“What happened to your face?” Hong Ji-ge asked, looking at the gang leader who had jumped down.

“You know perfectly well!” Zhang Yuanqing retorted, rolling his eyes at the Fire Master while touching the deep claw marks.

“I’m just asking,” he immediately said, excitedly raising the fan-shaped bronze piece in his hand. “We’ve got the Holy Disk fragment. It’s time to leave.”

Guan Ya and the others looked delighted. They could finally leave this accursed place.

The group immediately returned to the hall on the first floor. Zhang Yuanqing took out the Mountain God Scepter and pressed it against Zhai Cai’s forehead, causing the verdant gem at the top of the scepter to emit a soft, clear light.

After a short while, he put away the scepter and woke up Zhai Cai. Zhai Cai wearily opened his eyes, sat up, and sensed his physical condition. Apart from some weakness, there was nothing seriously wrong.

The knight breathed a sigh of relief. “You were actually able to save me! What kind of pills did you use? I can compensate you.”

In his opinion, a curse or toxin capable of poisoning a Ruler would definitely require pills of the same level to neutralize it. And Ruler-level items, whether materials, tools, or pills, were priceless.

“Sure, just transfer 10 billion Federation credits to my account later,” Zhang Yuanqing said.

“…?” Zhai Cai said expressionlessly, “I take back what I just said.”

Zhang Yuanqing chuckled. “Then don’t be so hypocritical. Since we’re companions, it’s only right to support each other.”

At least until they left Pan’s Labyrinth, they were comrades who entrusted each other with their lives. Zhai Cai nodded slightly, leaned on his knees, and stood up, rubbing his forehead while sucking in a breath of cold air. “We need to find the Holy Disk fragments…”

“Hiss, I just dreamed that someone was hitting me, and when I woke up, my forehead really hurt.”

Hong Ji-ge pretended to look at the scenery around him. Zhang Yuanqing took out the Holy Disk fragment and tossed it to Zhai Cai. “It’s been found. According to the agreement, you get to keep this fragment.”

Zhai Cai subconsciously caught it, then froze, staring blankly at the fragment in his hand. After a long while, he put away the Holy Disk fragment and said, “Well done!”

He immediately put away his smile, stared at the fragment with a solemn expression, and his face betrayed no emotion.

“Thank you!”

After a long silence, Zhai Cai said in a low voice. Zhang Yuanqing tentatively asked, “We will try our best to get the last fragment from the Freedom Alliance. Elder Fu already has a detailed plan. It won’t be too long. When will we open the Papal Treasury?”

“It won’t be too long!” Zhai Cai said with emotion. “Snatching food from the Freedom Alliance’s mouth is not easy. Fu Qingyang is indeed the youngest person in charge of the Five Elements Alliance.”

He put away the fragment and said seriously, “The last fragment is not urgent. I’m not ready yet. Do you know why the knights of each generation have not opened the Papal Treasury? Because the founder warned them that opening the Papal Treasury requires at least level eight. Only level eight is enough to barely control the demigod power of the knight profession, otherwise it will be like a child carrying gold through a busy city, looking for death.”

“And the knights of each generation are very short-lived. Until now, no one has reached level eight. Even I, who am outstanding among the knight inheritors, am currently only level seven.”

Seeing Ju Mang frown, Zhai Cai added, “Of course, I am already in the late stage of level seven. I only need to pass a +C level dungeon to reach level eight, but Ruler dungeons have a very long cycle.”

Zhang Yuanqing said in a deep voice, “I haven’t been matched to a dungeon in seven months, and a level seven Ruler will enter the Lingjing at least once. In other words, I will definitely enter a dungeon within three months, and if I’m lucky, two months will be enough. It’s January now, and in another month and a half, I’ll be entering a killing dungeon.”

Zhang Yuanqing thought about it, and it wasn't too late.

Zhang Yuanqing looked at the calico cat and said, “Ms. Jojo, what are your plans for the future?”

This cat crossed the ocean to a foreign country a century ago. After the deaths of Lu Yueshuang and Huo Zhengkui, it guarded the owner’s manor day after day, spending decades in loneliness and solitude. Now that the Holy Disk fragment has been returned to the Papal knight inheritor, its mission has been completed.

