Lin Wan'er gazed in the direction Xiao Yichen had left, her heart burning with resentment. She knew full well the perilous nature of Xiao Yichen's mission, and how could she bear to let him face it alone? After a brief internal struggle, Lin Wan'er gritted her teeth and decided to defy Xiao Yichen's wishes, secretly following behind him.
She quickly returned home, changed into light, easy-to-move clothes in a dark gray color to blend better into her surroundings, and tied her hair back into a neat ponytail. She packed essentials such as dry food, a water pouch, and some basic self-defense tools. Lin Wan'er knew that this surveillance operation had to be flawless; otherwise, it wouldn't only fail to help Xiao Yichen but could also bring him even greater trouble.
Lin Wan'er quietly left home through the back door, relying on her familiarity with the capital's layout, and chased after Xiao Yichen in the direction he had gone. She cautiously weaved through the streets and alleys, her eyes vigilantly observing her surroundings, not missing any detail that might give her away. Passing a small alleyway, she heard a commotion of footsteps and quickly ducked behind a wooden barrel. It turned out to be a patrol of soldiers passing by. Lin Wan'er held her breath until the soldiers' footsteps faded into the distance before she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
After leaving the capital, the roads became wider, but this also increased the risk of being discovered. Lin Wan'er spotted Xiao Yichen in the distance; he was riding a horse at a rapid pace. Lin Wan'er frowned; she had no horse and could only rely on her own two feet. But she wasn't discouraged. Instead, she quickened her pace, using the trees and bushes along the roadside as cover, and quietly followed behind.
After walking for a while, Lin Wan'er noticed that Xiao Yichen had slowed down, seemingly wary of something. She quickly found a secluded bush to hide in, observing Xiao Yichen through the gaps in the branches and leaves. She saw Xiao Yichen dismount, lead his horse forward slowly, his eyes constantly scanning his surroundings. Lin Wan'er's heart tightened; had he discovered her? She dared not breathe, pressing her body tightly to the ground, trying to minimize her presence. After a while, Xiao Yichen remounted and continued on his way, and Lin Wan'er finally breathed a sigh of relief.
As time passed, the sun gradually sank in the west, turning the sky a vibrant orange-red. Lin Wan'er had been walking for a long time, and her legs began to ache, but she still had no intention of giving up. At this moment, Xiao Yichen arrived at the edge of a small town. He stopped outside the town, seemingly observing the situation inside. Taking advantage of the situation, Lin Wan'er found a grove of trees near the town and rested behind a large tree. She took out her dry rations and water pouch, ate a simple meal, and replenished her strength.
Night fell, and the town was brightly lit. Xiao Yichen led his horse into the town, and Lin Wan'er waited a while before quietly following him in. The streets of the town were sparsely populated, and Lin Wan'er followed Xiao Yichen from a distance, using the shadows of the houses and the crowds as cover. Xiao Yichen stopped in front of an inn, handed his horse to the waiter, and went inside. Lin Wan'er's heart skipped a beat; she knew Xiao Yichen would likely stay here tonight, and this was a good opportunity to get closer to him.
Lin Wan'er found a secluded corner near the inn and waited quietly. After a while, she saw the light on in the window of Xiao Yichen's room. Lin Wan'er cautiously circled around to the back of the inn and discovered a drainpipe leading to the second floor. Lin Wan'er took a deep breath; she knew it was dangerous, but to keep track of Xiao Yichen's situation, she decided to take the risk.
Lin Wan'er grabbed the drainpipe and began to slowly climb upwards. Her hands turned red from the effort, but she gritted her teeth and persevered. Finally reaching the second floor, she gently climbed down into the hallway. Lin Wan'er quietly approached Xiao Yichen's door, pressed her ear against it, and tried to hear what was happening inside. She heard Xiao Yichen's light footsteps and the sound of water being poured; it seemed he was washing up.
Just as Lin Wan'er was intently listening to the sounds inside, a waiter suddenly came up the stairs. Lin Wan'er jumped in fright. She looked around but found nowhere to hide. In that critical moment, she spotted a flowerpot nearby and quickly hid behind it. As the waiter passed by, he seemed to sense something; he stopped and glanced in the direction of the flowerpot. Lin Wan'er's heart leaped into her throat. She held her breath, her eyes fixed on the waiter. Fortunately, the waiter didn't notice her and continued walking down the corridor.
