Chapter Forty-Seven: Preparing to Enter

“Let’s go.” Xiao Zhang pulled Zhao Bai along as they made their way outside.

Since Zhao Bai would soon be on his own, Xiao Zhang wanted to give him a few more pointers. As for Mo Xiaoxiao, she was a veteran and didn’t really need much concern.

“Want one?” Xiao Zhang offered.

Zhao Bai nodded, so Xiao Zhang handed him a cigarette and lit one for himself as well.

The two of them, almost as if by tacit agreement, chose to take the stairs. They walked side by side, each holding a cigarette between their fingers.

“Are you scared?” Xiao Zhang asked.

Zhao Bai thought for a moment and lifted his hand with the cigarette. “Actually, I smoke very rarely.”

“So you’re scared?”

“Scared, my ass—this isn’t my first time, is it?” Zhao Bai retorted, but then nodded. “Still, it is my first time, so it’s natural to feel a bit nervous!”

He took a deep drag and said, “Honestly, I was just thinking—someone we know is still a virgin, right? What if he bites it in the dungeon?”

“Get lost!”

Zhao Bai gave a wry smile and stubbed out his cigarette. Looking at Xiao Zhang, he said, “Dog, while you were gone, I heard Mo Mo say that when an Awakened dies, the system refreshes them, and they go back to being a normal person. Do you think that’s true?”

Xiao Zhang smiled. “It’s true. Both Zhao Tai and Mo Mo can be refreshed. But you and I are different. I can’t be refreshed, and as for you—I really don’t know.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Bai said, “Then I’m not going to get reckless. What if I really do drop dead?”

Xiao Zhang was momentarily stunned and looked at him seriously. It seemed that if he hadn’t warned him, this guy was still planning some wild moves.

So Xiao Zhang handed over all his potions to Zhao Bai, and even gave him his straight blade from before. He had even considered giving him the Spider Cutter, but was worried someone might recognize it, so he held back.

Checking the time, it was about the hour he’d agreed to meet Qi Guanbei, so Xiao Zhang took Zhao Bai to find him.

When Qi Guanbei saw Xiao Zhang approach, his face remained emotionless, though he did give Zhao Bai a second look. “This is your friend?”

“Yes,” Xiao Zhang replied.

Qi Guanbei nodded to Zhao Bai. “Qi Guanbei.”

“Zhao Bai,” Zhao Bai replied in kind.

Qi Guanbei didn’t even bother packing up his stall; he simply brought the two of them along as he walked into the scenic area.

In the distance, Mu Tianyi, wearing sunglasses, watched the scene unfold and also headed toward the park.

“According to the rules, Awakened enter the dungeon first, and then there’s a window before the Descended arrive. It’s a game—and a hunt,” Qi Guanbei said evenly. “Judging by the map, this looks like a xianxia-themed dungeon, which likely means technological items and abilities will be restricted. But not completely.”

As he spoke, Qi Guanbei suddenly pulled out several grenades and handed them to Xiao Zhang. “Keep these for self-defense. Equipment from our world won’t be restricted, and grenades are still useful against low-level enemies.”

He also gave Xiao Zhang a handgun and a few magazines.

Qi Guanbei noticed Zhao Bai’s eager gaze. “Do you know how to use one?”

Zhao Bai shook his head. “Never used a real one, but I’ve played CrossFire!”

“In that case, just stick with us. I won’t give you one—wouldn’t want you blowing yourself up by accident.” Qi Guanbei put the grenades he’d meant to give Zhao Bai back in his bag.

“Qi Guan, maybe give him the pistol for self-defense?” Xiao Zhang suggested tentatively.

Qi Guanbei thought for a moment. “If you’re not worried he’ll shoot himself, go ahead.”

Xiao Zhang quickly taught Zhao Bai the basic safety and operation. “The rest is just like in CrossFire—aim and shoot.”

Zhao Bai grinned as he took the gun.

Qi Guanbei reminded them, “Return it when you’re done. It’s not mine—it’s government property.”

“Will there be immortals in this Jade Emperor Pavilion dungeon?”

“By the way, you guys should visit those fortune-tellers and pick up some talismans. Might come in handy inside.”

So the three of them split up to shop for supplies.

While searching for a stall selling talismans, Xiao Zhang passed by a fortune-telling booth. The fortuneteller, wearing sunglasses, called out to him, “Would you like me to read your palm, benefactor?”

Xiao Zhang didn’t realize he was being addressed and ignored it.

But after only a few steps, the fortuneteller got up and grabbed his arm. “Young man, your brow is dark—misfortune looms! Let me do a good deed today and cast a divination for you.”

Before Xiao Zhang could refuse, the Daoist had already begun.

As the fortune-teller worked, the divination disk on the table suddenly shattered.

Xiao Zhang was startled. Damn—am I going to have to pay for that?

The Daoist didn’t say a word about it, only muttering under his breath, “Heaven’s will, heaven’s will…”

Then, from inside his robe, the Daoist produced a jade pendant and handed it to Xiao Zhang. “Please accept this.”

Xiao Zhang didn’t immediately take it and asked, “What is this, Master?”

“When you reach that world, my uncle will explain everything to you.”

Hearing this, Xiao Zhang was somewhat taken aback. Could this old Daoist really be some hidden master?

Half convinced, half skeptical, he accepted the jade pendant. The Daoist also handed him a bundle of talismans, though he didn’t explain their purpose. Once he’d handed everything over, he packed up his booth and left.

When the three of them regrouped, Qi Guanbei had somehow obtained a sword made of coins. Zhao Bai couldn’t help but laugh. “Are there going to be zombies in there or something?”

“Who knows,” Qi Guanbei replied with a faint smile. “Once inside, remember one thing: apart from our own people, anything else—man or monster—is fair game.”

That last word—“kill”—made Xiao Zhang’s heart sink.

He realized that Qi Guanbei’s tone was utterly cold, devoid of any emotion.

…

With less than half an hour remaining before the dungeon opened, the system finally issued a prompt.

Notice: The Jade Emperor Pavilion dungeon is now open. There are seven entrances. Please select your entry point according to your current location.

Seven swirling vortex icons appeared rapidly on the map. Xiao Zhang saw the one closest to them was right along the path they had just taken.

“What if, after the dungeon opens, ordinary people wander into the park?” Zhao Bai asked casually.

Qi Guanbei glanced at him. “Once the dungeon begins, the system will automatically seal off the area. Think of it as cutting the dungeon out from the rest of the world. When it ends, everything returns to normal.”

“And time?”

“Time works differently,” Qi Guanbei replied. “Outside, it may be just a second, or even just the blink of an eye. Inside, we could spend hours or even days, only to emerge and find that outside, no time has passed at all.”