Chapter 150
Bianca stared at the man who had handed her the photo, playing a game of give and take. “Don’t think I’m easy to fool. I ran into her yesterday down in the mountains. She knows medicine, and it’s not easy to get close to her. She’s not someone to be trifled with. You tell him that. The most I can do is lure her into the ancient tomb of the Cursed Queen. You’ll have to figure out how to deal with her yourselves.”
The man hesitated for a moment, not expecting that Bianca had encountered Shermaine the night before. He didn’t doubt her, as Shermaine did indeed know medicine. Clearly, Bianca wasn’t lying. They had met.
“Also, I’ll provide you with an especially vicious, poisonous worm. I’ve raised this worm for a long time. Just one bite, and a person will drop dead instantly,” Bianca said.
At the mention of such a sinister worm, the man wavered. Given Kingston’s nature, he would certainly not pass up something so formidable. “Alright, bring the worm over,” he said.
“Wait,” Bianca said as she went into her house to get the worm. She did have such a worm here, but she had no real intention of giving the one she just mentioned to the man.
It was a temporary measure. However, this worm was no ordinary creature. Although it wasn’t lethal, a bite from it would leave a person aroused for an entire day.
Bianca held a bottle and tossed it over. He caught it. “What if this thing gets loose and bites one of us?” he asked.
“This creature loves sweet things the most,” Bianca replied, tossing over several packets of traditional medicine. “This is the traditional medicine Chloe needs to drink. She’s not in good health. If anything happens to her, I’ll risk my life to make sure you don’t leave Xenhall alive.”
He took the traditional medicine. “When do we make our move?”
Bianca’s expression was blank. “You’ve already calculated that she’ll come looking for me today, haven’t you? Let’s do it today.”
In Xenhall, around nine in the morning, Shermaine left the house after breakfast and encountered several Mysonnians along the way.
Learning Mysonnian meant she could quickly grasp the content of their conversations.
The locals dared not enter the ancient tomb of the Cursed Queen. “These gravediggers are really bold. If they die in there, we can scavenge their left-behind supplies and sell them for money to support our families,” a man said.
They dared not enter the ancient tomb of the Cursed Queen because they knew the power of the cursing skills. The Cursed Queen from a thousand years ago was their ancestor, and they held her in reverence.
In fact, some villagers had entered the tomb before but retreated halfway through. Shortly after they returned, they fell ill and had to seek Bianca’s help to be cured.
Since then, the man never stepped into the ancient tomb of the Cursed Queen again, contentedly digging herbs with the others, no longer dreaming of striking it rich with treasures.
Soon, they left the group of Mysonnians, who were chatting animatedly, behind and headed up the mountain.
Joshua wanted to hold Shermaine’s hand, but she quickly dodged. She stuffed her hands into her pockets, hiding them tightly. “The ground isn’t slippery today.”
Joshua’s attempt was in vain, and a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “I know. I just wanted to hold your hand.”
‘So what? No way,’ Shermaine thought. Shermaine walked ahead. ‘If I don’t put Joshua in his place, he’ll get even more out of line.’
Chloe had been taken away. Bianca had no appetite for breakfast, too angry and worried about her granddaughter’s safety.
Bianca had been waiting for Shermaine to come to her, but in the end, it was Shalene who arrived. Shalene brought several strangers with her.
Bianca had no interest in entertaining them and didn’t hide her displeasure when she saw them. “Why did you bring so many people?”
Shalene laughed and said, “Bianca, these are friends I know. They’re students of archaeology from a famous university in Basterel. They’re very interested in the ancient tomb of the Cursed Queen and want to take a look inside. I know it’s not that simple in there, so I came to you specifically to get some bug-repellent and protective items.”
Bianca rolled her eyes. “You know it’s not simple, yet you don’t send them to go home. Instead, you bring them in to risk their lives?”
“Probably not that serious.” Shalene naturally wanted to go in as well. She disdained the idea of teaming up with gravediggers and had no choice but to join forces with these college students.
She hoped to find some cursing skills left behind by the Cursed Queen. If she could master them, she wouldn’t have to constantly ingratiate herself with Bianca just to learn cursing skills.
Moreover, every time Shalene humbled herself like that, Bianca still refused to teach her.
