The bard fantasized again.

Chapter 143 Being Watched (5.1k1w, please subscribe and vote!!!)
[Let's assume you successfully dealt with the giant spider, not just a small spider—]

The differences between them are significant; please pay attention to distinguish them.

After all, some dwarves will always think that large spiders are giant spiders.

Then you should focus on checking the following three places: the silk glands at the tail, the fangs on the head, and the venom glands in the chest.

By dissecting the silk glands, you should be able to find some secreted spider silk. After collecting a considerable amount, you can package it up and sell it to a tailor shop to earn a substantial extra income.

In the orc shops of the 'Spine Zone,' there are also artisans who specialize in selling dental artifacts. The giant spider's fangs are exceptionally sharp, and the orc shopkeeper is happy to buy them for a small sum...

As Tang Qi was writing this down, he noticed someone tugging at his robe.

Turning around, he saw Kuru, who had just removed the claws, holding his spoils and staring at him expectantly.
"Teeth, beautiful!"

Tang Qi stared at the jet-black, sharp, and smooth teeth, which were almost as thick as his own fingers.

Although it might not be considered particularly beautiful from his aesthetic point of view, he acknowledges that some people would like such teeth:

"How do you like it?"

"Kuru, I love it!"

"Then you'll pretend it yourself?"

"Rua!"

Kuru tucked his eight fangs into the lining of his cloak and began to swing his arms from side to side.

Of course, if you have a kobold companion, you can simply hand the tooth to it, and you will see it pierce the tooth and hang it around its neck as a necklace or ornament.

Keeping your partners comfortable and happy is also a leader's responsibility, isn't it?

The most important thing is the venom gland—

Although most giant spiders do not have venom in their fangs, they will not bite you and cause paralysis or even mutation.

However, when they eat, they secrete a dissolving substance that helps them swallow their prey more easily and aids in digestion and absorption.

Remove the poison glands, store them carefully, and then sell them to the pharmacists in Longjincheng.

This stuff is the main ingredient in 'antitoxin'.

It's not an 'antidote,' it's an 'antide.'

The former is used for detoxification, while the latter increases your tolerance, making you more resistant to toxins. Don't get them mixed up!

"Ever since I entered the dungeon, I've been curious about what you're recording. Is it inspiration for lyrics or music?"

As Tang Qi collected his spoils into his dimensional bag while sketching and writing with pen and paper, Hope finally couldn't suppress her doubts.

"Write a book."

"About the dungeons?"

Consider this a beginner's guide; perhaps you'll be able to read my book once you return to Earth.

It takes time from project initiation and obtaining the publishing license to publication and printing.

However, Merard and the owner of the lame pigeon have reached an agreement and seem to intend to publish this promising new book as soon as possible, which should be available in less than a month.

Hope blinked and hesitated before saying:

"You didn't write down all the unspoken rules of the dungeon, or everything I told you, did you?"

"Of course I wrote it."

Tang Qi spoke frankly.

"Otherwise, why would I insist on finding a guide?"

"Aren't you stealing my business by doing this? Everyone's going to read your books, who's going to listen to my explanations?"

"Aren't you Tieflin supposed to be the 'most adaptable' race? You can't even understand something this simple?"

Tang Qi looked at Hope with a strange expression, but didn't mind doing her a favor; it would be a positive outcome for him anyway.

"Why not build a good relationship with the bookstore, buy the books in sets at a low price, and then set up a stall at the Adventurers' Guild?"
Let's say you can make a profit of one gold coin per book. Selling five copies would be equivalent to shouting outside the guild gate for half a day, wouldn't it?

"That seems to make sense?"

Hope smacked his lips, glancing upwards, seemingly weighing the pros and cons.

"But something just doesn't feel right, I feel like I can't make that much of a profit margin."

Tang Qi, having been exposed, coughed twice: "Don't worry about these details."

"And by doing this, you are actually stealing business from the Red Turban Gang."

"What does it have to do with them that I write my book?"

"These gang members are incredibly cunning! Their headquarters are hidden in some corner of the dungeon, and they rely on the information gap between themselves and adventurers to rob them—"

She pretended to be aggressive and menacing.

"Be careful they find out, they'll be lying in wait for you at the next corner!"

"You're right, we should be careful."

Tang Qi nodded in agreement.

"Then you go first."

"Hey, I'm the guide. If I'm in the lead, I won't be able to lead the way if we run into trouble."

Since entering the second level of the dungeon, Hope has no longer been at the forefront as she did at the beginning.

Instead, they formed a formation of Dawn, Tang Qi, Hope, and Kulu to ensure she was in the center and felt safer when attacked from both sides.

"As we delve deeper into the underground city, the troubles we encounter will only become more and more complicated; that's for sure—"

Monsters from the deeper levels will surge into the shallower levels, while monsters from the shallower levels will try to leave the dungeon.

The reason the guild made "Cleaning the Dungeon" a permanent task was because they were wary of the monsters "bred" by this "living dungeon," which would pour out of the deep well and run rampant in Dragon Gold City.

This happened more than a decade ago.

Hope repeated the threat posed by the underground city.

