Infinite Puzzle City

Chapter 702 Encountering Teammates

"Wine, wine!!"

In a private booth by the window on the second floor of Zuixianlou, Shao Hongzhang was sprawled on a greasy wooden table, his cheeks flushed from the smell of alcohol, his fingers tapping the empty glass unconsciously, and muttering incoherently.

Outside the window lay Zhuque Avenue, the main thoroughfare that ran through Chang'an, the city of ghosts. At this moment, Chang'an was shrouded in a strange twilight light, neither as falsely prosperous as during the day nor yet fully succumbing to the eeriness of night. Extending upwards along the street was the imposing shadow of the Forbidden Palace, and the examination hall for this special imperial examination, the temporary "examination hall," was located not far from the Forbidden Palace.

Xiao Ran stood by the window, his gaze sharp as a hawk's, piercing through the deepening twilight, his eyes fixed on the direction of the examination hall. He tried several times to extend his spiritual power, like invisible tentacles reaching towards that area. However, each probe was like a stone sinking into the sea. In his powerful spiritual perception, the examination hall was not shielded by any force, but rather presented a complete and chilling "emptiness," as if nothing existed there, merely a conceptual black hole, swallowing all that peered in.

"Stop looking... hiccup..." Shao Hongzhang struggled to lift his heavy eyelids, glanced at Xiao Ran's tense back, and his tongue was a little tied.

"Tomorrow... I'm going to quit drinking... Hurry up... give me some alcohol... let me drink to my heart's content... hurry, hurry up..." He stretched out his hand like a child begging for candy, but the weariness and despair hidden deep in his eyes were far beyond what a child could possess.

Xiao Ran silently turned around, and with a slight thought, a perfectly preserved bottle of Moutai appeared out of thin air on the table. Shao Hongzhang's cloudy eyes lit up instantly, and he almost pounced on the bottle, snatching it away and eagerly unscrewing the cap to take a deep breath.

Immediately, he frowned, his face full of disgust: "Tsk... this wine... it's gone flat... it's almost turned into water..." Despite saying this, he poured himself a full glass without hesitation, tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp.

The spicy and mellow liquid slid down my throat, and even though some of it evaporated, its unique flavor, which had traveled through time, still far surpassed the so-called nectar and ambrosia here.

He smacked his lips and poured himself another glass.

Seeing that Xiao Ran's gaze remained fixed on the "empty" examination hall, Shao Hongzhang reached out and tugged at Xiao Ran's sleeve with his greasy fingers:

"Come, come... sit down..." He hiccuped, trying to sit up straighter. His eyes seemed to clear for a moment. He lowered his voice mysteriously and pointed to the blurry outline of the examination hall outside the window: "You've been looking for so long... haven't you... seen anything?"

Xiao Ran withdrew her gaze and sat down with a scrutinizing look: "What did you figure out?"

“No…” Shao Hongzhang waved his hand, his face bearing the mixed expression of smugness and self-mockery typical of a drunkard, “I’m just a mortal…you can’t even see me…how could I see me…”

He paused, then abruptly changed the subject, revealing a deep-seated professional instinct remnant of the former head of the Imperial Observatory, "But...do you know what the Imperial Examination Hall is? It's where the emperor selects and appoints worthy men through the imperial examinations...it's a place where the righteous energy of heaven and earth converges..."

He dipped his finger in the remaining wine in his cup and gestured on the greasy table: "According to the rules... it should face south... symbolizing 'embracing yin and yang' to receive the righteous energy of heaven and earth. However... the terrain of Chang'an has changed... when the examination hall was built, due to the limitations of the terrain and considerations of celestial phenomena... it was built facing east... the east is associated with the wood element, which represents the auspiciousness of the purple aura coming from the east... this is the correct arrangement!"

Xiao Ran, with his keen perception, instantly sharpened his gaze to a dagger upon hearing this, turning it once more towards the examination hall. This time, he no longer merely used his mental power to perceive that "nothingness."

