Separated

A silence ensued. Chen Chen knew whenever Su Xin Yu used the word 'crap', it meant trouble. What did he do so wrong? It was a big tree, could he not borrow just one branch out of it? Even without anyone saying anything, sweat beads formed on Chen Chen's forehead.

"We need to leave from here," Su Xin Yu whispered to Li Ming Hao, her face full of tension. He had no idea what was going on but he trusted this girl's instincts. Before they could even take any action, Rocky started whimpering and the earth shook violently.

"F*ck, we are too late," Su Xin Yu cursed once again. She wanted to beat that stupid cousin of hers to a pulp. But right now, their survival was a priority.

"Leave, run," she ordered everyone. She had really wanted to see those letters but guess she would not be able to. The rocks from the roof started falling again. There was nowhere to go.

"Jump, jump in water," Li Ming Hao jumped directly into the lake, illuminating the whole cave again. Chen Chen had already seen illusions once, he did not want to risk his life again. He ran towards the way they had come from. As soon as he ran away from the Su Xin Yu and Li Ming Hao, the rocks around them stopped falling.

But wherever Chen Chen went, he was being attacked by the falling stones. Li Ming Hao observed this while in the lake.

"Is this targeted attack? How do they know Chen Chen harmed the tree?" Li Ming Hao was surprised. It would be quite difficult to devise such a trap unless some power was involved or someone was sitting above and operating the rocks manually.

Su Xin Yu looked at her cousin running around for his life. He was indeed being targeted, each rock pin pointing his position more accurately than other. Of course her tribe only knew how to set up physical traps and this could definitely not be explained by science.

That meant there were more entities here than she had thought. She already had unusual encounters with spirits in the past, but this was something else entirely.

"What should we do?" she muttered to herself.

"Chen Chen, try getting back to the cave that we came in from. It might be that this effect does not work there. Otherwise run all the way back," Li Ming Hao shouted. As much as he was enjoying this 'punishment' to the guy, he knew that Chen Chen won't be able to avoid it forever.

"You want me to leave?" Chen Chen panted between his words. This won't do. What about his money?

"For the time being, yes. Come around and find another entrance. Are you not good at that?" Li Ming Hao smirked. He would kill two birds with one stone. Chen Chen would be saved and he would get a chance to be alone with his sister.

Su Xin Yu was observing everything from the side. She was quite perplexed. Li Ming Hao had already been in that water for five minutes but why did he not get any illusions till now? Was it just Chen Chen who easily succumbed to the lake trap?

She looked at both the men and made a decision.

"Chen Chen, listen to Li Ming Hao. It's not like we have not explored the dungeons separately before, right? You will find another way. But if you remain here, you will really die," Su Xin Yu yelled as well.

She also had an ulterior motive in sending Chen Chen out. One, there would not be much nuisance and the two of them could brainstorm before taking any step. Two, she really needed to know what this guy was thinking, and how he thought.

"I…," Chen Chen hesitated for a bit. Then a rock from above fell right beside his left leg, spooking the hell out of him. Yes, next rock would definitely be his head.

He ran into the entrance with full strength, his life depended on it after all. A few rocks had already blocked half of the entrance. He jumped over the wall and finally went into the cave.

The earth stopped shaking and the rocks stopped falling. All three people heaved a sigh of relief.

Chen Chen did not want to leave. Her ticket to money and fame was right there, sitting near the lake. "Sh*t, why do I need to leave?" his voice echoed into the cave, his thoughts travelling to the two people who were watching the show.

"It is your fault that you broke the branch of the big tree. After all these years, do you still not understand how things work here? And if you break a branch to throw it in the lake, is it still alive, you idiot?" Li Ming Hao finally went ahead and hurled a few insults at the dumb guy who was putting all their lives in jeopardy.

Su Xin Yu did not retaliate because she agreed with the points Li Ming Hao had pointed out. "Cousin, leave and try some other route from the beginning. We followed the river here but there were other paths as well. I am pretty sure, with your experience, you will be able to meet us soon," Su Xin Yu spoke very calmly, her melodious voice relaxing the two guys as well.

Chen Chen, who had been panicking before, suddenly lit up with excitement. That was right, he had experience. And if he found anything along the way, it would all be his. Yes, he would take that trip back and find something else.

"O… okay. I will meet you soon then," he showed that he was not happy with the situation and was reluctantly parting but inside his head, a party was going on. He would make sure to find something valuable without the two people knowing.

Chen Chen left in very happily and the two people finally relaxed.

"Young Master Li, I think you should come out of the lake," Su Xin Yu now put her focus on this guy. This guy was definitely hiding something from her. He was too protected through all this ordeal. Was it even worth twisting her ankle for him back then? Or even her back in that tunnel that day? Perhaps he had some secret which made him immune to the celestial things? She needed to figure it out.

Li Ming Hao could just read her mind and decided to employ the trick of admitting it first.

"You are correct. I am just curious why I did not get affected by the illusions. But if that's the case, why don't you use this opportunity to read those carvings on the walls? If you want to take a closer look, you can jump in the lake too, I will hold you while you are deciphering it," Li Ming Hao offered his hand to her.

Su Xin Yu was also a veteran at this game. She knew he admitted it for throwing her off. But she would not be fooled once again. His offer, was truly tempting though. The engravings, were after all, on the other side of the lake and there was no space to keep their feet there. They just had to be in the lake.

Su Xin Yu took the leap of faith and jumped into the lake, illuminating it brighter than previously.