The person Old Wei asked about was the group who had fought with the Silver Ring Snake tomb robbing gang earlier.

Logically speaking, if they had indeed headed towards the Crystal Palace after killing the Silver Ring Snake’s subordinates, the old woman would definitely have seen them.

Old Wei’s question was also a way to test if the Silver Ring Snake was lying. After all, tomb robbers were habitual liars, and their words couldn’t be trusted.

Upon hearing this question, the old woman immediately nodded and said, "You’re talking about that group of tomb robbers, right? I saw them. There were probably seven or eight of them. They didn't look like good people, and they were carrying weapons, which was quite scary... When I saw them, I got scared and hid in a tomb chamber. I only came out after they had gone far away."

Hearing this, Hu Wazi quickly asked, "Which way did they go? Did they go to the Crystal Palace?"

The old woman immediately nodded. "Yes, yes, they were heading straight for the Crystal Palace."

Then, she sneered and said, "But those people looked like they were entering the underground palace for the first time. There are no treasures in the Crystal Palace at all. The burial treasures are all in the surrounding tomb chambers. Unless they can break these crystals and take them away, going to the Crystal Palace is a waste of effort! Hehe!"

However, hearing this, I had an important question to ask.

That was about Little Mei!

The last time we went down to the underground palace, I clearly saw Little Mei’s figure in the Crystal Palace. If this old woman had been living in the Crystal Palace all along, then she must have seen Little Mei too!

I quickly asked, "By the way, let me ask you, have any outsiders been to the Crystal Palace these past few days?"

"Outsiders? What outsiders?" the old woman asked, puzzled.

I said, "Just other people living in the Crystal Palace, people you don't recognize."

The old woman thought for a moment and shook her head. "No, I didn't see any outsiders. I only saw two groups entering the underground palace today. One group was those tomb robbers, and the other group was you."

"What?!"

Hearing this, I was a little confused. Could it be that we were mistaken that day? Was the figure in the Crystal Palace not Little Mei? But this old woman?

Hu Wazi was a little unable to accept this answer. He quickly said loudly, "That's not right! Think carefully. A few days ago, did any tomb robbers dig a hole above the Crystal Palace? Digging directly above the Crystal Palace!"

Hearing this, the old woman immediately nodded and said, "That's right, a few days ago, there was indeed a tomb robber who directly dug a hole above the Crystal Palace. That's not bad, it can let in some light, so that we old couple don't have to feel around in the dark in the Crystal Palace every day, our eyes are almost blind..."

"After digging the hole, didn't that tomb robber crawl in?" Hu Wazi pressed.

The old woman recalled for a moment and said, "I don't know about that. I came out yesterday morning to look for my old partner, and I slept in a tomb chamber last night, I haven't gone back to see."

Hearing this, Hu Wazi and I breathed a sigh of relief.

According to the old woman’s statement, it was very likely that when Little Mei entered the Crystal Palace, the old couple had already gone out, and neither of them was inside.

In that case, it was reasonable that they hadn’t seen Little Mei.

In other words, we can’t rule out the possibility that Little Mei is still in the Crystal Palace.

I quickly said, "Then please lead the way, we want to go to the Crystal Palace and see."

The old woman’s eyes darted around, and she bargained, "I can lead you, but after you’ve seen the Crystal Palace, you have to help me find my old partner!"

Hu Wazi readily agreed and nodded. "No problem, as long as you take us to the Crystal Palace, we will take you to find your old partner when we come out."

Seeing that we agreed so readily, the old woman began to raise the price on the spot, saying, "You also have to compensate me for my dog. I don't want much, just compensate me for a dog, so I can have one to stay by my side as a companion, that's enough."

Hu Wazi didn't hesitate and agreed, "Okay, okay, there are many stray dogs outside anyway, can't I just grab two for you to bring back? That's not a problem!"

After agreeing on the price with the old woman, she agreed to lead the way for us.

Although we had the Silver Ring Snake leading the way before, the Silver Ring Snake was actually entering the underground palace for the first time, and she had never been to the Crystal Palace. So, in terms of leading the way, this old woman was definitely more reliable.

Soon we started on the road again, the old woman, Old Wei, and Hu Wazi were walking in the front, and we followed behind.

The Silver Ring Snake didn’t have to be a guide now, so she walked a little slower. It was good that she was injured and couldn’t keep walking.

Little Liang supported her, and I followed on her other side.

After walking a few steps, the Silver Ring Snake suddenly lowered her voice and said to me, "Little brother, do you believe this old hag?"

I thought for a moment and shook my head. "I don't believe her."

It wasn't because I heard any flaws in her words, but because, based on my experience, none of the people I met in the tombs these few times didn't lie to me.

It is said that a fall into the pit, a gain in your wit. I have fallen into so many pits, and even if I am young, I should learn a lesson.

Hearing this, the Silver Ring Snake immediately showed a gratified smile and nodded. "Little brother, you are a smart person. You are right not to believe her. Let me tell you, keep an eye out later, this old hag will plot against us sooner or later."

I responded and said, "Got it, Sister Snake."

But to be honest, I not only didn't trust this old woman, I also didn't trust the Silver Ring Snake.

She and the old woman were two of a kind, neither one was better than the other. They were all the same kind of people, and they must be planning their own little schemes in their hearts.

Of course, I couldn't say this explicitly, I still had to greet her with a smile on my face.

Walking along the tunnel to the end, we soon saw the Crystal Palace in the distance.

The old woman pointed in that direction and said to us, "See it? The Crystal Palace is almost here."

When Hu Wazi saw the Crystal Palace, his eyes turned green, and he immediately walked in that direction.

But the old woman grabbed him and shook her head. "Silly boy, you can't get there by walking towards it. The people who built this underground palace were very shrewd. They just wanted you to see it but not be able to touch it. If you want to go to the Crystal Palace, you have to take the secret passage!"

"Secret passage?" Hu Wazi asked, squinting, "Is it like a secret passage?"

"Yes." The old woman said, "Originally, there were two suspension bridges from the underground palace to the Crystal Palace. One collapsed, and one is still there, but for some reason, I saw this morning that the remaining suspension bridge had also collapsed. Now, if you want to go to the Crystal Palace, you can only take the underground secret passage."

Hearing this, I thought, "I know what the reason is. The remaining suspension bridge was chiseled down by Liu Huangshu (pinyin, personal name). That's why your old partner fell to his death."

Hu Wazi was anxious to go to the Crystal Palace, and quickly asked, "Where is the secret passage? Is it far from here? How long will it take to get to the Crystal Palace?"

The old woman sneered, "You are really an impatient person, don't worry, it will take about half an hour, almost there, follow me."

After speaking, she turned to the right and didn't head towards the Crystal Palace, but instead led us to another tomb chamber.