“Get up.” Cheng Shuili tapped the dinosaur hood Jiang Tang was wearing with her fingertip. “It’s not a monster.”
“Huh?” Jiang Tang cautiously lifted her head, peeking out from beneath the hood.
Seeing the fire lizard, which was indeed just standing there foolishly and even beginning to scratch its neck with its hind leg, she paused for a moment before her face quickly flushed red. “Oh, oh… I knew it! I could tell at a glance that it wasn't a threat!”
She stood up with forced composure, brushed the dust off her pajamas, and tried to smooth out the crumpled dinosaur tail.
People tend to look very busy when they are embarrassed; that phrase truly is a golden rule.
Cheng Shuili ignored her attempt to save face and returned her attention to the fire lizard.
It must be the friendly unit mentioned by the system. In other words… this guy would provide them with clues?
Cheng Shuili took two steps forward, stopped a few meters away from the fire lizard, and observed it carefully.
This creature seemed to pay no mind to the two uninvited guests at all. After scratching its itch, it lay down, resting its chin on the cold stone, its large amber eyes half-closed, looking as if it were ready to take a nap at any moment.
“A f-friendly unit?” Jiang Tang also crept over, whispering, “It looks… not very smart. What kind of clues could it give us?”
Cheng Shuili didn't answer, her gaze sweeping over the rock wall behind the fire lizard and the passage its massive body almost entirely blocked.
The clue might be behind it, or perhaps it required some interaction.
She tried to cough softly.
The fire lizard’s eyelids lifted, then drooped back down.
Jiang Tang imitated the sound of calling a puppy, a little “tsk-tsk,” trying to attract its attention.
The fire lizard’s tail swept lazily, knocking away a few small stones, and then there was no further reaction.
“Is it asleep?” Jiang Tang looked at Cheng Shuili.
Cheng Shuili pondered for a moment. Before she could answer, Jiang Tang seemed to remember something, rummaged inside her dinosaur pajamas, and miraculously pulled out a piece of dried meat wrapped in a white cloth.
She unwrapped the cloth and gently tossed the meat in front of the fire lizard’s nose.
Sniff, sniff—
The fire lizard’s massive nose seemed to twitch twice, and its half-closed eyes finally opened completely.
It looked at the meat in front of it, then slowly raised its head to look at Jiang Tang, as if confirming something.
Then, it extended its dark red, forked tongue, precisely rolled the meat into its mouth, chewed twice, and swallowed.
After eating, it looked at Jiang Tang again, a hint of anticipation seemingly appearing in its eyes.
Cheng Shuili really hadn't expected such a method, and even less did she expect Jiang Tang to be able to pull dried meat out of her pajama pocket.
Watching the interaction between Jiang Tang and the fire lizard, she couldn't help but ask, “Where did you get the dried meat?”
“We’ve caught quite a lot of prey lately,” Jiang Tang said, smiling a bit shyly. “Our refrigerators are all stuffed full, and I really wanted to eat some dried meat, so I begged Sister Wanyi to help me make some.”
As she spoke, she pulled out another piece. “Boss, do you want to try some? Sister Wanyi roasts it very well.”
Cheng Shuili hesitated for a moment before taking a piece.
The aroma of the dried meat permeated the cold mine. The giant fire lizard’s large amber eyes clearly brightened, its massive head even reaching forward slightly with a hint of obvious desire.
A low, almost whimpering purr came from its throat, and its thick tail stopped sweeping lazily, instead patting the ground somewhat urgently.
Jiang Tang watched its reaction, then looked down at the dried meat in her hand, muttering, “You can’t catch the treasure without giving up the meat…” before taking a deep breath and tossing the meat over again.
The fire lizard agilely flicked its tongue, snatched the meat, and chewed it with even more relish.
After finishing, it didn't return to its lethargic state as it had before, but instead shook its large head and began to move slowly.
It walked two steps along the tunnel, looked back at the two people standing in place, and even stretched its neck toward the front of the tunnel.
So that’s what it meant…
Cheng Shuili suddenly realized, “Let’s go, follow it.”
Jiang Tang also snapped out of it, hurriedly clutching her dinosaur tail as she followed closely behind.
After passing this corner, one could see a torch stuck into the wall; this was the source of the terrifying shadow the two had seen.
This fire lizard led them through the entire passage and past the next fork in the road before stopping slowly, its gaze looking longingly at Jiang Tang.
Jiang Tang: “……”
Cheng Shuili: “……”
The fire lizards in the territory really are cuter, honestly.
It seems this friendly unit’s clues are charged based on the path.
The fire lizard stopped ahead, its large amber eyes staring unblinkingly at the dried meat in Jiang Tang’s hand, its thick tail patting the ground rhythmically as it waited patiently.
Jiang Tang’s face was bitter as she reluctantly pulled out another piece of dried meat and threw it to the fire lizard.
After several forks, the fire lizard stopped for the umpteenth time, wanting to repeat the same trick.
Jiang Tang wrinkled her small face, trying to haggle. “This is the last piece! Take us to find the treasure, and this one is yours!”
The fire lizard seemed to understand, letting out a low, urging purr from its throat before turning around to continue crawling slowly forward.
This time it walked a little faster, as if the last piece had truly increased its efficiency.
Cheng Shuili and Jiang Tang followed closely.
Along the way, the forks they passed—which had only been two at the start—had increased to a full eight in the most recent one.
The two followed the fire lizard closely until it stopped in front of what looked like a dead-end rock wall.
It rubbed its massive head against the uneven rock wall in front of it, making a dull scraping sound, then turned around and looked at Jiang Tang with pleading eyes.
Jiang Tang hesitated for a moment before throwing the dried meat over.
The fire lizard caught it precisely and chewed contentedly. Only after swallowing this very last piece of dried meat did it use its tail to flick the stone wall behind it with satisfaction.
The meaning seemed to be…
Is it right here?
Cheng Shuili paused, took out her folding entrenching tool, and dug hard. Loose rubble and soil fell down, revealing a dark hole behind it that was barely wide enough for one person to crawl through!
Cheng Shuili bent down and looked inside.
On the empty ground inside sat an open chest, filled with irregular black stones—it was exactly the abyss stone she was looking for!
Cheng Shuili felt a surge of joy, followed immediately by a deep frown.
Hiding things so strictly? The system really is afraid of players finding them, isn't it?
If it hadn't been for Jiang Tang picking the right path at the beginning, encountering this fire lizard, and having the dried meat she brought along…
Never mind two hours, even if they were given eight or ten hours, they might not have found it.
Cheng Shuili thought to herself, her gaze inadvertently glancing at Jiang Tang, who was hugging her tail, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly: “I have to bring her along next time.”
Rate on N.U.