A trace of confusion flashed in the calico cat’s eyes. “I don’t know either. The outside world is very unfamiliar. I’ve been here for sixty years. I don’t know where I can go. I should leave here and live with old Berent for a while. If I don’t have a Ruler-level wood spirit to nourish me, my lifespan will probably last another twenty years. Twenty years is enough to do a lot of things. I’ll go to the beach to eat dried small fish, let old Berent take me out to sea to play, and when I have time, I can go to New York County.”

The more it spoke, the brighter its eyes became, as if it had found the joy of life and begun to look forward to the future. This was very good.

Zhang Yuanqing smiled and asked, “I know many Ruler-level wood spirits. Would you be interested in leaving with me?”

The calico cat hesitated, a little tempted, but reluctant to leave here. It thought for a while and said, “We’ll talk about it later. I’ll consider it when I get tired of staying with old Berent.”

“Vinnie knows how to contact me. You can find her,” Zhang Yuanqing said, bowing slightly.

“We’re leaving first. Goodbye. Please don’t reveal the content of today’s questions and answers, Senior Jojo.”

The calico cat ignored him, seemingly still angry that he had ruined its bed and unwilling to give him a promise.

Zhang Yuanqing then said, “Zheng Yueshuang and Huo Zhengkui were both loyal and righteous people. Since you are their family, you must also be noble and virtuous.”

The calico cat reluctantly nodded. Zhang Yuanqing was relieved and strode towards the door, opening the wooden door.

“Wait,” the calico cat suddenly said. “Do you know the correct route to leave the labyrinth?”

Zhang Yuanqing shook his head. “We fought our way through.”

The calico cat snorted. “The safe route is 404, 303, 201, 106.”

Zhang Yuanqing was overjoyed. “Mr. Jojo, you are indeed a noble and virtuous scholar.”

The calico cat proudly raised its head. “You’re quite the sweet talker.”

In the era it was familiar with, “Mr.” was a very flattering title. After bowing farewell again, Zhai Cai, still somewhat weak, braced himself and stepped into the courtyard, standing with his sword and speaking in a low voice, “The local rule is: Plants are prohibited from possessing self-awareness.”

Circles of brass-colored light rippled out. The rules of the law descended. Zhai Cai put away his knight’s sword, his body swaying as if he were enduring intense backlash, and rushed out.

The team ran wildly, and the soil in the flowerbeds on both sides of the front yard cracked open, and soft, weak tree roots drilled out, trying to entangle them and stop them.

The group left Room 503 without incident, and first reached the corridor. They followed the safe route given by Ms. Jojo and passed through Rooms 404, 303, 201, and 106 in turn. Finally, they pushed open the door at the entrance of the labyrinth and successfully returned to reality.

At this time, the villa was pitch black. It was 8:00 PM, and the unconscious servants had not turned on the lights in the villa. They had been in the labyrinth for a whole day, and their minds had been highly tense for a day.

Now that they had returned to reality, fatigue surged over them. After leaving old Berent’s villa, Zhang Yuanqing asked, “Mr. Knight, what are your plans next?”

“Definitely running away~~”

“I can’t stay here with old Berent. That guy is not to be trifled with. Even if the chairman of the Hunter Guild comes, he has to carry two bags of garbage before leaving. I’ll leave New York County for a while to avoid the limelight, avoid old Berent’s pursuit, and avoid the pursuit of the evil faction.”

His purpose in coming to New York County had been achieved, and he could leave.

He quietly opened his backpack, took out the disguise ring, and tossed it to Zhai Cai. “Take this. It should be useful.”

Zhai Cai caught the ring and read the item information. He was immediately overjoyed. This item was exactly what he needed to solve his urgent problem.

Illusionist profession items were still very rare in the First District. Although they could be bought on the black market, participating in the evil profession black market was a difficult task in itself.

“This is a relic of the Primordial Celestial Venerable. He left it to Elder Fu after returning to the Lingjing, and Elder Fu gave it to me.”