Lin Wan'er breathed a sigh of relief. After the waiter's footsteps faded away, she quietly returned to Xiao Yichen's room. The room was now silent, and Lin Wan'er guessed that Xiao Yichen was probably already resting. She gently pushed open the door to an empty room next door and went inside. This room was adjacent to Xiao Yichen's. Lin Wan'er walked to the wall, pressed her ear against it, and tried to sense Xiao Yichen's condition.
Nothing happened that night. The next morning, Lin Wan'er woke up early. She heard noises coming from Xiao Yichen's room and knew he was preparing to leave. Lin Wan'er observed the situation downstairs from the inn through the window, and after Xiao Yichen left the inn, she quickly followed him.
The weather was gloomy today, and it looked like it was going to rain. After leaving the town, Xiao Yichen headed towards a valley. Lin Wan'er followed at a distance. She found that the environment around the valley was very treacherous, shrouded in mist, giving it an eerie feel. Lin Wan'er felt a little scared, but when she thought of Xiao Yichen, she mustered her courage.
Upon entering the valley, visibility decreased further. Lin Wan'er proceeded cautiously, not daring to get too close for fear of being discovered by Xiao Yichen. Suddenly, she heard a faint rustling sound, like someone moving in the grass. Startled, Lin Wan'er quickly hid behind a large rock, her eyes fixed nervously on the direction of the sound. After a while, a wild rabbit darted out of the grass, and Lin Wan'er finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Xiao Yichen seemed to be searching for something in the valley, his footsteps moving rhythmically in various directions. Lin Wan'er followed quietly behind, trying not to make a sound. Just then, a light drizzle began to fall, the raindrops pattering on the leaves. Lin Wan'er was relieved that the rain would provide better cover for her pursuit, but she was also worried that the rain would leave her trail.
She followed Xiao Yichen even more cautiously, constantly using the surrounding environment to conceal herself. Xiao Yichen stopped in front of a cave. He stood at the entrance for a while, observing, then drew his sword and carefully entered the cave. Lin Wan'er waited a moment, then followed him into the cave. At the entrance, she picked up a twig and gently drew several marks on the ground that only she could understand, so she could find the exit if needed.
Upon entering the cave, Lin Wan'er found it extremely dark, with only a faint sliver of light filtering in from the entrance. Her eyes gradually adjusted to the darkness, and she saw Xiao Yichen's figure not far ahead. The cave was filled with a damp smell, the walls were wet, and water droplets occasionally dripped down. Lin Wan'er walked carefully, trying not to step in puddles to avoid making any noise.
Suddenly, Lin Wan'er felt her foot slip. She quickly grabbed a nearby rock to avoid falling. However, her hand scraped against the rock, and a sharp pain shot through her. Lin Wan'er gritted her teeth, enduring the pain, and continued following Xiao Yichen. She saw Xiao Yichen stop at a fork in the road in the cave, seemingly pondering which direction to take.
Lin Wan'er's heart skipped a beat. Using her mind-reading ability, she tried to sense Xiao Yichen's thoughts. Although they were some distance apart, she could vaguely sense that Xiao Yichen seemed to be recalling some clues, one of which pointed to the passage on the right. Sure enough, Xiao Yichen walked towards the passage on the right. After he had gone a little further, Lin Wan'er followed him.
After walking for a while in the passage on the right, Lin Wan'er heard the sound of flowing water. She was puzzled, wondering what the sound meant. As she continued forward, the sound grew louder, and an underground river appeared ahead. Xiao Yichen stood by the riverbank, observing the flow of the water and the surrounding environment. Lin Wan'er hid behind a rock, her eyes fixed on Xiao Yichen.
Xiao Yichen seemed to be searching for a way to cross the river. He walked along the riverbank for a while and found a simple bridge made of a few logs. He stepped onto the bridge and cautiously tested its sturdiness. Lin Wan'er knew she had to catch up quickly, otherwise she might lose track of him once he crossed. She looked around and noticed some vines not far away. Suddenly, an idea struck her.
