We agreed that you, a weak strategist, would fight against three heroes by yourself?

The light of the jade pendant suddenly dimmed, like the receding tide, and the room fell into darkness again.

Xiaohong's heart was still pounding, as if there was a restless deer running around in her chest.

She subconsciously stroked the smooth surface of the jade pendant, and felt a hint of warmth at her fingertips, which was completely different from the coldness just now.

Doubt spread in her clear eyes, like a stone thrown into a clear spring, causing ripples.

"What's going on?" she murmured in a low voice, with a barely perceptible tremor in her tone.

The people around were startled by this sudden change and gathered around.

Luo Xiaoyu rushed directly to Xiaohong and stared at the jade pendant with wide eyes. Granny Lin held Xiaohong's hand worriedly, her wrinkled face full of concern.

Doctor Zhang frowned and stared at the jade pendant sharply, as if he wanted to see through the secret within it.

Elder Chen and Master Lingyin clasped their hands together and recited scriptures silently. A peaceful atmosphere filled the room.

The man in white held Xiaohong's hand tightly, and his broad and warm palm gave her a sense of strength.

He looked at Xiaohong with deep eyes.

However, this sudden change did not end there.

The news of the jade pendant's abnormality spread quickly as if it had wings, attracting the attention of various forces.

Some greedy people heard the news and rushed over, their eyes flashing with greed, like a group of hungry wolves eyeing their prey.

"Hand over the treasure!" The leader, a burly man with a face full of flesh, shouted sternly, his tone full of unquestionable orders.

"Don't even think about it!" Li the hunter waved his fist angrily and stood in front of Xiaohong, protecting her like a mountain.

The greedy men ignored Li Liehu's warning and launched the attack first.

Everyone rose up to resist, and a fierce battle began.

The room was suddenly in chaos with swords flashing, fists and feet fighting.

Luo Xiaoyu was unable to dodge and was hit by the opponent's palm. He fell to the ground with a trace of blood flowing from the corner of his mouth.

"Xiao Yu!" Xiao Hong exclaimed, her heart aching.

The attack of the greedy men was like a violent storm, one wave after another, without stopping.

The man in white has a nimble figure and sharp sword skills. He shuttles among the enemy groups like a dragon.

However, he was outnumbered and gradually got more and more scars on his body. The bright red blood dripped down the blade, looking particularly glaring in the dim room.

His movements began to slow down, his breathing became rapid, and his strength was gradually being exhausted.

Xiaohong felt heartbroken when she saw the man in white getting injured, and tears welled up in her eyes.

She clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging deep into her flesh, but she didn't feel any pain.

She wanted to help, but she was powerless and could only watch him face danger alone.

A deep feeling of powerlessness surrounded her, almost suffocating her.

Doctor Zhang was busy treating the wounded, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

There were too many wounded and he was somewhat overwhelmed and could only do his best.

The room was filled with a strong smell of blood, mixed with the groans of the wounded, making people feel depressed and desperate.

Everyone's morale was low, as if they were shrouded in dark clouds, with not a glimmer of hope in sight.

At this moment, the usually gentle and kind Grandma Lin suddenly became a different person. Her eyes became sharp and there was a hint of ruthlessness on her face.

Seeing the enemy being controlled by the Ecstasy Powder, everyone's morale was greatly boosted.

Granny Lin's voice echoed in the room, "Don't be afraid, kids! We'll go together!"

Everyone worked together to subdue the enemies one by one...

Granny Lin walked up to the man in white and whispered, "Child, this thing can only control them temporarily. The real battle is just beginning..."

The white-clothed man's sword shone like snow, flashing cold light, and every move hit the enemy's vital points.

Li the Hunter was like a tiger coming down the mountain, his punches and kicks were powerful and every move was deadly.

Blacksmith Zhao wielded the heavy hammer, and every time it fell, it had the power to split mountains and crack rocks, and the enemies could not avoid it.

Elder Chen and Master Lingyin, relying on their rich experience and wisdom, cleverly cracked the enemy's attacks and guided everyone to launch an effective counterattack.

