214: Mortise and tenon joints? You even know that!

Many boxes were piled in the corner of the warehouse, each filled with food, daily necessities, and clothes.

Zhang Dada asked, "Does this count as us striking it rich?" Meng Ziyi smiled and replied, "Does that even need to be said? We're definitely going to make a fortune!"

Ye Bai walked over and examined the sealing structure of these boxes.

At that moment, Yang Mi walked up to a box and said in surprise, "There's actually a safe here!" Hearing this, Meng Ziyi rushed over excitedly and opened the safe. Inside lay a stack of banknotes, estimated to be at least five thousand yuan.

Everyone began to cheer, while Ye Bai's brow furrowed deeply.

"Ye Bai, what's wrong?" Zhang Dada couldn't help but ask when he saw his solemn expression. Ye Bai replied, "The key to the box isn't a regular Iron Chain, but made of a specific metal. I tried hacking at it with a knife just now, and it had no effect at all."

"Then how do we leave this place? Are we supposed to wait for rescue?" Meng Ziyi asked in confusion. Ye Bai sighed and said, "I'm afraid we can't afford to wait."

Just as he finished speaking, a clicking sound reached their ears. Everyone immediately became alert. Soon, the clicking grew closer; they could feel that something was slowly approaching.

Suddenly, a massive snake head emerged from the corner, its long tongue flickering in the air. It stared at the group, its crimson eyes radiating a dangerous aura.

Zhang Dada's legs went weak with fear, and he nearly collapsed to his knees. Ye Bai immediately shielded him behind his back, raising his pistol and aiming at the snake's head. The snake head seemed greatly startled and abruptly retracted.

Yang Mi patted her chest and said, "That was terrifying!"

Zhang Dada complained, "If I'd known we'd encounter such a ferocious monster, I never would have come to this godforsaken place." Ye Bai said calmly, "Everyone, watch your surroundings. I suspect these snakes are all illusions."

"Ah!" a girl screamed in terror. Two blue-gray Centipedes, as thick as thumbs, were crawling on her legs, gnawing at her flesh and leaving them bloodied.

Yang Mi quickly helped the girl up. Ye Bai shoved the pistol into her hands, saying, "Hold onto this." After that, he took a bottle of gasoline from his backpack and splashed it onto the two Centipedes. In an instant, flames erupted, and the Centipedes fled with agonizing screeches.

Everyone looked at the charred remains of the Centipedes with pleasant surprise, thankful they hadn't stepped on the venomous insects.

"We must find another key immediately, otherwise none of us will get out," Ye Bai said.

Everyone searched around and finally found a small black box in a corner. Yang Mi opened the box and took out a pair of Silver Bracelets. "This... this is a memento from my mother," Yang Mi said.

Ye Bai took the Silver Bracelets and examined them closely. They were very simple, their surfaces covered in cracks, looking as if they had weathered many years. "Is there anything special about these bracelets?" Zhang Dada leaned in to ask.

Ye Bai shook his head. "I'm not sure yet. But if it's truly possible to travel through worlds, putting on these bracelets might allow us to return to the past."

"How miraculous!" Yang Mi said excitedly, kissing the bracelets repeatedly. "Then why are these bracelets the only thing left here?" Ye Bai asked, looking at the boxes.

Meng Ziyi explained, "Because the bracelets are the only key; the other keys have already been destroyed."

Ye Bai placed the bracelets in Yang Mi's hands and said solemnly, "Since the bracelets are the key, I'll leave them in your care. If anyone defies orders, they will be executed without mercy!" Everyone nodded solemnly.

Ye Bai took the lead. Zhang Dada nervously gripped Ye Bai's arm. "Ye Bai, that box will spray poison needles."

"It's fine," Ye Bai said. "I can dodge them." Only then did Zhang Dada breathe a sigh of relief.

"By the way, Ye Bai, what exactly can you do?" Zhang Dada asked curiously. "How is it that you manage to turn danger into safety every single time?"

Ye Bai smiled slightly. "That's not important. I only hope you don't forget our agreement."

"Don't worry! I, Zhang, am a man of my word!"

After walking a few steps, a door suddenly appeared ahead. Yang Mi pushed it open, and inside was yet another Passage.

Everyone followed Ye Bai into the Passage. After walking for a while, the view suddenly opened up. They were standing on the edge of a cliff, with a bottomless abyss ahead and a steep, vertical slope leading down. At the base of the cliff stood a massive palace. Dense dark clouds floated above it.

"What a magnificent sight!" Meng Ziyi marveled. "I bet this is the only place like it in the whole world."

Yang Mi said, "Is this the legendary paradise?"

Everyone looked toward the towering palace. It covered a vast area and was majestic and grand, as if they were in a fairyland. A pale blue mist shrouded the palace. Looking at all this, Ye Bai thought: What should I do this time?

Suddenly, a sharp, piercing screech reached their ears. Everyone looked toward the source and was shocked to see a swarm of bats circling below the cliff, numbering at least a hundred.

Yang Mi fearfully pulled at Ye Bai's sleeve. "Ye Bai, what should we do?"

Ye Bai consoled her, "Don't panic, let's head back first." The group retraced their steps, only to find that the exit that should have been behind them had become distant and blurry. Ye Bai frowned and continued forward. Soon, they discovered a second exit; this Cave was far from the first one.

Ye Bai turned his head and found that the Cave had vanished. They had no choice but to keep moving forward. Then, at the entrance of the Cave, they found a third exit. This time, they could finally be certain that this was a giant maze. Except for where they stood and the Cave walls, the entire forest was a circular labyrinth. Without the key, no one could get out.

Ye Bai said, "Everyone, don't panic. Let's sit down and rest for a while." One by one, they sat down to drink water and eat their rations. Zhang Dada asked Ye Bai, "What do you think?"

Ye Bai pondered for a moment and said, "It seems we can only start with that palace."

Meng Ziyi suggested, "How about we first try to see if we can destroy that Statue?"

"No way!" Zhang Dada immediately countered. "This is the most precious treasure of the Ancient Egyptian Royalty. It must not be touched!"

"How do you know?" Yang Mi asked.

"Uh, my grandfather told me," an embarrassed look flashed across Zhang Dada's face. "He also said that Statue was once my ancestors' Tombstone. If we touch it, we won't even be able to be reincarnated after we die."

Yang Mi curled her lip and said, "Then why do you still dare to try and haul it away?"

"Cough, it's not like I have a choice," Zhang Dada scratched his head.

Yang Mi ignored him and said to Ye Bai, "I think we should just follow what Ye Bai says. He knows more than we do."

Zhang Dada grew anxious. "Hey, hey, hey... what's with you, girl? Why are you always siding with an outsider?"

Ye Bai laughed. "It's fine. You won't go wrong listening to me." After resting for a while, they got up and headed toward the magnificent Castle. The closer they got to the Castle, the colder and damper the air became.