Lin Wan'er ran over, grabbed the vine, and pulled hard to make sure it was sturdy enough. She tied one end of the vine to a large tree, then swung across the river. When she reached the middle of the river, Lin Wan'er felt her hand slippery. Startled, she quickly gripped the vine tighter. Fortunately, she eventually swung successfully to the other side, landing softly on the ground without making a loud noise.
Xiao Yichen remained oblivious to Lin Wan'er's movements, continuing his walk along the riverbank. Lin Wan'er quietly followed behind, noticing that the underground river seemed to lead to a larger cave. Strange lights flickered within the cave, as if some treasure lay hidden inside. Xiao Yichen's steps became more cautious; he gripped his sword tightly, ready to face any potential danger.
Lin Wan'er sensed the tense atmosphere and took out a small dagger from her waist, holding it in her hand. As they approached the depths of the cave, the light grew brighter, and Lin Wan'er saw strange symbols carved on the cave walls. She had never seen these symbols before, and they seemed to exude an aura of mystery. Xiao Yichen stopped before a huge stone platform, on which rested a box radiating light.
Lin Wan'er's heart skipped a beat. She knew this box must be very important, possibly related to Xiao Yichen's mission. Just as she was about to get closer to get a better look, a low rumbling sound suddenly echoed from the cave, as if some mechanism had been triggered. Xiao Yichen immediately became alert, looking around for the source of the danger. Lin Wan'er also gripped her dagger tightly, knowing that a crisis was imminent.
As the roar grew louder, small holes began to appear in the cave walls, from which countless arrows shot out. Xiao Yichen dodged behind a stone platform, avoiding the rain of arrows. Lin Wan'er used the surrounding rocks for cover and also luckily escaped the attack. But the rain of arrows didn't stop; instead, it grew denser. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er were trapped in place. They had to find a way to disarm the mechanism to continue.
Lin Wan'er closed her eyes, concentrated, and tried to use her mind-reading ability to perceive the mystery of the mechanism. She sensed an ancient and mysterious power, which seemed to be conveying some information to her. Lin Wan'er tried hard to decipher this information, and she discovered that the key to the mechanism lay in the strange symbols on the cave walls. If these symbols were arranged in a certain order, the mechanism could be disarmed.
Lin Wan'er opened her eyes and shouted to Xiao Yichen, "General Xiao, look at the symbols on the wall! Arranging them in a certain order will disarm the mechanism!" Xiao Yichen was startled to hear Lin Wan'er's voice; he hadn't expected her to be here. But he didn't have time to think and immediately looked at the symbols on the wall. He realized Lin Wan'er was right, so he began to search for the correct order of the symbols.
Under the barrage of arrows, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er struggled to find a way to disarm the mechanism. Both sustained injuries, but they did not give up. After much effort, Xiao Yichen finally found the correct order of the symbols and quickly pressed them in sequence. With a flash of light, the arrow rain stopped, and the mechanism was disarmed.
Xiao Yichen walked up to Lin Wan'er, his eyes filled with both reproach and gratitude. He looked at her sternly and said, "Wan'er, what are you doing here? Do you know how dangerous this is?" Lin Wan'er lowered her head, like a child who had done something wrong, and said, "General Xiao, I just didn't want you to risk your life alone. I wanted to help you." Xiao Yichen sighed. He knew this wasn't the time to reproach Lin Wan'er; they faced even greater challenges. He said, "Alright, let's not talk about that now. Let's see what's in this box."
They walked to the stone platform and looked at the glowing box. The box was exquisitely crafted, covered with intricate patterns. Xiao Yichen reached out and carefully opened the box. Inside was a crystal-clear jade pendant with strange patterns resembling the symbols on the cave walls. Xiao Yichen picked up the pendant and examined it closely. He knew this pendant must hold a significant secret, and this secret might be the key to unlocking this mysterious mission.
Lin Wan'er also looked at the jade pendant. She tried to perceive the information within it using her mind-reading ability, but she only sensed a powerful and mysterious force, nothing else. Xiao Yichen put the jade pendant away and said to Lin Wan'er, "Wan'er, let's leave here first. This place is too dangerous." Lin Wan'er nodded, and they returned along the same path, leaving the dangerous and mysterious cave.
After emerging from the cave, the rain had stopped, and sunlight streamed through the clouds onto the earth. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er stood in the valley, knowing that this discovery was just the beginning. Many more mysteries awaited them to unravel, and they would continue to journey side by side, facing unknown challenges.
After Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er emerged from the cave, the air in the valley was fresh after the rain, but neither of them relaxed. Xiao Yichen frowned, clutching the jade pendant he had obtained from the cave, pondering its connection to the mysterious mission. Lin Wan'er followed silently behind him, glancing at Xiao Yichen from time to time, worried that her unannounced accompaniment would only anger him further.
They walked along the valley, Xiao Yichen's gaze sweeping over the surroundings like a hawk's. Suddenly, he stopped by a patch of grass, crouching down to examine it closely. Seeing this, Lin Wan'er quickly stopped as well, holding her breath, afraid her noise would disturb Xiao Yichen. There were some fresh marks in the grass, as if someone had been there recently, and judging from the size and shape of the marks, it seemed more than one person had been there.
Xiao Yichen reached out and gently touched the indentations, his brows furrowing even more. He stood up and walked in the direction of the marks, Lin Wan'er following cautiously behind. They hadn't gone far when they found some scraps of cloth. The cloth was rough and dull in color, unlike anything an ordinary person would use. Xiao Yichen picked up a piece of cloth and smelled it. A faint, fishy smell filled his nostrils, and a chill ran through him; the smell was likely blood.
"It seems there was a fight here not long ago," Xiao Yichen said in a low voice, which was clearly audible in the quiet valley.
Lin Wan'er couldn't help but lean forward, looking at the strip of cloth and asking, "General Xiao, do you think this is related to your mission?"
Xiao Yichen didn't answer, but instead gazed intently into the distance, continuing to follow the trail. As they ventured deeper, the atmosphere around them grew increasingly eerie. The trees became more lush, sunlight filtering through the layers of leaves to cast dappled patterns, and the grass grew taller, almost reaching their knees.
Suddenly, a breeze blew by, bringing with it a pungent odor. Xiao Yichen's expression changed, and he quickened his pace, with Lin Wan'er hurriedly following. After passing through a thicket, the sight before them made Lin Wan'er involuntarily cover her mouth. Several corpses lay haphazardly in the clearing ahead, their wounds gruesome and terrifying; some were from sharp blades, others looked as if they had been torn apart by some ferocious wild beast.
Xiao Yichen walked to the corpses and examined them carefully. The people were dressed in various ways; some looked like江湖人士 (jianghu figures, people of the martial arts world), while others wore rough clothing similar to what had been found near the cave. Xiao Yichen found a token in the hand of one of the corpses, with a blurry pattern engraved on it, resembling the symbol of some family or organization. He carefully put the token away, intending to study it more closely later.
Lin Wan'er watched nervously from the side. Although she had seen some bloody scenes before, witnessing such a horrific sight up close still made her feel nauseous. Suppressing her discomfort, she said to Xiao Yichen, "General Xiao, this place is terrifying. What's wrong with these people?"
Xiao Yichen stood up and said with a solemn expression, "They must be fighting each other for something or some secret. Judging from their clothes and the items they carry, the forces behind them are very complex."
Just then, Lin Wan'er suddenly felt a chill creep up from behind. She instinctively turned around and saw pairs of green eyes peeking out from the grass. "General Xiao, danger!" Lin Wan'er exclaimed.
Xiao Yichen immediately drew his sword and turned to face the bushes. With a rustling sound, a pack of wolves sprang out of the bushes, their eyes gleaming with hunger, baring their teeth and lunging at Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er. Xiao Yichen shielded Lin Wan'er behind him, his sword flashing with cold light, each strike aimed precisely at the wolves' vital points. Lin Wan'er also drew a dagger from her waist, nervously watching the wolves, ready to assist Xiao Yichen at the crucial moment.
The wolves seemed enraged, their attacks becoming even more ferocious, swarming in from all sides. Although Xiao Yichen was highly skilled in martial arts, he was gradually becoming overwhelmed by the sheer number of wolves. Taking advantage of his momentary lapse in attention, a wolf pounced from the side, its sharp claws aimed at his arm. Seeing this, Lin Wan'er, without hesitation, rushed forward and plunged her dagger into the wolf's belly. The wolf, in pain, released Xiao Yichen and turned to attack Lin Wan'er. Xiao Yichen quickly swung his sword, killing the wolf instantly.