Zhang Yuanqing warned, “And its former owner was the Demon Lord, so you know, when you wear it, be sure to wear gloves.”

Zhai Cai immediately felt that this was a hot potato. “It’s a good thing after all. Thanks.”

The two parted ways at the villa’s entrance. Zhang Yuanqing took his teammates and left the island on the yacht they had come on, heading towards the brightly lit New York County.

At dawn, a shuttle bus drove along the wide road of the villa area towards the villa. The driver was a handsome old man wearing a denim jacket and jeans, with his slicked-back hair neatly combed. He was tall and burly, and his wrinkled face still showed his handsome features from his youth. The frosty white of his sideburns did not hide his charm.

Behind the shuttle bus were tied tents, fishing gear, and a hunting rifle. Vinnie, wearing a black shirt and white riding pants, was in the passenger seat. She was wearing sunglasses, her face was pale, and her chestnut hair flew in the wind.

“Why is the gate open?” Old Berent muttered. “Did that kid Zhai Cai go out?”

Vinnie returned to the villa expressionlessly. Old Berent drove the shuttle bus into the yard and parked it by the lawn. He took his blind granddaughter’s hand. As soon as he entered the villa, he saw the unconscious servants lying on the ground.

“Enemies?” Old Berent’s eyes suddenly became sharp, and lightning balls appeared out of thin air, filling the entire hall. He strode towards the unconscious servants, feeling their pulses and checking their breathing to make sure they were just unconscious. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.

The violent old Berent raised his hand and slapped the servants awake. “What happened?”

The servants woke up groggily, looking dazed. “I… how did I fall asleep here!”

Old Berent pondered for a few seconds, his expression changing slightly. “Not good, it’s the Eternal Night Church.”

He immediately looked at Vinnie. “Follow me into the labyrinth.”

Vinnie stood at the door, unmoving. “No need to be nervous. It’s not the Eternal Night Church. It was Zhai Rongjing who did it.”

“Zhai Cai?” Old Berent was stunned.

Vinnie said, “Zhai Cai wanted a relic of Huo Zhengkui’s. You wouldn’t sell it, so he secretly cooperated with me to deal with Qian Ninglu. I gave him the safe routes for the first few floors of the labyrinth.”

Old Berent was suddenly betrayed by his granddaughter and friend. He stood there in shock.

!!!

The next day, after sleeping until dawn, Zhang Yuanqing got up refreshed and had breakfast. He left the New York County Bank Building and chose an uninhabited house to report the events of Pan’s Labyrinth to Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman replied, “Okay. The Papal Treasury is not what we urgently need right now. It’s better to wait until that kid can control the demigod power of the knight before going in. This means we’ll have a quasi-demigod ally.”

The Papal Treasury could be used as a last-ditch trump card.

Zhang Yuanqing replied, “But I feel that the Freedom Alliance won’t let Tongtian Jiaozhu keep the Holy Disk fragment for long.”

Mr. Chairman said, “That’s why you need to hurry up and seduce Donna. The Freedom Alliance still needs you to achieve their plan, so they won’t force you for now. Once you’ve seduced Donna and tricked her into a secret Freedom Alliance gathering, we can organize our forces to wipe out some of the Freedom Alliance’s high-level members in one fell swoop. At that time, the identity of Tongtian Jiaozhu can be abandoned.”

If Donna really took a fancy to Ju Mang, seducing her wouldn’t be difficult. But how could a Ruler be so easily deceived?

Zhang Yuanqing said, “Mr. Chairman, you must not spread this out. I have a family, especially don’t tell my mom and aunt.”

Although he didn’t really care about Chen Shu’s thoughts, Tianzun老爷 still had to save face. It would be embarrassing for his mother to know that her son was sleeping with a high-level member of the Lust profession guild every day.

Mr. Chairman said, “Understood. No matter how promiscuous a man is outside, there are two women he must hide it from, one is his wife, and the other is his mother.”

Zhang Yuanqing silently deleted the chat history with Mr. Chairman and instead took out his spare phone. When he turned it on, he saw a message from Catherine: “Donna will be dining at Tarta Hall at 7:00 PM tonight!”