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

"They're coming!" Abu warned anxiously, "We don't have time to waste here!"

Lin Chen quickly turned around and said to the man in black and Xiaomei, "Let's retreat first and talk in the cabin."

The man in black nodded, signaling everyone to follow him. They moved quickly in the darkness and finally arrived at the small hut of the temporary shelter.

The hut was simple but tidy, with a blazing fire bringing a touch of warmth. Lin Chen leaned against the wall and breathed a long sigh of relief.

"This is really dangerous." Abu said breathlessly, his eyes full of relief.

Xiaomei comforted him: "As long as we are together, there is no difficulty that we cannot overcome."

The man in black looked at Lin Chen and said in a deep voice, "We must formulate the next plan as soon as possible. Time is running out."

Lin Chen nodded and said seriously, "Let's put Lu Yan's matter aside for now. We must find out the movements of those pursuers."

At this moment, there was a sudden knock on the door. Everyone immediately became alert and grasped their weapons.

"Who is it?" Lin Chen shouted in a low voice, ready to fight at any time.

The door slowly opened, and a cloaked figure appeared. He took off his hood, revealing a tired but determined face.

"It's me, the old priest of the Snow Mountain Guardian." The man said in a deep voice, "I'm here to help you."

Lin Chen and the man in black exchanged a glance, their guard slightly lowered. The old priest walked into the room, his eyes sweeping over the crowd.

"I know you hold the divine weapon in your hands, and I'm also aware of your current predicament." After the old priest sat down, he slowly spoke, "But there is one thing you must know—Lu Yan is not an enemy. His goal is only to protect this snowy mountain."

Lin Chen was stunned, a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes: "How did he do all this?"

The old priest sighed, his tone heavy, "He discovered the secret of the artifact many years ago and has been searching for someone truly worthy of inheriting it. And that person is you."

Lin Chen felt a mixture of emotions, not knowing what to say. The man in black asked thoughtfully, "So, what should we do now?"

The old priest stood up, his eyes firm. "I will take you to see Lu Yan and let him explain everything in person. But before that, we must first deal with the crisis at hand."

Xiaomei patted Lin Chen's shoulder gently and said softly: "Don't worry, we will always be with you."

Lin Chen took a deep breath, a look of determination flashed in his eyes: "Okay, let's face this test together."

Outside, the wind howled, and the night deepened. Not far away, Lu Yan stood in the darkness, gazing at the small house. His eyes were filled with complex emotions.

"Lin Chen, the real test is about to come." Lu Yan whispered to himself, "I hope you can be the one who saves the entire continent."

At this moment, a new challenge quietly unfolded, and how the future would unfold remained shrouded in uncertainty. Lin Chen and his companions followed the old priest through the secret passage, the chill wind around them seeming even more biting due to the tense atmosphere. The occasional shouts of patrolling soldiers were heard, making one's heart tighten.

"Can we really trust this old priest?" Xiaomei asked in a low voice, with a hint of doubt in her eyes.

The man in black nodded, his tone firm: "We have no choice now, we can only trust him."

Lin Chen gripped the weapon tightly, his eyes stern. "No matter what, we must protect the artifact. This is our only hope."

The old priest seemed to have heard their conversation and turned around and said, "I know you have doubts in your hearts, but please believe me, Lu Yan is not an enemy. Everything he does is for the Snow Mountain and the entire continent."

After passing through the secret passage, they finally arrived in front of a spacious cave. In the light of the fire, they could vaguely see a tall figure standing in front of them - it was Lu Yan.

Lu Yan turned around and stared at Lin Chen with sharp eyes: "You are finally here, Lin Chen. I have been waiting for this moment for a long time."

Lin Chen met Lu Yan's gaze, a determined light flashing in his eyes: "I am willing to listen to your explanation of everything."

Lu Yan nodded slowly and waved his hand to signal everyone to go deeper into the cave. The cave was warm as spring. Several warriors sat by the fireplace, looking at the intruders with eyes full of surprise and curiosity.

A young female warrior stepped forward and looked at Lin Chen and the others with a hint of surprise in her eyes: "Are you the people in the legend? How dare you come here?"

Another burly warrior whispered, "Lord Lu has always told us that one day someone would arrive with a divine weapon. I never thought it would actually become a reality."

The old priest whispered comfortingly, "Don't worry, everyone. These are allies. We need to unite now to deal with the impending threat."

Lin Chen smiled slightly, looked at the people around him, and said, "Don't be nervous, everyone. We have the same common goal."

Lu Yan walked up to Lin Chen, his eyes serious. "Lin Chen, the artifact in your hand is not only the key to the Snow Mountain, but also the hope of all human civilization. But at the same time, it will also attract countless greedy eyes."

The old priest interjected, "Indeed, we must quickly find a safe place to hide the artifact to ensure its power is not abused."

At this moment, hurried footsteps were heard in the distance, and a soldier hurried into the cave: "Master Lu, this is bad! A group of unidentified people are approaching here, and it seems they are coming for the artifact!"

Everyone suddenly became alert and the atmosphere became tense.

Lin Chen said in a deep voice: "Lu Yan, what are your plans?"

Lu Yan's eyes were determined, and he pointed his sword forward: "Follow me, we will retreat through the secret passage and then find a safe place to hide."

Just as everyone was preparing to evacuate, there was a sudden commotion outside the hut. Several passing villagers stopped and looked in curiously.

"Oh, isn't this the mysterious young man in the village? I heard that he is holding something powerful in his hand!" A villager couldn't help but shout.

The woman next to him quickly covered his mouth: "Don't talk nonsense, be careful not to be heard by others!"

The villagers were whispering and talking among themselves, but they all looked at him with admiration and shock.

The old priest whispered to Lin Chen, "Although these villagers don't know the details, they know that you are the one who brings hope. Now, we can't waste any more time, let's go."

Everyone quickly left the hut, passing through secret passages and struggling forward in the darkness. Not far behind them, the shouting of those unidentified people was getting closer and closer.