"Wan'er, are you alright?" Xiao Yichen asked with concern.
Lin Wan'er shook her head and said, "I'm fine, General Xiao. We need to find a way to get rid of these wolves."
Xiao Yichen looked around and spotted a large tree not far away, with a thick trunk and low branches. He pulled Lin Wan'er and ran towards the tree, fighting off the wolves that were chasing them as they went. They reached the tree, and Xiao Yichen first pushed Lin Wan'er up a branch before quickly climbing up himself. The wolves circled the tree below, howling and leaping, trying to attack them.
Lin Wan'er sat on a tree branch, panting heavily. Her arm had been scratched by the wolf's claws, and blood was flowing down her arm. Xiao Yichen felt a pang of heartache when he saw her injury. He tore off a corner of his clothes and used it to bandage Lin Wan'er's wound.
"Wan'er, you shouldn't have acted so impulsively. If something happens to you, I..." Xiao Yichen hesitated, unable to finish his sentence.
Lin Wan'er looked at Xiao Yichen with a determined light in her eyes and said, "General Xiao, I will not let you face danger alone. We are together."
Xiao Yichen said nothing more. He looked at the wolf pack under the tree, pondering how to get rid of them. By now, the sun had begun to set, and darkness was gradually falling. If they couldn't leave soon, the valley would become even more dangerous at night.
Just as they were trapped in the tree, a melodious flute tune drifted from afar. The music was ethereal and mysterious, and as it began, the wolves became restless. They stopped circling the tree and ran towards the direction from which the music was coming. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er exchanged a glance, both seeing confusion in each other's eyes.
"This flute music is so strange, it seems to control the wolf pack," Lin Wan'er whispered.
Xiao Yichen nodded and said, "Let's follow them and see."
After the wolves had run far away, they climbed down from the tree and cautiously chased after the sound of the flute. Along the way, they tried to remain as quiet as possible, using the trees and bushes as cover. As they drew closer, the flute music became clearer, and they saw a figure in a white robe ahead. This person had their back to them, holding a flute and playing that mysterious melody.
Around the man in white, a pack of wolves ran and leaped incessantly, as if obeying his commands. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er hid behind a boulder, observing the man's every move. Suddenly, the man in white stopped playing, and the wolves fell silent. The man in white slowly turned around, revealing a young and handsome face; his eyes were deep and cold, as if they could see through everything.
"You've been following me for so long, it's time to show yourselves," the man in white said coldly, his voice echoing in the silent valley.
Knowing they had been discovered, Xiao Yichen pulled Lin Wan'er out from behind the boulder. He gripped his sword, eyeing the man in white warily, and asked, "Who are you? Why are you controlling these wolves?"
The man in white smiled slightly, but his smile was devoid of warmth. He said, "Who I am is not important. What is important is that you should not come here. The secrets here are not for you to know."
Lin Wan'er frowned and said, "We came here to unravel the mystery. These people died inexplicably, which must be related to some conspiracy. We can't just sit idly by."
The man in white glanced at Lin Wan'er, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes. He said, "You? You have no idea what you're facing. The deaths of these people are just the beginning; an even greater disaster is about to befall us."
Xiao Yichen stepped forward and said, "No matter what we face, we will not back down. If you know anything, you had better tell us the truth, otherwise don't blame me for being impolite."
The man in white sneered and said, "You're not polite? We'll see if you have the ability." With that, he waved his flute, and the wolf pack pounced on Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er again.
Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er immediately prepared for battle. This time, they were more experienced, standing back to back and cooperating to defend against the wolf pack's attacks. Xiao Yichen's swordsmanship was even more ferocious, each strike capable of killing a wolf, while Lin Wan'er used her mind-reading ability to sense the wolves' attack directions in advance and promptly warn Xiao Yichen.
In the midst of the fierce battle, Xiao Yichen noticed that the man in white seemed to be intentionally observing their fighting style. A thought struck him: was the man in white testing them? With this in mind, he deliberately created an opening, and a wolf seized the opportunity to pounce on him. Just as the wolf was about to bite him, Xiao Yichen dodged the attack, simultaneously slashing the wolf with his sword. Seeing this, the man in white nodded slightly, and with another wave of his flute, the wolves ceased their attack and retreated to his side.
"Your strength is not bad, but this is just a test," the man in white said.
