Chapter 60: Emerging Brilliance Amidst the Quagmire

"Come men! Take them down!" With a single command from the Sect Master, a swarm of disciples surged forward like starving wolves closing in on their prey.

I thought to myself: Goodness gracious, what kind of performance is this?

They turn hostile faster than flipping through a book!

Heyunsheng, Scholar Li, and I pressed our backs against one another, striking a defensive pose.

Although injured, Heyunsheng still radiated an imposing aura, the long sword in his hand flashing with a chilling, cold light.

Scholar Li truly lived up to the title of a scholar—having no strength to truss a chicken, he could only shiver and hide behind us.

As for me?

Naturally, I was in charge of looking gorgeous and...

finding an escape route!

"Of the thirty-six stratagems, fleeing is the best!" I shouted at the top of my lungs, grabbing Heyunsheng as I sprinted outward.

Alas, we were surrounded tightly, leaving us without even wings to fly away.

These disciples possessed formidable martial arts, and we quickly found ourselves at a disadvantage.

Heyunsheng’s injuries worsened, draining the color from his face.

Panic gripped my heart; if I were to die in a place like this, who on earth could I complain to?

After a flurry of flashing blades and flying swords, overwhelmed by sheer numbers, we were dragged away and locked inside a dark, damp woodshed.

This woodshed truly possessed a "unique view"—rats and cockroaches scurried across the floor everywhere, and the air was thick with a suffocating, moldy stench. It was simply worse than the maids' quarters I used to live in!

"Wan'er, are you alright?" Heyunsheng asked weakly.

I forced a smile. "I'm fine, just a minor situation! Back in the day, when I was in the Cold Palace..." Before I could finish, my stomach rumbled loudly.

How awkward!

Utterly awkward!

"It seems we must find a way to escape," Scholar Li said solemnly, pushing up the glasses that kept sliding down the bridge of his nose.

For the next few days, we were kept under house arrest in the woodshed, with pitifully meager rations of food and water.

My stomach remained in a state of "protest," and I felt as though I had lost several pounds.

Heyunsheng’s wounds also began to fester, accompanied by a persistent, high fever.

Burning with anxiety, I wished I could instantly burst out and find a physician.

Gently, I stroked Heyunsheng’s burning forehead, but he turned around to comfort me instead. "Wan'er, don't worry. We will definitely make it out." His gaze was steady, as if containing an endless well of strength, bringing me immense reassurance.

Suddenly, I sensed something shimmering faintly in the corner of the room.

Could it be...

Was my good fortune returning once more?

Quietly, I crept over to the corner and gently tapped against the wall...

"Wait, it feels like something is hidden here..." Groping along the base of the wall, my fingertips brushed against a loose brick.

Hehe, there really was something fishy going on!

With a hard shove, the brick gave way with a crisp sound, revealing a small, pitch-black hole.

My heartbeat accelerated, surging with the excitement of having discovered a new continent.

This feeling surpassed even the thrill of snatching a limited-edition designer bag during a major shopping festival!

"What is this?" Heyunsheng and Scholar Li hurried over, peering curiously into the little opening.

"A secret!" I smiled mysteriously, pulling a slender hairpin from the folds of my tunic. I had "borrowed" it from an unfortunate palace maid, never expecting it to come in handy now.

Inserting the hairpin into the hole, I poked and prodded for a moment until a soft "click" echoed, and a hidden door materialized on the wall before our eyes!

Me: ??? Since when did I possess such an overpowered skill?

The hidden door slowly swung open, revealing a pitch-black interior where nothing could be discerned.

Taking a deep breath, I mustered my courage and stepped inside.

Heyunsheng and Scholar Li followed closely behind.

This secret passage was both narrow and low, forcing us to advance with bent waists. A stale, decaying odor hung thick in the air, stinging my eyes until they watered.

After walking for roughly the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, the view suddenly opened up, and we stepped into a hidden chamber.

The secret chamber was piled high with gold, silver, and precious jewels, flashing so brightly it nearly blinded my alloy-steel dog eyes!

Oh my mother, just how much must all of this be worth!

I felt my breathing grow ragged, longing to instantly stuff every single one of these treasures into my pockets.

"Ahem," Scholar Li reminded me, "Wan'er, we are currently running for our lives, not going on a treasure hunt."

"I know, I know," I withdrew my gaze with extreme reluctance. "Still, these treasures shouldn't go to waste, right?" My eyes rolled as a plan formed. "Yun-sheng, help me gather all these treasures. We're taking them with us!"

Heyunsheng: ???

Though entirely bewildered, he obediently did as he was told.

After all, I was his most beloved sister!

Just as we were busy carting away the treasures, the sound of footsteps suddenly drifted in from outside.

"Oh no, they're coming!" Tucking the very last treasure into my bundle in a flurry, I grabbed Heyunsheng and Scholar Li, diving into a shadowy corner of the chamber.

The door to the secret chamber was pushed open, and the Sect Master strode in followed by a retinue of disciples.

Glancing around, his gaze carried a sinister edge, resembling a ferocious beast lying in wait for its prey.

"They must be right here!"

Holding my breath, I did not dare to make the slightest movement.

The Sect Master walked right up to the vicinity of our hiding spot, and I could even hear the sound of his breathing.

My heart leapt to my throat, my palms slick with sweat.

Suddenly, the Sect Master halted. It seemed he had sensed something amiss, his gaze locking directly onto the corner where we hid...

"Wait..." Slowly extending a hand, he pointed straight at our hiding place. "Right there..."