"Since we are moving deeper into the world, as guides, we can't be the 'leaders'."

"Speaking of these monsters, did they all appear out of thin air in the dungeon? After so many years of 'cleaning up,' I thought they would at least have cleared out the shallow layers."

"Then I don't know. Perhaps they are monsters that keep emerging from the depths?"

After confirming that his wound was bandaged, Hope stood up and waved his hand.
"After all, this is an underground city stained with the blood of ancient dragons, and the ancient magic is said to still influence every inch of the land underground."

After absorbing all their dead souls and corpses, they are molded into new monsters... There are even individuals that mutate due to being soaked in dragon blood.

But whatever the truth is, it's not a bad thing for the adventurer and me.

After all, as long as the "deep well" never stops operating, we'll always have work to do and money to make.

It must be admitted that the existence of the 'underground city' has indeed reduced the frequency of violent incidents in the entire Dragon Gold City and provided a wide range of employment opportunities.

No wonder this city was built around such a deep pit; the lord who came up with the idea of ​​'adapting to local conditions' must be a genius.

After giving a brief evaluation, Tang Qi put the paper and pen back into his dimensional bag:

How much longer until we reach the deeper layers?

"At our current pace, if we don't encounter any troubles along the way that delay our journey, it should only take one day."

"It's faster than I expected, considering it's only been half a day. Dawn, let's keep going."

As Tang Qi made his calculations, he followed closely behind Chen Xi, who was covered in dark green blood and wearing plate armor—on the road of adventure, no one cared about the cleanliness of their body.

"Rua!"

Compared to the 'refined fortress' on the first floor, the second floor is more like the kobold cave we encountered in Starplum Town.

The narrow, interconnected passageways, and even the occasional irregularly shaped earthen houses, ironically gave Kuru a sense of home.

Tang Qi hadn't forgotten what he really wanted to find out after venturing deeper into the underground city, and continued to ask as they traveled:
"Everyone says that the Red Scarf Gang is stationed in the underground city all year round. I thought it was common, but I haven't seen any of them along the way."

"You're really strange. This is the first time I've heard of someone wanting to actively confront these scoundrels."

“I’m afraid they’ll come after me first.”

"Then you can rest assured, these gang members are very cunning."

Although you haven't seen them yet, these people might be hiding in some shadows or corners, secretly observing you.

Once they determine that you are weak enough, vulnerable enough, and likely to become their 'prey,' they will lurk on your inevitable path as you return laden with your loot. For ordinary adventurers, fulfilling these three conditions only requires a single, unexpected encounter, but for you, even emptying the entire dungeon might not bring them to your door.

Hope said with certainty.

Although the group of adventurers had previously dealt with the giant spider in less than a minute.

But she wouldn't really see the giant spider as a scattered, weak little goblin.

Whether it was Tang Qi's split-second judgment in throwing the blazing glue after realizing the danger, or the subsequent display of power by the silent plate-armored warrior who could easily carve a broken sword into a spider, both of these actions set him apart from the vast majority of adventurers.

Especially that warrior; she had only ever seen such formidable strength in some high-level adventurers.

Although there are only three people, they work well together, are experienced, and there is also a spellcaster who has not yet revealed his true level.

Unless they are locked in a fierce battle and haven't fully recovered, the Red Turban Gang wouldn't target such a team.

"It seems that for the time being, we just need to be careful not to run into any enemies around the corner."

Just as Tang Qi said this, they turned a corner in the deep tunnel.

"Haha!"

It seemed to have been lying in ambush in a corner all morning. Before the ring's radiance could spread, a humanoid black figure suddenly shouted and slashed at the dawn with a short sword.

The bend was very narrow; if it were a longsword or greatsword, which adventurers usually use, they would probably have to swing it against the wall, hindering their movement.

However, Chenxi was holding a broken greatsword. With her quick reflexes, she turned her disadvantage into an advantage and easily parried the attack.

In the ensuing struggle, he swung his sword with all his might, even knocking the opponent's short sword to the ground, causing him to stumble back two steps.

Tang Qi then followed, shining the light from the ring in front of them.

Looking at the squad of green-skinned goblins in front of him, Hope couldn't help but ask in confusion:
Has anyone ever said you have a jinx?

"I reiterate, this is merely a 'reasonable analysis of the situation,' nothing more!"

"Okay, just be careful anyway."

See the scales on their green skin? These are the creatures I mentioned before, mutated after being soaked in 'dragon blood'.

They weren't like the comical green-skinned creatures commonly found in the forest; these guys, whose physical abilities had been enhanced, were not to be trifled with—"

……

"Easy to deal with, too easy to deal with."

Watching the silent warriors rush into the tunnel, each a small green-skinned creature slashing and dismembering their bodies with near-violent force...

For the first time, Hope realized that 'the dungeon could be as safe as home'.

The tunnel was narrow, only wide enough for one adult or two goblins; an ordinary adventurer would likely suffer greatly.

After all, they rarely had the ability to fight multiple opponents at once. Surrounded by several dragonblood goblins, they could only retreat repeatedly, searching for an open space where they could unleash their skills.

