Rubble crashed down like raindrops as I awkwardly dodged through the cramped space, every breath feeling as sharp as a cut from a blade. A massive roar echoed through the hidden cave, making my eardrums hum and blurring my vision.
Damn it, what kind of trap did I just trigger?!
I cursed my luck inwardly, yet dared not let my guard down for even a second. A millstone-sized rock, driven by a fierce wind, hurtled toward my head. I instinctively rolled to the side, narrowly dodging this fatal blow. The debris brushed past my arm, leaving a burning trail of pain. Lowering my head, I saw that my sleeve had been torn and a bloody gash now marked my arm.
With no time to tend to the wound, I clenched my teeth and continued weaving through the falling stones. Dust filled the enclosed space, choking me until I could barely breathe. Panic surged within me; if this kept up, even if I wasn't crushed to death, I would be buried alive in this sunless hidden cave.
I had to find a way to break the mechanism as soon as possible!
I forced myself to calm down and observed my surroundings. The hidden cave was not large. Aside from the ceaseless rain of rubble, there were only four cold stone walls. I noticed that some strange patterns seemed to be carved onto the walls—could these be the key to disarming the mechanism?
Enduring the pain, I moved toward the stone wall. A giant boulder fell from the sky, crashing heavily right where I had been standing just moments before. Debris flew in all directions, and the shockwave stirred my blood and nearly caused me to lose my footing.
With no time to hesitate, I lunged toward the stone wall, ignoring the blood on my face scratched up by the flying debris, and carefully examined the patterns by the dim light. These patterns looked like some sort of ancient runes—intricate and brimming with a mysterious aura.
Could this... be the secret of the Lu Family?
A bold guess suddenly popped into my mind. Could this hidden cave actually be a secret sanctuary left by our ancestors for their descendants? At this thought, a sliver of hope ignited in my chest. Enduring the pain, I focused even more intently on studying the runes.
Suddenly, I noticed that the falling stones did not seem to be dropping at random; their trajectories appeared to... have some subtle connection to these runes.
A shock ran through my heart, and a sudden wave of understanding washed over me. The paths of the falling stones were not random at all. They seemed to move along specific routes, and these routes were inextricably linked to the arrangement of the ancient runes on the stone wall!
Suppressing my excitement, I closely observed the trajectory of every falling stone, matching each one to its corresponding rune. The chamber was not large, but the runes were exceptionally complex. Trying to map every single falling stone's path to them was no easy task.
Time ticked by second by second. Fine beads of sweat oozed from my forehead, and the wounds on my body began to throb with dull pain, but I paid them no heed, pouring my heart and soul into deciphering the runes.
Through repeated observation and deduction, I discovered that the rubble was not falling at random, but rather activating different runes in a specific sequence. Every single touch was like awakening a certain power, and this power would ultimately decide my life or death!
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. Since these runes were connected to the paths of the falling rocks, did that mean as long as I could unlock the mystery of these runes, I could find a way to control the falling stones and escape alive?
At this thought, hope flared in my chest. I began trying to use my finger to touch the runes in the exact order of the falling stones.
The first attempt yielded no response.
I was not discouraged and continued trying different combinations.
Second, third...
Failure after failure gradually turned the hope in my heart to despair. Was my deduction wrong? Was I truly going to be trapped and die in this wretched place?
Just as I was about to give up, the moment I touched a uniquely shaped rune, the surrounding stone walls suddenly shook violently. Immediately after, a pale green mist spewed from the cracks in the walls, instantly filling the entire chamber!
"Cough, cough, cough..."
Caught off guard, I was choked by the sudden toxic smoke, and my vision blurred. Breathing became difficult, and my chest felt as though a massive boulder were pressing down on it. A wave of intense suffocation washed over me, and everything went black as I nearly lost consciousness.
No, I cannot fall here!
Enduring the physical discomfort, I struggled, wanting to escape the area shrouded by the poisonous fog. Yet, the chamber was only so big—where could I possibly run?
I closed my eyes in despair. Was I, Lu Chen, truly going to meet my end here?
In a haze, amidst the pale green poisonous fog, I seemed to see those ancient runes emitting an eerie glow...
The burning pain brought by the toxic smoke made it nearly impossible to think, but I knew I could not give up now. Groping along the wall, I tried to find a trace of fresh air, even if only a tiny bit.
"Cough, cough... cough, cough..." I coughed while forcing myself to calm down. The runes flickered in and out in the poisonous fog, as if mocking my helplessness. Wait, flickering?
A thought flashed through my mind. I stumbled back to the stone gate and, enduring the severe pain, carefully observed the runes. Sure enough, the frequency of their flashing matched the rhythm of the toxic smoke's release! It was as if I had grasped a straw in a drowning sea. Gathering my flagging spirits, I recalled the sequence in which the falling stones had touched the runes, as well as the rhythm of their flashing.
With trembling hands, I quickly touched several runes in the sequence I had deduced. To my pleasant surprise, the frequency of the toxic smoke slowed down noticeably! Joy surged in my heart, solidifying my judgment, and I continued searching for the correct combination.
Finally, when I pressed the final rune, the surrounding stone walls emitted a muffled roar. The poisonous fog instantly vanished without a trace, and fresh air rushed into my nostrils. I breathed it in greedily, feeling as though I had just walked through the gates of hell.
Once the mechanism stopped operating, the secret chamber behind the stone door was completely revealed before my eyes. This hidden room was even smaller than I had imagined, containing only a stone table and a stone chair. Resting on the stone table was an ancient scroll emitting a faint glow.
With trembling hands, I picked up the scroll and slowly unrolled it. Written in ancient script were certain family secrets, a passage of which deeply shook my heart:
"...Remember well, my son, the massacre of the Lu Family was no accident. The mastermind behind the scenes is an evil force called the Nether Sect, and they are plotting to steal the treasure guarded by our Lu Family for generations..."
The Nether Sect? What kind of organization was this? I had never heard of it. Could there be a hidden truth behind the annihilation of my family? I gripped the scroll tightly, a raging fire of fury igniting in my chest. I must uncover the truth and avenge my family!
I tucked the scroll into my robe and turned, preparing to leave the hidden cave. At that moment, I suddenly heard a chaotic flurry of footsteps approaching from outside, accompanied by a familiar and hateful voice:
"Lu Chen, I know you are hiding in there. Get out here and face your death!"
It was Lin Hu! How had he found this place? Shocked, I hurriedly hid behind the stone door, held my breath, and didn't dare to move a muscle.