The three of them had just barely subdued one mermaid monster together. If three of those creatures appeared on the ship at the same time, the danger would be self-evident.

After Ashalina said this, Bai Youwei also hesitated.

But right now they had far too few clues. Without testing things out, it would be very hard for her to discover the pattern of the labyrinth.

“How about this…” After thinking for a moment, Bai Youwei settled on a compromise. “Let’s look for clues in this area first. If we still don’t find anything, we’ll do what I said and enter through the third cave opening.”

Although this stretch of water had already been surveyed, the lighting was poor, and it was pitch-dark — there might be information they had missed.

Everyone looked at each other and had no objections.

After that, Pan Xiaoxin took the helm of the fishing vessel and drove slowly along the edge of the stone caves.

All around was quiet, only the sound of water.

A’long and A’qing kept watch at the bow and stern respectively. Bai Youwei and Ashalina each took one side, carefully observing their surroundings inch by inch — not a single protruding reef was overlooked, not a single broken shell went without a second glance. They circled the entire area this way, and besides feeling that the several cave openings were uncannily similar to one another, they still found no clues.

“Could it be that I’m overthinking this?” Bai Youwei murmured to herself, lost in thought. “Maybe the condition for passing through is killing the fish monsters. Now that the fish monster is gone, if we enter the cave again, maybe we can get out?”

Ashalina shook her head. “If just killing the fish monster was enough to clear the stage, there would be no need for the labyrinth to set up seven caves that look exactly the same.”

She paused, then shook her head again. “Wait — that’s wrong. There are eight identical caves.”

The cave they had come out of, plus the seven caves ahead — eight in total.

“It’s like looking in a mirror… seven mirrors…” Bai Youwei mused, then thought of another possibility. “Could it be that every cave has a mermaid guarding it, and you have to kill all seven mermaids to unlock the exit?”

It was a bit of a cliché idea, but not without possibility.

Ashalina thought about it and let out a long sigh. “It seems there’s no choice but to go in once more. We have too few clues.”

Knowing full well that entering the cave was risky, it was still their only option right now.

Ashalina looked toward Bai Youwei, signaling her to make the call.

Bai Youwei looked back at her and gave a single nod.

Ashalina drew a slow breath and raised her voice: “Xiaoxin, start the boat! Drive it into the third cave opening!”

From the wheelhouse, Pan Xiaoxin acknowledged and steered the fishing vessel toward the cave entrance.

The third cave.

The same unchanging darkness and cold.

Ashalina gripped her sharpened bamboo spear and kept a wary eye on the water surface ahead. A’long and A’qing also held bamboo poles, standing guard on the deck.

There was no shortage of bamboo poles on this boat — unfortunately, they were too brittle compared to the monster’s claws, and only marginally safer than close-range weapons like blades.

Bai Youwei gently stroked the plush rabbit, inwardly weighing the risks of using an electric shock in this kind of environment.

The foul, fishy stench in the air seemed to have grown heavier.

Her unease rose again. She furrowed her brow, swept her gaze across the water, and called out: “Xiaoxin, back the boat out.”

Neither Ashalina nor A’long and A’qing objected — it seemed they had also sensed it.

The fishing vessel began reversing.

*Bang!*

Suddenly, a collision!

Then — *bang, bang bang* — a succession of impacts came from beneath the hull!

Everyone on deck changed expression, gripping their weapons all the tighter.

The next second, a soaking wet fish monster hauled itself up the side! Clutching the iron railing, it was trying to pull itself onto the deck with its upper body strength alone!

Ashalina thrust her bamboo pole at it, trying to knock it back into the water!

The mermaid monster felt the pain but did not let go — instead, it puffed out the umbrella-shaped frill around its neck and let out a threatening screech!

Then another dark shape lunged up beside it, vaulting over the iron railing in one leap and hurtling straight at Ashalina!

Ashalina stumbled backward in haste, dodging the attack — but the other fish monster seized the moment to climb aboard!

“Get back down!”

A’long charged over with a fierce shout, driving his bamboo pole straight at the fish monster’s throat! On the other side, A’qing came sprinting over and jabbed at the monster’s unyielding, grasping claws!

—