Chapter Sixty-Two: The Dragon Palace

Everyone held their breath, watching as the squad of shrimp and crab soldiers marched away. Only then did Yoshitaka Kida finally exhale, glancing at his companion—the one drenched in blood, whose breathing was now feeble.

“Charlie, how are you holding up?” Yoshitaka Kida asked in a low voice.

Charlie shook his head.

“Why aren’t you using a healing potion? Don’t tell me you don’t even have any?” Lya frowned.

Yoshitaka Kida gave a bitter smile and raised a hand to Lya. “Thank you for your help earlier. If you hadn’t thrown something to distract those monsters, our team would’ve perished right here.”

He paused, then continued with a furrowed brow, “We can’t use healing potions here. There’s something strange about this Dragon Palace. Once you’re injured, healing potions have no effect whatsoever. There must be some kind of restriction.”

“There’s such a restriction?” Lya frowned. Suddenly, she extended her right index finger and made a shallow cut across her left palm. Blood welled up, and Lya took out a healing potion from her inventory and swallowed it in one gulp.

She stared at her palm. As expected, the wound showed no sign of change or healing.

Lya’s expression darkened.

But Yoshitaka Kida and his companion, along with Xiao Zhang, were all staring at Lya with complicated expressions.

This woman…

How extravagant!

Healing potions weren’t exactly cheap, and even in the system, you needed points to exchange for them. For any player or awakened, points were a lifeline—not a single one would be wasted!

And this woman, just to test it, had casually used up a healing potion!

What’s more, Yoshitaka Kida had seen it clearly: she had used a “high-grade healing potion!”

The effects of a high-grade healing potion were excellent—even near-fatal wounds could be restored. But the price was not cheap!

Yoshitaka Kida considered himself a prominent figure among the awakened, but not so wealthy as to gulp down high-grade healing potions on a whim!

Yet this woman looked utterly unconcerned?

Xiao Zhang hadn’t thought much about it; he simply pondered for a moment, then said in a low voice, “I understand now. Since this is both the Dragon Palace and the altar, the White Dragon must be here too. We just don’t know where.”

Yoshitaka Kida glanced at Xiao Zhang and found him somewhat familiar. Suddenly, his expression changed dramatically. He jumped back a few steps, leveled his spear at Xiao Zhang, and exclaimed, “You look familiar. Yes! You were that guy at the scenic area the other day! Wait! Are you a player possessed by an entity?!”

“What are you doing!” Lya’s face darkened as she seized Yoshitaka Kida’s spear. He tried to resist, but her grip was too strong—she took it from him with one hand.

“Don’t misunderstand,” Xiao Zhang interjected quickly, seeing that Charlie had also jumped up, eyes full of hostility. “I’m an awakened. I’m under Captain Qi Guan.”

At the mention of Qi Guan, Yoshitaka Kida’s expression softened and he unclenched his fists. “So that’s it… I misjudged you. I didn’t expect you to be so well hidden.”

He glanced at Lya, his tone cautious. “And this is…?”

Lya snorted, snapped the spear in her hands effortlessly, tossed the pieces aside, and said coldly, “I just saved your life, and yet you turn hostile at a moment’s notice. There’s no reason for us to cooperate any further.”

Yoshitaka Kida’s face was awkward. He hurriedly said, “I am Yoshitaka Kida, deputy leader of the Sakura Path Organization.”

Though his expression was awkward, his tone could not entirely conceal a trace of disdain.

Lya responded coldly, “What is the Sakura Path? Are you trying to use your organization to intimidate me?”

With that, she turned to Xiao Zhang. “These people aren’t worth trusting. I don’t want to travel with them. What about you?”

Xiao Zhang couldn’t have agreed more; for all he knew, these guys might be in league with those two from Country D. “Of course, I’ll stick with you.”

Zhao Bai quickly chimed in, “I’m with you, boss!”

Lya’s expression softened slightly. “At least you two have some sense.”

Seeing Lya and Xiao Zhang about to leave, Yoshitaka Kida’s expression tensed and he hastily called out, “Wait!”

“What is it?” Lya narrowed her eyes.

“I mean no harm,” Yoshitaka Kida said, suppressing his anger. “We’re all in this dangerous place together. As the saying goes, a single tree does not make a forest. I know your strength is formidable, but traveling together means we can look out for one another. What happened earlier was just a misunderstanding.”

He quickly added, “We’ve been in this altar for quite some time and have seen and experienced a lot. Why not travel together? We’re willing to share what we’ve learned and encountered. What do you say?”

At these words, Xiao Zhang stopped and looked at Lya, who said nothing.

Xiao Zhang then asked, “Yoshitaka Kida, how long have you been inside the altar?”

“About two hours,” Yoshitaka Kida replied with a bitter smile.

Two hours? Xiao Zhang’s heart skipped a beat—so these people were among the first to enter this area.

He glanced at Lya. “Why not cooperate? It might help us find the White Dragon.”

Lya considered for a moment, then nodded. “Fine, only because you asked.”

Xiao Zhang nodded. “Yoshitaka Kida, let’s be clear: we’ll travel together and look out for each other, but if you try anything—”

Lya interrupted coldly, “If you have any ill intentions, I’ll kill you all. It’s no trouble.”

She spoke with utter indifference, but the confidence in her words was unmistakable. To her, killing those present was as easy as lifting a finger.

Her words were harsh, and Yoshitaka Kida’s two companions’ faces darkened with anger.

However, Yoshitaka Kida suddenly forced a laugh and said, “Since we’re cooperating, honesty comes first. I, Yoshitaka Kida, swear on my honor: if I hide anything, may I not leave this instance alive!”

He spoke solemnly. “We’re all in the same boat, sharing the same fate. You can rest assured.”

Seeing his sincerity, Lya’s expression softened a little.

Zhao Bai looked at the pair and clicked his tongue—they really did have the air of a husband and wife working in tandem…

“To show my good faith, I’ll lead the way. We’ve gained a basic understanding of the altar. The three of us will go up front and clear the path. Let’s find a safe place to sit and talk, shall we?”