Shui Yi exhaled sharply, staring at the obstacle-filled tunnel ahead. Ling Yue had breezed through these death traps like a seasoned rogue. She had hoped they could walk through normally.
To her surprise, Long Fei crossed his arms and looked at her expectantly.
"You should learn how to navigate these yourself," he said.
"Couldn't you just carry me like before?"
The guardian snorted, barely hiding her amusement. "What, and deprive yourself of the valuable learning experience of nearly dying in a trap-infested cave?" She clapped a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, former princess, I believe in you."
That made one of them. The reluctant adventurer pushed forward, knowing she had no choice. Steeling herself, she carefully stepped forward, eyes darting around for any sign of danger. Her heart pounded, her grip tightening as sweat slicked her palms. She hated this feeling—each step was like an eternity. The tunnel felt like it was mocking her, every click and snap a reminder of her vulnerability.
Step.Nothing.
Another step. Still safe.
She exhaled in relief, forcing herself to steady her breath. "Hah! Maybe I—"
A click.
Her stomach dropped. She looked at the ground, expecting its mouth to open.
A moment later, darts whizzed past her face, one slicing a tiny strand of her hair. She screamed and dove to the ground, flattening herself like a beached fish. Panic surged through her chest, her limbs trembling.
Ling Yue howled with laughter. "Oh, you should've seen your face! Priceless!"
The princess shot her a murderous glare from the floor, her heart still hammering. "How was I supposed to know that was still active? You went through already!"
The fierce one casually leaned against the wall, wiping a fake tear from her eye. "Yeah, but I dodged them. You just kinda… stood there."
The princess groaned but pushed herself up, frustration turning into determination. She couldn't let herself fall apart. The more she let her fear show, the harder it would be to keep going. She forced herself to take another step forward, cursing herself for hesitating.
The next obstacle was the swinging pendulum blade. It loomed in front of her, its deadly curve slicing through the air in a steady rhythm. Her pulse quickened as she turned to Long Fei, trying to mask the fear in her voice. "You sure you don't want to carry me?"
He sighed, his expression impassive. He said nothing, merely watching her with the same patient gaze. She realized after spending enough time around him; he was a man of few words.
Before she could take another step, the guardian cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted, "Think fast!"
The struggling adventurer whipped her head around just in time to see a pebble flying straight at her face. In panic, she lunged forward—right into the pendulum's path.
Her scream echoed through the cave.
At the last possible second, her instincts kicked in. She dove to the ground, the blade slicing through the air just inches above her. Her heart raced as she lay there, breathless, rolling onto her back and staring up at the ceiling. The adrenaline buzzed through her veins, but she didn't feel triumphant. No, she felt frustrated, scared, and utterly exhausted.
Both her companions jumped through the pendulum of death effortlessly.
"I hate you," she muttered, still shaken.
The guardian stood over her, grinning. "See? You almost got yourself killed, but look! Perfect dodge!"
The flustered mermaid didn't answer. She gritted her teeth, trying to steady her breath. She took a shaky breath, praying the next trap wouldn't be as close a call. Focus. She couldn't afford to let her fear show. Each moment felt like a struggle, but she refused to embarrass herself again. She paused before the next trap, wiping the sweat off her brow.
"Ling Yue... how do you stay so calm?"
"You get used to it. Besides, nothing in here's worse than an angry sea serpent."
The mermaid chuckled nervously, she almost died the last time she encountered a sea monster.
"I don't want to meet one of those any time soon."
More agonizing minutes passed. Each trap felt like another test of her patience. After nearly falling into a pit, stepping on yet another pressure plate, and flailing wildly while trying to balance on poles, she was almost through. Her arms ached, and her body screamed for rest, but she refused to give up now.
She could feel Long Fei's eyes on her, unwavering as she fought to press on. She wasn't sure what he was thinking, but the silence only made her more self-conscious. He usually comes to her aid. Was he upset with her?
"Almost there," she muttered to herself. "Just a few more steps..."
And then—SPLASH.
A hidden mechanism tipped over a large lotus leaf, dumping freezing water onto her head. She froze as icy water drenched her. Her teeth chattered as she stood there, soaked, dumbfounded.
For a moment, there was only the sound of dripping water.
Then the trickster let out the most obnoxious, wheezing laugh as she patted herself on the back. "Perfect timing!" she gasped between fits of laughter.
Soaked and shivering, the drenched victim glared at Ling Yue, fists clenched. "You did this on purpose!"
The trickster wiped a tear from her eye. "Now, now. Would I ever do something so childish?"
Long Fei, who had been observing quietly, arched a brow. "Yes."
Shui Yi turned to him, eyes blazing. "You knew, didn't you?!"
He remained silent, his expression impassive. Then a subtle smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "I may have had a suspicion."
She gaped. "You're both terrible!"
The smirking culprit slapped her on the back. "Aw, lighten up! Look at the bright side—you finished the trial! Sure, you're soaking wet, but hey, no fatal wounds!"
Shui Yi's eye twitched. "I will get you back for this."
The trickster winked. "Looking forward to it."
The princess stood there, drenched, teeth chattering, the last remnants of adrenaline fading away. What was it all for? Was it really about proving herself? Or had she just wanted to avoid embarrassing herself in front of them? She didn't know anymore. All she wanted was to get out of the cave and away from that infuriating mischievous grin.
As Shui Yi stomped past them, water splashing with every step, Long Fei merely shook his head and followed behind. Ling Yue, still smirking, flicked another pebble toward a suspicious-looking tile ahead. A trapdoor immediately swung open in front of the mermaid, she teetered over the edge. The master immediately grabbed her hand and pulled her back. She fell into his arms, catching her breath. He does care after all.
Then he glared at the guardian, who whimpered and drooped her ears.