The Princess Cannot Escape: The Cunning Prince Is Not to Be Messed With

Chapter 312 Forbidden Land

"Isn't what I want very clear?" Gu Lounan said with a smile, looking at the location of the forbidden area.

Yin Quan was startled. Wasn't Gu Lounan here because his identity had been exposed? How did he suddenly become so eager to obtain the divine artifact? Wouldn't that lower Xiahou Ying's chances of winning? No, Xiahou Ying must get the divine artifact.

"What right do you have to possess a divine artifact? Don't even think about it," Elder Gu said angrily.

"If you can take it, why can't I? Even if I'm not Gu Lounan, I'm just like you." Gu Lounan laughed, and for the first time, he felt that this Elder Gu had such a talent for comedy.

"Only you people in the whole world know my identity. If something happens to you inside and I get my hands on it, then when I come out I can openly say that I was protecting our divine artifact." Gu Lounan's eyes were filled with a dangerous glint, and his scheming was terrifying.

In this way, if they encounter any danger in the forbidden area, he can both protect his secret and obtain the artifact, which couldn't be better for him.

"Gu Lounan, don't even think about it." Yin Quan was furious; he was hoping for the best.

"Xiao Quan Quan, why are you treating me like this when he's the one bullying me? I thought you were the fairest person." Gu Lou Nan looked at Yin Quan, his eyes revealing a hurt expression.

"I've always been fair. Your betrayal killed so many people. Should I give you a nice look?" Yin Quan rolled her eyes at Gu Lounan. This guy's skin is getting thicker and thicker. He actually dares to talk to her like that now.

Gu Lounan shrugged, offering no rebuttal. What explanation could he possibly offer for what he had done?

"I wonder if your family will be able to reunite this time?" Gu Lounan then looked at Meng Sheng and Elder Gu.

Meng Sheng merely frowned, but upon hearing this, Elder Gu reacted as if his tail had been stepped on, leaping up and launching an attack on Gu Lounan.

At this moment, Gu Lounan appeared quite relaxed. He flicked his sleeve to dodge Elder Gu's attack, then sidestepped Elder Gu to let him rush over. He then grabbed Elder Gu's hand, took the knife from his hand, and held it to Elder Gu's neck.

At this moment, Elder Gu had no chance to resist at all, and Gu Lounan's speed during this time was frightening.

"What do you want to do? Let me go! I see you're getting bolder and bolder. Aren't you afraid of making enemies of the entire Chonglou Manor?" Elder Gu didn't expect to be captured so quickly. He felt ashamed. He knew his martial arts were inferior to Gu Lounan's, but he was truly ashamed of this level of skill.

"What do you think I have to be afraid of now? Besides, it's not certain whether you'll even survive to reveal my secret." Gu Lounan looked at Elder Gu. If this person wasn't useful, he would have eliminated him long ago; he was simply a nuisance.

"You were the only one who ventured into this forbidden area back then. You were injured and your foundation was damaged, which is why your martial arts have been greatly reduced. But you never mention your experience inside back then, so I had no choice but to have you lead the way." Gu Lounan had deliberately provoked Elder Gu. Although he didn't know how Meng Sheng would react, he knew that Elder Gu would definitely rush over.

"Do you think I would let you take my father hostage in front of me?" Meng Sheng felt extremely angry. Although he didn't show it on the surface, that was his father. He could treat him however he wanted, but no one else could.

"Oh? You've never even glanced at him?" Gu Lounan mocked. Although this man was the leader of the Shadow Guards, he didn't seem as unfathomable as he appeared.

"This is my business. How long will it take for you to let him go?" Meng Sheng was a little impatient. Although he hated Elder Gu, he felt even more annoyed when he saw Elder Gu in someone else's hands.

"I don't need anything, I just need to go in with you." Gu Lounan knew that he could only enter the forbidden area without someone leading him.

Although he is now the new lord of the manor, he has never been to the forbidden area. It seems that the old lord was very wary of him. However, the only person who has ever been to the forbidden area is Elder Gu.

"Gu Lounan, you're so insidious!" Yin Quan rolled her eyes at Gu Lounan, truly wondering how she could have stayed by his side for so long back then.

“I will become like the people I meet, otherwise I would suffer.” Gu Lounan looked at Yin Quan and said with a smile.

Yin Quan really didn't want to talk to Gu Lounan anymore. Talking to him was pointless and just made her look foolish.

After lingering at the entrance of the forbidden area for so long, the group was finally about to enter. What awaited them next was unknown to anyone present except Elder Gu.

