Treasure-hunting: Into the Unknown

"Let me explain the rules in the Dark Prison. First of all, there are three things you must keep in mind all the time. First, you are not allowed to ask any questions. You will do whatever I order you to do. Second, you are not allowed to talk to anyone without my permission as long as I am present with you. Otherwise, you will be punished severely. Trust me, you don't want to know what the consequences would be like. And lastly, you are not allowed to laugh at any time! If I see you laugh, I will slap you in the face fifty times for every laugh," Willis sternly told Zachary.

Zachary nodded calmly despite the strangeness of the rules. Deep inside, he cursed Willis resentfully. 'Is this guy crazy? Okay, I am not allowed to ask. But no talking and no laughing? Isn't that too far? People would go crazy if they stayed here for a long time under all these weird rules.' He discretely glanced at the disciples who were receiving physical punishment. Their expressionless faces reeked of desperation. Zachary wondered what cruel torture they had endured. With a shudder, Zachary decided to stay low-key for the time being. He did not want to be welcomed by a severe punishment as soon as he arrived. He had not even figured out the rules of survival in the Dark Prison yet!

"Also, there are three things that you can do. First, you are allowed to fight privately. If somebody finds fault with you, don't expect me to help. You will fight to protect yourself. I won't intervene in your private matters. The second thing is you are allowed to team up. The warriors punished here would often team up with stronger warriors so that they would not be bullied. I won't step in. Lastly, you are allowed to go to the Ghost-crying Forest. The Ghost-crying Forest is a very dangerous place and even the disciples of King Level could get themselves killed if they enter that place. You are free to go if you think you are capable enough, but don't expect anyone to help you. No one would even help to bury your body if you died there," Willis added.

Zachary shook his head slightly at all the added rules. As expected, Willis' thoughts seemed too strange. He could not understand his logic at all. However, Zachary did not only come to the Dark Prison to complete the first trial from Tania. He went here also because he wanted to cultivate in a harsh environment that only the Dark Prison could provide. He decided this was needed if he wanted to raise his strength to the ninth grade of King Level before the King Level contest was held. He also wanted to improve his weapon refining skills. Otherwise, it would be a daydream if he wanted to win the first place during the King Level contest in both the strength and the weapon refining.

He knew that the moment he decided to come to the Dark Prison, heavy responsibilities were placed on his shoulders. He had a lot of things to accomplish.

"Do you understand?" Wil

ested. The last thing he wanted was to implicate Jimmy Chen for his mistakes.

"He knows very well that I hate being cheated the most, but he still aided you. Do you really think he is innocent?" Willis asked in a thunderous voice. His casual manner wavered as if he was on the verge of exploding in rage.

With no other choice, Zachary and Jimmy Chen went back to their previous camp and accepted the punishment. Two more disciples were sent to supervise them.

"I'm sorry, Jimmy," Zachary apologized profusely. He was relieved that Jimmy Chen did not look like he was holding a grudge against him.

"Well, forget it. It happens a lot here. Everyone wants to relax a little when receiving punishment in such a damned place. When I first came here, I often tried to loaf on the job, but the result was that I was punished even more terribly," Jimmy Chen responded. He had experience and understood Zachary's behavior. If anything, he should have warned him because he knew better.

"By the way, how long have you been here? Why were you sent here?" Zachary asked curiously.

"Well, it's a long story. I'd rather not talk about it," Jimmy Chen replied and shook his head. "What about you?"

Zachary noticed that Jimmy Chen was uncomfortable, so he let him change the topic easily. "I was sent here because I offended the young master of the Xiao Clan," he answered. He easily lied because he didn't want to tell Jimmy Chen that he was ordered to come by the dean of the Shura College.

"You have offended the young master of the Xiao Clan? Buddy, you are really bold. You are lucky you were sent here. At least they let you live. You have to be careful. There are many disciples of the Xiao Clan in the Dark Prison. If the young master of the Xiao Clan wants revenge, you can't escape easily." Zachary nodded in understanding. Jimmy Chen seemed like a great guy. He even offered advice despite the trouble that Zachary put him in.