Chapter 27: Sword light flickered like lightning, each strike aimed to kill.
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The underground palace was vast and magnificent. Golden light danced across every inch of the chamber, while the jewels set into the treasure chests glittered with dazzling brilliance, as though whispering of ancient secrets.
Yet Feng Ruqing sensed an invisible pressure bearing down on her. An aura of danger surged toward them like a rising tide, suffocating and relentless. Her eyes narrowed slightly, like a leopard lying in wait, ready to strike at any moment.
“Be careful!” she warned in a low voice, alerting Chen the Boatman and Miss Lin behind her.
The two had long since been stunned speechless by the sight before them. Only when they heard Feng Ruqing’s voice did they abruptly recover, tightening their grips on their weapons and daring not to relax for even an instant.
Though injured, Helmsman Li kept watch over their surroundings, his gaze as sharp as an eagle’s.
A faint scent of blood lingered in the air, stirring unease in everyone’s heart.
The mysterious elders had also shed their former kindness. Each wore a grim expression.
“It seems we aren’t welcome guests.”
Miss Lin tightened her grip on her curved saber, a trace of mockery in her voice.
Before the words had even faded, several dark figures shot out from the shadows of the palace like ghosts, lunging straight toward them.
Hu Dahai’s ferocious face appeared before the group. Howling like a madman, he roared, “The treasure is mine! No one will take it from me!”
He brandished his curved saber and charged at Feng Ruqing first, his resolve absolute.
The mysterious elders behind him revealed their weapons as well. Working together with Hu Dahai, they surrounded Feng Ruqing and the others from every side. A brutal battle was on the verge of erupting.
Facing enemies as fierce as wolves and tigers, Feng Ruqing showed not the slightest trace of fear. Instead, a blazing fighting spirit ignited in her eyes.
As Hu Dahai came lunging at her in a frenzy, Feng Ruqing curled her lips into a disdainful, icy smile.
Just as his curved saber was about to cleave into her, her figure flickered like a phantom, and she vanished from his sight.
Before Hu Dahai could react, he felt a chill at his throat. Feng Ruqing’s cold sword was already pressed against it, the frigid aura radiating from the blade seeming to pierce straight through his soul.
“And you think a man like you is worthy of competing with me for the treasure?” Feng Ruqing’s cool voice struck him like a blade of ice.
The air around them seemed to freeze. Everyone was shaken by her ghostlike movements and overwhelming presence.
Hu Dahai let out a beastlike roar and swung his saber wildly, desperately trying to stop Feng Ruqing’s attack.
Her gaze sharpened as she locked onto him like a hunting leopard. She turned slightly, avoiding the saber as it came crashing down, then flashed forward. The sword in her hand became a streak of silver light, thrusting directly toward his throat.
Hu Dahai screamed, and his body jerked to a halt.
But at that very moment, the situation suddenly changed.
The mysterious elders abruptly exerted their strength in unison. Strange beams of light burst from their bodies, instantly enveloping Feng Ruqing and the others.
“Careful, they—”
The elder’s voice cut off abruptly, terror filling his eyes.
Feng Ruqing felt a tremendous force imprison her, slowing her movements.
Seeing this, Hu Dahai froze for a moment. Then a vicious smile spread across his face. Believing his opportunity had arrived, he raised his curved saber once more and charged at Feng Ruqing.
At the critical moment, a hidden power within Feng Ruqing suddenly erupted, shattering the restraints. She twisted around and struck with her sword, hitting Hu Dahai squarely on the wrist that held his weapon.
“Ah!”
Hu Dahai cried out. His curved saber fell to the ground, and blood gushed from his wrist.
Feng Ruqing gave him no chance to recover. Her sword flashed like lightning, every strike aimed at a vital point.
Hu Dahai was utterly unable to defend himself. He could only cover his head and flee in panic, reduced to a pitiful, disheveled state.
Feng Ruqing kicked him to the ground and pressed her sword against his throat.
“You’ve lost,” she said coldly.
Hu Dahai’s face turned deathly pale.
Seeing his miserable condition, Chen the Boatman and Miss Lin both breathed sighs of relief. Their admiration for Feng Ruqing deepened further.
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Just as Feng Ruqing was preparing to end Hu Dahai’s life, an aged voice rang out.
“Stop!”
A white-haired elder stepped out from the crowd. His eyes gleamed brightly, and an immense pressure radiated from him.
He approached Feng Ruqing and said in a deep voice, “Though you defeated Hu Dahai, you still have no right to take the treasure.”
Feng Ruqing’s brows drew together slightly.
“What do you mean?” she asked coldly.
The elder stroked his beard and answered slowly, “The treasure is not something just anyone can possess. Only one who passes the trial will earn its recognition.”
“A trial?” Feng Ruqing gave a cold laugh. “What kind of trial?”
The elder pointed toward a stone gate deep within the palace.
“Pass through that gate, and you will find your answer.”
Feng Ruqing stared at the tightly sealed stone gate. A flicker of hesitation crossed her eyes. She had no idea what awaited her beyond it.
“Very well. I’ll go.”
She sheathed her sword and walked toward the gate with a resolute gaze.
The elder watched her back as she approached the stone gate, drew a deep breath, and reached out to push open the heavy door.
“Do you think this will be enough to stop me?”
A voice sounded beside Feng Ruqing’s ear.
Just as she was about to push open the massive stone gate, a low, resonant voice whispered beside her, “Do you think this can stop you?”