The pace of the battle became faster and faster, the cooperation among the people became more and more tacit, and a feeling of excitement spread among them.

The enemy was caught off guard and their formation was thrown into chaos.

The sturdy man in the lead had trembling flesh on his face, and his original arrogance had long since disappeared, replaced by fear and despair.

He fell to his knees with a thump and begged, "Mercy! Mercy! We won't dare to do it again!" Cheers of victory rang out all around, and everyone was excited, as if the anger that had been suppressed in their hearts for so long was finally released.

The enemy fled in a panic, abandoning their weapons and armor, and they only regretted that their parents had not given them two more legs.

Everyone looked at their receding backs, feeling a sense of accomplishment in their hearts, as if they had finally gotten their revenge, and they felt extremely happy.

Xiaohong could no longer suppress her inner excitement and threw herself into the arms of the man in white, tears streaming down her face.

"I was so scared, I thought..." She choked up and couldn't speak.

The man in white gently stroked her hair and comforted her softly, "It's okay. Everything is over."

Luo Xiaoyu happily hugged everyone, her face filled with joy of surviving the disaster.

This battle not only allowed them to defeat the enemy, but also made their relationship deeper and closer.

Everyone was immersed in the joy of victory, but they didn't notice that Granny Lin quietly put away the small porcelain bottle and turned to walk towards the dim oil lamp in the corner. The light reflected on her wrinkled face, making her look particularly mysterious...

"This is the real beginning..." she murmured in a low voice.

The smoke of the battle cleared and the room returned to calm, but everyone's hearts could not calm down.

The changes in the jade pendant were like a stone thrown into a calm lake, causing ripples.

These ripples are filled with the unknown and anxiety, as well as hope and curiosity.

"What's going on with this jade pendant?" Luo Xiaoyu stroked the scratches on her arm. She was still frightened by the battle just now, but the strange changes in the jade pendant made her curious.

Elder Chen took out an ancient book from his arms. The pages were yellowed and exuded an ancient atmosphere.

He gently opened it, and the dim light shone on the pages, reflecting strange symbols.

Everyone's eyes were focused on his hands, expecting him to find the answer from them.

"This ancient book records all kinds of rare treasures, and perhaps we can find clues about this jade pendant." Elder Chen's voice was low and magnetic, with a reassuring power.

His fingers gently slid across the pages of the book, as if caressing the traces of history.

Time passed by minute by minute, and the room was so quiet that the only sound that could be heard was the sound of Elder Chen turning pages of a book.

Everyone's breathing slowed down, for fear of disturbing him.

There was a tense atmosphere in the air, like a taut string that could break at any time.

Suddenly, the jade pendant began to shine again, more dazzling than before, like a small sun.

The light shot out of the window, cutting through the night sky and pointing straight into the distance.

Everyone looked in the direction of the light and saw a towering castle looming in the distance, looking particularly mysterious in the night.

The outline of the castle, reflected by the light, looks like a mirage, yet it exists in reality.

"What is that place?" Xiaohong exclaimed, her tone full of curiosity and anxiety.

The air around them seemed to freeze, and a mysterious atmosphere enveloped everyone.

The unknown castle and unknown secrets were like a huge whirlpool, sucking them in.

"Go and take a look." The man in white held Xiaohong's hand tightly with a firm look in his eyes.

The crowd didn't say anything, but their actions showed their determination.

They packed their bags and prepared to embark on a new journey.

Granny Lin looked at their departing backs with a meaningful smile on her face.

"Go, children, your destiny is there..." she whispered, with a hint of inexplicable meaning in her tone.

Before dawn, with a light mist, everyone headed towards the castle that was looming in the night sky.

Curiosity and vigilance are intertwined in everyone's eyes, just like the fog, hazy and deep.

Xiaohong held the white-clothed man's hand tightly, and the warmth of his palm could be felt at her fingertips, which made her feel slightly relieved.

Luo Xiaoyu looked around from time to time, with excitement flashing in her eyes, as if she was about to embark on a thrilling adventure.

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The road leading to the castle was rugged, strewn with rocks and thorns.

