Jian Zhaoxing

Chapter 148 Secret Room
There was a sense of excitement in Lin Zhiqing's eyes.

Jiang Liuyun became even more anxious: "What exactly are you talking about?"

"Jiang Liuyun, you've walked around this room, and your clothes have gotten a bit darker too, haven't they?" Lin Zhiqing stared at Jiang Liuyun's black clothes.

Jiang Liuyun looked down and realized that it was true: "Clothes will definitely get darker if they get dusty."

Lu Huai smiled and said, "The same principle applies to the walls. Why is it that only the middle section of the wall is darker?"

Jiang Liuyun still couldn't understand what they meant.

Lin Zhiqing continued, "There's more dust on this wall than in other places, so it's darker."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Liuyun reached out and wiped his hand on the wall.

Sure enough, a deep stain appeared on his finger.

In this pitch-black room, no one would notice this subtle detail unless they looked at it several times.

"Qing'er, what else can we see from this?" He looked up at the roof:
"Could it be that it's been neglected for years, and the wood on top has become loose, causing dust to fly onto this wall?"

“The angle is wrong.” Lu Huai shook his head, denying his statement: “Besides, if it were a problem from above, the dust should be scattered and flying everywhere, not concentrated in one spot.”

"Brother Lu, you seem to know quite a lot," Jiang Liuyun couldn't help but say, though a closer listen would reveal a hint of sarcasm in his tone.

However, Lin Zhiqing's attention was focused on the floor, and she did not notice this.

Lu Huai was also analyzing things in his mind, and from time to time he would explain some knowledge points to Jiang Liuyun.

While they were talking, Lin Zhiqing squatted down.

The dust on the floor was quite thick, and it swirled around in the light.

Ignoring the ashes, she expressionlessly picked up a broken table leg and pushed the ashes at her feet aside.

Noticing her movements, Lu Huai and Jiang Liuyun also squatted down and used their hands to push away the dust.

After the dust was mostly removed, a complete floorboard came into view.

Lin Zhiqing tapped on it, and a series of dull "thump thump thump" sounds quickly followed.

This means the floor is hollow inside.

Upon hearing this sound, Lu Huai's lips curled into a smile: "There really is a secret passage down here!"

That's right, it's a secret passage.

Lin Zhiqing smiled slightly; she hadn't guessed wrong.

This floorboard is the culprit that caused the wall to become black and scratched.

If the floor could be lifted, then every time he was lifted, the surrounding dust would fly up onto the walls.

Over time, the walls will turn black.

As for the scratches, Lin Zhiqing speculated that the wooden board was likely leaning against the wall when it was lifted.

This storeroom, like the study, is actually just a smokescreen.

However, the two methods of deception are quite different in their forms.

One is magnificent, the other is dilapidated.

A grand study is meant to make people think that something important is inside, thus drawing them in.

Once you go in, you'll most likely never come out.

Of course, Lin Zhiqing and the other two were an exception.

As for dilapidated warehouses, their purpose is mostly to cover up things and divert attention.

Therefore... Lin Zhiqing guessed that there was a secret passage under the floor.

Looking at the floorboards, Lin Zhiqing's hand groped around his waist.

A small dagger quickly appeared in her hand. She flipped the dagger and pressed the blade against the crack in the floor.

No matter what Lin Zhiqing takes out, Lu Huai and Jiang Liuyun are no longer surprised. "Qing'er, this dagger is too sharp, let me handle it," Jiang Liuyun said.

Lin Zhiqing readily handed the dagger to him.

Jiang Liuyun was faster, more accurate, and more ruthless than Lin Zhiqing.

With a creak, the floorboards indeed reacted!
Lu Huai and Lin Zhiqing quickly stepped forward.

After trying a few times, Jiang Liuyun finally found a foothold and put some effort into it.

The next second, a small crack appeared in front of the three of them.

Seeing this, Lu Huai and Lin Zhiqing reached into the gap to help Jiang Liuyun lift the wooden plank.

The three of them gritted their teeth and together lifted the floorboards upwards.

A creaking sound rang out, followed by a cloud of dust being kicked up.

The dust that was kicked up was all scattered on the wall because the wooden planks tilted backward.

Most of the dust settled in the corners and around the walls, but a small portion adhered to the walls, forming the slightly dark patch that Lin Zhiqing and the others saw.

Moreover, as the floorboards tilted backward, Lin Zhiqing and Lu Huai pinned them against the wall.

After doing this many times, scratches will inevitably appear.

Once everything was in place, Lin Zhiqing looked at the dark cave entrance and the stairs leading down into the unknown, and first carefully considered the presence of psychological suggestion.

She concluded that there was no.

There's nothing particularly strange about smell and hearing, but what about vision?
Just as Lin Zhiqing was thinking, Jiang Liuyun peeked inside:
"This secret passage was hidden so well that if Brother Lu and Qing'er hadn't been so observant, we would have missed it recently. I certainly wouldn't have been able to see it."

"Liu Mang's arrangement was so well hidden that it's normal not to notice it." Lu Huai circled the entrance.
"This secret passage was most likely rebuilt by Liu Mang. Be careful, I'll go down and take a look."

"Hey, wait a minute." Jiang Liuyun pulled Lu Huai back: "If anyone's going down, it should be me first. I'm really worried about your health."

As he spoke, he took the tinder from Lin Zhiqing's hand, and took the lead in stepping up the stairs and walking down.

"Zhiqing, you keep watch up here. If anything happens, just call out." After saying that, Lu Huai was about to follow Jiang Liuyun.

"Wait." Lin Zhiqing called out to Lu Huai, sheathing her dagger at her waist. "You keep watch up here, I need to go down and check."

Meeting her resolute gaze, Lu Huai didn't say anything more.

With Jiang Liuyun here, the area below should be safe.

Thinking of this, he nodded.

Lin Zhiqing tentatively stepped onto the stairs, and seeing that there were no problems, quickly walked down.

Fortunately, the staircase wasn't long, and it didn't have any twists and turns; you just had to go straight.

She walked for a short while and then saw Jiang Liuyun's figure.

Jiang Liuyun seemed to have heard her footsteps and stopped a short distance ahead.

Lin Zhiqing quickened her pace and soon caught up with Jiang Liuyun.

"We're almost at the exit. No matter what happens, stay behind me," Jiang Liuyun whispered instruction.

Lin Zhiqing nodded.

So the two of them took a few steps forward, and their view gradually broadened.

Soon, they reached the finish line.

It was a secret room.

Jiang Liuyun carefully took a step forward, but for some reason, he saw something that made him freeze in place.

Seeing this, Lin Zhiqing also stepped forward.

Then, her pupils contracted.

Inside that secret room, there was a person sitting!