Wandering Swordsman |

Shen Mo secretly rejoiced; this situation suited him perfectly. His figure almost blended into the darkness, as if even the wind couldn't shake the young man's resolve. He took a deep breath, steadied himself, and prepared to unleash his lightness skill.

With a swift movement, like a nimble night hawk, he silently leaped onto the wall of the wooden building. His steps were light and almost silent, as if his entire body were floating in the air. With each step, he drew closer and closer to the second-floor window. Finally, Shen Mo's fingers lightly touched the windowsill; the touch was cold and firm, proving that the window was not locked—a good omen.

He carefully pushed open the window, his movements so slow it seemed time had stood still, as if afraid of making the slightest noise to disturb the people inside. The window slowly opened, revealing a corner of the study inside.

Shen Mo nimbly vaulted into the study, landing silently, but fate seemed unwilling to let him off so easily. A slight rustling sound abruptly broke the silence—a book had slipped from the shelf and crashed heavily to the floor with a dull thud. The sound was particularly jarring in the stillness of the night, instantly shattering the tranquility of the study.

"What's that sound? You stay here and guard, I'll go up and check it out!" The guard at the first-floor entrance was startled by the sudden commotion and immediately became more alert. He had already half-drawn his long sword and hurriedly headed towards the second floor.

Shen Mo's heart tightened suddenly, and time seemed to freeze. He knew that any hesitation now could expose him. Almost reflexively, he swiftly slipped behind the nearest bookshelf, pressing his body tightly against the wooden board, almost becoming one with it. His breathing became extremely shallow, and every nerve awaited the impending storm.

The guard's footsteps drew closer, finally stopping at the study door. The hinges creaked open, and a beam of torchlight shone into the room, illuminating the book lying on the floor. The guard's eyes scanned the surroundings like a hawk's, his sword fully drawn, ready to face any potential enemy.

Shen Mo hid behind the bookshelf, peering through the gaps at everything before him, his heart pounding. He saw the guard's gaze shift from the desk to the floor, then slowly turn towards him. Every second felt like an eternity; the air was thick with tension, as if even the air itself had become viscous.

Just as the guard was about to discover the hiding place, suddenly, a rat darted out from the corner, crossing the room with astonishing speed and passing right past the guard's feet. This scene dramatically changed the entire situation.

The guard's body stiffened abruptly, then a hint of relief flashed in his eyes, and his tense shoulders gradually relaxed. He stared in the direction the rat had disappeared, muttering to himself, "So it was just a rat..."

With that soft sigh, the atmosphere in the study instantly relaxed. The guard, who had been on high alert just moments before, now seemed somewhat embarrassed, even shaking his head slightly as if mocking his overreaction. He sheathed his longsword and turned to leave the place that had given him such a scare.

The guard then raised his torch and left the study. As the door closed, darkness once again enveloped the study.

Shen Mo held his breath, his ears like sensitive radar, capturing every subtle sound. As the guards' footsteps faded into the distance, until they completely disappeared at the top of the stairs, he dared to slowly exhale, like someone emerging from the deep sea for the first time to breathe fresh air. His body relaxed slightly, but he remained vigilant.

He quietly peeked out, his eyes scanning every corner of the study to make sure there was no other danger.

The study was unreally quiet in the night. Moonlight streamed through the window, casting dappled shadows on the floor, like patches of silvery lake water. Shen Mo's heartbeat gradually calmed, but he knew this was only a brief moment of tranquility.

Carefully, Shen Mo emerged from behind the bookshelf, each step exceptionally light, as if afraid of making any unnecessary noise. However, fate seemed intent on testing his patience and composure. As he moved, Shen Mo's fingers inadvertently brushed against a vase placed in the corner of the bookshelf. At that moment, time seemed to stand still. Shen Mo's eyes widened instantly, and his heart almost stopped—he thought he had touched upon the countdown to the apocalypse, because the sound of the vase shattering on the ground would inevitably attract the guards.

"It's over..." The thought had barely crossed Shen Mo's mind when his body reacted instinctively. He quickly reached out his other hand, trying to grab the falling vase. However, when his fingers touched the vase, it only spun slightly before coming to a steady stop, as if held in place by an invisible force.

Shen Mo paused for a moment, then a wry smile appeared on his face. The tension receded like a tide, replaced by an indescribable sense of relief. He gently touched his forehead and found that he was covered in sweat without realizing it. In the quiet night, this thrilling scene seemed like a silent drama, full of suspense and surprise.

"What a scare," Shen Mo said softly, a hint of self-deprecation in his voice. He glanced around to make sure no one had noticed the little incident, then resumed his previous caution. Just as he was about to continue exploring the study, he suddenly caught a glimpse of something unusual on the wall out of the corner of his eye—a mural seemed to have moved aside, revealing the outline of a hidden door frame.

Shen Mo's heart raced again. He instinctively spun the vase around once more, and the mural slowly moved back to its original position, blocking the mysterious entrance once more. In that instant, a flash of realization struck him: "So this vase is the mechanism that controls the mural."

Shen Mo's heart tightened. He carefully turned the vase again, and the mural slowly moved to the side, revealing a hidden door behind it. The door was so cleverly hidden that its existence had been completely unnoticed before. A chill ran down his spine; he realized he had inadvertently triggered a mechanism.

He realized that each time he turned the vase, it shifted the mural, thus opening or closing the secret passage. This time, he decisively and quickly turned the vase again, moving the mural aside and completely exposing the hidden door.

Driven by curiosity, Shen Mo took a deep breath and slowly walked towards the hidden door. His steps were light yet firm, each one feeling as if he were treading on the long river of history. When he finally stood before the hidden door, he took another deep breath and opened the door leading to the secret chamber.