Before that, they were probably already annoyed by the goblins' incursions.

But when an individual's abilities far surpass those of a goblin, these things cease to be a problem.

Because sharing her innermost thoughts with everyone was too exhausting for Chenxi, she would only communicate with Tang Qi telepathically unless absolutely necessary.

But in Hope's eyes, the plate-armored warriors in Tang Qi's team were like a ruthless slaughtering machine, standing in front of everyone and crushing them all with just a broken sword...

Kuru only needed to cheer from behind, shouting "Rua," while Tang Qi used the light to begin recording the characteristics of these dragonblood goblins—

Legend has it that the dragonborn of this land are the offspring of bards and dragons—I know some dragonborn do not agree with this, but that is not the topic I want to discuss today.

But in any case, you might have to admit that the dragonborn, the kobolds, and these goblins in front of me with scale-like patterns on their skin instead of scales, may be closely related.

Perhaps you can accept this fact to highlight that your bloodline is purer.

They are at least half human and half dragon blood.

Otherwise, once the truth is revealed and it becomes clear that you have absolutely no connection to the dragon, you might become the subject of jokes.

As Tang Qi wrote the final period, Chen Xi returned to his side, covered in blood and grime.

As Tang Qi approached the corpses and looted the spoils, he noticed that the goblins' equipment was exceptionally well-made; their short swords were polished to a gleaming shine, as if they were brand new.
"Even if these things are sold at half price, it's still a considerable income... Were they seized from other adventurers?"

No wonder everyone says that being an adventurer is a highly profitable profession.

In just half a day, the target they had entrusted with the task was still nowhere to be found, but the spoils they had collected should be enough to repay Hope's 33 gold coins.

However, the strong smell of blood had already affected Tang Qi's sense of smell, which also meant that they might attract some monsters with a more sensitive sense of smell.

As they moved forward, Tang Qi couldn't help but ask:

"I often hear the sound of groundwater surging when I pass through the first floor. Is there a water source on the second floor as well? It would be best to clean the dirt."

Hope handed Tang Qi the map she had drawn. She seemed to have done her homework well, as she had marked key landforms in some shallow areas on the map:
"At the end of our path, where the second and third floors meet, there is indeed a waterfall that cascades down, forming a small pond—but I don't think it's necessary to deal with it in such a hurry."

After all, once we leave the second level, we'll soon enter the swamp, and even if we clean it up, it won't last long.

"Let's talk about it on the way back."

Tang Qi continued to record his observations on the second level, so much so that he felt he could even write a 'Dungeon Guide' on his own.

But then he thought that such a strange underground city might only exist in Longjin City, and he ultimately dismissed the idea.

Compared to the calm and peaceful atmosphere of the first day in the dungeon, the second level of the cave is much darker and more cramped, filled with the smell of rotting corpses.

You can see many corpses along the way, monsters' and adventurers', some already decayed into skeletons, others still retaining a trace of warmth.

From the few living people you occasionally see, you can also see wary or scrutinizing expressions.

When you encounter them, you'd better act relaxed, as if you're not tired at all from the frequent encounters.

Because they would do the same thing—

You can't expect every adventurer in this lawless land to be friendly and kind to one another.

The Red Scarf Gang isn't the only 'villain' in this world.

If you've encountered all of this and successfully overcome the obstacles and trials, then I can hardly congratulate you.

Because when you hear the rushing sound of the waterfall, you'll realize that your guide can no longer offer any route advice.

For most guides, the second level is the end of their journey.

This means that from now on, you will have to rely on yourself for everything.

If you are still not discouraged, then please hold your head high and move forward.

Yes, Mr. Dwarf, I am reminding you.

What? You're saying your head is too big and too heavy to lift?
Then never mind...

"Are you sure you want to come with me to the third floor?"

After a long and arduous journey, Tang Qi and his group finally felt exhausted and decided to pitch their tents at the edge of the pond where the waterfalls converged.

Setting up camp near a water source was a safe choice, which is why Tang Qi was able to spot several unfamiliar adventurer faces.

Fortunately, neither of them wanted to cause trouble, so they followed the unwritten rule and simply nodded to each other before choosing a corner to rest without disturbing one another.

Hope, who was sitting with him by the campfire, nodded and showed Tang Qi his two maps:
"I have only ever dared to glimpse the third level from this cliff, but I have never actually seen it."

Now that I finally have a powerful backer to rely on, of course I want to take this opportunity to check it out.

"Since you insist on coming, I certainly have no reason to stop you."

But I must make this clear beforehand: if anything goes wrong, I won't care about your safety—and don't cause me any trouble either.

"Don't worry, if we really run into trouble, it'll definitely be a case of 'every man for himself'."

Hope didn't shy away from saying,
"But you don't have enough antivenom. I'll go ask the adventurers over there if they have any extra. The miasma in the swamp is still a bit scary..."

As she spoke, she patted the mud off her shorts and walked toward the other two campsites.

At the same time, dawn reminded Tang Qi in her heart:

"We seem to be being watched."

"Those adventurers?"

"No, it's not."

Chenxi sensed those gazes with her soul and finally denied it.

(End of this chapter)