Her heart tightened. She turned swiftly and saw that a mysterious man in a dark robe had appeared beside her without her noticing.
An extraordinary air surrounded his features, while determination and trust shone in his eyes.
The moment Feng Ruqing faced him, her vigilance rose to its highest point.
Although his smile was as warm as a spring breeze, she continued to weigh him carefully in her heart.
Her gaze swept over him again and again, as though she meant to pierce through his soul and uncover even the slightest trace of deceit.
She thought to herself, “In a place filled with danger and intrigue, why would someone suddenly appear to help me? Could he have some hidden motive?”
Yet during their brief exchange of glances, she caught a trace of sincerity in his eyes.
She bit her lower lip and finally decided to trust him for the moment, though she remained highly alert. Tightening her grip on her sword, she said, “Thank you for your trust, but I hope you have no ulterior motives. Otherwise…”
The two exchanged a smile, and an understanding warmth filled the air between them.
Feng Ruqing felt a kind of support she had never known before. Strength and resolve surged through her heart.
She drew a deep breath and turned her gaze once more toward the stone gate.
Her heart was firm. Slowly, she pushed the door open. With a heavy grinding sound, the stone gate finally began to move.
Beyond it lay a dark passage that seemed to lead into the deepest reaches of the palace.
Without hesitation, Feng Ruqing stepped forward, and the mysterious man followed close behind.
The passage was filled with riddles and mechanisms. Relying on her extraordinary intelligence and keen powers of observation, Feng Ruqing solved them one by one.
At one point, she reached what appeared to be a dead end. Strange symbols covered the walls.
Feng Ruqing closed her eyes and drew a deep breath. Her thoughts began racing as she recalled similar symbols she had once seen in an ancient text.
Suddenly, she opened her eyes, excitement flashing within them.
She drew her sword and inserted it into several small holes in the wall in a precise sequence and at carefully chosen angles. Then she twisted it with all her strength.
A deep rumble echoed through the passage. The ground slowly sank, and a hidden doorway appeared before them. Blinding light poured from within, as though it were the final gateway leading to the treasure.
At last, she arrived before an ancient altar. A beam of light shot from its center straight into the heavens.
At the heart of the altar, a massive gemstone radiated dazzling brilliance.
The secret of the treasure had finally been revealed.
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Feng Ruqing reached out and gently touched the gemstone. A warm and powerful energy surged through her entire body.
She lifted her head and looked toward the mysterious man, her eyes filled with determination and the light of victory.
“This is the treasure. We did it.”
Her voice was firm and powerful. Her wisdom and perseverance inspired the admiration of everyone present.
The mysterious man smiled faintly, his eyes filled with approval.
“Feng Ruqing, you did it.”
Feng Ruqing turned and prepared to lead her companions away from the mysterious island.
Just then, an aged voice echoed from every direction.
“Do you truly believe you can leave so easily?”
The old voice reverberated around them like a ghost, carrying an authority that brooked no refusal. Everyone present felt their hearts tighten.
A chill entered Feng Ruqing’s eyes. Her aura erupted in an instant, sharp as a sword drawn from its sheath.
With a cold laugh, she surveyed her surroundings and said in a stern voice, “Whoever is hiding there and playing tricks, come out and fight if you have the courage!”
As soon as her voice fell, the ground around them began to tremble violently. Countless dark figures surged out from every direction, surrounding Feng Ruqing and the others.
They drifted like ghosts, their forms wavering unpredictably. Cold blades flashed in their hands, while a suffocating killing intent filled the air.
Chen the Boatman’s face turned deathly pale. His legs trembled uncontrollably, and the short blade in his hand nearly slipped free.
Though Miss Lin’s expression was grave, she still held her curved saber tightly, her gaze unwavering as she prepared for battle.
Despite his injuries, Helmsman Li gritted his teeth and kept his eyes fixed sharply on the movements around them.
“Hmph. You insignificant wretches dare act insolently before me?”
Feng Ruqing snorted in disdain. Her sword swept through the crowd like a silver dragon. Wherever its light passed, the dark figures collapsed one after another, blood spraying through the air.
Her movements were as swift and agile as a hunting leopard’s. Every attack was precise and deadly, leaving the shadowy assailants no chance to approach.
The mysterious man stood silently beside Feng Ruqing, admiration and pride filling his eyes.
Watching her fight through the bloodshed, he felt a profound respect rise within him.
He knew that the woman before him was no ordinary person. She was a phoenix soaring through the nine heavens, destined one day to spread her wings and take flight.
Leading the others, Feng Ruqing fought while retreating, carving a path through the encirclement. At last, they reached the edge of the island.
She glanced back at the mysterious palace.
A massive sailing ship was moored along the shore. Bathed in sunlight, it appeared especially imposing.
It was the vessel Feng Ruqing had prepared in advance, laying the foundation for her future ventures in maritime trade.
She raised the gemstone in her hand and shouted, “Let’s go! We’re heading home!”
The others cheered and hurried aboard the sailing ship. Their faces shone with the joy of victory, and their hearts were filled with hope for the future.
Standing at the bow, Feng Ruqing let the sea wind blow through her long hair. She gazed toward the distant horizon, her heart filled with grand ambition.
With this treasure in hand, she would open entirely new maritime trade routes and make her name resound across the whole continent.
“Set sail!”
At Feng Ruqing’s command, the ship slowly pulled away from the shore and headed toward the distant horizon.
Just then, a lazy voice drifted out from inside the cabin.
“This thing is worth quite a bit of money, don’t you think, Little Qing?”
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