Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
It was evident that Zhang Fei and Sheng Ya saw that string of words as they nodded. Xu Lan had already discussed this matter before they gathered. At that moment, they were just surprised and made conjectures on their own. However, when the businessman mentioned it again, everyone’s hearts began to flutter. This meant that there was some form of error in the system!
The businessman borrowed a small mirror from Sheng Ya and put it in front of Bai Wu’s nose and mouth. There was no condensation at all. Xu Lan caressed Bai Wu’s cheeks, the cold sensation froze his whole body. It was as if he was the lifeless one instead of Bai Wu.
“… Humans were born to live. Nothing is more important than life.” Zhang Fei comforted Xu Lan with a heavy heart while he patted on his shoulders.
Sheng Ya sat beside Bai Wu. She did not have the courage to hold his hand. Who was she? It was an unrequited love all along. All of a sudden, she was envious of Xu Lan. At the very least, he could hold Bai Wu in his arms righteously, nurse him and caress him. He was also allowed to weep and grief for him.
“The subsurface stream’s current is too strong. It’s also too deep, we can’t reach the bottom. Besides, we have no clue about the situation down there.” The businessman changed the subject.
“Did anyone discover anything peculiar when we came in?” On one hand, Xu Lan caressed Bai Wu’s tear mole at the corner of his eye. On the other hand, he drew the route that they journeyed and the ones before they gathered with the mirror he picked up from the floor.
“Taichi?” The businessman studied the four routes mapped out by Xu Lan. There were all kinds of obstacles in between. In combination with the podium that was connected by the eight iron chains, it showed some resemblance to Taichi Bagua.
“Uhm, look at the podium. The position of those chime-bells was precisely calculated to allow the blast from the subsurface stream to orchestrate the ancient tunes. In addition, the catacomb is structured with ancient eastern architecture. It’s welded together using wood and rocks but there’s a crystal coffin in the middle. Isn’t this peculiar?” Xu Lan’s jet black pupils were intimidating yet mesmerising, as if there was a bottomless subsurface stream beneath, luring others to explore.
“Hey, it makes sense after you pointed it out!” The crew-cut guy nodded in accordance. This made him respect Xu Lan even more.
“I think we should take a look at it again, perhaps we may find some clues on how to escape from here,” Xu Lan said and laughed with appreciation while looking at the crew-cut guy.
Taichi generated two complementary forces – Yin and Yang – while the two forces generated four aggregates. The integration of both Yin and Yang would be separated at the end. The only possible way to find any clues was to let both forces interconnect at the point of origin.
Each iron chain had the width of a fist. The chains were covered with planks that were starting to rot away due to erosion by the subsurface stream. Nonetheless, it did not dampen their eagerness to escape, where all of them could return to the podium again.
At that moment, the blast from the subsurface stream shot up, orchestrating a melodious tune together with the chime-bells. The burning mermen lamp were not affected by the surgent subsurface stream, illuminating the whole dimension to be as bright as day.
Xu Lan returned to the crystal coffin. He was in such a hurry to remove Bai Wu from it and did not inspect it carefully. The crystal coffin had delicate carvings. It was translucent and free from impurities. The bottom of the coffin was pitch black, it was as if one could view the trends of the subsurface stream.
Why was it empty beneath the coffin? How did the tomb builder manage to fit the crystal coffin into this aperture? Where did the owner of the crystal coffin disappear to? Why was Bai Wu lying in there? Xu Lan was perplexed by these questions and reached out his hand to touch it.
‘Rumble… Rumble…’ The podium started to move!