Next to the candlestick bronze statue, an entrance leading underground opened up.
Chen Ahmao was overjoyed and leaned over, "Does this count as a blind cat running into a dead rat?"
"It does," I replied noncommittally, inwardly astounded.
Chen Ahmao: "Master, let's go down."
"Not so fast, this entrance might not be real," I cautioned Chen Ahmao.
Chen Ahmao, not understanding, asked, "What do you mean... might not be real?"
Then, the sound of footsteps approached.
The person coming took cautious steps, each one held back.
The stride was intermittent, yet the pace was fast.
It seemed to be someone with dark and careful thoughts, yet not very courageous.
I felt a pang of fear, wondering if someone was hiding in the hall and even my Spiritual Eye had not detected them?
Chen Ahmao and I had been completely unrestrained earlier, saying whatever came to mind.
If we were discovered now, a confrontation would surely ensue.
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Just as I was about to have Chen Ahmao hide behind me, he blurted out, "How did you get in here, kid?"
"I told the people at the door I'm a friend of Protector Zi Shan, and they let me in," the newcomer said, dressed in a loose-fitting long coat with a simple white shirt underneath and wearing sneakers.
The outfit was brimming with youthful vigor, and he himself was a young man.
With a tone of derision, Chen Ahmao lifted the brim of his cap to inspect Yang Xi, "Those two guards are so vigilant. I didn't mention my relationship with you, and just on your word alone they let you in? You must be joking."
"I grew up in this village, familiar enough with them. It's not strange to gain some trust," Yang Xi's face turned pale, and he bit his lips.
Chen Ahmao was initially disinclined to engage with Yang Xi, but now he was filled with suspicion, "If you had that kind of clout, why would I need to dress in dead folks' clothes ? When they stopped us from entering, where were you to say anything? Unless..."
Chen Ahmao's words were indelicate but not without reason.
I shared his suspicion; there had to be an extraordinary reason for the guards to let Yang Xi in,
"Unless, Yang Xi can produce something of the same level as the token of the Great Protector Zi Shan."
"Sister Yuanyuan... you suspect me??" Yang Xi showed a look of great surprise mixed with hurt, "My... my entire family nearly died under the Spider Gu!!"
"Who knows if you're pretending, using a trick to deceive my master into falling for it," Chen Ahmao replied with a sneer.
Just as Chen Ahmao had said, it could be a ploy.
But no matter what, I couldn't bring myself to believe that Master Yang's family truly had any ill intentions towards me.
I glanced at my watch; the temple fair was almost over.
With limited time left for action, I spoke pacifyingly, "The character of Master Yang's family can still be trusted. Ah Xi, sorry for being overly suspicious; my mind is always on edge during unusual times."
"No problem," Yang Xi replied gravely.
Chen Ahmao's expression clearly showed dissatisfaction, and he moved his lips as if to speak.
But then, with a quick shift of his eyes, he swallowed his words and kept silent.
I said to both Chen Ahmao and Yang Xi, "Have you ever heard of the concept of a 'suspected tomb'?"
"After burying the ancient nobility, to confuse grave robbers, they made fake tombs," replied Yang Xi, clearly one of those top students in school with a scholarly and complete answer.
Understanding dawned on Chen Ahmao, "Oh~ So this hall has several entrances, huh? The one I opened just now was fake? Like a 'suspected tomb'?"