Everyone walked with one foot deep and one foot shallow, their clothes were wet by the dew and the cold penetrated into their skin.

Hunter Li, holding a hunting knife, walked at the front of the team, cutting through the thorns and opening up a barely passable path.

His rough face was covered with sweat, but he said nothing and just kept moving forward.

"Awoo--" A deafening roar of a beast broke the tranquility of the early morning and interrupted the originally dull march of the crowd.

From the depths of the dense forest, a group of wild beasts slowly walked out. Their eyes flashed green in the dim light, like will-o'-the-wisp, which was chilling.

The beast was huge, with rough hair and exposed fangs. It let out a low roar and approached the crowd step by step.

"Ah——" Luo Xiaoyu screamed and subconsciously hid behind Grandma Lin.

The sudden appearance of the beast made everyone panic and their steps became disorderly.

Doctor Zhang stumbled and his medicine box fell to the ground, with the herbs inside scattered all over the floor. He cried out in distress, "My medicine!"

The man in white suddenly protected Xiaohong behind him, drew the long sword from his waist, pointed the sword at the beast, and shouted sternly: "You beast, stop being so arrogant!" He was agile and rushed towards the beast like a cheetah, with the sword flashing, and started a fierce fight with the beast.

The air was filled with a strong smell of blood. The roars of wild beasts and the shouts of men in white intertwined together, forming a tense and exciting battle symphony.

"Be careful!" Xiaohong exclaimed, only to see a wild beast circling behind the man in white, waving its sharp claws and grabbing towards his back.

The man in white was unable to dodge and his clothes were torn by the beast's sharp claws. The blood instantly dyed his clothes red...

"You're hurt!" Xiaohong exclaimed.

The man in white looked pale, covering his wound, and said calmly, "It's okay..."

The beast's attack became more and more fierce. Although the man in white was highly skilled in martial arts, he was outnumbered and had several scars on his body.

Blood soaked his clothes. The white clothes, which were as white as snow, were now stained with a shocking red.

His movements became noticeably slower, his breathing became heavier, and the hand holding the sword trembled slightly.

Xiaohong's heart was in a knot and her eyes were red, but she could only watch him fight bloody battles while she was powerless to do anything.

Fear and worry wrapped around her like vines, making it almost impossible for her to breathe.

The people around gradually became timid, their original fighting spirit was gradually worn away by the ferocity of the beast, and they began to retreat.

Just when everyone was about to despair, Granny Lin, who had been silent all the time, suddenly rushed forward, took out a handful of dry herbs from her arms, lit them and threw them at the group of wild beasts.

A pungent smell spread instantly, and the wild beasts roared in pain and retreated, not daring to approach.

Everyone looked at Granny Lin in surprise. They didn't expect that this usually timid old woman could have such a surprising trick.

"Children, don't be afraid!" Although Grandma Lin's voice was trembling, it was unexpectedly firm. "These beasts are afraid of this herb. We still have a chance!" Her words were like a bright light in the darkness, igniting the hope that was about to go out in everyone's hearts.

"Yes, we can't give up!" Luo Xiaoyu clenched the dagger in his hand and his eyes became determined.

Encouraged by Granny Lin, everyone regained their spirits, looked for weapons, and prepared to fight the beast to the death.

Doctor Zhang put the scattered herbs back into the medicine box, his eyes gleaming with determination.

Hunter Li waved his hunting knife and let out a terrifying roar.

Zhao the blacksmith even wrestled with a wild beast with his bare hands...

At this moment, a melodious flute sound came from a distance...

The melodious sound of the flute came like a spring breeze blowing through the willows, dispelling the blood and fear in the air and bringing a glimmer of hope to everyone.

Elder Chen narrowed his wise eyes, listened attentively for a moment, and suddenly realized something. He clapped his hands and said, "This is the sound of driving away beasts! These beasts are afraid of this sound!" He pointed to the dense forest in the distance and shouted, "Everyone be careful, these beasts must be driven by people. Let's fight and retreat, don't fight to the end!"

Upon hearing this, Blacksmith Zhao swung up the newly-forged hammer in his hand and smashed it hard on the head of a wild beast. The beast let out a wail and fell to the ground with a bang.