Instead, they observed its exact location with the naked eye! Sure enough! The main gate of the yamen, which was set up as the examination hall, faced due west! This was completely contrary to the orthodox layout of "sitting south and facing east" described by Shao Hongzhang!

"Fake?" Xiao Ran's voice lowered, carrying a chilling coldness.

"Hmph..." Shao Hongzhang raised his head triumphantly, his cloudy eyes flashing with a worldly-wise sorrow and a hint of barely perceptible pride. "This ghost city... what's real anymore? It's all... illusions, all cages!"

He pointed to the west-facing gate of the examination hall, his fingers trembling slightly from excitement and the effects of alcohol. "Look at that orientation... facing west from the south? West is the position of the White Tiger, which governs killing, warfare, and devastation! It's where the sun sets, a place where yin energy gathers! To open the gate of the examination hall to the west? This is not selecting virtuous and capable people; it's clearly opening the door to thieves, letting evil spirits into a trap! This is... an extremely ominous 'White Tiger Carrying a Corpse' formation! Those who go in... will likely end up... with no remains, their souls scattered!"

Xiao Ran's pupils contracted slightly as he carefully examined the layout of the examination hall once more. He was proficient in the art of exorcism, which was mainly used to defeat enemies and neutralize evil influences. Although he had some knowledge of architectural layouts, the deeper aspects of the flow of the heaven and earth's energy and the combination of celestial phenomena and terrain—the royal secrets of geomancy—were indeed not his forte.

Now that Shao Hongzhang had pointed it out, and recalling that "nothingness" that even spiritual power couldn't penetrate, an invisible, malevolent aura seemed to emanate from the examination hall, sending a chill down his spine.

"Don't believe me?" Seeing Xiao Ran's silent scrutiny, Shao Hongzhang revealed a disdainful sneer mixed with drunkenness and arrogance. "This is the art of geomancy... a secret kept by the royal family since ancient times, concerning the fate of the nation and the rise and fall of the dragon veins... how can it be compared to ordinary Jianghu feng shui? It's not surprising that you don't understand it!"

Despite his intoxication, his words carried a resounding authority: "The art of geomancy... geomancy is the way of heaven, geomancy is the way of earth! It involves discerning the changes of yin and yang, and understanding constellations and human affairs... What is commonly known as feng shui is merely a small branch of geomancy, like a river to the ocean! A feng shui master observes the fortune of a place or a household, while a geomancy master... governs the destiny of a city or a country! One must be proficient in astronomy, geography, geology, astrology, meteorology, landscape, architecture, ecology... even the meridians of the human body, and the principles of yin and yang and the five elements! I am able to hold the position of Director of the Imperial Observatory... precisely because of these eyes that can see through the workings of heaven and earth!"

He pounded his chest, unconcerned about the spilled wine, displaying the stubbornness of a fallen prince: "Though I know nothing of fists or swordsmanship... I have my own way of making a living, even... stirring up trouble! Remember, in this godforsaken place... sometimes, seeing the direction of the 'door' is more important than being a fighter..."

Xiao Ran's gaze lingered for a moment on Shao Hongzhang's drunken yet strangely radiant face, her mind racing: "The sea of ​​knowledge is boundless... the ancients were truly right. This scoundrel Huang Chao... knows the power of my curse techniques, deliberately avoiding traps I can understand, and instead setting up this far more unpredictable geomantic killing scheme..."

Suddenly, looking at the drunken Shao Hongzhang in front of him, Xiao Ran had an extremely ruthless and efficient thought: "Kill Shao Hongzhang! Immediately! Use the Soul Devouring Technique to plunder all his memories and experience about geomancy from his mind!"

This is undoubtedly the quickest and most thorough way to master this mysterious art and resolve the current crisis.

