Tough Lives and an Interlocking Scheme

The warship has plenty of fuel, yet it stubbornly refuses to move. The whole group exchanged glances, cursing the Former Dynasty's devious tricks once again—couldn't the Lan clan have made things simpler, instead of leaving their descendants with endless trouble?

"The Heaven-Son Sword! Didn't Jason Lan say both the Heaven-Son Sword and the Nine Provinces Map are indispensable—neither can be missing?" Serena's eyes flashed with excitement as she immediately handed the Heaven-Son Sword from her Smart Med-Pack to Prince Nolan. "Try the Heaven-Son Sword—see if it works!"

"Mm." Prince Nolan took the sword in his hand, his fingers lightly brushing over the blade, but he didn't act. Jason Lan had also said there was one most crucial item—he'd only reveal it once cured. Unfortunately, they would never get the chance to hear it.

Serena didn't rush him. She simply sat quietly with the others on the deck, everyone lost in thought, combing through every possibility...

After all, none of them are true Lan clan heirs. Prince Nolan could only get through the first four levels; this palace is riddled with restrictions for outsiders. For this group of outsiders, escaping might be even harder than breaking in.

"Awooo..." Snow Wolf lay at the bow, throwing its head back and howling at the moon.

This was just a shallow bay, still far from the open sea. To sail the warship out to the ocean, they'd need the route left behind by the Former Dynasty. But right now, they couldn't even get the ship moving, so talk of leaving was meaningless.

Serena lowered her head, absently fiddling with the wooden box in her hand. Her long, nimble fingers sent the box spinning and bouncing across her fingertips—always seeming about to fall, yet always catching at the last second.

Sean and the Eighteen Riders had been brainstorming solutions, but as they watched, their eyes drifted to Serena's hands. Seeing her play so skillfully with the wooden box, Sean and the Eighteen Riders felt a bit restless themselves. Unfortunately, they had nothing suitable at hand—so they could only watch...

Serena propped her chin with one hand and spun the wooden box with the other, completely unaware of Sean and the Eighteen Riders watching her. When she finally snapped back to attention, her hand twitched—the wooden box slipped from her fingers...

"Ah—!" Serena cried out as she instinctively reached to catch the falling box, only to have its sharp corner slice open her finger. Beads of blood welled up and dripped onto the deck.

"Tch..." Serena hissed, about to put her finger in her mouth to stop the bleeding, when Prince Nolan suddenly stepped forward and grabbed her hand. "How could you be so careless?"

"Just an accident." Serena gave a wry smile, clearly unconcerned.

It was just a small cut—nothing that would affect her dexterity.

"You..." Prince Nolan looked exasperated, but his eyes overflowed with tenderness. "Take out your medicine." His tone left no room for argument—he clearly meant to wrap Serena's finger up like a little dumpling. Serena's face darkened. "It's just a scratch, do we really need all that?"

A simple adhesive strip would do—no need for a full dressing. It's embarrassing enough already.

"What do you think?" Prince Nolan shot back, making it clear there was no room for Serena to refuse. She could only sigh and pull out bandages and ointment from her Smart Med-Pack, already imagining her finger getting wrapped up like a dumpling. But...

"Serena, look!" As soon as she moved, Sean suddenly jumped up, pointing at Serena's feet.

"What is it?" Serena glanced down and saw that the little wooden box she'd been playing with had actually shattered.

"No way..." Serena couldn't believe it. She knew exactly how sturdy that box was—water couldn't soak it, fire couldn't burn it. Back on Lu Island, it had taken all their effort just to open it and take out the Nine Provinces Map. And now, it broke from a simple fall?

This was completely unscientific.

Serena ignored the sting in her finger and immediately crouched down to gather the broken pieces. Beneath the shattered box, she found a small bronze key.

"A key?" Serena blew away the wood shavings, then handed the key to Prince Nolan and Sean.

"Ship. Lu clan." Prince Nolan's eyes flashed coldly. "Now I get it."

Prince Nolan took the key from Serena and strode toward the stern of the ship...

"What did he figure out?" Serena glared after Prince Nolan's disappearing figure, itching to chase after him and demand answers.

He obviously knew her brain was foggy right now, but he still wouldn't spell things out. So annoying.

"This ship was probably built by the Lu clan." Sean hadn't figured it out at first, but Prince Nolan's hint made everything click.

"So this key is what starts the ship?" Serena wasn't slow—her mind had just been off track for a moment, so she hadn't made the connection.

"Yeah." Sean nodded. "The wooden box's scent can suppress the hypnotic fragrance along Yellow Springs Road, but the Former Dynasty would never let the Lu clan come and go from the mausoleum forever. Eventually, someone would have to break the box to get the key."

"So, if you want to leave, you have to destroy the box and take the key out. And the blood of a Lu daughter is the trigger." Serena didn't need anyone to explain—the rest was obvious now.

Sean nodded. "That's how it looks to us, but the real truth—only the people who set all this up would know for sure."

Sean lifted his gaze, staring at the Former Dynasty mausoleum—his dark eyes shining with awe and longing.

The emperor who laid out all these traps was a true genius—layer upon layer, every step linked, not a single piece could be missing. And the Lu clan was no less formidable. With the Lu clan wiped out, if the Lan clan wanted the treasure, they'd have to pay in blood to take it out.

Prince Nolan's luck was truly extraordinary. Half Lan blood, Serena as the Phoenixfield heiress and the only Lu descendant—without her, even if they'd made it in, they'd never have gotten out. All the gold and jewels would be worthless.

"We really are lucky to be alive." Realizing how every step had been connected, cold sweat drenched Serena's back.

If they'd prepared less, or if she hadn't come, even with the box in hand, Prince Nolan and Sean would have found themselves trapped inside.

This mausoleum was terrifying.

Now Serena believed it—even if a hundred thousand soldiers stormed in, or two hundred thousand, or three hundred thousand, this mausoleum would still swallow them whole.

"Yeah, we really are lucky to be alive." Not dying here—strength played a part, but luck was the real reason.

Just then, Prince Nolan's urgent voice rang out from the stern: "Clear the way!"

Clear the way? Did something go wrong?

Serena and Sean exchanged a look, then raced toward the stern. Snow Wolf seemed to sense something—throwing its massive body off the stern in a flash, vanishing from sight. The Eighteen Riders closed ranks, bows drawn, aiming at the sky...

What's happening?

Serena and Sean's hearts raced with anxiety, but before they could reach the stern, the warship suddenly lurched upward—like it was being lifted by some colossal force.

"What's going on?" Serena stumbled, nearly falling, but Sean caught her just in time.

"Don't come any closer!" Prince Nolan's voice echoed from the stern, but it was already too late—Serena and Sean had arrived...