I am the Holy Poisoner, the Empress advised me to calm down

Yun Fei felt a surge of unease after hearing this, and whispered to his companions, "Oh no! It looks like we might not be the only treasure hunters out there. What if they're really trying to harm us?"

"Don't worry too much," Shen Wenbo calmly analyzed. "Judging from the equipment of those people just now, they're probably just ordinary thieves or desperate criminals who don't have much knowledge of the cave's internal mechanisms. We just need to be cautious and avoid direct confrontation as much as possible to avoid danger."

At this point, the unidentified intruders seemed to sense something was amiss. Their leader waved a hand, signaling a halt and a thorough search of the surrounding area. "Hmm? It looks like someone else has been here before?" he said, scanning the area for clues. "Could there be another competitor? Everyone, spread out and search every inch!" He pointed his sword at the nearest dark corner.

The expedition members, hiding on the other side and observing the situation, tensed up and prepared to respond to any emergency. Just then, a familiar yet unexpected voice broke the deadlock...

"Wait, who are you?" It was one of the herbalists who had passed by earlier—a brave young man who had reappeared. How he had caught up with the group and accurately located this location remained a mystery. With his hands on his hips, he demanded menacingly, "You're trespassing into someone else's territory and attempting to steal precious resources? That's illegal!"

Faced with the sudden questioning, the already tense atmosphere became somewhat comical. Shen Wenbo took the opportunity to make eye contact with his companions and quickly adjusted his strategy, ready to use this opportunity to gain more favorable conditions...

The herbalist's words were like thunderbolt, shattering the already tense situation. The bladed thieves were momentarily stunned, clearly not expecting to be intercepted here. Most of them looked surprised and confused, but the short, stout man in the lead quickly regained his composure, his eyes flashing with vigilance and hostility.

"Who do you think you are, kid?" the man responded with disdain, his voice filled with arrogance and mockery. "This is an agreement we reached with the owner here. It's none of your business, a country bumpkin."

Yun Fei whispered to Shen Wenbo, "What should we do? It doesn't seem wise to just charge in."

Shen Wenbo frowned, thinking quickly about how to deal with the situation, and responded in a low voice: "Let's keep our troops in place for now and see how the situation develops. That young friend might have been attracted here by something. We can wait and see. If there is a chance, we might as well give him a hand, and perhaps we can become temporary allies." After saying this, Shen Wenbo looked at the changing situation in front of him again.

At that moment, the young herbalist seemed to sense movement behind him. He glanced back toward the dark corner, his eyes meeting those of the lurking Shen Wenbo. The latter shook his head slightly, signaling him to continue his performance. Receiving the signal, the young man turned around and replied with feigned composure, "I'm no ordinary person! I'm the most renowned herbalist in this forest—Zhao Zihao. That agreement you mentioned doesn't count at all. And..."

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps and soft conversations could be heard not far away. Several elderly men in long robes, with solemn expressions, slowly emerged, each holding a strange magical instrument. They looked quite majestic. "So, a distinguished guest has arrived," the leading elder said with a slight nod and a smile, his tone gentle yet commanding.

Seeing this scene, Liu Qingcheng whispered to the person next to him: "Oh my God, this place is really full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Even such a powerful character has appeared."

Li Qingyue also nodded and agreed, "Well, we're lucky this time to have someone with great help. I hope things go more smoothly from now on."

Seeing the dire situation, the bandit leader immediately smiled and stepped forward to smooth things over. "So it's an honor for the elders to be here in person. We are only following orders and have no other ill intentions. Please understand!"

Another white-bearded old man snorted coldly and interrupted, "It's understandable that young people act rashly, but it's unforgivable for you to invade the holy land so blatantly! Get out of here now, or don't blame us for being merciless!" As soon as he finished speaking, he waved the wooden staff in his hand, and instantly a strange wave appeared in the air, causing everyone to involuntarily step back.

Taking advantage of everyone's distraction, Shen Wenbo quietly approached the herbalist and whispered his plan: "Since there's external interference, why not use this tactic to distract them while we quietly take a detour and explore further. Would you like to help?"

Feeling the gentle tap on his shoulder and hearing these words, the young man instantly understood and nodded, agreeing to join the cooperation. Then the two of them deliberately raised their voices in coordination:

"Okay, okay, since we all have different opinions, why don't we just say goodbye and pursue our own futures?"

-"That's exactly what I want! I hope you won't regret your choice in the future."

Just as everyone was about to leave, a deep but penetrating voice echoed from the depths of the cave: "How foolish... How dare someone try to steal the treasures I've accumulated over thousands of years?"

Everyone present was shocked, knowing full well that this might be the arrival of the true guardian. While Shen Wenbo was secretly pondering how to deal with this unknown crisis, he couldn't help but say to his companion, "It looks like the fun has just begun..." The young herbalist Zhao Zihao and Shen Wenbo exchanged a quick glance, a tacit understanding forming between them. They knew they had to find a way out before the unknown guardian appeared, otherwise, if drawn into a direct confrontation, neither would be able to escape unscathed.

"Everyone, this place doesn't seem safe. Should we find a place to discuss countermeasures?" Li Qingyue suggested softly. Her words were gentle but full of urgency.

"That's right," Liu Qingcheng nodded in agreement, "This guardian's voice doesn't sound simple. We must act quickly."

Zhao Zihao turned around and looked around. "Well, I know a secluded place nearby where we can hide for a while." He then headed deeper into the woods. Shen Wenbo followed closely behind, motioning for the other two to follow.

At the same time, the white-bearded old man who claimed to be one of the elders glanced coldly at the thieves and ordered in a stern tone: "You, get out of here and don't set foot here again!"

The short, fat bandit leader's face was livid, but he didn't dare say anything. He left dejectedly, surrounded by his men. The air around them was filled with a heavy atmosphere, as if even the wind had become unusually cold.