The hammer was tempered with his special potion, which had a strong paralyzing effect on wild beasts.

Luo Xiaoyu wielded the dagger with agility, and each time she stabbed the beast's weakness accurately. With the help of Li the Hunter's hunting knife, the beasts began to retreat step by step.

The morale of the crowd was boosted and they worked together to defeat the beasts.

In the air, the howling of wild beasts, the roar of the crowd, and the collision of weapons intertwined together to form an exciting song of victory.

The beasts fell to the ground one after another, and the air was filled with the smell of blood, but at this moment people felt extremely refreshed.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, looking at the corpses of wild animals scattered all over the ground, their hearts filled with a sense of accomplishment.

Cheers and celebrations rose one after another, echoing throughout the mountains and forests.

Xiaohong ran to the man in white with heartache and bandaged his wound carefully.

She gently brushed his blood-stained collar. The man in white raised the corners of his mouth slightly. He held Xiaohong's hand, his eyes full of tenderness.

Luo Xiaoyu and the others supported each other, their faces filled with the joy of victory. They had experienced life and death, and their friendship with each other became stronger.

This battle deepened the relationship between everyone. They were no longer simple neighbors, but comrades-in-arms who could be trusted with their lives.

Just as everyone was immersed in the joy of victory, Master Lingyin slowly walked up to them, his compassionate face showing a hint of solemnity: "Everyone, I see that there is a lot of evil spirit here, I'm afraid the dangers ahead are unpredictable. Remember, don't be careless."

As soon as he finished speaking, the man in white suddenly raised his head, looked into the distance with a sharp gaze, and whispered: "Someone is coming..." Everyone's heart trembled, holding their breath, waiting for the unknown to come.

The mist gradually dissipated and the morning light was dim. After a short rest, everyone set out on their journey again.

Hunter Li, holding a hunting knife, walked in front to lead the way. Luo Xiaoyu followed closely behind him, looking at the surrounding environment curiously from time to time.

Doctor Zhang carefully protected the medicine box, fearing that another accident would occur and the precious medicinal materials would be scattered.

The man in white protected Xiaohong behind him and glanced around vigilantly, like a lion guarding his cubs.

The closer you get to the castle, the more rugged and difficult the road becomes, with piles of rocks and thorns everywhere. If you are not careful, you will miss a step.

Everyone moved forward cautiously, taking every step as if walking on thin ice, for fear of touching hidden mechanisms and traps.

Suddenly, with a "whoosh" sound, several sharp arrows broke through the air and headed straight for the crowd.

Hunter Li reacted very quickly, raising his hunting knife to block the sharp arrow, making a "clang clang" sound of metal collision.

Everyone cried out in surprise and dodged. The arrow was deeply embedded in the stone, and the tail feathers were still trembling slightly.

Doctor Zhang held his forehead with his hand as cold sweat broke out: "My God, there are so many traps around this castle!"

Master Lingyin walked to the entrance of the castle, slowly closed his eyes, and felt the surrounding atmosphere. After a moment, he suddenly opened his eyes, but even so, the temptation of the treasure still made everyone's hearts full of expectations.

Everyone readjusted their mindsets and approached the castle cautiously, scanning every detail of the castle, hoping to find a way to enter.

The castle's outer walls were high and smooth, with no places to climb and no doors or windows to open.

Everyone could only search carefully along the outer wall of the castle, hoping to find a clue.

Blacksmith Zhao knocked on the wall with a hammer, making a dull sound, as if he was trying to find a weak spot in the wall, but to no avail.

Just when everyone was at a loss, a sinister laughter came from inside the castle. The laughter was sharp and piercing, like a sharp blade, piercing everyone's eardrums and making people shudder.

After the laughter, the surroundings became even quieter, with only the sound of the wind howling, which made people feel even more uneasy, as if some terrifying existence was waiting for their arrival deep in the castle.

Luo Xiaoyu tightly grasped the dagger, beads of sweat oozing from her forehead. She swallowed her saliva and said with a trembling voice: "What is waiting for us in this castle?" (End of this chapter)