Chapter 33: Caring About Life Is Shameful! Why Doesn’t This Door Play by the Usual Rules?

Zhou Quan turned his head to look at Zhai Qingwu and noticed that she had removed her sunglasses. Her eyebrows were like distant, delicate mountains, and her eyes were as clear as an autumn stream, possessing a classic, refined beauty. If this woman were to play a leading role in a period drama, she would fit the part perfectly in both temperament and appearance.

Zhou Quan withdrew his gaze and asked, "Have you seen other things related to gods?"

Zhai Qingwu nodded and replied, "I have a good relationship with the Brilliance Society, so I occasionally join them in digging. I’ve seen traces of divine relics a few times, but none were as complete as this one."

"Perhaps because the map only covers one-third of the site," Zhou Quan replied.

The power of gods is unfathomable. Ordinary people could be struck by 104 different curses just by lingering at the entrance. To rush in without a map would mean certain death, likely without even knowing how it happened. Even with a map, one was hardly safe.

Zhai Qingwu shook her head. "It doesn't have much to do with the map. The maps are drawn by people with prophetic abilities, and their prophecies are often inaccurate. You never know which fork in the road is a death trap, or if the marked location points in the complete opposite direction of the treasure."

Zhou Quan was taken aback. "Then what is the point of having a map?"

Zhai Qingwu spread her hands. "The accuracy of a map depends on the strength of the prophet's ability, but having one is better than having none. By and large, exploring ruins still requires sacrificing human lives."

Zhou Quan frowned. "That must mean a lot of people die, right?"

"Indeed," Zhai Qingwu replied. "In the last two centuries, as the world entered a civilized society, global archaeological progress has stagnated. Especially here at home; it’s been many years since a complete ruin was explored."

Zhou Quan nodded. In a civilized society, surveillance cameras are everywhere, and government departments keep a tight watch. If supernatural beings wanted to explore ruins by throwing human lives at the problem, the resistance would be immense.

"I think I know how your parents triggered the trap," Zhai Qingwu said suddenly, walking straight toward the ancient gate.

Zhou Quan followed her closely. When they reached the gate, Zhai Qingwu picked up an electric drill from the ground. The tip of the drill was twisted beyond recognition, the silvery-white metal splayed out into several strands, looking like a bizarre eggbeater. Zhai Qingwu turned to look at Zhou Quan, her expression strange.

Zhou Quan was stunned.

"Is this even reasonable?" Zhai Qingwu sighed heavily. "How could they use something like this?"

Zhou Quan remained silent, not knowing how to answer.

"Even if they wanted to drill the door open, the drill bit isn't long enough!" Zhai Qingwu looked perplexed. "When they wake up, ask them: who taught them to chisel a door with an electric drill?"

Zhou Quan remained silent for two seconds, then nodded.

"According to tradition, if you want to open a dangerous door like this, you must offer sacrifices to the God of Keys and Gates." Zhai Qingwu looked down at the drill in her hand and sighed, "Your parents must have tried to chisel the door with that drill, which triggered the door's counterattack and led to them being cursed."

Zhou Quan walked to the side of the door and, sure enough, saw a small spot. It wasn't that the door had been drilled into, but rather that the dust on the surface had been cleared away, revealing the grayish-white material of the door itself.

*Whirrr—* Zhai Qingwu started the drill. The metal strands at the tip spun frantically, forming an elliptical blur.

Zhai Qingwu raised the drill, saying with excitement, "Go back to the tunnel entrance. I’m not afraid of curses; I’m going to try drilling it myself!"

"Alright," Zhou Quan nodded. He retreated toward the tunnel entrance, adding, "Be careful..."

*Ugh.* He groaned. It felt as if he had been struck by a lash; a searing, stinging pain flared across his back.

[Caring for life is shameful; remember to respect the fate of others.]
[Penalty: "Lashing" inflicted once.]

Lines of small text floated before his eyes. He frowned slightly, a bad premonition forming in his heart. This door was linked to his parents' curse; if Zhai Qingwu could figure it out, there might be hope for them. But what if she failed to uncover the truth and ended up getting herself killed instead?

Zhou Quan hesitated for two seconds, then tried to dissuade her: "Maybe we should forget it. This door is not simple; don't get yourself caught up in it." Too many people had already died because of his parents; he didn't want to add another.

"It’s fine!" Zhai Qingwu said without looking back. "I'm not like your parents. To me, curses are like food and water—the more, the better! Even if not for your parents, I want to study this door for my own sake." She waved the drill in her hand and shouted carelessly, "Move back, I'm starting!"

*Whirrr—whirrr—* The drill emitted a noisy, buzzing sound.

Zhou Quan fell silent. He didn't know exactly what Zhai Qingwu's abilities were, but he could see that she could absorb curses and even use them afterward. To her, this door was a treasure in itself. Even if he stopped her today, there was no guarantee she wouldn't sneak back later.

Zhou Quan sighed and stepped back. He stood at the tunnel entrance, staring intently at Zhai Qingwu's back. At the same time, he kept his right hand in his pocket, gripping the Old Covenant Wolf King identity tag, ready to react to anything.

*Whirrr—whirrr—*

"Here I go!" Zhai Qingwu raised the drill, aimed it at the mark on the door, and jammed it forward.

*Screech!* Sparks flew everywhere!

The tremendous noise echoed across the platform, howling like a dragon, drowning out all other sounds. Zhou Quan's expression shifted.

"The door!" he shouted loudly. "The rings on the door are moving!"

Zhai Qingwu, holding the drill, couldn't hear him at all, but she noticed it herself. The large and small rings on the door were all rotating, like a piece of precision gear machinery. At the same time, a thin, dark purple glow began to diffuse from the gaps between the rings.

It flowed from top to bottom. At first, it was just dozens of trickling streams, but as they converged, the light gathered in intensity, growing more formidable. The entire platform was illuminated as brightly as day! From Zhou Quan's perspective, the thick purple light surged downward from a height of a hundred meters, like a massive waterfall crashing down.

"Haha, so many curses! This trip was truly worth it!" Feeling the aura within the light, Zhai Qingwu showed no fear; instead, her face was filled with a joy as if celebrating a festival. She dropped the drill and spread her arms wide to meet the descending light. "Come on! Curse me!"

*BOOM!!!*

With a sound like the world collapsing, the surging light plunged into the ground. In just a few seconds, darkness returned to the platform; only the light from Zhou Quan's flashlight remained.

Zhai Qingwu stood there, arms still outstretched. Her mouth was slightly agape, her eyes filled with confusion. *Where are the curses? Why did they go straight down? Did they not see me?*

Just then, a sudden change occurred!

The entire platform abruptly vanished, as if it had never existed. Scorching hot air surged from below, accompanied by a bright, orange-red glow.

Lava! It was lava!

"Ah!" Zhai Qingwu screamed as she plummeted, her pupils dilating as her mind went blank.