Chapter 53: Decoding Secrets and Deadly Perils

The footsteps grew closer and closer, and my heart leapt straight into my throat!

Damn it, who could it be?

Shopkeeper Zhao?

Or... an even trickier adversary?

I shoved the book into my tunic in one swift motion and pulled Yunsheng under the bed to hide.

With a squeak, the door swung open, and a dark shadow darted inside.

By the moonlight, I saw that the intruder was powerfully built and brandished a gleaming saber!

Terrified to the point of not daring to breathe, I clung tightly to Yunsheng, afraid we would make the slightest sound.

The shadow rummaged frantically through the room's cabinets and chests, seemingly searching for something.

I cursed inwardly; if we were discovered by him, our lives would truly be on the line!

Only after the figure stalked back out did Yunsheng and I dare to crawl out from beneath the bed.

No, we couldn't stay in this place any longer!

Making a decisive judgment, I grabbed Yunsheng and bolted outside.

The next day, we heard about a scholar in town named Master Li, who was reputed to be immensely knowledgeable and omniscient.

Holding onto the hope of trying our luck, the two of us tracked down his residence.

Master Li was a kind-faced old man. Upon hearing our purpose, he readily agreed to help.

He took the tattered book, put on his reading glasses, and began to study it intently.

"This... seems to be a long-lost cipher," Master Li stroked his beard, his brow deeply furrowed.

My heart sank by half at those words.

Long lost?

Does that mean no one can decipher it anymore?

My dream of finding a treasure...

"However..." Master Li suddenly changed his tune, "Although this old man cannot decode it, I know a friend who is well-versed in this field. Perhaps he can be of assistance."

Upon hearing this, a spark of hope reignited within me instantly!

Just at that moment, a group of men dressed in black suddenly smashed through the door. Each one looked fierce and menacing, obviously up to no good!

"Hand over the book!" the leader of the men in black roared viciously.

Instinctively, I shielded the book against my chest, my heart skipping a beat.

Oh no, how did they know this book was with us?

Yunsheng stepped in front of me, staring at the men in black with a vigilant expression.

"Who are you people? What do you want?" he demanded.

"Cut the crap! If you know what's good for you, hand over the book, or else..." the man in black threatened, flashing the blade in his hand.

Yunsheng clenched his fists and assumed a defensive stance.

"Want to rob the book? You'll have to get through me first!"

The atmosphere was taut with tension, and a fight seemed ready to break out at any second...

Suddenly, I felt Yunsheng's body shudder violently...

Oh, sweet heavens!

Yunsheng had actually taken a slash for me!

Bright red blood instantly stained his garments, leaving me completely stunned.

Watching Yunsheng's expression of agony, my heart ached as if it were being twisted by a knife.

Consumed by burning fury, I snatched a vase from nearby and hurled it straight at the men in black.

"How dare you hurt my person—you've grown tired of living!"

Thank goodness I used to watch so many television dramas; my wits were fully online at the crucial moment!

I noticed that these men in black seemed terrified of light. Every time the candlelight flickered across their faces, they would instinctively flinch and dodge.

Bingo!

Weakness found!

With lightning-fast reflexes, I grabbed the candlestick from the table and unleashed a barrage of frantic attacks on the men in black.

"Blinding your dog eyes! Get out of here, all of you!"

The candlelight danced wildly, and the men in black were left utterly disoriented by the sudden blaze, temporarily hesitating to approach.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, I hurriedly helped Yunsheng retreat behind Master Li.

"Elder Master Li, please think of a way!"

Master Li truly lived up to his scholarly reputation, remaining calm in the face of danger. While steadying Yunsheng, he pointed at the patterns in the book and said, "Young lady, look at these designs—don't they resemble constellations?"

I looked closely, and indeed they did!

Earlier, I had been so focused on searching for treasure that I completely missed these details.

Combining this with the portions of the code I had previously deciphered, a flash of inspiration suddenly struck my mind!

"I know! These patterns represent the positions of the stars, and the cipher is hidden within the order of the constellations!" I pointed excitedly at the symbols in the book and began rapidly interpreting them.

"Tianshu, Tianxuan, Tianji, Tianquan..." As I recited the names of the stars, I recorded the corresponding symbols.

As I unlocked more and more of the cipher, the expressions of the men in black grew increasingly grim.

"Not good! She's about to crack the code! Stop her!" commanded the leader of the men in black. Disregarding the glare of the candlelight, they lunged toward us once more.

I took a deep breath and continued decoding the remaining cipher.

Just a little bit more!

"Yuheng, Kaiyang, Yaoguang..." The final symbol fell into place, and I felt the entire book radiate a strange, brilliant glow.

"It's done!" I shouted in triumph, but before I even had time to celebrate, a deafening explosion echoed through the room...

The floor suddenly collapsed beneath us!

"Ah—"

Yunsheng, Master Li, and I plummeted downward together...

Pitch blackness surrounded us below, rendering everything invisible.

I grasped Yunsheng's hand tightly, feeling him squeeze back weakly.

"Wan'er... don't be afraid..."

"Elder Master Li, are you alright?"

Out of the darkness, I heard a faint voice reply... "This... appears to be a secret passage..."