The bard fantasized again.

Chapter 15 Elegy
Anyone will remain vigilant in unfamiliar environments.

Not to mention that Tang Qi knew very well that the 'Kobolds' were a race that habitually used traps in their tunnels.

When he is under stress, his five senses are much sharper than usual.

Therefore, the moment he heard the soft rustling sound coming from above his head, he felt a chill run down his spine as if pricked by needles, and instinctively lunged backward.

"Boom!"

He deduced that the soil above him seemed to have lost its support, causing the rubble on top to fall with a crash and pile up in front of him, forming what appeared to be a wall of rubble.

Fortunately, he managed to pull his legs away in time, and they only got a little mud and sand on them, so he wasn't trapped in place.

"What's the situation on your end?!"

The commotion startled the black snake. They were now separated by a wall, so the sound came through the gaps in the rubble, sounding somewhat muffled.

Tang Qi straightened up, still shaken, and said in a flustered voice:
"It seems they don't really want me to get through."

He soon heard the sound of a blunt object striking the pile of stones, followed by a loud crash.

“Cut off his goatee! How many stones are still on it?”

The dwarf cursed loudly—

Once a gap is chiseled into this wall of piled-up rubble, the stones stored in the soil will quickly fill that part, making it difficult for them to return the way they came.

"Go find another way!"

The black snake shouted,

"The kobolds' tunnels are interconnected; if you enter from other entrances, you can always meet up with them at the end."

The jackal rolled its eyes and suddenly suggested:

“Boss, I don’t think these kobolds can stop you at all. Why don’t you just let me wait for you at the cave entrance? That way I won’t get lost here and you won’t be able to find me.”

The black snake pondered for a moment and realized that the jackal's words made sense.

It has been confirmed that it is a kobold's lair, and Xingmei's location is almost certain as well. The next steps should not be too difficult.

And if there really are problems that the two of them can't solve...

Adding two more half-baked individuals would only create more trouble.

"Then you guys wait by the campfire. Keep an eye on your surroundings, don't die in the kobolds' lair—lest you lose your life and become a laughingstock."

Don't you believe in my swordsmanship?

"I'm just reminding you, two fists can't fight four hands. It's best to resolve any conflicts after we're safe!"

The black snake intended to offer a reminder, but ultimately didn't give any further instructions.

He whispered a few more words to the gravel, and then his footsteps faded away a moment later.

Tang Qi quickly stood up at this moment, holding a crossbow.

He looked warily at the jackal that was casting a mocking glance his way—

The other party deliberately slapped the blade of the sword against his palm, as if he were sizing up a pig waiting to be slaughtered.

Fearing that the vicious dog might suddenly attack, Tang Qi had no choice but to take the initiative:

"Black Serpent made it very clear: the tunnels are interconnected, and there could be ambushes at any of the entrances. If we start fighting amongst ourselves here, none of us will be able to break through the kobolds' siege."

His instinct for danger made his heart leap into his throat, so tense that his back was unknowingly soaked with sweat.

The jackal spat coldly and gritted its yellow teeth:

"Are you threatening me? I could easily kill you right here and leave this cave; there won't be any danger then!"

"Of course you can do that, I can't go against you."

"Hmm?" The jackal couldn't help but let out a soft snort when it saw the other party showing weakness.

"As long as you can ensure there are no pursuers behind us—"

If a group of kobolds has already gathered around the campfire, even if you manage to escape the attack on your own, you will most likely be seriously injured.

"My aim is pretty good; taking care of one or two kobolds for you won't be a problem, and you'll have an easier time if you encounter danger."

Tang Qi's tone softened, completely unlike his previous confrontational manner.

"Listen, I don't want to die, and neither do you. Right?"
Nobody wants to die in a dark, sunless cave;
No one will bring flowers to your grave to mourn you.

He hummed a tune, as if to ease the tense atmosphere—

The cave was extremely dangerous for the two half-baked individuals, and anyone with a modicum of self-awareness would know what to do.

The latter stared intently at Tang Qi, remaining silent for a long while.

