Chapter 18: Cooperation and Schemes

After a brief respite, the tension in the air did not ease; instead, it grew ever more delicate. The four stood apart in two groups, separated by a distance that was neither close nor far, the atmosphere thick with awkwardness, vigilance, and lingering hostility.

Li Mao’s expression shifted with uncertainty, his gaze flitting several times over Bai Yue Ning. At last, as if steeling himself to a decision, he stepped forward and spoke, “Junior Sister Bai, thank you for your intervention earlier.”

His tone was markedly gentler than before, though still tinged with a subtle awkwardness. Bai Yue Ning merely glanced at him coolly, offering no reply. Gratitude? Had circumstances not demanded it, he would surely have preferred to watch her perish beneath the swarm.

Seeing her silence, a flicker of annoyance appeared in Li Mao’s eyes, though he quickly suppressed it and continued, “The deeper reaches of Sword-Sunken Valley are far more perilous than we imagined. Alone, none of us are likely to make it through, let alone discover any fortune.”

He paused, gauging Bai Yue Ning’s reaction. “Why not join forces for now, and explore this area together? We could divide any gains according to each one’s contribution. What do you think?”

Beside him, Brother Zhao and Brother Wang looked over, their eyes complicated, mingling anticipation and wariness. The earlier ant horde and the valley’s relentless dangers had clearly rattled them; adding a powerful ally would surely improve their chances of survival.

“A wolf offering New Year’s greetings to a chicken—he’s up to no good!” Ye Ming shrieked in her mind, fiercely opposed. “He tried to kill us just moments ago, and now he wants to cooperate? Only a fool would trust him! He’s definitely plotting to use us as pawns!”

Bai Yue Ning’s thoughts echoed this sentiment. Li Mao was vindictive and narrow-minded; such a proposal was akin to bargaining with a tiger. Yet, for the moment, she did not refuse outright.

She needed time to recover her depleted energy, and more information about this region. Li Mao and his companions had tracked her all the way here; perhaps they knew things she did not.

“Cooperation?” Bai Yue Ning’s voice was neutral, betraying neither pleasure nor anger. “How does Senior Brother Li propose we cooperate? And where do you plan to explore?”

Her lack of immediate rejection seemed to invigorate Li Mao, who quickly replied, “Of course, we must work together to overcome these dangers.” His tone was earnest. “We’ve discovered a ruined cave-dwelling left behind by an ancient cultivator, deeper northwest. It appears untouched by others so far.”

“But the outer perimeter is guarded by a formidable sword formation, difficult to breach. If we join forces, we may have hope of breaking through.”

Ancient cultivator’s cave? Bai Yue Ning’s heart stirred. Sword-Sunken Valley was steeped in history; if a cave remained relatively intact, its treasures would surely be extraordinary.

This was indeed a powerful temptation.

“A cave-dwelling?” Ye Ming’s attention was drawn, but he remained skeptical. “It sounds plausible, but who knows if he’s just concocting a story to lure us in as cannon fodder?”

Bai Yue Ning pondered a moment. “The cave is unknown, and the sword formation’s strength uncertain. How confident are you, Senior Brother?”

“The formation is strong, but time has left its mark. There must be flaws to exploit,” Li Mao replied confidently. “I have some experience in this field, and with Junior Sister Bai’s skill, the four of us together have at least a fifty percent chance to break the outer wards.”

“As for the interior, risk and opportunity go hand in hand—it will depend on our own fortune.”

Fifty percent? Bai Yue Ning laughed inwardly; the claim was surely exaggerated. Yet her expression betrayed nothing, and she appeared somewhat interested. “If that’s truly the case, it’s worth a try. However, about the division—”

“Whatever we gain from the cave will be distributed according to merit,” Li Mao declared, as if fairness were his guiding principle. “Whoever contributes most to breaking the formation or discovers a treasure, it will be theirs. We can establish a simple contract to abide by this agreement.”

It sounded fair, but was riddled with pitfalls. How could contribution be measured in breaking the formation? What if someone coveted another’s find? Contracts were useless when the stakes grew high enough.

Bai Yue Ning saw through it all, yet pretended to consider, nodding slowly, “That seems fair enough.”

A gleam of satisfaction and cunning flashed in Li Mao’s eyes. “In that case, we should set out without delay. The cave is not far from here.”

“Do you truly believe him?” Ye Ming asked urgently.

“We’ll observe and adapt,” Bai Yue Ning replied calmly in her mind. She did not trust him, but needed a reason to approach the area—and for Li Mao and the others to serve as temporary “allies,” drawing potential dangers toward themselves.

Who would ultimately outmaneuver whom remained to be seen.

She glanced at Li Mao’s eager expression, her inward sneer deepening. So keen to invite her—surely the sword formation around the cave was far more treacherous than he claimed, and needed expendable pawns to probe.

With each harboring their own schemes, the four forged a fragile alliance and set out northwest as Li Mao had indicated.

Throughout the journey, Li Mao was conspicuously “helpful,” pointing out hazardous areas along the way. He even occasionally warned Bai Yue Ning to avoid concealed sword-energy traps, playing the part of a reliable ally.

Bai Yue Ning remained impassive, responding politely, but her vigilance was at its peak. Unusual behavior often hid danger.

Ye Ming pushed his senses to the limit, not only scouting the path ahead, but also monitoring the trio’s subtle movements and energy fluctuations.

“Li Mao’s right hand stays hidden in his sleeve—looks like he’s clutching something,” Ye Ming reported. “That Brother Zhao—each time we pass through a place rich in energy, his gaze changes and he secretly marks the spot. Brother Wang is more straightforward, but keeps sneaking glances at you—definitely not innocent.”

Ye Ming, like a diligent sentry, relayed every detail he observed. Bai Yue Ning took note, her suspicions confirmed that their intentions were far from genuine.

After about the time it took to burn a stick of incense, they arrived before a severely collapsed mountainside. Amid jagged rocks, a cave entrance could be glimpsed, half-hidden by vines and rubble. On the ground nearby, remnants of complex rune carvings remained—mostly blurred, yet still emanating a faint, powerful energy.

“This is it,” Li Mao said, stopping and pointing toward the cave. Excitement and a hint of nervousness broke through his composure.

“The entrance is inside. But the mouth is guarded by a formidable ‘Thousand-Blade Sword Array.’ Once triggered, myriad blades will shred intruders—it’s extremely difficult to withstand.”

He looked to Bai Yue Ning, his tone “sincere.” “Junior Sister, I must focus all my power on divining the array’s weak points—I can spare no attention elsewhere. Could you, along with Brother Zhao and Brother Wang, test the array’s response first? That way, I’ll be able to identify its flaws more quickly.”

So the moment had come. Bai Yue Ning sneered inwardly—he wanted her to serve as a guinea pig.

Zhao and Wang immediately turned their eyes to Bai Yue Ning, their expressions flickering, evidently aware of the plan.

Bai Yue Ning swept her gaze over the deceptively calm entrance, then at Li Mao’s “earnest” face, and replied slowly, “Very well.”