The thought, with its intense allure, flashed through Xiao Ran's mind like a devil's whisper. "Urgent measures are necessary, but this is a one-time exception... It's all for saving the world, for the greater good, for survival... Sacrificing a drunkard for crucial power is worthwhile!"

However, it only lasted for a moment!

A sharp, resolute glint flashed deep in Xiao Ran's eyes, completely crushing and dispelling the thought as if extinguishing a spark!
"I am a human being, not a demon!"

Xiao Ran instantly transformed into a human, a thought flashing between her brows, and immediately crushed the idea.

Xiao Ran could not admit that she had the ability to sew up corpses and steal them, but she could not kill people just for that.

Once this breach is made, the bottom line will be like water bursting its banks, making it difficult to hold on.

Today, one can kill a drunkard for a "legitimate reason," but tomorrow, can one slaughter the innocent for a greater "goal"? Xiao Ran is very clear that some boundaries, once crossed, can never be reversed.

He cherishes his human nature, and that sense of self-reliance and bottom line is his last anchor in this crazy and twisted labyrinth.

He took a deep breath, the last rays of the setting sun illuminating his cold and resolute profile. He looked at Shao Hongzhang, who was still muttering about wanting more wine, and his decision was made:
"Alcohol, plenty." Xiao Ran's voice returned to calm, even carrying a hint of barely perceptible warmth. "But starting tomorrow, not a single drop is allowed. Get plenty of rest; your brain will be more useful than your mouth later."

He gazed once more at the setting sun and the western gate of the examination hall, which resembled the gaping maw of a monstrous beast. The grand imperial examination was about to begin, in this ghostly city distorted by time and rife with death traps, in the most "orthodox" yet most eerie way possible, drawing back its blood-red curtain.

Below Zuixian Tower, the crowds on Zhuque Street gradually thickened in the twilight. Countless figures, drawn by the "Extraordinary Examination," were like moths drawn to a flame, converging from all corners of the Ghost City toward the west-facing examination hall that exuded an ominous aura.

Just then, Xiao Ran suddenly sensed something, her eyes lit up, and she abruptly stood up, saying to Shao Hongzhang, "You wait here!!"

After saying that, Xiao Ran suddenly leaped up and jumped down from the building. Her figure quickly blended into the crowd in the night like a swallow.

Xiao Ran felt a warm current growing hotter and hotter in her arms. It was the talisman that Jin Chanzi had distributed to each of them before they came in. Once they got close to each other, they would be able to sense each other.

"They've finally arrived. Who is it? Wu Man? Or Dai Long? It can't be that Taoist priest Jin Chanzi, can it?"

Filled with anticipation, Xiao Ran quickly walked through the crowd.

Finally, on the other side of the street, a carriage was parked by the roadside. This carriage did not look like one that ordinary people could ride in; it had a green silk roof, pearl curtains, and several attendants around the carriage and horses.

"Hey, this guy looks like he's had some good luck this time. He must be rich and powerful."

"We're so close, he should have sensed me by now, why hasn't he come out to look for me?"

Xiao Ran did not rush forward, but continued to wait outside.

Just then, the carriage curtain was pulled open, and a man dressed as a eunuch stepped out of the carriage, making a flowery gesture with his fingers. He glanced at Xiao Ran as he got out of the carriage.

"Holy crap???" Xiao Ran's heart tightened, and his scalp tingled instantly: "Good heavens, who is this? Not only did they become a eunuch, but they're also such an ugly old eunuch?!"

Fortunately, the eunuch only glanced at Xiao Ran before turning around and calling out, "Little Li, don't be shy. Your godfather brought you out here, not so you could hide in the carriage."

"Hey!"

As a response came from inside the carriage, a fair-skinned young eunuch stepped out, glanced at Xiao Ran, and then immediately lowered his head.

"call!!"

Upon seeing this, Xiao Ran immediately understood and couldn't help but sigh: "The good news is that it's not that old eunuch, the bad news... it's still a eunuch!"

(End of this chapter)