Xiao Yichen frowned and asked, "A test? Who exactly are you? Why are you testing us?"
The man in white did not answer his question, but said, "Come with me, the answer you seek may be here." After saying that, he turned and walked into the depths of the valley, with the pack of wolves following behind him.
Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er hesitated for a moment. They didn't know what the man in white was up to, but in order to find clues to their mission, they decided to follow him anyway. After following the man in white for a while, they arrived at a cave hidden deep in a valley. The cave was surrounded by vines and weeds, making it difficult to spot without careful observation.
The man in white entered the cave, followed closely by Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er. A mysterious aura permeated the cave, its walls adorned with luminous gems that illuminated it brightly. At the far end of the cave stood a stone platform, upon which rested ancient scrolls and books.
The man in white walked to the stone platform, picked up a scroll, and said to Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er, "The answer you are looking for is here. These scrolls record an ancient secret that involves the fate of the entire continent, and the jade pendant you found is just one of the keys to unlocking this secret."
Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er stepped forward, their hearts filled with shock as they looked at the scrolls and books on the stone platform. They had never imagined that such a seemingly ordinary task would conceal such a huge secret.
Lin Wan'er picked up an ancient book, opened it, and saw that the language inside was ancient and obscure, which she couldn't understand at all. She looked at Xiao Yichen and said, "General Xiao, I don't recognize these characters. Can you understand them?"
Xiao Yichen shook his head and said, "I can't understand them either, but we must find a way to decipher these ancient books. Perhaps they contain the key information for us to complete our mission."
The man in white looked at them and said, "These ancient books are not so easy to decipher; they require special methods and knowledge. However, I can give you some hints, but you must agree to one condition."
Xiao Yichen looked at the man in white and asked, "What are the conditions?"
A sly glint flashed in the white-clad man's eyes as he said, "You must work with me to unravel this secret, and in the process, you must follow my instructions."
Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er exchanged a glance; they knew this was a difficult decision. The man in white was of unknown identity, and they didn't know if he could be trusted, but to complete their mission, they seemed to have no better choice.
Finally, Xiao Yichen nodded and said, "Okay, we agree, but you'd better not try anything funny, or we won't let you off the hook."
The man in white smiled and said, "Don't worry, we're allies now."
And so, Xiao Yichen, Lin Wan'er, and the man in white began their journey to explore the secrets of the ancient book. Little did they know that this decision would lead them into an even more dangerous and mysterious world.
Xiao Yichen, Lin Wan'er, and the man in white stood in the cave, the air around them seeming to grow heavy with the secrets carried by the ancient scrolls and books. However, they all knew that obtaining the crucial information would be fraught with difficulties, and this was only the beginning.
The man in white looked at Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er and said slowly, "Let's start with these mechanisms. The cave is surrounded by defensive mechanisms to protect these ancient books from being easily obtained by outsiders."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Yichen keenly sensed a subtle change in his surroundings. He gripped his sword tightly and warily scanned his surroundings. Suddenly, several sharp arrows shot down from the top of the cave, their arrowheads gleaming coldly, heading straight for them. Xiao Yichen shouted, "Watch out!" At the same time, he quickly pulled Lin Wan'er aside, and the man in white also nimbly dodged the attack.
The rain of arrows was merely a prelude. Immediately afterward, the ground began to tremble violently, and cracks appeared in the previously smooth surface, from which sharp stone spikes continuously emerged. Xiao Yichen scooped up Lin Wan'er and, using his lightness skill, leaped to a relatively safe stone platform nearby. The man in white, meanwhile, used his flute to play a peculiar melody. Under the influence of the melody, the growth rate of the stone spikes slowed somewhat, but they continued to emerge.
"These mechanisms are interconnected; triggering one will activate the others as well," the man in white said loudly while playing his flute.
Xiao Yichen set Lin Wan'er down, his gaze fixed on the constantly shifting mechanisms, trying to find a way to break them. He noticed that the light from some of the gems on the cave walls seemed off; some flickered too fast, while others were too dim. A thought struck him: could these gems be related to the control of the mechanisms?
Just as Xiao Yichen was about to approach the wall to examine it, the stone platform beneath his feet suddenly began to move, sliding deeper into the cave. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er quickly steadied themselves, while the man in white was separated on the other side. The stone platform slid faster and faster, the surrounding scenery flashing past their eyes, and a strong gust of wind hit them, making it almost impossible for them to open their eyes.
