The moment I saw their expressions, so full of confidence, I couldn't help but ask, "What exactly is going on?"

Zhuoma Yangjin smiled faintly, glancing dismissively left and right at the two Germans holding her captive. "They think they're so clever, don't they? I'll just let them be clever for once."

At this point, I began to vaguely understand, yet still harbored some confusion. Judging by Zhuoma Yangjin's demeanor, the German bastards couldn't really do anything to her. But... could it be—was she doing this intentionally? That's why her retinue following behind hadn't made a move. Otherwise, with just a casual display of skill, summoning a few monsters similar to the Cocoon People, those Germans would surely be scared witless, shitting their pants. It really seemed to be the case. If she had deliberately allowed herself to be captured by the Germans, there must be a purpose, but I couldn't discern any objective that would warrant her taking such a huge risk.

Riske wasn't an idiot. Hearing Zhuoma Yangjin's words, his face changed drastically, and he looked at me nervously, watching how I would respond. At the same time, Matias also stared at me with palpable anxiety.

I paused to think. Zhuoma Yangjin definitely had a performance prepared and expected me to play a part. Might as well humor her. So, I spoke without haste, "So, what needs to be done?"

Just then, Zhuoma Yangjin abruptly switched to the Sichuan dialect, which most Tibetans could understand. "I did it on purpose, deliberately planning to wipe them out here in one fell swoop. These Germans have gone too far. Coveting the Seven-Story Pagoda isn't a matter of just one or two generations. They've wanted to make a move for ages, but Grandpa wouldn't allow it. Now, the opportunity has finally arrived." Fortunately, in Tibet, the people I usually dealt with were mostly Sichuanese, so Sichuanese was practically the common tongue there, meaning I could understand her. Of course, she was speaking this way to guard against the Germans. They understood Mandarin and Tibetan, but might not understand Sichuanese. Zhuoma Yangjin truly was meticulous in her planning.

It seemed my guess was correct; Zhuoma Yangjin had her own plan. "Then..." I decided to just play along, no need to press for absolute clarity. Zhuoma Yangjin, being sharp, immediately picked up the thread, still speaking in Sichuanese: "The rock wall behind you, the fiery red substance flowing within it—that's all sealed monsters. Every single monster from the Seven-Story Pagoda is here. All you and Old Li need to do is drip your blood onto the rock surface to lure the monsters out. I will handle everything else."

"What if we can't escape?" She made it sound too simple. I couldn't quite believe we could eliminate the Germans so easily and then manage to withdraw unscathed without being implicated.

Zhuoma Yangjin suddenly turned somewhat mournful. "What does it matter if we can't escape? Life is just death anyway; if we must die, it's fine to die together." She switched back to Mandarin. The Germans immediately understood, and Matias and Riske cried out in alarm, scrambling to have Hans translate Zhuoma Yangjin's words. Hans’s face instantly turned ashen, and the hand gripping Zhuoma Yangjin's arm involuntarily slackened. The arrogance he'd displayed when first presenting her to us vanished, replaced by utter dread. He stared at Zhuoma Yangjin in disbelief and spoke several sharp sentences in German. Riske quickly translated, "Ms. Zhuoma Yangjin, you deliberately allowed us to capture you and agreed to bring us here to demand the map from Luo Lian, just so you could die together with him?"

Zhuoma Yangjin nodded calmly, saying nothing. I knew the sentiment she held for me, and hearing this, even though it was the Germans' speculation, still left me with an indescribable mixture of feelings.

Before we could move, amidst a flickering, fiery glow, everyone was calculating their own interests, their expressions shifting, faces alternately shadowed and bright.

The Germans were momentarily stunned by Zhuoma Yangjin's composure, and Riske slowly loosened his grip on her arm. Zhuoma Yangjin regained her freedom, let out a cold laugh, glanced back at Staff, who still had his gun trained on her, then slightly turned her head and gave Zhuoga a subtle signal. Zhuoga nodded lightly and walked toward Old Li and me. Zhuoma Yangjin started to move as well, intending to leave, but Hans and Riske immediately reached out to block her.

This was utterly insulting. The fire in my chest immediately flared up, and I was about to step forward and confront them. Zhuoga quickly grabbed me. Before I could regain my senses, I felt a chill across the back of my hand, and looking down, blood was already welling up. "You?!" Both shocked and angry, I raised my other hand, unsure if I should slap her across the face. Zhuoga offered an apologetic smile, pointed toward Zhuoma Yangjin, indicating it was her idea. Only then did I suddenly recall her mention of using blood as a lure. I slowly lowered my raised hand.

Looking over at Zhuoma Yangjin, her subordinates behind her were slowly encircling Staff and the others in a tightening formation, while she herself subtly adjusted her position into an open gap. Hans and the others were entirely focused on us and failed to notice the shift.

And Zhuoga, in that brief moment, had already cut Old Li's hand. She then stepped back, gripping her Tibetan knife, adopting a defensive stance for us.