"Ah Quan, wait at the door, don't go in," Xiahou Ying said to Yin Quan. He wasn't sure how dangerous the forbidden area was, and he didn't want Yin Quan to go with him, fearing he couldn't protect her.

"No, how could I leave you alone? I know I don't have any martial arts skills, but I will do my best to protect myself. I will hide first if anything happens, okay?" Yin Quan knew that the forbidden area was very dangerous, and she didn't want Xiahou Ying to be alone.

"Ah Quan, listen to me, we'll be fine. It's too dangerous inside." Xiahou Ying knew that Yin Quan didn't want to be separated from him, but he didn't want him to get hurt because of him.

Before Yin Quan could say anything in rebuttal, Meng Sheng spoke up: "Let her come along. No one can predict what will happen next. I will help you."

Mengsheng's unspoken meaning was clear: he was thinking of his father and mother. His mother often told him that she wished she could stay by his side, but she didn't even know where he was.

Hearing Meng Sheng say this, Xiahou Ying said nothing more, but gave a look to the guard beside him, indicating that no matter what, Yin Quan's safety must be protected first.

Elder Gu opened the gate to the forbidden area. It was an invisible gate; if someone tried to force their way in without knowing what it was, it would release deadly poison gas. It wouldn't kill someone immediately, but it would still be quite dangerous.

"The outermost edge of this forbidden area is the same as many other forbidden areas; it has a formation called the Gate of Life and Death. As long as you follow the steps in the formation book, you can break through it," Elder Gu said. When he entered before, he thought it was easy to enter this forbidden area, but he didn't realize that it was much more dangerous behind it.

No one followed Elder Gu; they all seemed to know the way. Only Yin Quan clung tightly to Xiahou Ying's clothes, as if afraid of making a mistake.

Everyone quickly exited the formation, indicating that it was indeed the most ordinary formation for those people. They thought the first hurdle was so easy that once they passed the formation and exited the gate of life, everything would be fine.

However, Yin Quan always felt that this was a forbidden area, so how could there have been only one formation at the beginning, which was so easy to break? She did not let her guard down, but instead became even more nervous.

“Xiahou Ying, I have a feeling it’s impossible for us to get through so quickly. There must be something going on,” Yin Quan said softly, tugging at Xiahou Ying’s sleeve.

Xiahou Ying nodded and looked around. The surroundings were very calm, which was indeed a bit eerie.

Just as she was thinking this, Yin Quan suddenly felt herself slipping into thin air. She screamed and grabbed onto everything she could, but to no avail; she couldn't stop herself from falling.

Yin Quan heard nothing but Wei Jun's voice beside her: "Prince Duan, be careful! The Princess Consort is holding on!"

But Yin Quan didn't know where she was. She couldn't see her surroundings; it was pitch black all around. The only thing she felt was pain in her buttocks, as if they were about to split in two.

"Xiahou Ying, Xiahou Ying, where are you? Xiahou Ying." Yin Quan called out Xiahou Ying's name, reaching out to grope around.

"Ah Quan, I'm here, don't be afraid." Xiahou Ying took Yin Quan's hand to reassure her.

Xiahou Ying surveyed their surroundings; only the two of them had fallen, so it seemed to be an accident. Who would have thought there would be such a hole in the road, and like a mechanism, opening and closing at the same time?

"Where are we? Why is it so dark here?" Yin Quan asked worriedly.

“I think we’ve been tricked into a trap in the forbidden area, but the path above is blocked now. There’s a breeze coming from this side, so there must be an exit. Let’s go take a look.” Because of his martial arts training, Xiahou Ying could see in the dark. He took Yin Quan’s hand and slowly walked over.

After a while, the passage was no longer so dark; instead, it became somewhat bright. But strangely, it wasn't because the sun was shining in, but rather as if it had been illuminated by some kind of magic.

"Xiahou Ying has nothing here, how could this passage be...???" Yin Quan wasn't curious about the unknown at this moment; she was terrified. In this place, the unknown could cost her her life.

“Don’t be afraid. The mountain where Chonglou Manor is located is very peculiar. There is flowing fire beneath it. Legend has it that the God of Fire lives here. And these are just a few scattered points, yet they can illuminate the entire tunnel,” Xiahou Ying explained. He was not particularly surprised that the passage had lit up naturally.

After hearing Xiahou Ying's explanation, Yin Quan understood. This must be a volcano. It was unbelievable that Chonglou Manor was built on a volcano.

But the thought of volcanoes made Yin Quan's head spin even more. A volcano meant that lava would block their way, and since this was a forbidden area, how would they use lava to deal with her and Xiahou Ying?

Now it's just the two of them; the fate of everyone else is still unknown.