Chapter 27: Gatekeeper

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Upon reaching the straw hut, the immortal goat began to gradually dissipate, even though there was still some energy in the boat.

As for the green lotus seed that Liu Chuan placed in his pocket, it floated out of his pocket.

For a moment, the immortal boat was filled with vibrant colors. The remaining immortal light was mixed with some of Liu Chuan’s vitality and actually began to rapidly fuse into the green lotus seed.

The green lotus seed immediately glowed brightly. Compared to before, its color seemed to have deepened.

“It shouldn’t be a problem.”

When Liu Chuan saw his vitality merge into the green lotus seed, he thought to himself that if anything happened, he could not be blamed. After all, he had done it unintentionally.

“Wake up, wake up. Wu Zhixin, little fatty, wake up.” Liu Chuan patted Wu Zhixin’s chubby little face.

Liu Chuan originally didn’t intend to wake Wu Zhixin up. However, if he left her alone outside, it would be troublesome if she encountered danger. After thinking about it, Liu Chuan still decided to go in with Wu Zhixin.

However, no one knew if something had happened to Wu Zhixin in the endless darkness, or if the green lotus had done something to her, but there was no response even after Liu Chuan called her a few times.

Pa!

Liu Chuan thought for a while and raised his hand to give Wu Zhixin a big slap.

Yes, she was still asleep.

Pa!

He gave her another big slap.

At this moment, Wu Zhixin felt pain in her cheeks and finally woke up.

In order to cover up what he had just done, Liu Chuan quickly helped her up. Without giving Wu Zhixin time to react, he said, “Lin Sisi and Monkey are currently trapped in that straw hut. We need to go in and save them, but it must be very dangerous inside. Why don’t you wait for me outside first?”

Wu Zhixin had just woken up and was still feeling a little dizzy. However, when he heard what Liu Chuan said, she didn’t think too much and continued, “Save them… I want to go too. I must save them.”

Wu Zhixin felt extremely guilty because Lin Sisi had disappeared previously. Now that Lin Sisi and Monkey were right in front of her, she threw her safety to the back of her mind and wanted to save them.

After saying that, she felt her cheeks burning. Just as she was about to take out a mirror to take a look, she was pulled away by the guilty Liu Chuan.

She could not look in the mirror at this time.

The two of them arrived before the straw hut. The green lotus wasn’t wrong this time. It really was an ordinary and tiny thatched cottage.

However, when they walked up, they realized that there was actually an old gatekeeper sitting in front of the straw hut.

The old gatekeeper was stooping over, and he was dressed in an earthen yellow tattered hemp garment. His face, which seemed to have experienced wind and frost, was covered in deep wrinkles. Meanwhile, the skin exposed on his arm was rough like old pine tree bark, with cracks appearing one after another.

This elder’s declining appearance perfectly blended into this shabby straw hut. As a result, Liu Chuan and Wu Zhixin only noticed him when they walked up.

The two looked at each other and saw the surprise in each other’s eyes.

In the end, Liu Chuan still cupped his hands and said, “Elder, could you make way?”

“Children, go back to where you came from. This is not a place you can come to.” The old gatekeeper opened his narrowed eyes and spoke faintly.

After saying this, the old gatekeeper closed his eyes and ignored the two.

When Liu Chuan heard this, he frowned. If they couldn’t even enter the door, how could they save their friends?

However, this old gatekeeper was definitely not an ordinary person. After all, the creatures that Liu Chuan had recently encountered in the ruins were all things that he could not afford to provoke. This old man looked like he was about to die, but Liu Chuan did not dare to be careless.

At this moment, Wu Zhixin didn’t know as much as Liu Chuan did. She was eager to save her friends, so she went up to the old man and scolded him. “What’s wrong with you, old man? Get out of the way, or I’ll be rude to you.”

Liu Chuan was so scared that his heart skipped a beat. He quickly pulled Wu Zhixin over and signaled her to shut up.

Wu Zhixin wanted to say more, but Liu Chuan winked at her crazily. Wu Zhixin was puzzled, but she was not stupid. She was anxious to go in and save their friends just now. However, now that she received Liu Chuan’s hint, she immediately quietened down.

Fortunately, the old gatekeeper didn’t mind. He looked up at the two of them and said, “Little girl, do you know who lives here? If I let you in, it’s hard to say if you’ll be able to come out alive.”

Then, he chuckled and closed his eyes again.

After that, no matter what the two of them said, the old gatekeeper no longer opened his eyes.

When Liu Chuan saw that the old gatekeeper no longer paid them any attention, he also tried to force his way through, but there was an invisible barrier in front of that gate that left them helpless.

Liu Chuan had no choice but to take out the green lotus seed from his pocket and give it a try.

The moment he took out the lotus seed, the old gatekeeper seemed to sense something. He suddenly opened his eyes and appeared in front of Liu Chuan as though he had teleported.

Liu Chuan was shocked. This gatekeeper’s strength was truly astonishing.

He could not even see how the old man had reached him. If he lost the lotus seed, his only hope would be gone.

Fortunately, the old man only looked at the lotus seed with a complicated expression. He rubbed his hands uncomfortably. He wanted to reach out and touch the green lotus seed, but he was hesitant.

In the end, he could only sigh with a sorrowful expression. “Is she alright?”

Upon hearing this, Liu Chuan carefully analyzed the relationship between the old man and the green lotus. Then, he carefully said, “She’s doing good. Her leaves… are still quite green.”

“…”

“So many years have passed. She can’t even maintain her own form anymore?” The old guard shook his head and sighed after saying this. He seemed to be quite helpless.

“Forget it, all of you can go in. Remember to stay true to your hearts after you enter. Whether everything in front of you is fake or real depends on your own judgment.”

With that said, he raised his hand and waved it. Then, the invisible barrier shattered with a loud bang, and the door of the straw hut slowly opened with creaking sounds.

Liu Chuan was overjoyed. This old man and the green lotus really did have something going on. He hurriedly put away the lotus seed and called Wu Zhixin over, preparing to enter the straw hut.

However, as soon as the door was opened, a series of demonic roars could be heard coming from inside the hut. The black shadows seemed to have gone crazy as they rushed out with all their might.

Even the 10,000-Year-Old Ghost was not this terrifying.

The old man guarding the gate snorted coldly. A stream of resplendent immortal qi burst forth from his body and swept towards those black shadows.

The terrifying black shadows seemed to have met their nemesis as they let out shrill screams one after another. Sharp, ear-piercing sounds were constantly produced. Every scream represented the dissipation of a black shadow.

Not long after, those black shadows all disappeared as if their souls had dispersed.

Liu Chuan and Wu Zhixin had never seen such a scene before. The aura of those black shadows was already incomparably terrifying to them, but with a wave of the old gatekeeper’s hand, they were all turned into ashes.

“They’re just a group of trifling demon spirits, yet they think that they can break out of this prison,” said the gatekeeper with disdain. Then, he turned around and said to Liu Chuan and Wu Zhixin, “Go in. Most of these demon spirits have already been killed. Hurry and do your thing.”

At this moment, the two of them didn’t dare say anything else. They thanked him and braced themselves to walk into the straw hut.

The old gatekeeper sighed when he saw them enter.

“Green Lotus, oh Green Lotus! What are you trying to do now…”

…

The moment Liu Chuan and Wu Zhixin entered the straw hut, a person appeared in front of him. It was actually…

Wang Meng!

1. an enemy from the Chinese mobile game Fantasy Westward Journey