Lu Fan, Gu Fang, and Chen Jin moved cautiously through the dungeon, led by Chen Jin. As they delved deeper, they encountered small creatures here and there, which they either scared away or dispatched without hesitation.
While navigating a particularly narrow corridor, Chen Jin suddenly stopped, his abrupt halt causing the others to freeze in place. Alert, he squinted into the shadows ahead, his hand instinctively hovering near his weapon. The tension was palpable. Any sudden movement would have seen him draw his sword in an instant.
Under the trio's watchful eyes, a dark silhouette emerged from the shadows. It was a slender woman with long black hair and delicate features. Her petite figure was accentuated by curves in all the right places, though her appearance was marred by her tattered robes, which barely covered her body. The sight elicited complicated expressions from Lu Fan and Gu Fang, their wariness heightening rather than diminishing.
"Who are you?" Chen Jin demanded, his tone cold and commanding as he stood at the forefront.
The woman raised her hands slightly, a gesture meant to pacify. "Wait, I'm a hunter, just like you," she said urgently, her voice tinged with desperation.
The trio exchanged skeptical glances, clearly unconvinced. "I can prove it," the woman added quickly. With one hand clutching her tattered robes to maintain her modesty, she revealed a metallic identification badge in the other.
Still suspicious, Lu Fan stepped forward cautiously. "Throw it here," he instructed. The woman obeyed, tossing the badge to the ground at their feet. Chen Jin kept his weapon trained on her while Lu Fan picked up the badge, confident that his teammates were ready to act if needed.
Examining the badge closely, Lu Fan's eyes darted between the woman and the identification. He handed it to Gu Fang, who confirmed its authenticity. She was indeed a registered hunter, as indicated by the name on the badge: Tian Yan'er.
"What's your name?" Lu Fan asked, though he already suspected the answer.
"Tian Yan'er," the woman replied, her voice steady despite the tension. The trio relaxed slightly but maintained their vigilance.
"So, what happened? Why are you here?" Chen Jin pressed, his tone sharp. "And don't even think about lying to us. If we sense any deceit, we won't hesitate to cut you down."
Yan'er sighed, her shoulders sagging slightly. "That's fair," she said. She began recounting her story, explaining how she had entered the dungeon with her guild team to explore. However, a vicious attack had decimated her team, leaving her behind while the survivors fled.
"I've been trapped here ever since," she said. "When a dungeon closes, it's nearly impossible to find someone left behind because the terrain changes. Sometimes, the dungeon doesn't reopen for years—or at all. Even when it does, time inside moves differently. For those trapped, years may pass, even if only days go by outside. Most who survive return old and frail, if they return at all."
Her story was chilling but detailed. She named her guild and even provided information about her team members. Her knowledge of guild hierarchy, association leaders, and recent events in the outside world aligned with their own understanding. After several probing questions, the trio concluded that she was telling the truth.
With her identity verified, the tension eased. Lu Fan handed back her identification badge. "What you've been through must have been terrible," he said, his voice softer now.
Yan'er nodded, her expression shifting to one of embarrassment as she clutched her tattered robes more tightly. Realizing her predicament, Chen Jin reached into his storage ring and produced a spare set of leather armor. "Here, take this," he said gruffly, handing it to her.
The armor was clearly designed for a man, but Yan'er accepted it gratefully. Once she donned the armor, she stood a little taller, her vulnerability now hidden. Though the leather was ill-fitting, it provided her with much-needed coverage and restored a measure of dignity.
Afterward, the group continued walking together through the dungeon. Along the way, Lu Fan and Gu Fang began to show excessive kindness toward Yan'er.
"Yan'er, are you thirsty? Here, take a bottle of water," Gu Fang offered eagerly.
"Yan'er, are you hungry? I have snacks in my storage ring. You look famished," added Lu Fan.
"Yan'er, are you tired? I can tell Chen Jin to stop so we can rest for a while," Gu Fang suggested.
"Yan'er, I know you've been through a lot. If you need anything, just let me know," Lu Fan said sincerely.
They even assured her, "Don't worry, we're looking for a rare treasure. Once we find it, we'll split the profit with you. It'll help you get back on your feet when we return."
As the two silently competed to comfort her, Yan'er offered vague responses like "Hmm," "Yes," or "Okay." Often, she would remain quiet, though her expression suggested a small measure of comfort from their gestures.
Meanwhile, Chen Jin seemed unaffected by their behavior. Focused on navigating, he paid no mind to their attempts to impress Yan'er. He maintained his composure, keeping the group on track while observing the dungeon for potential threats. Despite the occasional overt kindness from Lu Fan and Gu Fang, nothing unusual occurred, except for the subtle tension between the two.
It was no surprise—they were dealing with a beautiful woman with striking curves and a dazzling figure that could easily attract attention. However, they encountered no disturbances along the way until Chen Jin suddenly stopped.
"Why did you stop?" Yan'er asked, concern in her voice.
"I need to take a break," Chen Jin replied. "My perception is wavering. If I keep pushing, we might lose the trail. I need to regain my focus to navigate better. It seems we're getting close."
"Don't worry," Lu Fan reassured her. "It'll only take a few minutes. In the meantime, you can rest your legs."
"Okay," Yan'er replied, sitting down as the group set up a small makeshift camp with firewood Chen Jin had gathered earlier.
Chen Jin meditated off to the side while Yan'er sat closest to the fire, warming herself. Lu Fan and Gu Fang positioned themselves on either side of her, occasionally stealing glances at each other. Their looks were passive-aggressive, as though silently telling the other to back off.
Gu Fang eventually stood up, feeling a small ache in his abdomen. "I'll be back," he said with a smile toward Yan'er.
Yan'er nodded, and Gu Fang shot a glance at Lu Fan before walking off into the shadows a few meters away. Turning the corner where the firelight no longer reached, he relieved himself in the dark.
As he finished, Gu Fang's thoughts turned bitter. Damn it, Lu Fan! He's already after that librarian girl. Why is he trying to impress Yan'er now? Can't he leave some opportunities for me?
Hastily, Gu Fang adjusted his leather pants and armor, determined not to lose ground to Lu Fan. "I need to hurry back," he muttered. "I won't let him take the advantage."
When he returned, his usual smile vanished. Turning the corner back to the group, his heart sank as his eyes landed on something that made his expression grim as his heart sunk into his stomach.
---
Meanwhile, at the Hunter Guild Trading Center, Frank Lee exited through the front doors, a satisfied expression on his face. He looked down at the bronze-engraved metal ring on his finger, admiring the intricate patterns etched into it.
This trip was worth it, he thought to himself, pleased despite having spent nearly all his remaining cash. The ring although small, contained all the new set of armor and weapons he had acquired.
For weeks, Frank had been unable to take on any jobs due to his lack of equipment. But now, with his new gear, he was ready to join a raid and earn a significant reward.
Waving down a cab, he climbed in. "Where to?" the driver asked.
"Take me to Tiananmin Crossroad, Raiders Guild," Frank replied confidently.
The cab driver nodded, started the engine, and drove off, heading toward Frank's next destination.