Perhaps fate did not wish to toy with Ren Yuanhao. Just as his mind was in disarray, below the vines haphazardly cut down by Cunxue, a loose brown rock suddenly appeared in a recessed part of the cliff face!
Ren Yuanhao, in his urgency, directly used Cunxue to pry open the rock. The moment the sword tip touched the stone, it immediately sank inward. A grating sound echoed again in the cave as sunlight, like a sharp sword, slanted in from the top of the suddenly opened stone door!
Outside, there were also some hanging vines, and the faint sound of water could be heard. Ren Yuanhao slashed through the vines with two quick strokes of Cunxue, then leaped up, finally emerging from that accursed cave.
The clear, refreshing air rushed into his nostrils, but it did not bring him any comfort. Instead, his heart felt as if it were weighed down by a large stone.
The only way to lift this great stone was to hear the voices of Shen Lannini, Ye Lan, and Yang Lingxue, even if it were just one of their voices.
Perhaps fate did not wish to play a joke on him, or perhaps this was a place of great fortune. As he pulled out his mobile phone, the long-lost signal bars finally showed a pitiful two bars.
With a heart filled with apprehension and urgency, he dialed Shen Lannini's number. The feedback immediately sent his already racing heart into his throat.
"The number you have dialed is switched off. Please..."
This was extremely bad news for him. In fact, he hadn't realized it until now, but from some unknown time, these three women had become an indispensable part of his life, like a piece of flesh from his own body. Even during missions, he would often find himself thinking of these three without conscious effort.
Of course, he wouldn't ponder this issue now. Instead, he successively dialed Ye Lan and Yang Lingxue's numbers.
The result, without exception, was that they were switched off.
This situation completely corroborated the correctness of Fang Muyan's words. However, he still had one last person to ask, and that was his final hope.
Even though he had prepared himself psychologically, his hands were still trembling rapidly. The moment he dialed the number, his heartstrings were stretched to a creaking point, as if a slight further disturbance would cause them to snap into countless pieces.
Fortunately, a hoarse voice from Liu Yu on the other end of the line responded as he had hoped.
"Hello, brother, your call finally got through."
"Wh-what happened?" Ren Yuanhao's tongue tied itself in knots when he was nervous, a situation that hadn't occurred for a long time.
The voice on the other end of the line was no better than his own, "The sisters-in-law suddenly went missing two days ago. I discreetly went to their workplaces to look for them but found nothing. I think the Lionheart Group has probably started making their move, and the next target will be you, brother."
Although Ren Yuanhao had some preparation, when Liu Yu said this, his heart sank to the bottom. The chaotic mountain wind closed in from all directions, like sharp blades.
A deathly silence hung between both ends of the phone. After an unknown period, Ren Yuanhao clenched Cunxue, his eyes shooting out sharp rays of light. His voice, deep as water and cold as ice, said, "Big Brother, are you ready for a big fight?"
The sound of weapons being drawn suddenly rang out from the other end of the phone, carrying a chilling murderous intent that could be felt even through the phone.
"I'm ready anytime, willing to go through fire and water."
The two men were like ignited explosives at this moment, radiating murderous intent!
"Good, I'll be back as soon as possible. Keep in touch, and stay hidden."
"Mm, I'll be waiting for you."
...
The mountain rain had been falling continuously for four days. The old mountain gate exuded a scent of decay and mold. Although the rain was not heavy, water dripped incessantly from the eaves. The mountain wind was desolate, pines and bamboos surrounded the area, and dark clouds, like a swirling vortex, slowly drifted over Qingfeng Gate.
Ren Yuanhao had successfully obtained the qualification to enter the library, but he wasn't particularly excited.
"DiDi, congratulations to the host for completing the order, five-star rating, obtained two thousand points. Remaining 'Spin the Wheel' chances: two. Remaining 'Mysterious Hidden Shop' entry chances: one."
"I'm not in the mood to listen to this right now. You forced me to enter this library, what exactly do you want me to find?"
Ren Yuanhao was consumed by anxiety, all his worries etched on his face. He didn't even realize that Ying Caiwei had approached him.
Of course, the system knew this wasn't the time to be coy. Its voice became curt.
"Do you remember the 'Bamboo Slip Testament' you obtained from the Mountain Ogre's Twisted Tree Cave last time? I told you it was incomplete, and I can sense that its other part is located here in this library."
"Is that thing that important, that you had to rush me to get it now?"
"It's not a matter of importance, but rather hoping you can calm down a little."
"Calm down? How can you expect me to calm down?"
"Oh? Speaking of which, what is your relationship with them? You're willing to risk your life for them, what merit do they have? Ren Yuanhao, haven't you always been afraid to face them? Now, shouldn't you understand your own feelings a little more?"
"My own feelings? I don't understand. I only know that if it were anyone with whom I had a close relationship, even if they were dead, I would try my best, even if it meant fighting a stone against the odds, even if it meant overestimating myself, I would still try!"
"Good sir! Have you forgotten everything I told you in the cave? What does the Lionheart Building care about, and why did they capture the three women? It's all to lure you in. As long as you don't show yourself, they will be relatively safe. But if you fall into their hands, they, as bait, will completely lose their meaning. Concern leads to chaos, think carefully!"
Ren Yuanhao felt as if he had been doused with a basin of ice-cold water, plunging him into an ice cellar. He looked down at his hands, his brows furrowed. He thought: My strength, even against Fang Muyan at his peak, probably wouldn't guarantee victory. And the dangers within the Lionheart Building are still unknown. If, as the system said, I fall into their hands, the three women as props...
A chill ran down his spine. He clenched his fists tightly, his fingernails almost digging into his flesh.
"Little brother, you're bleeding. Loosen your grip."
Ying Caiwei frowned and took a handkerchief from her pocket to wipe the blood from his hand.
And at that moment, as he lowered his head, he suddenly discovered that at the bottom of an old bookshelf, in a dusty compartment, lay an ancient bamboo slip. The writing on it was clearly identical to the 'Bamboo Slip Testament' he had obtained earlier!
He collected his thoughts, his expression finally looking a little better. Seeing Ying Caiwei beside him looking as though she were about to cry, he was filled with emotion. He then said softly, "Little sister, may I borrow this bamboo slip?"