C29 Entering the Museum

The mission was fraught with danger. Zhang Ze knew he might come face to face with Devil Cave Monsters, so the night before, he ventured into the Devil Domain and absorbed every Devil Soul Sphere within his reach.

Moreover, Zhang Ze had recently absorbed a considerable number of Devil Soul Spheres. His attribute panel now read as follows:

Name: Rakshasa

ID: C Country 24751176

Health: 110

Vitality: 120

Damage: 4-14

Speed: 15

Strength: 14 (an ordinary person has only 10 points)

Constitution: 11 (an ordinary person has only 10 points)

Spirit: 12 (an ordinary person has only 10 points)

Dexterity: 15 (an ordinary person has only 10 points)

Assignable Attribute Points: 0

Skill: Summon Technique Level 1 (SSS)

Equipment: None

Overall Evaluation: New Adventurer

"Now, my strength attribute has hit 14 points. I haven't put my punching power to the test yet, but I'm confident it's well over a thousand pounds," Zhang Ze mused, his fists clenched with anticipation.

"My agility is up to 15 points. That should give me an edge against any Devil Cave Monster I might run into."

Still, Zhang Ze hoped to avoid any monster encounters altogether.

By the time Zhang Ze reached the northeast city gate, Lu Kai and the rest of the group were already there. Lu Kai, spotting Zhang Ze, tossed him a dead chicken without preamble.

"Keep this dead chicken on you. It could save your life in a pinch."

Zhang Ze held the lifeless bird, puzzled, until Tieh Gaang chimed in with a grin, "Devil Cave Monsters have a taste for the dead. If they're after you, throw them the chicken and make your escape while they're distracted."

With a new understanding of the dead chicken's purpose, Zhang Ze packed it away in his backpack.

As the sun crested the horizon, its first rays kissed the northeastern city wall.

Suddenly, a head popped up from the wall, peering down. Recognizing Lu Kai and company, the head disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.

Moments later, a rope ladder unfurled from the wall above. Lu Kai seized it and, turning to the others, whispered, "Climb up after me, and stay close."

Everyone ascended the rope ladder and swiftly made their way to the top of the city wall.

Zhang Ze watched as Lu Kai discreetly handed a silver Consumption Card to the city wall guard, who smiled and nodded in apparent satisfaction.

"Don't be surprised," Tieh Gaang murmured to Zhang Ze.

Lu Kai rejoined the group and lowered the rope ladder on the opposite side of the wall. They descended and found themselves outside the boundaries of Tianfeng City.

Zhang Ze gazed into the distance. Initially, a thin mist obscured his view from atop the wall, rendering the landscape beyond the city indistinct.

But as the sun climbed higher and the fog lifted, the scene outside the city walls came into sharp relief.

The land was marred by scorch marks, with hardly any vegetation in sight—only ruins and the skeletal remains of damaged cars.

Every so often, crows would glide through the sky, alighting on a lopsided electrical pole adorned with human bones that swayed in the breeze.

The sight was apocalyptic, a first for Zhang Ze.

"This place is utterly desolate," Zhang Ze exhaled deeply, hastening to catch up with Lu Kai and the others as they proceeded along the inter-city highway into the distance.

Lu Kai gestured for Zhang Ze to come closer and said, "You're Panpan's friend. I don't want you to get hurt. Stay close and follow my orders, and I'll make sure you get back safely."

Zhang Ze nodded in agreement.

In truth, Lu Kai had agreed to bring Zhang Ze along not out of any particular regard for him, but at the persistent request of Lu Panpan.

Lu Panpan had pleaded with Lu Kai daily to include Zhang Ze on missions to earn money. Reluctantly, Lu Kai had acquiesced.

Lu Kai would have preferred the company of a seasoned adult expert rather than an inexperienced student like Zhang Ze.

But the prospect of enjoying Lu Panpan's delicious cooking and having her wash his clothes daily was enough to sway him. Frankly, Lu Kai felt he had no other choice.

"After we wrap up this mission, I should find an opportunity to send Zhang Ze back. Carrying a dead weight like him is just too cumbersome," Lu Kai mused to himself.

The day had unfolded without a hitch. They hadn't run into any dangers along the way, nor had they encountered a single Devil Cave Monster, which left Zhang Ze feeling both relieved and a bit disappointed.

Roughly eight hours into their journey, they finally reached the Jiangdong Museum as indicated on the map. But the sight before them hardly resembled a museum.

What lay before them was a vast expanse of rubble. The building had collapsed to such an extent that the entrance was nowhere to be found.

With no other choice, they circled the massive ruins in search of an entry point.

"Boss, this way!" Madman called out upon spotting a dark opening. Despite the darkness, he deduced from the askew safety exit sign that it should lead into the museum's interior.

Lu Kai scrutinized the opening carefully. Once he was sure it wouldn't cave in, he turned to delegate tasks.

"Tieh Gaang, you stay on watch outside. If anything comes up, radio me. Everyone else, follow me in. And remember, don't touch anything without thinking."

The team nodded in agreement and split up to carry out their assigned roles.

"Brother Zhang Ze, take care," Tieh Gaang said, clapping Zhang Ze on the shoulder with a look of genuine concern.

Zhang Ze nodded in acknowledgment and then crawled through the opening after Lu Kai. Madman and Laoba were right behind him, their powerful flashlights piercing the darkness of the passageway.

They descended a stairway that led downwards, coming to a halt at a heavy iron door at the bottom, which was bent and twisted from some previous impact. Madman shook his head, indicating that even if he managed to pry the lock, the door wouldn't budge.

"Laoba, your turn!" Lu Kai signaled with a glance, and the team cleared a path. With a grunt, Laoba charged at the door, shoulder first.

The door gave way with a thunderous crash, thanks to Laoba's shoulder strike.

"Laoba's the strongest among us. If I recall correctly, his Strength Value is around 12 points," Lu Kai remarked to Zhang Ze, looking back at him.

Zhang Ze kept his thoughts to himself: "His Strength Value is only 12, which means I'm stronger." He remained silent, continuing to trail Lu Kai into the building.

Without a map of the museum, their path was a haphazard one. Luckily, they stumbled upon a floor plan of the museum en route, which finally led them to the calligraphy and painting exhibit area.

"Devil Cave Monsters tend to lurk in the shadows," Lu Kai warned as they approached the pitch-black exhibition hall. "There could be one hiding in here. Stay sharp!" He pulled a shotgun from his backpack—the sole piece of armament among the group.

Yet, the weapon was of little consequence. The firearms and ammunition were virtually ineffective against the Devil Cave Monsters. They could potentially use the light and noise to intimidate the creatures in a pinch, but if the monsters became accustomed to the fire and sound, the guns would be rendered utterly useless.