novelraw Chapter 155
Chapter 155
Chapter 155 – Entering Shu Mountain Stronghold
After the announcement that Wolf Demoness had become the Fourth Great Protector of Shu Mountain, the atmosphere inside the mountain stronghold changed immediately.
The Demon-Path Messengers who had gathered outside the gates slowly dispersed, but the looks they gave Medicine Master Wen and the Bunny Heroine were completely different from before.
Before, they were merely outsiders.
Now, one of them had become one of the rulers of Shu Mountain.
The Road Into the Stronghold
Beiyou personally led the group through the main gate.
The road into the stronghold wound along the mountainside like a coiling dragon. Black stone buildings clung to the cliffs, connected by narrow bridges and wooden platforms.
Lanterns burned with green ghost-fire.
The place did not resemble a righteous sect at all.
It looked more like a city built by bandits.
Yet the discipline here was surprisingly strict.
Every Demon-Path Messenger they passed lowered their heads respectfully.
“Greetings, Great Protectors.”
“Greetings, Lord Beiyou.”
“Greetings, Lord Boreuo.”
When their gazes landed on Medicine Master Wen, hesitation appeared.
But after a moment, they bowed as well.
“Greetings… Fourth Protector.”
Yan Qing’s Thoughts
Inside the Bunny Heroine’s mind, Yan Qing was silently observing everything.
He had never expected the situation to escalate this far.
Originally the plan was simple:
Kill Zhong Ji
Use the Return Token to escape if necessary
Investigate the Secret Realm entrance
But now things had changed completely.
Medicine Master Wen had unexpectedly become one of the rulers of the mountain stronghold.
From a player’s perspective, this was equivalent to suddenly gaining administrator access to a dungeon hub.
If used correctly, the benefits would be enormous.
However, Yan Qing knew something important.
The two Great Protectors were not fools.
They had offered the position so quickly for only one reason:
They needed Medicine Master Wen.
The Secret Realm Discussion
After guiding them into a tall stone hall overlooking the valley, Beiyou finally spoke.
“This stronghold exists for one purpose.”
“The Secret Realm.”
Boreuo stepped forward and unrolled a map.
The map depicted the region behind Shu Mountain.
At its center was a large area marked in red.
“The Forest of Corpses.”
Medicine Master Wen frowned slightly.
“Si Wuxie’s Secret Realm.”
Boreuo nodded.
“Yes.”
The name immediately caught Yan Qing’s attention.
Si Wuxie was one of the most mysterious historical figures in the world of the game.
A genius of the demonic path.
A man rumored to have attempted immortality experiments using corpses.
His legacy had never been discovered.
Until now.
The Problem
Beiyou explained the situation calmly.
“For the past century, Shu Mountain has guarded the entrance to the Forest of Corpses.”
“Every year we send teams to explore the outer area of the Secret Realm.”
“But something strange has been happening.”
The Blood Minister’s earlier anger suddenly made more sense.
Because the problem was extremely serious.
The monsters inside the Secret Realm never decreased.
Even when explorers killed them, the number did not return to normal.
Instead…
It slowly increased.
This meant something terrifying.
The dungeon might be accumulating monsters permanently.
Why They Needed Help
Boreuo tapped the map again.
“The front hall of the Secret Realm should normally contain four corpse kings.”
“Now there are at least seven.”
“Possibly more.”
Medicine Master Wen immediately understood the danger.
Seven Third-Stage monsters fighting together was already extremely difficult.
If the number continued increasing…
Eventually the dungeon would become impossible to clear.
“Why not send more people?” Wu Qiu asked.
Beiyou shook his head.
“If too many Demon-Path Messengers enter and fail, the monster count may increase again.”
“So we attempt small, controlled explorations.”
Then he looked directly at Medicine Master Wen.
“That is why we need you.”
The Real Recruitment
Becoming a Great Protector was not simply a reward.
It was an invitation to participate in the Secret Realm expedition.
Medicine Master Wen immediately realized the implication.
If she accepted, she would gain:
authority in the stronghold
access to the Secret Realm
information about Si Wuxie’s legacy
But she would also become deeply involved with the Demon-Path faction.
The Bunny Heroine suddenly spoke.
“What do we get out of it?”
Boreuo smiled faintly.
“Treasure.”
“Power.”
“And possibly the inheritance of Si Wuxie himself.”
Even Yan Qing felt his heartbeat accelerate.
Because in the game’s lore, Si Wuxie’s inheritance was rumored to contain legendary-grade techniques.
Exploring the Stronghold
Before any final decision was made, Beiyou arranged living quarters for the new Fourth Protector.
Medicine Master Wen received an entire courtyard near the central hall.
The residence was far more luxurious than anything the Demon-Path Messengers lived in.
It even included servants assigned by the stronghold.
Wu Qiu and Shi Dong were stunned.
“Miss… are we really staying here?”
Medicine Master Wen nodded slowly.
“For now.”
But she knew this was only the beginning.
Private Discussion
Later that night, Medicine Master Wen and the Bunny Heroine spoke privately.
The courtyard was quiet.
Moonlight fell across the stone floor.
“You want to enter the Secret Realm,” the Bunny Heroine said.
Medicine Master Wen didn’t deny it.
“Yes.”
“Because of Si Wuxie?”
“Yes.”
The Bunny Heroine crossed her arms thoughtfully.
Yan Qing, controlling the character, was already analyzing the situation like a strategist.
This was an enormous opportunity.
But also extremely dangerous.
Finally the Bunny Heroine nodded.
“Then we’ll go.”
Medicine Master Wen looked surprised.
“You agree?”
“Of course.”
The Bunny Heroine grinned.
“A dungeon full of monsters and treasure?”
“How could I refuse?”
The Calm Before the Storm
That night, the stronghold of Shu Mountain seemed peaceful.
Lanterns flickered across the cliffs.
Demon-Path Messengers drank and gambled in the lower halls.
High above them, in the residence of the Fourth Great Protector, four figures rested quietly.
None of them knew that within a few days they would enter the Forest of Corpses.
A place where the monsters were multiplying.
A place where the dungeon might never reset.
And a place where the secrets of Si Wuxie were waiting to be uncovered.