"General Xiao, what should we do?" Lin Wan'er gripped Xiao Yichen's arm tightly, her voice tinged with panic.
Xiao Yichen calmly said, "Let's see where this stone platform will take us."
The stone platform finally came to a stop in a huge circular hall. The hall was surrounded by all sorts of strange statues, each holding a different weapon and staring fiercely at the center of the hall. As soon as Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er stood firm, they heard a series of "clunking" sounds, and the statues seemed to come alive, slowly moving closer to them.
Xiao Yichen shielded Lin Wan'er behind him and swung his sword at the foremost statue. The blade clashed with the statue, sending sparks flying, but the statue only swayed slightly and suffered no significant damage. Xiao Yichen was startled; these statues were incredibly sturdy.
Lin Wan'er watched the approaching statues, closed her eyes, and concentrated on using her mind-reading ability. She tried to perceive the logic behind the statues' actions, but only sensed a chaotic yet powerful force that seemed to be driving the statues to attack relentlessly.
"General Xiao, they don't seem to have any particular intentions; they're just driven by some force to destroy us," Lin Wan'er said anxiously.
Knowing he couldn't simply sit and wait to die, Xiao Yichen began searching the hall for potential weaknesses. While dodging the statues' attacks, he noticed intricate patterns on the hall's floor, resembling some kind of ancient formation. He recalled reading about mechanical formations in ancient texts; perhaps breaking this formation was the key to escaping the statues' attacks.
While dodging the statues' attacks, Xiao Yichen carefully observed the patterns on the ground. He noticed several key nodes in the patterns, their colors slightly different from the rest. A bold idea formed in his mind: perhaps destroying these nodes could break the formation.
Xiao Yichen seized an opportunity and charged towards the nearest node. The statues seemed to sense his intention and quickened their pace to block him. Xiao Yichen moved like lightning, skillfully dodging the statues' attacks, and arrived at the node, swinging his sword at the ground. However, when the blade touched the node, a powerful recoil force struck, causing Xiao Yichen to stagger back several steps, his arm going numb.
"General Xiao!" Lin Wan'er exclaimed, wanting to run over to help.
"Don't come any closer, Wan'er, it's dangerous!" Xiao Yichen shouted.
Just then, the man in white arrived in the hall. Seeing the scene before him, he immediately understood Xiao Yichen's intention. The man in white took out a small bag from his robes, extracted some powder, and sprinkled it towards another node. Upon contact with the node, the powder emitted a hissing sound, and tiny cracks appeared on the node.
"These are corrosive powders that can damage nodes, but there aren't many, so we need to hurry," the man in white said to Xiao Yichen.
Xiao Yichen nodded and headed towards the other nodes with the man in white. With their combined efforts, cracks appeared on several nodes. As the last node broke, the statues seemed to lose their power, coming to a stop and returning to their original state.
Xiao Yichen and the man in white breathed a sigh of relief, but they knew the danger was far from over. Searching for an exit in the hall, they discovered a stone door covered in densely packed characters and patterns. Xiao Yichen stepped forward, attempting to decipher the inscriptions, but the characters were even more obscure and difficult to understand than those in ancient texts.
“This stone door should lead to the place where the core contents of the ancient book are kept, but to open it, we must solve the mystery on the stone door,” the man in white said, frowning.
Lin Wan'er also came over. She looked at the pattern on the stone door and suddenly her eyes lit up. She said, "Look, this pattern is somewhat similar to the pattern on the jade pendant we found in the cave."
Xiao Yichen took out the jade pendant and compared it to the pattern on the stone door, finding that they were indeed somewhat similar. He tried touching the corresponding spots on the stone door, following the pattern on the jade pendant. When he touched the last spot, the stone door emitted a low rumbling sound, but it did not open.
"It seems some conditions are still missing," Xiao Yichen said.
Just as they were racking their brains, black liquid began to seep from the walls around the stone gate. This liquid emitted a pungent odor, and when it dripped onto the ground, it corroded small holes in the ground.
"Oh no, this is corrosive venom. If we don't open the stone door soon, we'll all be corroded," the man in white said nervously.
