Chapter 50

When Zhang Tianyuan and Xu Gang were discussing the Snake Scale, they never thought that the other party was also talking about them.

In the Snake Scale's room, Blue Phoenix's face was not looking good.

"Don't give me that sour face! I said no means no, Zhang Tianyuan is not someone you can handle," Snake Scale said, looking at Blue Phoenix.

"But I like him, so what? I didn't say I had to marry him," Blue Phoenix pouted and said, "Besides... besides, aren't you secretly in love with Sister Mengxin too?"

"Shut up! My situation is different from yours! That's not called secret love, it's just secret protection! I seem to have told you about my relationship with Liu Mengxin before, right?" Snake Scale said coldly.

"Hmph, I know, I know! Just because she got you out of prison, what's so great about it? I've long forgotten about you." Blue Phoenix said rather discontentedly, "Even if you are deeply in love, what's the point if you don't know how to express it?"

"Fenghuang, I've said it before, I just want to repay her. As for the rest, I've never thought about it. Someone of her status is not someone I can aspire to." Snake Scale sighed.

"Chicken! Hmph, not at all like a man." Blue Phoenix said angrily.

"Don't think I don't know what you're thinking. Do you think if I go after Liu Mengxin, Zhang Tianyuan will be yours? Don't daydream. Once this matter is over, you should go back to Shenluo Valley and find a good man to marry." Snake Scale saw through Blue Phoenix's little thoughts.

"I just like him, so what? Do I not even have the right to like someone? You don't know, ever since I got stronger, they all make fun of me, saying I'm a monster. When I fight, no boy can match me. They don't understand me at all. Can you imagine how I felt when I saw Brother Tianyuan lift those two canvas bags? At that moment, I decided he would be my man for life." Blue Phoenix shouted, stomped her foot, and then pushed the door open and ran out.

Watching Blue Phoenix leave, Snake Scale sighed. He and Blue Phoenix had grown up together, innocent and carefree, but they didn't have the kind of romantic feelings others might imagine. If anything, Blue Phoenix was more like his little sister.

"This kid, why can't she listen? Zhang Tianyuan is really not someone you can handle." Snake Scale frowned, suddenly throwing the dagger in his hand at the dartboard behind the door. The dagger's blade was inscribed with a name—“Zhang Tianyuan!”

"Zhang, if you dare to bully Phoenix, don't blame me for being unfriendly!" Snake Scale gritted his teeth, walked over, and pulled out the dagger, his brows filled with determination.

As for Liu Mengxin, he didn't think much about it. He admitted he had feelings for Liu Mengxin, but it was because of the gratitude that led to romantic feelings. He still remembered clearly that year, just because of that girl's one word, he saved his life and was released from prison, then joined a very special military unit until he retired.

He could also see that Zhang Tianyuan was pursuing Liu Mengxin, but he thought it was unlikely. Liu Mengxin's family background was too prominent. In such a family, marriage decisions were made by the elders, and Liu Mengxin's opinion didn't really matter.

So, in a sense, he felt a bit sympathetic towards Zhang Tianyuan, which made him have a little bit of goodwill towards him, like the feeling of being fellow wanderers.

...

As the sky was getting dark, the group checked out of the hotel, packed up, and got into the military jeep driven by Snake Scale, heading towards the toll station where Professor Wang was waiting for them. After joining up, they would head to their destination, Shenluo Valley.

"There are things in the car, so it might be a bit uncomfortable to sit. I'm sorry for the inconvenience," Snake Scale said apologetically.

"Don't worry about it. We're not going to Shenluo Valley for a vacation. It's great to have a car to ride in. No need to be so particular. It's fine," Zhang Tianyuan said with a smile.

"Don't worry, once we get to the toll station, there should be another car. Then we can split up and sit more comfortably," Snake Scale said.

"Big Brother Snake, I said it's fine. Let's go. The three of us women are fine, and the two men will be fine too," Mu Ying said with a smile.

"Alright." Snake Scale started the car, with Xu Gang sitting next to him, and Zhang Tianyuan sitting in the back with the three girls, enjoying a bit of the "blessing of a man with many wives."

The three girls, each with a different fragrance, but it didn't make anyone uncomfortable. It was a very peculiar feeling, even Zhang Tianyuan felt a bit lightheaded, imagining himself as the protagonist in a romance novel, able to lie on the knees of beautiful women and wake up with the power to rule the world.

"Brother Tianyuan, what are you holding in your hands? Is it something precious?" Blue Phoenix couldn't help but ask, seeing Zhang Tianyuan holding the box like a treasure.

Zhang Tianyuan smiled and said, "Actually, it's nothing much. These are some amulets, sachets, and accessories I got from the temple. If you like them, you can each pick a few!"

As he spoke, Zhang Tianyuan opened the box, revealing over ten small trinkets. They didn't look expensive, but they were very delicate.

"Wow, so pretty. Can you give this to me?" Blue Phoenix liked a phoenix hairpin. The hairpin was blessed, with the words "Peace and Good Fortune" engraved on it. According to Master Wu Mu, wearing it would bring protection.

"Sure, take it. It's not worth much anyway," Zhang Tianyuan wasn't particularly interested in these things. Since the girls liked them, he could save some effort, as carrying so many trinkets was a hassle.

Liu Mengxin and Mu Ying also joined in, picking out several items.

"Hey, Miss Liu, and wife! Don't embarrass yourselves, these are cheap trinkets. You act like you've never seen the world before. Really, sigh!" Xu Gang turned around and said.

"What do you know? Mengxin and I met Master Wu Mu yesterday. He's definitely a high-level person, not like ordinary charlatans or monks. He's a true hermit and cultivator. Even if these things aren't effective, they're worth appreciating because they were made by him. We just like them, so what?" Mu Ying said irritably.

"Alright, alright, who am I to argue? I'm just a henpecked husband," Xu Gang shrugged.

At this moment, Snake Scale spoke up, "It's best not to put your hopes on these things. They're all scams. If anyone is afraid, they can stay behind. I've said it more than once, this isn't a vacation, it's an adventure, and for me, it's even a rescue mission. There could be danger at any time."

"Hey, Snake Team, don't be so tense. Since everyone is here, they've all made up their minds. You don't need to be so blunt. Besides, what's the point of creating a tense atmosphere?" Xu Gang said with a cold laugh.

Since Snake Scale was now the temporary leader of the archaeological team, Xu Gang called him "Snake Team," which had a hint of sarcasm.

Xu Gang and Snake Scale didn't get along well, mainly because Xu Gang felt that Snake Scale was targeting Zhang Tianyuan, and he didn't want his brother to be hurt.

"In my view, there are two possibilities in Shenluo Valley, and it's not necessarily dangerous," Zhang Tianyuan didn't want them to argue, so he quickly shifted everyone's attention to himself.

"What do you mean?"

"The first possibility is that Shenluo Valley is a hell on earth, and everyone who goes in dies. We would also face a grim fate. This is the worst-case scenario. The second possibility is that Shenluo Valley is a paradise, and perhaps the Shenluo Kingdom hasn't fallen. The people who went in before might just be immersed in the life there," Zhang Tianyuan explained.

"That's not right. Or there could be a third possibility, a combination of the two. The Shenluo Kingdom does exist, but it's not particularly friendly, nor is it a hell on earth!" Liu Mengxin added.