud snap. Soon, it disappeared into nothingness.
Frantic, I stared as monkeys leaped skyward in pursuit. How many monkeys remained before me alive in the camp was unclear. I simply clutched the roasted fish until gray-haired ancient monkeys emerged from the trees, wrapped in banana leaves encasing their grilled meal.