Chapter 34: Chapter 33: The Alleyway
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Following Dan Heng's guidance, Bochang practiced his spear techniques for two hours before finally lying down to rest.
The room had only one bed, but Dan Heng didn't mind sharing with Bochang.
And so...
They both slept on the same bed. Although feeling slightly cramped, Bochang still managed to sleep soundly.
On the other hand, Stelle couldn't get a good night's rest.
The sparse conditions were secondary; the main issue was her recurring dreams. In these dreams, two voices constantly conversed, mentioning terms like "Cocolia," "allies," "world," and "wishes" - a flood of incomprehensible words disrupted her sleep. Consequently, upon waking up the next day...
Stelle felt quite fatigued.
Early in the morning, Dan Heng woke Bochang to practice and refine his spear technique further.
By the time Stelle and March 7th arose, Bochang had already been practicing ornamental moves for half an hour.
The skill of exerting force effectively.
Dan Heng had not yet taught this technique to Bochang, resulting in his spear movements appearing weak and lacking power—essentially just empty gestures.
However, even during these seemingly futile exercises,
Bochang gained significant insights.
Occasionally, with a well-timed thrust, he managed to create a resonant hum despite using minimal strength.
This impressed Dan Heng, who remarked, "Not bad talent. Keep up the effort."
"Knock, knock, knock!"
A familiar tapping on the door sounded, and Dan Heng responded, "It's unlocked, come in."
Just by hearing the distinctive knock, Dan Heng knew who it was.
March 7th entered, immediately focusing her gaze on the diligent black-haired youth practicing with his spear, surprise evident on her face.
"Bochang, training so early in the morning... you're truly hardworking."
Behind the pink-haired girl, Stelle followed, yawning as she stepped inside.
Dan Heng asked, "Stelle, did you not rest well last night? Was it because March disturbed you?"
"Beautiful girls don't snore or fidget while sleeping. How could she possibly disturb Stelle? It's just that Stelle had too many dreams last night. I already checked with her; Dan Heng, don't make unfounded assumptions."
Before Stelle could respond, March 7th swiftly countered his suggestion.
The gray-haired girl merely nodded, leaving unclear whose viewpoint she agreed with.
Dan Heng had no intention of continuing the conversation.
Seeing that everyone was awake, Bochang, who had been practicing with the spear, also stopped. He returned the weapon to Dan Heng.
Bochang spoke up, "Now that we're all here, shall we continue our mission?"
"Hmm... However, before that, let's have breakfast first." March 7th gestured with her finger in the air, "Without a good meal, we won't have the energy to work effectively."
"I've already picked a place to eat; let's head there together."
Dan Heng nodded slightly.
Although they had all explored Belobog's Overworld, neither March 7th, Stelle, nor Bochang seemed particularly observant or familiar with their surroundings, akin to being deaf and blind newcomers.
In contrast, Dan Heng was well-prepared from the start. Bochang and the others could simply follow him without much thought, as his familiarity with the area made it seem like he was a local.
"Yay!" March 7th cheered first, then turned serious, "Dan Heng, we can manage with our temporary lodging, but when it comes to meals, compromising is absolutely not an option. You understand that, right?"
"Don't worry, the places I took you to yesterday were pretty decent, weren't they?" Dan Heng spread his hands, looking somewhat resigned.
March 7th patted her ample chest and declared, "That's reassuring! Everyone, let's set off!"
Speaking of food...
In Bochang's system space, there was still one delicious crab roe bun left...
The black-haired youth was genuinely curious about its taste, but for the sake of rescuing Clara later, he had to hold back.
Once the time came, using that delicious crab roe bun to entice the little girl sounded quite tempting.
The group of four embarked on their journey with determination.
After spending several dozen Shields and having a satisfying meal,
Dan Heng led them through a maze of narrow alleys, finally reaching their destination for the day.
The dimly lit alleyway reeked of decay, with stagnant wastewater pooling unchecked on the ground. As they approached, March 7th and Stelle covered their noses, unable to fully block out the foul odor.
If not for the rumor that someone here knew how to reach the Underworld, they would have undoubtedly turned back immediately.
They approached an open door.
Dan Heng knocked rhythmically, and soon, a portly middle-aged man emerged from inside. His eyes were tiny, almost slits; it was unclear if his field of vision was narrower than that of a normal person.
"What do you want?" The man's gaze swept over the group, ultimately settling on Dan Heng.
Despite having small eyes,
...his observational skills were keen, quickly discerning that Dan Heng was the leader. Of course...it's also possible he had already noted this as they approached.
Throughout their journey, Dan Heng led the way and was the one to knock on the door.
In such circumstances, determining who held authority wasn't difficult.
Dan Heng stated, "We wish to know how to reach the Underworld."
"The Underworld?" The middle-aged man scrutinized them briefly. "Interesting... You want to go there? Do you understand the rules?"
"What rules?" Dan Heng asked.
The middle-aged man extended his hand.
"Very simple. To go to the Underworld, it costs one thousand Shields per person. No money, no deal."
"One thousand? Are you trying to rob us?!" March 7th's eyes widened indignantly.
Based on their prior research, an average Overworld citizen earned only about five hundred Shields for a month of work. With frugality, this amount was sufficient to support a family.
Demanding one thousand Shields upfront was outrageously excessive; most people wouldn't be willing or able to afford it.
"You're right, I am indeed robbing you." The middle-aged man unexpectedly admitted without hesitation.
As soon as he spoke, tightly shut doors around them swung open. Several burly men emerged, each armed and advancing menacingly, clearly indicating hostile intentions.
"Seriously... If possible, I'd rather not fight in places like these..." March 7th muttered, rubbing his forehead.
March 7th rubbed his forehead.
Bochang glanced at Dan Heng, who expressionlessly replied, "It's quite normal to encounter some danger when seeking information prohibited by society. Be prepared for battle, Bochang. These are just a bunch of small-time thugs, not difficult to handle."
"Alright..." Bochang nodded, and Stelle, wielding her black baseball bat, moved closer to him as well.
Seeing their underestimation, the middle-aged man spoke up, "A group of thrill-seeking youngsters, daring to belittle us? It seems it's time to show you your place."
With his command, the burly men charged forward.
If only this guy had remained silent. But once he spoke, Dan Heng's attention shifted towards him. Before the enemies could reach them, he swiftly took up his long spear and launched a surprise attack on the middle-aged man.
As for the safety of March 7th, Stelle, and Bochang, Dan Heng was not concerned.
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