Although the other party in his mind world has never shown any malice.

He was silent for a moment, and the underground cavern became even more silent—after the various strange phenomena disappeared, this place was shrouded in darkness. Except for the dim light of the Illumination Crystal, there was no movement around.

For a moment, Fang Hong couldn't figure out anything, he checked the other areas, and apart from this altar, there seemed to be nothing else noteworthy in this underground cavern.

Finally, Fang Hong took out a dark fragment from his pocket, which had dropped after he slew that Strange Shadow. He just now recalled that this object might be a fragment of something—

It might be a part of the Dragon Slaying Sword Moya.

No wonder Miss Tata mentioned that it had the aura of a Fairy. Aren't the five Holy Swords forged by Fairies and given to the five Guardians among Mortals?

But how could a fragment of the Dragon Slaying Sword turn into such a twisted monster? This indeed aroused suspicion. However, there were already too many questions underground, so this was just one among many. Fang Hong understood that perhaps uncovering what truly happened at Aimumu Fortress over a hundred years ago was the answer to all these questions.

That might be the answer to all these mysteries.

He took one last look at the remains, which still lay motionless on the altar in their previous posture, but even when approached with the Ring of Golden Flame, there was no reaction.

Fang Hong hesitated a moment, wondering whether to find a place to bury these bones to prevent them from being exposed here. But he pondered that he knew nothing of the deceased's life, not even their name, and couldn't manage a simple tombstone for them.

He sighed, finding himself unintentionally getting more entangled with the Dragon Worship Sect and the Dragon's Witch. Perhaps, one day, he and Miss Atira would bring everything to light.

Perhaps then, it wouldn't be too late to do all these.

And before that, perhaps letting this quiet underground cavern serve as a temporary burial chamber for the remains isn't such a bad choice.

After all, in the past century, he and Gita might be the only ones to have entered this underground cavern, apart from that Sorcerer-Ghoul—which likely wouldn't have any interest in these remains either.

He looked at the remains on the altar, his mind involuntarily drifting back to the painted maiden. On that silent afternoon, under what circumstances did an artist capture the image of the maiden onto canvas?

Then everything was buried beneath history's dust.

"Perhaps I will help you uncover the truth," Fang Hong silently said in his heart: "If you can still hear me, just wait a little longer."

Gita also looked silently at the skeleton, having seen the ring on the hand and faintly thought of something, couldn't help but show a hint of pity.

Yet the maiden had already waited alone in the darkness underground for a hundred years, perhaps becoming patient enough.

Only Daisy tilted her head to glance at Fang Hong, letting out a gentle meow.

The Lady Cat's sound brought the two back to reality.

Fang Hong lowered his head to glance at Daisy. Though he wasn't sure what power led the Lady Cat to bring them here, he preferred to believe it was the guidance of the maiden's soul in the ethereal realm.

Apart from the altar, the dark Crystal, and the remains, nothing else seemed noteworthy in the cavern. After a round of checks, confirming no more clues, Fang Hong turned back to Gita and said: "Let's go, leave this place."

Miss Natural Historian gently nodded.

And in the underground darkness, only the light from the Illumination Crystal slowly extended forward.

Together, the two of them, along with a Fairy Lady and a cat, traversed the corridor beside the cavern. It didn't take long for them to find the exit previously discovered by Tata and Daisy. There, indeed, lied a staircase leading upwards. Fang Hong checked and found a guillotine trap at the entrance, but it had long since rusted and was inoperable.

Only then did everyone comfortably cross the trap and proceed upwards. It was unknown where this secret passageway led, but it bore some resemblance to the passage from that room with the maiden's painting, though slightly wider.

Fang Hong roughly estimated the location. Though it might not be entirely accurate, considering the subterranean area, this path likely didn't exit within the castle.

He wasn't sure if it was an illusion, but he had a faint feeling that this path might lead into the valley below.

If that were so, the exit of this secret passage in the valley shouldn't be too hard to find. Over the years, there should've been quite a few adventurers heading to Blood Thistle Woods. Could it be none of them discovered this place?

He was pondering this problem when he heard a series of knocks ahead.

Fang Hong was startled and turned around, realizing it wasn't just him who heard it. Gita behind him also wore a puzzled expression, looking ahead.

He gestured to Miss Natural Historian, signaling her to stay calm. The latter shut her mouth and obediently nodded.

Fang Hong then turned back, hearing the knocking grow louder — given its proximity, he didn't bother with the Clockwork Fairy, leaving Miss Tata, the Lady Cat, and Gita in place, while he ventured forward alone.

Nearing the source, Fang Hong found it was indeed the end of the secret passage, where a thick iron door stood. A fierce series of knocks echoed from behind it, mixed with voices of urgency:

"Haven't you opened this door yet?"

"This thing is too sturdy."

"Why've we never heard of a door here before?"

"Are you really concerned about that right now? Those cursed things are catching up! Can't you hurry up?"

Recognizing that these voices were none from Elisa, Lady Kuisu, or Luo Yu, nor from below like Xiesta and the Big Cat People, Fang Hong quickly realized they must be the Invokers who entered the valley earlier, leaving traces of their camp.

Yet from their exchanges, it seemed they were in some trouble?

...

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