Xiao Yichen stared at the stone door, carefully examining the inscriptions and patterns on it once more. He noticed that some numbers on the stone door seemed to follow a pattern, echoing the surrounding designs. He began to rapidly calculate and deduce in his mind, trying to find the connection between the numbers and opening the stone door.
Lin Wan'er then used her mind-reading ability to try and sense the "thoughts" of the stone gate. She sensed that the stone gate seemed to be waiting for some specific instruction, which was related to numbers, patterns, and the jade pendant.
“General Xiao, I think we need to enter numbers in a certain order for the stone gate. This order may be related to the arrangement of the patterns on the jade pendant, and we also need to combine it with the hints from other patterns on the stone gate,” Lin Wan’er said.
Following Lin Wan'er's instructions, Xiao Yichen readjusted his operation on the stone door. Using the new approach, he touched the patterns on the stone door again and entered numbers in the corresponding locations. This time, the rumbling of the stone door was even more intense, and the venom seeped out at a faster rate.
Just as the venom was about to spread to their feet, the stone door finally opened slowly. A powerful gust of air surged out from inside the stone door, dispersing some of the venom. Xiao Yichen, Lin Wan'er, and the man in white had no time to feel relieved and immediately rushed into the stone door.
Inside the stone gate was a smaller, secret chamber. In the center of the chamber was a stone platform, upon which sat a crystal box. Within the box, a golden scroll was faintly visible. However, the path leading to the stone platform was filled with transparent walls of light, between which arcs of electricity flickered, suggesting immense power.
"Another trap." Xiao Yichen frowned.
The man in white stepped forward and tried to touch the wall of light, but was immediately thrown back by a surge of electricity. He stood up and said, "This is an electric mechanism; ordinary methods won't work."
Xiao Yichen stared at the wall of light, pondering a way to break it. He noticed that the electric arcs within the wall weren't constantly stable, but rather exhibited a certain frequency variation. He recalled his past research in the military on the principles of formations and mechanisms; this frequency variation might be the weakness in the mechanism.
He picked up a small stone from the ground and threw it towards the wall of light. As the stone passed through the wall, the frequency of the electric arcs instantly increased, and the stone was struck by the arcs and turned to ashes. Xiao Yichen had an idea. He said to the man in white and Lin Wan'er, "I've observed a change in the frequency of the electric arcs in the wall of light. We need to find a suitable time to pass through the wall when the arcs are at their weakest."
The man in white and Lin Wan'er nodded, and they began to observe the changes in the electric arc on the wall of light with great concentration. After observing for a period of time, they discovered that the electric arc would have a brief period of weakening every once in a while.
"Now!" Xiao Yichen shouted, rushing towards the light wall first. He successfully passed through the first light wall when the electric arc was at its weakest, but due to the time crunch, his clothes were still grazed by the electric arc, and the edges were slightly scorched.
Lin Wan'er and the man in white also seized the opportunity to pass through the light wall. However, after they passed through the first light wall, the changes in the electric arcs of the subsequent light walls became more complex, and the intervals between each light wall were also different.
They tried again and again. In the process, Xiao Yichen's arm was burned by the electric arc, and Lin Wan'er's hair was singed, but they still did not give up. After many failures and attempts, they finally found the pattern and successfully passed through all the light walls.
Reaching the stone platform, Xiao Yichen carefully opened the crystal box and took out the golden scroll. The moment he picked up the scroll, an alarm sounded in the secret chamber, and small holes began to appear in the surrounding walls, from which countless poison needles shot out.
"Oh no, we've triggered the final mechanism!" the man in white shouted.
Xiao Yichen handed the scroll to Lin Wan'er and said, "Wan'er, protect the scroll. I'll block these poison needles." After saying that, he brandished his sword, creating a sword screen around them, which blocked the poison needles.
The man in white also pulled out some concealed weapons from his robes and shot them at the small holes in the wall, attempting to disrupt the mechanism that launched the poisoned needles. Through their combined efforts, the attack of the poisoned needles gradually weakened and eventually stopped.
Xiao Yichen, Lin Wan'er, and the man in white stood exhausted in the secret chamber. They had successfully obtained the golden scroll, but at a heavy price. However, they knew that the secrets hidden within the scroll might bring more dangers and challenges, and they had to be prepared to continue their journey.
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