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墨書 Inktalez
Lord Lu found it utterly baffling as he looked around the rock wall, which was completely intact without any signs of mechanisms. Moreover, this place felt like it should be halfway up the mountain; if there were a mechanism leading to the summit, it would require a massive undertaking.
If it weren't for encountering the man in black inside the cave, he would have seriously doubted whether Lady Aida had brought them to the right place.
Lady Aida touched the wall for a moment but found nothing. She picked up a stone from the ground, pressed her ear against the rock, and began tapping while listening intently from top to bottom and left to right. After a while, she decisively gestured on the wall, "There is indeed a hollow space inside here; it's just that the entrance is small. I believe Miss Mei Shuang must have gone up through here, but she left these traces behind..."
Lord Lu couldn't help but admire this woman's skills. "No wonder they are so unrestrained; there isn't even anyone guarding this place. It seems they anticipated that even if someone came, they would find nothing. So what do we do now? And is there no other content in this secret letter?"
Lady Aida took out a note from her bosom and handed it to Lord Lu. "After Zheng Yi and I left, I couldn't sleep at night, constantly thinking about how to rescue this young lady. However, I was at a loss for what to do. This note was thrown into my room last night by someone unknown, which is why I went to Cheng En Temple and happened to run into you..."
Lord Lu took it and unfolded it; there were only a few hastily written characters on it: "Cheng En Temple." The handwriting was sloppy and clearly written in haste with charcoal ash. There was nothing else.
He felt somewhat disheartened. "Did you see who delivered the message?"
Lady Aida shook her head. "No, I believe someone wanted me to deliver the message without revealing their identity, so they threw the note right at me. But when I went out to search, there was no one around."
While Lord Lu was deep in thought, someone beside him said, "My lord, why don't we just break through the wall? It's just a door, right? I have great strength; I can smash it!"
"Absurd!" Lord Lu replied firmly. "Since it's a mechanism, there must be some sinister trap involved. Moreover, if we destroy the entrance, we risk causing a collapse that could block our way up—wouldn't that be counterproductive?"
The person felt embarrassed upon hearing this, but time was of the essence; the rice grains were still fresh, indicating that people had only recently gone up. If they delayed even slightly, they might lose all traces.
Just then, someone suddenly exclaimed in surprise, startling everyone present. They quickly extinguished their fire source and stood on high alert.
The person who had made the noise picked up a crumpled piece of paper from the ground after hitting his face and said, "My lord! Look! A paper ball!"
Lord Lu unfolded it and saw four small drawings on it; all had the same background but featured different patterns of lines ranging from simple to complex. The lines were also made with charcoal ash, suggesting that it was from the same person who sent the first message.
Lady Aida immediately recognized its significance and exclaimed excitedly, "I understand now; these are gestures to activate the mechanism!"
She recited it a few times after taking it, then began to gesture against the rock wall. Sure enough, after the last gesture, the seemingly solid rock wall slowly retreated to both sides, revealing an opening. A chilling wind blew out from within, instantly raising goosebumps on everyone.
The crowd was overjoyed and was about to enter when they suddenly realized that their every move was under the watchful gaze of a mysterious observer.
Lord Lu immediately cupped his fists and said loudly, "Hero, you have helped us twice. You must know the situation. Since we share the same goal of rescue, why not reveal yourself and join us?"
After waiting for a while, the cave remained silent.
"It seems you are unwilling to show yourself. I have official business and cannot linger here. Thank you for your assistance; we shall meet again..." Lord Lu led a few people into the cave.
...
Watching Lord Lu and the child's mother enter the cave, Chu Xiruo, hidden in the shadows, finally removed her face covering and let out a slight sigh of relief.
Earlier, she had knocked out the man in black who was supposed to deliver food and changed into her clothes to deliver it herself. She whispered a few words to Mei Shuang and was surprised that this woman was indeed clever enough to use rice grains and a handkerchief as markers for her disappearance.
Chu Xiruo shook her head. This Mei Shuang was no longer the woman who relied on her half-sister's ideas. She had changed; she was truly another person. The bad habits Mei Shuang once had were gone. The only thing left was her ability to think of saving that child and her mother in times of danger while also considering her own escape. That made her worth saving in Chu Xiruo's eyes; whether she could escape from danger would depend on her own fortune.
Turning her gaze to the ghostly light on the rock wall, she closed her eyes and suppressed the bitterness in her heart. Sighing, she realized that she had no ties with them; ultimately, she had done what she did not wish to do.
...
Under the cold moonlight, a tall man dressed in dark clothing stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the bright moon in the sky.
The night breeze blew past, lifting the hem of his robe, revealing his handsome yet somewhat desolate demeanor.
Wearing a Night Cloak, Chu Xiruo stood behind him, gazing dreamily at his back.
Such an extraordinary and proud man would actually torment himself for that woman.
Suddenly, a layer of light mist slowly rose in her clear eyes, and the scene before her began to blur. She blinked hard and tilted her head to push the tears back.