Kathy then said, “Bianca, hello. The archaeology students are very interested in traditional culture. Besides, we’re about to graduate, and our thesis is on this subject.”
So, they were definitely going into the tomb. Moreover, they didn’t really think there was any real danger.
“We just want to buy some bug-repellent and protective items. If you have them, sell them to us,” she continued.
Bianca really didn’t care about the small amount of money and found them annoying. So, she packed some talismans into their bags and sent them on their way.
She said, “Do as you please. Since you’re so eager to go and risk your lives, it’s none of my business. No need to pay. I don’t value that little money.”
The college students, holding the talismans, didn’t think much of it. They thought Bianca was just being tough on the outside but soft on the inside, and didn’t take her words to heart. Before leaving, they still left 60 dollars.
Bianca really couldn’t sit still. ‘Maybe I should pretend to take a walk in Xenhall and just find Shermaine directly,’ she thought.
Not long after the group of college students headed down the mountain, they ran into Shermaine and Joshua, who were coming up to find Bianca.
Kathy muttered quietly upon seeing them. “What a coincidence. We’re so unlucky.”
“Kathy, why are you so hostile toward them? They haven’t done anything to you.” Cherry had always been very friendly to Shermaine. Hearing Kathy’s words, Cherry retorted.
“Let me repeat this. You’re too naive. They’re not good people.” Kathy was stubborn in her opinion.
‘Is that so?’ Cherry didn’t believe it at all, thinking, ‘Kathy is just being petty, holding a grudge after being subtly insulted by the man at the inn last time.’
Shalene then spoke up. “Anyway, anyone who comes to Xenhall with an agenda isn’t a good person. Last time, I said I would teach them a lesson for Kathy. Well, here I go.”
“Alright.” Kathy was happy.
Cherry looked at the male students beside her. “Why don’t you guys stop her?”
They had all witnessed the man’s skills at the inn. He was authoritative and not to be trifled with.
The male students looked embarrassed and didn’t say anything. Then, Shalene approached Shermaine.
At that moment, Joshua was squatting down to tie Shermaine’s shoelaces. Shermaine was looking down, and although she didn’t want to laugh, her lips couldn’t help but curl up slightly.
Setting aside Joshua’s little schemes, he was actually doing quite well.
Shalene’s voice rang out. “Miss, hello there. Are you also here for the ancient tomb of the Cursed Queen?”
Upon hearing this, Shermaine looked up and met Shalene’s smile. Shalene extended a hand, seemingly to shake hands with her.
Shermaine glanced at Shalene, and in the flicker of her eyes, she sensed the ill intent. But Shermaine still quietly raised her hand and replied, “No.”
Shermaine gave a perfunctory handshake, and Shalene’s fingernail seemed about to prick Shermaine’s hand, but Shermaine quickly grabbed her wrist. “You’re quite clever to poison your nails,” Shermaine said.
Shalene’s face turned pale from the pain. The next moment, Shermaine’s hand moved up Shalene’s forearm, and with a crack, Shalene’s arm was dislocated.
Shermaine released Shalene and gave her a gentle push. Shalene let out a cry of pain, her steps faltering, and she staggered a few steps before collapsing to the ground.
“But your skills are not up to par. Want to harm me? You don’t have what it takes,” Shermaine said.
Shalene’s face turned from pale to sallow. She couldn’t stand being looked down upon. Both Bianca and this woman were like that.
“Just you wait,” she sneered, thinking, ‘I’ll learn the true skills of the Cursed Queen from the ancient tomb and come back for revenge!’
Shalene got up and quickly left. Kathy and the others hurriedly followed, fearing that Shermaine would hold them accountable.
Shermaine wasn’t that petty and wouldn’t bother with a few inexperienced college students. As she turned around, she saw the old lady with a cane coming down the mountain. It was the same woman they had met last night.
Bianca looked at her. “What a coincidence, Shermaine.” She thought, ‘I’ve been waiting for her for so long, and she’s finally here.’
Shermaine raised an eyebrow. “So you’re Bianca?” Shermaine looked at her attire. “Are you heading to the ancient tomb of the Cursed Queen?”
Bianca continued walking down the mountain. “If you want to know who’s been scheming behind your back, follow me.”