[Thirty] Princess Tanya of Netherworld Valley

The group successfully left the Monster Forest and entered an open valley. A broad, gentle slope covered in lush green grass stretched before them, with the entrance to the valley located at the lowest point of the slope.

Chen John checked the directions on the map. “This should be Netherworld Valley!”

Lang En said, “Behind this valley, snow-covered mountain ranges rise one after another. That direction should be the Austrian border. As for how deep and long this valley actually is, it’s impossible to tell accurately just by looking at it.”

Chen John clenched his fist and said resolutely, “There’s an old saying in the East: ‘You can’t get the tiger cub without entering the tiger’s den.’ Even if what lies inside is a lair of dragons and tigers, no matter how dangerous it may be, we still have to venture in and give it a try.”

The group immediately began moving toward the entrance of the valley. At that moment, they saw a person wearing a black cloak and cape walking toward them.

Chen John said, “That should be Rufu, right? Why hasn’t he entered the valley?”

The person approaching them was indeed the Grand Mage Rufu, who had gone ahead several days earlier.

Rufu approached them, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, “Father Chen John, David, you really made it here. I’ve been waiting for all of you here.”

Chen John asked, “Grand Mage, you never went inside?”

Rufu gave a bitter smile. “I couldn’t find a way to get in! There’s a fire dragon lying outside the huge gate in the high wall. It breathes fierce flames and won’t let me get anywhere near it. And behind the dragon, there’s also a pair of one-eyed giants carrying huge iron spikes and long chains with iron balls.”

Stryker said, “Even you can’t get inside. It looks like we’re really in trouble!”

Chen John said, “There has to be a way. Let’s sit down and discuss how we can lure away the fire dragon and the two giants.”

The group sat down on the ground and began discussing their plan. Chen John drew three circles on the ground and began explaining.

“My idea is to split into three groups. Stryker, Adono, Rona, and Keith will lure away the fire dragon. Lang En, his wolf warriors, and I will lure away the two giants. Rufu will escort Lin Xiaoyang and Huang Minhua into the valley. When the first two groups lure away the fire dragon and the giants, we’ll run toward the Monster Forest and hide inside it to reduce casualties.”

Lang En asked, “Go back into the forest? Those monsters and giant insects won’t be easy to deal with!”

Rufu said, “How about this? The two groups will meet at the entrance to the forest. I’ll use my Illusionary Phantom Technique to conceal everyone and lead you into the forest. I guarantee that the monsters and giant insects won’t spot you. However, you’ll have to put up with some inconvenience when the time comes.”

Chen John said, “I’ve personally experienced Grand Mage Rufu’s Illusionary Phantom Technique. Rufu’s plan will work! Let’s split up and begin.”

Deep inside Netherworld Valley stood a castle called Green Light. Inside its great hall, two monster leaders hurriedly entered. Princess Tanya was speaking with her guards, while her chief guard, Hussell, stood beside her. Tanya received the two leaders.

Yami cupped his hands and reported, “Princess, we have confirmed the identities of the group approaching us. They include two priests from the Church, three vampires, Chief Lang En of the wolf clan and his followers, and a highly skilled husband-and-wife pair who are both extremely proficient in magic. The man’s name is David.”

Tanya asked in confusion, “David? You said the man’s name is David? Wasn’t he already killed by Rufu more than three hundred years ago?”

Yami said, “I heard the old werewolf Lang En call him David with my own ears and address him as his brother. The two of them appeared to be extremely close.”

Hussell said, “Princess, I can think of only one possibility: David’s soul has been reincarnated!”

Colin said, “The man named David and his wife wield a long saber and a long sword together, and their skills are extraordinarily impressive. Our spider, centipede, and scorpion guards were barely able to approach before the two of them cut them apart with their blades, leaving them horribly dismembered. Our brothers knew they were no match for the couple, so afterward they didn’t dare step forward to stop them.”