Knowing she was behind him, he did not turn around but simply spoke lightly, "You’re here?"
Chu Xiruo did not respond; her footsteps had already confirmed everything, so there was no need for him to ask further.
"How is she?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Xiruo paused her steps. When she lifted her head again, her voice suddenly turned cold and hard. "She has already been taken up the mountain..."
Indeed, after hearing this, his calm demeanor faltered. Despite trying to hold it together, his body swayed slightly.
Chu Xiruo observed closely, feeling as if she had been pricked by a thorn. As the pain pierced her heart, she took a deep breath to calm herself, not wanting to reveal her disappointment and anger. "However, you can rest assured that the palace people are not late; they have already begun searching for her. I believe you will see her soon..."
After a long pause, all Chu Xiruo heard was a faint "oh."
Disappointed to the core, Chu Xiruo turned to leave. Just as she took a few steps, she heard a soft voice behind her. "Where are you going?"
Chu Xiruo froze and forced a faintly sorrowful smile at the corner of her lips. "Where can I go? I’ll just take it one step at a time..."
"I have sent someone to ensure your mother Cheng En Temple Abbot is in a safe place; you can rest easy..."
Chu Xiruo's body trembled slightly as she lowered her gaze and said softly, "I never knew my mother was still alive. I always thought that Empress Dowager opposed my entering the palace because of my shortcomings in virtue; it turns out it was because of my mother... Everyone knows I was childhood friends with Lord Luo, but no one ever asked me if I truly liked him..."
Clearly, the figure in dark clothing shook slightly but remained silent.
"Lord Luo treated me well, and I liked him too. The so-called 'mutual affection' was something I only deeply understood after meeting another man. My feelings for Lord Luo were more like those for a playmate rather than true romantic love... But I was disappointed; he likes another woman and is willing to do so much for her..."
Chu Xiruo's tone was low and devoid of emotion, yet it conveyed a subtle sadness that spread through the air around them.
The figure in the distance felt as if something was tightening around their heart, making it hard to breathe. Finally, they spoke, their voice low and hoarse, "Once the important matters are settled, I will marry you..."
Chu Xiruo seemed not to hear, her gaze lowered as she stared at the hem of her skirt fluttering in the wind. She softly replied, "Empress Dowager, the Buddha Hall is a place of tranquility. I am willing to respectfully follow your wishes and accompany the Azure Lamp and Ancient Buddha for my entire life..."
Mei Shuang sat on the ground, hugging her knees and lost in thought.
Time passed without her noticing until she heard a rustling sound from afar. The noise grew louder, and the trees in the distance swayed violently. After a gust of foul wind, a terrifying giant creature appeared.
Startled, Mei Shuang hurriedly got up from the ground and instinctively sought refuge in a cave.
Just as she slipped into the cave, she seemed to step on something that made her cry out in fright. Before she could react, a hand covered her mouth, and someone whispered in her ear, "Don't speak; it's us."
Mei Shuang's eyes widened in shock as she recognized the voice of Zhengyi's Mother. She was taken aback that they had actually come.
In the distance, Nangong Mo Yi heard Mei Shuang's startled cry and asked nonchalantly, "What now?"
This woman had been jumping at every little thing all night long, and with no news about their situation, he was becoming increasingly irritated.
Leaning against the cave entrance, Mei Shuang said anxiously, "Oh my, that Dragon Python has returned..."
Her words were clearly directed at Nangong Mo Yi but were actually meant for those inside the cave.
Dragon Python? Those inside the cave took advantage of Mei Shuang's presence and the cover of night to see both the masked man and the enormous creature outside. They couldn't help but gasp in shock.
They watched as the several dozen-foot-long python bowed before the masked man, behaving gently like a docile lamb. Everyone was even more astonished!
To think there was someone who could tame such a colossal creature! This Zhao Prince truly lived up to his reputation!
Originally, it was thought that finding the person would nearly complete the mission. Moreover, the newcomers were all top-tier martial artists, so there should be no problem on that front. However, it now seemed that dealing with such a monster was proving to be quite challenging.
The Dragon Python coiled back after returning, and Nangong Mo Yi circled around it. He seemed to discover something on the Dragon Python's body, and suddenly his expression changed.
There was no need to say more; something had happened to the person who had just gone down.
He turned around and shot a fierce glare at Mei Shuang, sneering coldly, "Miss Mei Shuang, you're quite quick with your actions!"
"What?!" Mei Shuang was bewildered and confused.
Nangong Mo Yi raised his hand, and the previously obedient Dragon Python sprang up as if it had received an order.
It shot up immediately, reaching a height of about ten feet, and when it looked down, it was nearly level with the people below.
The individuals behind Mei Shuang looked up in shock, their breathing becoming somewhat erratic.
Fearing that staying in the cave too long would raise suspicion from Nangong Mo Yi, Mei Shuang steeled herself and stepped out. Just as she steadied herself, she noticed that the Dragon Python suddenly sensed something and swiftly left Nangong Mo Yi's side to come right in front of her.
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