After ensuring both of us had bled, Zhuoma Yangjin addressed Hans and the others with a tone laced with mockery and pity: "Perhaps you can meet the dead Ma—" Before the word "Ma" had fully left her lips, she agilely leaped backward and simultaneously shouted to me, "Wipe the blood!" I followed suit, quickly rubbing the back of my hand against the rock. Over there, her subordinates were already moving to shove Hans and the others toward the rock face. As soon as the rock touched human blood, Zhuoga swiftly grabbed the sleeves of Old Li and me and pulled us away.

All these actions took place in less than two or three seconds—it happened faster than the eye could follow. We had barely taken two steps when the dazed Germans stumbled and crashed toward the rock. The fiery red light suddenly dimmed, immediately followed by countless 'splashing and thudding' sounds. The Germans let out a chorus of shrieks.

Without giving us a moment to catch our breath, Zhuoma Yangjin shouted an order, and everyone immediately sprinted toward the side of the Great Altar.

As we neared the altar, Zhuoma Yangjin pulled something from her robes and twisted a mechanism near the lower left corner. A door immediately slid open in the altar structure. Without waiting for an invitation, everyone rushed inside. Once inside, Zhuoma Yangjin immediately shut the door.

I was gasping for breath, confused about the situation. Several butter lamps were lit inside the room, allowing us to clearly see everyone's faces. Old Li and I were still shaken, and Zhuoma Yangjin's subordinates all wore expressions of "close call," but only Zhuoma Yangjin looked completely cunning, though she too was breathing heavily, she regarded me with a triumphant look.

"Wh-what?" I managed to ask while still catching my breath.

"Nothing much," Zhuoma Yangjin smiled, shaking her head. She casually leaned against the wall to sit down. "You can watch a good show soon enough." After a thought, she added, "Maybe you two will find it interesting."

At this moment, the small girl with the perennial smile complained to Zhuoma Yangjin, "Princess, why do you neglect your own well-being, wasting time talking nonsense with him?"

Zhuoma Yangjin merely smiled again without replying. The young girl then vented her dissatisfaction toward me: "Luo Lian, you're completely fine, not a hair out of place! You have no idea what our Princess went through for you... she almost gave up her own life..." Before she could finish, Zhuoma Yangjin sharply cut her off, speaking in Tibetan. I didn't understand the words, but judging by her expression, she clearly did not want me to know what had transpired.

I wasn't a fool. It was obvious Zhuoma Yangjin had suffered significantly to save me. This realization filled me with a complicated mix of emotions. Looking at her, I didn't know what to say.

Zhuoma Yangjin, however, acted as if nothing had happened. She first asked how I was, whether the cut on my hand needed treatment or bandaging. Without waiting for my answer, she then inquired about Old Li's condition. Old Li reported he was fine, just a superficial wound that had already stopped bleeding. I assured her I was fine too.

Zhuoma Yangjin still instructed her subordinates to bring over barley wine for us to briefly disinfect the cuts, and someone else brought clean cloths for bandaging. Seeing how respectfully they treated her, I could hardly hold back, and finally asked her, "Are you really a princess?"

Zhuoma Yangjin replied lightly, "How could I be..."

The young girl, hearing this, became visibly annoyed and interjected, "Princess, why aren't you a princess? Why do you show him such deference?" That "him," of course, referred to me, Luo Lian. However, I hadn't noticed any deference shown to me. Could I truly be that dense?

Before I could ask further, Zhuoma Yangjin deftly changed the subject, asking us, "Do you two want to know what trouble the Germans outside are running into?" As she spoke, she stood up, full of energy, and began feeling along the wall. While doing so, she added, "Let me introduce to you two guests: we are currently beneath the Great Altar. There are small lookout slits that allow a clear view of the outside situation. Even the dead Mark might make an appearance. Furthermore... those monsters certainly won't be able to force their way in against the Germans. So... if you're interested, you can watch the entire process."

But I hadn't even fully recovered my strength; Old Li and even Zhuoma Yangjin's subordinates were still panting heavily. Only she was radiating vitality. Was her physical fitness truly that exceptional? Could she really be some noble princess with a constitution different from ordinary people?

With a soft "click," Zhuoma Yangjin opened a window about the size of a washbasin. She beckoned me over, "Come look here..." Then she moved two steps aside, pressed two small bronze clasps, and another window of the same size opened. She turned to Old Li, "Li Zeng, you come too." After speaking, she leaned her face against the opening and watched outside for a few seconds before returning to stand next to her subordinates, intending to sit on the floor. Zhuoga immediately stopped her, and a man quickly took off his Tibetan robe and respectfully spread it at her feet. Only then did Zhuoga let Zhuoma Yangjin sit on the fur-covered robe.

It was clear that even if Zhuoma Yangjin wasn't a princess, she must be a figure of immense standing.

Seeing that we hadn't moved, Zhuoma Yangjin smiled. "Aren't you curious about what's happening outside? Although we can't hear the commotion from inside, that doesn't mean nothing is happening... However, if you really don't wish to know... that’s fine too. Once you've rested up, we'll take you away immediately."

Heaven knows how strong my curiosity was; how could I possibly let such a golden opportunity pass by? Therefore, I quickly said, "I'm still a bit weak, but as soon as I can catch my breath, I'll come take a look."