Tang Qi simply placed the light crossbow on the ground, raised his hands, and indicated that he was harmless.

The two were very close, and in the narrow tunnel, he had almost no chance of winning the fight.

Whether or not the crossbow is put down doesn't matter.

And it was precisely this submissive attitude that made the jackals even more satisfied:

"Then you'd better pray that there really are kobolds outside."

After saying that, she turned around and confidently exposed her back.

Tang Qi then picked up the light crossbow.

The jackals let him do as he pleased.

For some reason, he found himself starting to trust the poet.

After all, even he himself wasn't confident that he could face the kobolds' attack alone, so it was even less likely that the other side could.

Black Snake's reminder was correct—even if internal strife is inevitable, one should ensure they are in a safe environment first.

They have conflicts with each other.

Yet they all cherished their own lives.

More than the fear of others, the jackal now needs a complete helper.

But once it's all over, no matter how much the poet tries to talk his way out of it, he'll turn a deaf ear and strangle his throat.

He certainly wouldn't kill anyone, and he rarely does.

"Death only brings the fear of dying, while oppression brings lasting despair."

This is the way Black Lagoon survives.

This port city, located on the westernmost edge of the Lords' Alliance and near the boundless sea, has always been a cradle of greed and criminals.

The jackal will not miss it.

But every time I see my lost little finger, I realize that I can never escape the mark it left on me—

It's hard for the 'rats' born in Black Reef Harbor not to attach themselves to the various gangs, big and small, in the city.

Whether it's running errands or gathering information, someone always has to do odd jobs for important figures to make a living.

The spies planted by the opponent often come from this type of person.

The jackal is not the nail.

But the leader believed there was a mole planted under his command.

He just happened to become the target of a warning to others, and was pinned to a long table where his little finger was chopped off.

"Boss, I'm really not a traitor!"

He still remembers his reasoned arguments.
"I've been working under you since I was six years old. Without your help, I would have died in the Rat Alley long ago. How could I possibly betray you!?"

The leader nodded and had the doctor reattach his severed little finger.

Then he chopped it down again.

"Why!?" he cried out in confusion.

"Your voice is too loud."

He still remembered the leader's explanation.
"Those who are afraid of me will not loudly defend their innocence."

They will only kneel at my feet and beg for my mercy.

A person who lives in constant fear can only gain a sense of security when others fear him.

The leaders are like this, and so are the jackals.

only……

How could I have thought of these things?

The jackal noticed that the flashing memories before his eyes were gradually fading away.

A sweet, slightly fishy taste spread from the tip of my tongue.

The blockage in his throat prevented him from making a sound for a long time.

The pain gradually began to creep in, and he finally caught a glimpse of the crossbow bolt lodged in his neck.

The blood from the arrow dripped into the tunnel, mixing with the mud and sand to form a pool.

He finally realized.

Everything I just saw and heard was a replay of my final moments.

The hatred in my heart was like dry tinder suddenly ignited, then quickly turned to ashes as life faded away.

He then realized that his emotions had been affected by magic.

For a fleeting moment, he felt a sense of trust in this poet!

when! ?

He suddenly remembered two lines of a folk song that Tang Qi had been humming...

"Watch your bottom, okay?"

Tang Qi suppressed his nausea and shot another arrow at the jackal's rear end, pinning it to the ground like a nail.

Amidst the jackals' cries of pain, the melodious ballad continued:
Nobody wants to die in a dark, sunless cave.

No one will bring flowers to your grave to mourn you;

If you still have hope of surviving,

Remember the mocking smile this elegy casts upon you.

The jackal, who understood everything, was powerless to cry out why Tang Qi was a spellcaster.

All that could be uttered was a weak, breathless gasp, filled with resentment and confusion.
"Kill me...and you will die in the siege too..."

His unfocused pupils reflected Tang Qi's shadow.

Even as he faced death, he couldn't understand why this poet, who was even more fragile than himself, dared to assassinate him.
"Unless I can be sure those kobolds won't crawl out of the hole."

Tang Qi didn't mind explaining his motives.

But the jackal lying paralyzed in the passageway was already silent.

(End of this chapter)