# 309
Chapter 309 – Are You Guys on Vacation Too?
“……”
“……”
“……”
“……”
The five of them stared at one another for a long time, eyes wide, the whole scene indescribably bizarre.
Finally, Baili Pangpang broke the silence.
“Ahem… um… are you guys here on vacation at the diving base too?” He scratched his head, testing the waters.
Diving base?
The three Believers froze at the words, exchanging glances.
Fifth Seat’s eyes were full of doubt and accusation as he stared at Second Seat, as if to say: Didn’t you claim this is the Purification Chamber? What the hell is a diving base?
Second Seat’s eyes, meanwhile, were blank with utter bewilderment and self-doubt.
That’s not right… the intel clearly pointed to this place. How could it be a diving base? Was the information wrong?
Shen Qingzhu glanced at the two Believers beside him, then at Baili Pangpang and Cao Yuan not far away; behind his mask, his expression was spectacular.
“Ah, ah-hahaha…” After a quick eye-conversation, Fifth Seat forced a laugh. “Right, yeah, we… belong to this diving club, just here for fun. You guys… here for fun too?”
Baili Pangpang and Cao Yuan looked at each other and also laughed. “Yep, us too! Hehehe…”
“Uh, welcome, welcome!”
“Hehehehe, same to you.”
“Nice scenery here, huh!”
“Yeah yeah, totally.”
“Mm-hm.”
“Mm…”
“……”
“……”
After a thoroughly pointless and increasingly awkward exchange, the air sank into silence again.
“Well… we’ll go wander over there, you guys keep… uh… sunbathing! We won’t disturb you!” Fifth Seat shot Second Seat and Shen Qingzhu a look, then strode quickly away.
“Sure sure, have fun!”
“Mm-hm, will do!”
“……”
The three Believers hurried deep into the woods, only stopping when the other two were out of sight.
Fifth Seat exploded: “What’s wrong with you? How’d you bring us to a diving base?”
“I don’t know… maybe bad intel?” Second Seat looked lost, then suddenly froze, realizing something. “Wait—if this isn’t the Purification Chamber, why can’t we use our Forbidden Ruins?”
Fifth Seat blinked.
Right!
Forbidden Ruins don’t work here!
Could any other island besides the Purification Chamber suppress them?
“You mean… this really is the Purification Chamber?” Fifth Seat scratched his head. “But if so, those two just now…”
“They were faking it.” Second Seat’s eyes narrowed. “Diving base my ass. They don’t look like guards either. Probably here for the same reason we are…”
“Damn, they played us!” Fifth Seat cursed. “Let’s go back and gut them!”
“No.”
Shen Qingzhu, silent until now, finally spoke. The other two turned to him.
“If those two could reach this island, they’re not simple. This is the Purification Chamber—no Forbidden Ruins. If they have other tricks, we might lose. Even if we win, the noise would expose us.”
He continued gravely, “Didn’t Lord Yiyu say: before the moment comes, don’t stir the grass and startle the snake.”
The two Believers fell thoughtful.
“He’s right. As long as they don’t mess with our plan, whatever they do is none of our business.” Second Seat nodded.
“Mm.” Fifth Seat glanced back. “Let’s hope they’re smart enough to keep the same tacit understanding…”
……
“So, Old Cao, what the heck is going on?”
Once the three were gone, Baili Pangpang frowned at Cao Yuan.
“A diving base? Seriously? Doesn’t make sense!” Cao Yuan pondered, then jolted. “Wait—this is the Purification Chamber! I can feel the suppressing might of the town-ruins stele! How could a diving base sit right next to the Purification Chamber?”
Baili Pangpang blinked. “Then those three…”
“They’re shady,” Cao Yuan declared. “Maybe they’re here to break someone out, just like us.”
Baili Pangpang slapped his thigh. “Knew it! Especially that guy in the white fox mask—definitely not a good bird!”
He stood up. Seeing Cao Yuan still brooding, he asked, “What’s on your mind?”
“Whether they’ll screw up our prison break…”
Baili Pangpang blinked again. “We have a plan?”
“…” Cao Yuan rolled his eyes. “Even without one, if those idiots barge into the Purification Chamber and get caught, the guards will sweep the whole island for stragglers. We’ll be toast.”
Baili Pangpang rubbed his chin. “Then let’s tie them up before they ruin things.”
“This is the Purification Chamber—no Forbidden Ruins. Two against three, we might lose…” Before Cao Yuan could finish, he froze.
Baili Pangpang had touched his necklace; golden light swirled around him. He looked at Cao Yuan, expression odd.
“What did you just say?”
Cao Yuan pondered a few seconds. “I said—let’s wreck them!”
……
In the woods, the three Believers moved swiftly.
“The Purification Chamber’s front gate is heavily guarded. Without Forbidden Ruins we can’t force our way in. Our job now is to stay hidden until the signal!” Second Seat warned, scanning the surroundings.
“Mm.”
Suddenly Second Seat stopped.
“What?” Fifth Seat frowned.
Second Seat said nothing, only turned to stare back into the jungle.
Moments later, two teenage figures stepped out.
“Them?” Second Seat’s brows knitted.
“They delivered themselves.” Fifth Seat smirked. “Then don’t blame us…”
Shen Qingzhu’s face behind his mask grew grave. He was about to speak when Baili Pangpang suddenly laughed, golden light blooming on his chest.
“Heh-heh-heh, scoundrels—tremble beneath this young master’s mighty wrath!”