Hussell said, “It could be David. His swordsmanship is exquisite. Even the Old Master was no match for him.”

Tanya said worriedly, “If the person coming is David, he may very well have come to demand that I fulfill my promise and hand over the Sun Staff.”

Hussell analyzed the situation. “If it is David, even if we manage to stop him, I’m afraid we would have to pay a terrible price.”

Tanya thought for a long while before making her decision. “All right. I’ll go meet him. If the person who has come is indeed David, I’ll first try to persuade him. If I can’t, then I’ll have no choice but to fulfill my promise and return the staff to Princess Maria. If he isn’t David, then no matter how powerful he is, I cannot let him have what he wants.”

Tanya and several of her personal guards each mounted a flying dragon and arrived one after another at the western entrance of the valley.

By then, Chen John and the others had already divided into three groups and begun carrying out their plan.

Tanya and Hussell, along with several personal guards, stood on a watchtower. Hussell observed the situation with a long-range telescope.

“Princess, the other side has split into three groups and has already begun moving!”

Tanya said, “Give my order. Close the gates tightly. Have the guards at the valley entrance hold their positions for now. Do not fall for their scheme. Shobana, ride out on a flying dragon and find the man named David. I want to speak with him face-to-face.”

The guard named Shobana cupped his hands and accepted the order. He jogged to a platform, climbed onto a flying dragon, and took off into the sky.

On the left route, Stryker, Adono, Rona, and Keith approached the high-walled gate. The fire dragon guarding the area received an order from a messenger. It got up, turned around, walked through the gate, and closed it, completely ignoring the people outside. The four of them were instantly dumbfounded, standing there without knowing what to do.

On the right route, Chen John and Lang En’s group of wolf warriors arrived shortly afterward. Seeing the four men standing helplessly before the tightly closed gate, Chen John was momentarily at a loss as well. He ordered everyone to retreat to a distance of one arrow’s flight and wait for the third group—Rufu and Lin Xiaoyang’s couple—to join them.

At that moment, a flying dragon flew overhead. Several hotheaded young wolves were about to draw their bows and fire, but Chen John stopped them in time.

“Do not fire! It’s a messenger!”

The flying dragon landed in front of everyone. Shobana jumped down from its back and cupped his hands toward Lang En.

Shobana said, “Chief Lang En, I am Princess Tanya’s personal guard. Is there a David among you? The princess wishes to see him personally.”

Lang En was puzzled. He thought to himself, “We’ve never met before. How does he know me?”

Chen John cupped his hands in greeting and said, “There is indeed a David among us. Please wait a moment. He is at the back of the group.”

Rufu and the three people accompanying Chen John had also seen the flying dragon land, so they quickened their pace and came forward to join the others.

Chen John said, “Xiaoyang, Tanya has sent a messenger and specifically requested to see David.”

Lin Xiaoyang said, “Then I’ll go meet her.”

Rufu warned him, “They deliberately refuse to come out and fight and have chosen to fortify their defenses instead. There may be a trap!”

Lin Xiaoyang said, “Since Tanya has already seen through our plan, rather than remaining here in a stalemate with them, I might as well go meet Tanya myself.”

Huang Minhua said, “Xiaoyang, let me go with you.”

Lin Xiaoyang reassured her, “Honey, don’t let your emotions get the better of you. I’ll be fine.”

Chen John said, “Xiaoyang, let Minhua go with you. The princess specifically instructed that Tanya wants to see the two of you together.”

Lin Xiaoyang readily agreed. “All right. Since that’s the princess’s order, we’ll go together.”

Chen John introduced David to the messenger. The couple climbed onto the flying dragon and followed the messenger toward the high wall. Everyone watched their figures disappear into the distance. At that moment, there was nothing else they could do but wait.

Chen John said, “Let’s retreat to the edge of the forest and wait quietly for news from David.”

Everyone followed Chen John as they headed back.