I swear, since coming in here, I haven't walked more than twenty steps. How could the entrance disappear right before our eyes in such a short distance?!
"Who was it that said this place was set up with something?" the Fatty interjected, asking Bai Hanyan.
She replied, "Ma Xuejin. He said the labyrinth here might be arranged according to the Three Great Sutras."
"What Three Great Sutras?" I asked, slightly confused.
"Senior Ma is likely referring to the Huayan Sutra, the Lotus Sutra, and the Shurangama Sutra," Wang Yue said. "I've also looked at them just now. Most of the scriptures on these stone pillars are from these three sutras."
"So, Teacher Wang, do you know how to get out?" the Fatty asked, his face lighting up.
I also harbored great hope, but to my surprise, Wang Yue shook her head helplessly. "I can understand some of the scriptures, but I don't know how to get out..."
Speaking of which, she then asked Bai Hanyan, "Besides this, did Senior Ma say anything else?"
Bai Hanyan shook her head.
I sighed and said to Wang Yue, "Teacher Wang, why don't you study it again?"
She nodded and took her flashlight to examine the scriptures on the stone pillars.
Taking this opportunity, I finally got a clear picture from Bai Hanyan about what they had encountered on their journey and how she had ended up inside the stone pillars.
From her account, I learned that although we all entered from the same place, we had taken different paths at the first fork.
This led to me and the Fatty encountering the monster chained up, while they did not.
Afterward, they reached a stone chamber, and it was at that time that Wang Yue had separated from them.
Upon leaving the stone chamber, Bai Hanyan and the others had arrived at this place, entering it.
"Do you have any food or drink with you?" Bai Hanyan asked me weakly.
I quickly had the Fatty bring out the remaining bread and water. Bai Hanyan looked starving and snatched the bread, devouring it ravenously.
It was the first time I had seen her like this, and I couldn't help but find it a bit amusing.
"What are you laughing at?" Bai Hanyan glared at me and asked.
I quickly changed the subject and asked, "Did you encounter any snakes on your way here?"
She replied, "It's strange, we did, but then..."
"Then what?"
Bai Hanyan said they had encountered a group of strange snakes before. At the time, she thought they were doomed, but then somehow Guan Zhenwan intervened, and the snakes fled from her sight.
I was stunned. She continued, "Honestly, you weren't there, and I was completely bewildered!"
The Fatty remarked, "Brother Xiang, do you think that woman surnamed Guan was Bai Suzhen in her past life?"
I retorted, "So, does that mean you were Xu Xian in your past life?"
"It's entirely possible. Do you think I look like Xu Xian?"
"Fatty, what on earth is going on in your head every day?" I said helplessly.
The Fatty continued, "Then, Brother Xiang, tell me, why did those snakes give her a wide berth?"
I couldn't answer him for a moment. The Fatty chuckled, "See? You can't explain it either?"
"Although I can't explain it, I know it's definitely not like what you're saying."
Bai Hanyan also chimed in, "I think so too."
The Fatty pouted, "I think you two are in cahoots..."
Hearing that, Bai Hanyan's cheeks flushed slightly, and she retorted defiantly, "We are in cahoots, so what? Are you envious or jealous?"
"I'm not envious at all. Some people think they're in cahoots with others, but are the others willing to be with you?"
"You damn Fatty, what did you say?" Bai Hanyan raised her hand to hit the Fatty.
The Fatty dodged sharply and retorted stubbornly, "What did I say? Don't you know? With you like this, who would want you in the future?"
"It's none of your business!"
"It's certainly none of my business. I don't want to bother with it," the Fatty said, hiding behind me. "Brother Xiang, when you find a wife in the future, make sure she's not like this, or you'll have a hard time."
Just as I was about to tell him to say less, something flew towards me. I felt a sharp pain on my forehead as something hit me.
When I came to my senses, I saw that it was the water bottle Bai Hanyan had thrown.
"Whoa! That's brutal. She'll even lay hands on her own man!"
The Fatty, relishing the moment, wanted to say more, but I quickly glared at him, "Go to the side and cool off."
"Alright, I'll go see how Teacher Wang is doing." With that, the Fatty scurried away.
Bai Hanyan walked over and looked at me with concern, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Next time you want to strike, can you give me a heads-up so I can dodge?" I said.
At my words, she chuckled, "How do you know it wasn't meant to hit you?"
"Why would you hit me?"
"What do you think? He was bullying me so much, and you didn't even say a word for me."
I originally wanted to say that I would have spoken up if you hadn't hit me, but what came out of my mouth was, "Wasn't I about to speak up for you when you hit me?"
"It's just that your reaction wasn't fast enough," she pouted.
I said helplessly, "Alright, alright, it's all my fault. I brought it upon myself."
Saying that, I pretended to be angry and turned to leave. Bai Hanyan grabbed me, "Hey, are you angry?"
I was secretly pleased. I still can't deal with you?
"How dare I be angry? It's all my fault. What's there to be angry about?"
"Why are you so petty?"
"Don't you know whether I'm petty or not? Is this the first day you've known me?"
"How about I apologize to you then..." Bai Hanyan said.
"Apologize? How will you apologize?"
I had intended to tease her a bit longer, but the moment I said that, the girl stood on her tiptoes, brought her mouth to my face, pecked me on the cheek, and then ran off in the blink of an eye.
I was too stunned to react. When I came to my senses and walked towards them, she was acting as if nothing had happened, seriously discussing the scriptures on the stone pillars with Wang Yue.
The Fatty gave me a look, seemingly asking what was going on.
I glared at the Fatty, cursing him inwardly: It's all your fault, you damned Fatty. You've really gotten me into trouble this time!
After being pure and innocent for so many years, to be kissed by a girl in the end! If this gets out, how will I manage in the future?
The more I thought about it, the more chaotic my mind became, and I even found myself touching the spot on my face where Bai Hanyan had just kissed me.
Coincidentally, just as I was touching my face, Bai Hanyan happened to look over. Seeing my action, her cheeks flushed red, and her eyes darted away nervously.