Gu Jin and Mimi stepped through the teleportation gate and landed inside their hotel apartment in Country J. The room was quiet and looked just like they had left it months ago, though a little dusty.
As soon as they arrived, Mimi looked around quickly. She started opening doors, checking behind curtains, and even peeked under the couch.
"Where is that Long guy?" she said, clearly annoyed. "I want to show him my new power!"
Gu Jin chuckled softly and walked toward the window, stretching her arms. "Maybe he’s not here anymore. We’ve been gone for a long time."
Mimi stopped and turned around. "You think he left?"
Gu Jin nodded while checking her watch. "It’s already been five months since we entered the mountain. I’m sure the outside world has changed too. My alchemy competition is getting close."
Mimi’s face fell a little, her shoulders drooping. "So... you’re going to leave soon?"
Gu Jin looked at her with a small smile. "Yes. I’ll have to return to the capital. But I promised you a year, didn’t I?"
Mimi looked up hopefully. "So... can I come with you?"
Gu Jin nodded. "Of course. You’re coming with me."
Just as they were speaking, the front door suddenly opened with a soft click.
Long Yifan walked in, calm as ever. His robes were neat, and he didn’t even look tired from cultivation. The moment Mimi saw him, she leapt into action.
"Take this!" she shouted.
Blue soul flames shot out from her hand, swirling through the air like fire dragons. These were the same flames she had used to kill strong plant monsters in the mountain. She was sure this would scare Long for once.
But Long Yifan didn’t even flinch.
He just raised one hand, and it was as if a wall of invisible water appeared in front of him. The blue flames hit it, fizzled, and disappeared completely.
Mimi froze. "Wha...?! How did you do that?! You’re supposed to be weaker than me! I’m at Transcendental Stage 1!"
Long Yifan gave her a light smile. "You really think I stayed at Transcendental Stage 2 while you two were gone for five months? I was cultivating too."
Mimi pouted and folded her arms. "Hmph. I still say Gu Jin should leave you."
Long Yifan ignored her and turned to Gu Jin. "Did you get the key?"
Gu Jin gave a quiet nod.
Long Yifan looked serious now. "You shouldn’t hand it over ."
"What do you mean by ?" Mimi asked with confusion, while Gu Jin also looked at Long Yifan who gave a mysterious smile.
Far away, inside a grand government office filled with scrolls, magical artifacts, and glowing blue lights, Feng Lian was sitting behind a large desk. His brows were furrowed as he stared at the papers in front of him, deep in thought.
Suddenly, a soldier walked in and saluted.
"Sir! A woman named Gu Jin is here to meet you."
Feng Lian’s eyes widened.
He stood up so fast his chair almost fell backward. "Gu Jin?! Are you sure?!"
The soldier nodded. "Yes, sir. She says she has returned."
For a moment, Feng Lian couldn’t believe it. He had honestly thought there was no chance Gu Jin would ever come back. The Void Gate was dangerous, and no one had survived in there for more than two months. But she was here... she was really here!
"Let her in," he said quickly, straightening his clothes.
A moment later, Gu Jin entered the room.
Feng Lian’s excitement turned into shock.
Gu Jin’s right arm was in a cast, and her left leg was wrapped tightly with bandages. She had gauze on her cheek and a bandage over her forehead.
Her robe was slightly torn, and her aura felt weak, almost fading. Her skin was pale like snow, and her lips looked dry.
It was clear that she had suffered badly during her journey.
Feng Lian quickly walked up to her. "Gu Jin! Are you okay? What happened?"
Gu Jin gave a small nod. "I’m fine. I’ve brought the key. But since I’m giving it to you directly, I want the payment first."
Feng Lian didn’t hesitate. "Of course, of course!"
He took out a scroll with golden ink... it was the official agreement. Then, he placed a silver card next to it.
Gu Jin looked at the card and didn’t touch it right away. She turned slightly and gave a quiet nod.
Long Yifan stepped out from behind her and took out a card swiper device.
Feng Lian’s lips twitched when he saw that. He wanted to say, "Do you think I’d give you an empty card?" but he stayed quiet. He knew Gu Jin had every reason to be careful.
Gu Jin ran the card through the device. A second later, the number flashed on the screen.
The full amount was there.
She gave a soft sigh of relief and finally handed the key to Feng Lian. "Good. Then I’ll wait for your message. I want to explore the ancient temple too."
Feng Lian held the key tightly, his eyes shining. "Thank you. Truly. I didn’t know who else to turn to. No other mage was able to retrieve this. What you’ve done is a great help."
Gu Jin didn’t say anything. She simply nodded and left the office with Long Yifan.
Back at the hotel, Gu Jin sat down on the couch and slowly peeled off the bandages. She took off the casts from her hand and leg, tossing them aside. The wounds had all been fake.
Her body was perfectly fine.
Then she picked up the silver card and smiled.
"Transfer all the money to the Gu family," she said to Long Yifan. "They need to pay off the loans they took to buy me the semi-divine rank artifact."
Long Yifan nodded like a loyal assistant. "Yes, Miss Gu."
He left with the card and returned after an hour.
Gu Jin looked at him and smiled lightly. "Good job."
Once everything was settled, she booked a flight for one week later. She hoped she could explore the ancient temple before then.
Days passed quietly. But no message came.
Finally, on the third day, her phone rang. It was a call from Pen, one of Feng Lian’s assistants.
"Miss Gu Jin," Pen said excitedly, "you can enter the temple now!"
Gu Jin’s eyes lit up. "Alright. I’ll be there soon."
Later that day, she stood in front of the ancient temple.
The temple was tall and made of giant stone blocks. The design looked European, but there was something strange about it.
The carvings were not from any known style, and the aura around the temple felt... otherworldly. It was old, quiet, and powerful.
Feng Lian was already there, waiting with a few officers.
When Gu Jin arrived, he quickly came forward and smiled. "Welcome, Great Gu Jin."
Gu Jin raised an eyebrow. "What’s with the officers? This was supposed to be my private entry."
Feng Lian shook his head quickly. "No, no! These officers had already explored the temple. But they found nothing inside. No treasure, no ancient relics, nothing."
Gu Jin narrowed her eyes. "So? You think I already went inside and took everything?"
Feng Lian looked nervous. "Not at all! I just thought... since you’re the one who got the key, maybe you know how to unlock the true secrets of the temple."
Gu Jin’s gaze softened a little, though she didn’t look completely pleased.
"I see," she said slowly. "Then let’s find out if I do."
She stepped closer to the temple, her eyes locked on the heavy stone doors. Deep inside, she had a strange feeling.
Like something was waiting for her beyond those walls.
Gu Jin walked slowly toward the huge stone doors of the ancient temple. The closer she got, the colder the air felt. The carvings on the walls looked like stories, but the language wasn’t one she could read. Still, something inside her stirred... like her soul recognized it.
She lifted her hand and placed it on the center of the door.
The stone felt rough, but warm.
Suddenly, her necromancy energy reacted. It pulsed from her hand like a heartbeat, and the stone under her palm glowed with a soft black light.
Everyone behind her held their breath.
A loud click echoed through the area.
Then grrrrrkkk...! The giant doors slowly began to open.
Dust swirled in the air as old gears turned. A dark hallway appeared beyond the door, filled with ancient mist. It looked like no one had walked through it for thousands of years.
Gu Jin didn’t hesitate. She took a step inside.
Feng Lian called out, "Be careful!"
Gu Jin nodded without turning back. "I will."
The officers stayed outside, unsure if they were allowed to follow. Feng Lian raised a hand and told them to wait.
Inside the temple, it was quiet... so quiet that Gu Jin could hear her own breathing.