underground orchid
The strange noise broke the apparent silence.
On the high pavilion, Gongsun Li's pupils contracted as her gaze locked onto the direction of the stone pavilion. She gently gripped the ribs of the paper umbrella hidden in her sleeve.
Beneath the withered tree, Yi Xing suddenly opened his eyes, a sharp glint in them. His fingers, hidden in his sleeve, rapidly made calculations, constructing a three-dimensional model of the desolate garden in his mind.
Ming Shiyin stood with his hands behind his back, an invisible sense quietly probing the stone pavilion. He sensed a faint but unusually active energy fluctuation, and the aura of living beings. And not just one.
Yang Yuhuan's pipa rested across her lap, her slender fingers lightly pressing the strings, her entire being subtly harmonizing with the music.
Hidden behind the artificial hill, Pei Qinhu held his breath, focused his energy in his dantian, and let his scorching internal energy circulate within him, ready to unleash its power.
The tense atmosphere almost solidified.
However, the anticipated attack did not occur. Silence returned to the direction of Shiting.
"The other party is very vigilant. That sound... it might have been unintentional, or it might have been a test," Yi Xing said in a low voice.
"This place is not safe to linger, nor is it suitable for a direct assault." Ming Shiyin's voice was low. "Tiger, come back. Ali, watch for an escape route."
Pei Qinhu obeyed and retreated, his eyes filled with resentment.
“Master, the sound of underground flowing water suggests that the entrance might be near the stone pavilion,” Yi Xing analyzed. “The enemy is heavily guarded; forcing our way in might alert them.”
Ming Shiyin nodded: "Now that we know their lair, we can say we've returned empty-handed. The fact that they're so wary shows how important this place is."
He looked at Yang Yuhuan: "Yuhuan, could you sense the nature of that energy fluctuation?"
Yang Yuhuan concentrated and sensed for a moment, then said softly, "Chaotic...and corrosive, unlike the power of the righteous path. It is somewhat similar to the toxicity of the 'Soul-Separating Grass,' but even more violent."
"Poisonous flowers often bloom in deserted places, just as conspiracies always breed in corners where the sun cannot shine; what the pursuer needs to do is not to blindly eradicate them, but to bring in the light of day and make everything have nowhere to hide."
Yi Xing said slowly.
“Drawing in the sunlight…” Ming Shiyin repeated these four words, a slight smile playing on his lips. “That’s right. We should let the people who should know discover this place by chance.”
He already had a plan in mind—to have the Dali Temple, which represented the order of Chang'an, knock on this door.
"Let's go," Ming Shiyin decisively ordered.
The group quietly slipped away. The moonlight continued to illuminate the ruins and the possible entrance to the abyss beneath the stone pavilion.
The atmosphere on the return journey was somewhat somber. Although the target had been confirmed, the enemy's caution made them wary.
Just as they were about to leave the deserted garden, Yi Xing suddenly raised his hand to signal them to stop.
His sharp gaze fell upon a pile of miscellaneous items to his side:
"The shadows there are 'deeper' than elsewhere."
As soon as he finished speaking, that "deep" shadow began to slowly writhe as if it were alive!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
