While the others rested, Shin, Bek, Pik, and Pik’s minions began investigating the rundown house. They searched every corner, scavenging through broken furniture and collapsed shelves, but found nothing except spider webs, insects, and layers of dust.
Lin frowned as she watched them.
“Guys, what are you doing? Are you trying to rob this house?”
Shin snorted while rummaging through a cabinet.
“We’re looking for treasure. And first of all, we’re not robbing anything. Clearly, no one lives here anymore.”
Pik chimed in eagerly.
“And whoever finds something gets to keep it!”
“Yeah!” everyone agreed—everyone except Lin and Uncle Dan, who sat quietly on broken chairs, watching them.
Uncle Dan’s eyes narrowed. He felt something… a presence. Someone was watching them from afar. He tried to focus, slowly closing his eyes—
Suddenly—
“AAAHHH—EEEHHH—AAAH—OOHH!”
Bek vanished.
The shout echoed through the house as Bek tumbled down a hidden staircase near the fireplace, bouncing and rolling all the way down. Uncle Dan lost his focus instantly.
Everyone rushed to the edge of the opening.
“Are you okay?!” Shin shouted.
“Say something!” Lin added, her voice echoing below.
Bek groaned.
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“Yeah… I’m fine…”
He slowly stood up and looked around. His breath caught.
The walls were covered in a mysterious mural, ancient and faded, depicting two diverging paths.
“Guys,” Bek shouted, awe in his voice. “You need to see this!”
One by one, they followed him downstairs.
“Wooaahhh…”
Despite the darkness, the underground chamber was illuminated by floating pixie orbs, glowing mushrooms, and faintly shining stones embedded in the walls.
Shin’s eyes sparkled.
“I’m rich! These stones and mushrooms must be worth a fortune!”
“Me too—we’re rich!” Bek shouted.
They threw their arms around each other, dancing in circles.
“We’re rich! We’re rich! We’re rich!”
Pik’s group joined in, shouting, “Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!”
Only Uncle Dan remained still, his gaze fixed on the mural above the two doorways.
Lin noticed and crossed her arms.
“Hey, old beggar, why aren’t you happy like those fools?” she said, pointing at Shin and Bek.
Uncle Dan replied calmly,
“What you see is not always real… and what you hear is never near.”
Lin blinked.
“What do you mean by that?”
Before he could answer, the sound of pickaxes echoed as Shin and Pik began shattering glowing stones and plucking luminous mushrooms. Lin quickly joined them, her earlier doubt forgotten.
After collecting a generous amount of loot, they began arguing over how to split it. Eventually, their attention turned to the two doorways.
Shin smirked.
“Uncle Dan, which door should we take?”
Pik scoffed.
“Why ask that scammer? Follow me. We take the right door.”
Lin pointed to the other side.
“We should take the left. Your choices always lead to disaster.”
“What did you say?!” Pik snapped.
They began shouting at each other.
“Hey, hey! Stop it!” Bek stepped between them.
“I know how to decide.”
He suddenly threw his shoe into the air.
“Magical shoe, show us the way!”
The shoe fell… pointing toward the staircase leading upstairs.
Silence.
“So we leave now, genius?” Pik sneered.
Bek scratched his head.
“Hm… I wonder why it didn’t work.”
“Because it’s not magic!” Lin snapped.
Meanwhile, Pik secretly opened his old book, flipping through the pages desperately looking for clue—but found nothing.
“Useless book,” he muttered, throwing it aside.
Shin, unnoticed, swiftly picked it up.
At last, Uncle Dan spoke, his voice firm.
“You should all enter the left door.”
His seriousness was unmistakable.
As expected, Shin shook his head.
“No. We take the right.”
Ignoring Uncle Dan’s warning, everyone followed Shin into the right doorway, their bags heavy with loot.
Uncle Dan remained behind.
He closed his eyes and sank into deep focus.
Then—
Two figures in dark clothing, their fa
ces completely covered, silently emerged from the shadows behind him.
