Chapter 49

Chapter 49: Enemy Attack

Feng Ling stared at the message, stunned.

Relief surged through her like a wave—wild, breathless, almost giddy.

And right behind it came anger, hot and bitter.

Because the last line of the riddle was absurdly specialized. If you didn’t know Daoism, who in the world would guess snake month meant the Si month?

Then her mind caught on the next problem.

…What even was the Si month?

Aisha: “Daoist Master, when is the Si month?”

Daoist Master Li: “Lunar April. It’s already passed. Right now it’s lunar May, the horse month protected by Sheng Guang Yuan Chen.”

Feng Ling’s heart dropped.

It already passed?

Then could she still find the Maze?

She stopped dancing around it. She grabbed the last thread and yanked.

Aisha: “Do you know what this means: ‘Snake month’s heavenly fire burns out a door in the ashes’?”

Daoist Master Li: “Snake month refers to last month. Heavenly fire should be fire clouds—the red clouds at sunrise or sunset. At sunrise they grow brighter. At sunset they fade darker until they turn black-gray, close to the idea of ashes. So the meaning is: at last month’s sunset, look for a door in the direction of the setting sun.”

Daoist Master Li: “But the sunset direction is too broad, too vague. I believe the riddle should have another part. Otherwise it would be hard to find an exact location.”

Aisha: “(ToT) There is another part. I already solved it, but I didn’t expect it not to be snake month anymore. What do I do?”

Daoist Master Li: “Compared to now, last month’s sunset would be about twenty minutes earlier.”

Aisha: “Will the sunset position shift?”

Daoist Master Li: “Yes, but snake month and horse month are adjacent. The shift won’t be obvious. It shouldn’t affect your solution. Only large gaps—like summer versus winter—cause major changes in where the sun sets.”

Feng Ling let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. Today hadn’t been a waste.

Then another message arrived.

Daoist Master Li: “Are you looking for the Maze?”

Feng Ling ignored it.

If she could get him in front of her, she could pry the rest out of him. She started throwing bait.

Aisha: “Daoist Master, I’ll treat you to dinner.”

Daoist Master Li: “No need. I’ve already fasted.”

Aisha: “Then a movie?”

Daoist Master Li: “No need. I’m cultivating.”

Aisha: “Then I’ll donate incense money to San Qing Palace. Daoist Master, I really want to thank you in person.”

Daoist Master Li: “No need. The help I can provide is limited. It isn’t worth thanks. I hope you find a safe place to stay, learn to protect yourself, and stay alert at all times. Don’t trust other people’s clues to enter the Maze. The Maze isn’t a place humans should go.”

Feng Ling frowned at her screen.

Stubborn. Completely stubborn. Why wouldn’t he meet her?

Another message came through.

Daoist Master Li: “If you feel like you’re near losing control, try meditating. Put a scent you like indoors, and play soothing music. It can help regulate your emotions.”

Right after that, he sent her a 50-yuan red packet.

The note read: Buy incense.

Aisha: “Thank you, Daoist Master. You really know a lot.”

Aisha: “Can I learn from you? If I go to San Qing Palace, can I meet you there?”

No reply.

Not surprising. Daoist Master Li vanished like this all the time—one moment talking, the next gone.

Feng Ling wasn’t angry. If she couldn’t catch the man, she could still catch the temple. He couldn’t disappear forever.

She lifted her head and smiled at the night sky. For the first time that evening, she noticed the river view was actually beautiful.

After the patrol boat docked, Feng Ling arranged to use the boat again tomorrow at six. She went home in a good mood.

Zhou Zhou and Huang Fu Miao Miao had no idea what to do with her sudden emotional whiplash.

Back home, Feng Ling ate like she was trying to fill an empty pit.

The two nests she’d built were both close to bursting. The unknown bird nest was swollen like a water balloon at its limit, unable to store even a drop more. The spider nest wasn’t far behind.

Once she found the Maze entrance, she would deal with them. Carrying them around every day was a burden.

That was the plan.

…

The next day was bright and brutal.

Feng Ling did something rare—she stayed cooped up at home all day, conserving herself. She didn’t head to the pier until evening.

As Sheng Xia rolled in, the sun set later and later. It was nearly seven before it began to sink in earnest.

Feng Ling boarded the patrol boat again. The river wind hit hard, blowing loose the strands of hair pasted to her cheeks with sweat.

She felt good—light, almost eager.

She messaged Daoist Master Li first.

Aisha: “Daoist Master, the sun is about to set.”

In the distance, the sunset painted the entire river in glaring red-gold. The mountains lost their original colors under the burn of the clouds.

Feng Ling stared at that vivid “heavenly fire” without blinking, heart lifting like it might tear free.

Zhou Zhou and Huang Fu Miao Miao fell quiet too, caught by the light.

Everyone waited.

They waited for the instant the sun fell—and for whatever would be “burned into ashes” by the afterglow.

Then Feng Ling saw it.

A sharp glint inside the sunset—bright as polished gold, reflecting the last sunlight. It lasted only half a minute before it began to dim, fast.

Feng Ling narrowed her eyes, straining to identify the source.

She heard water.

The next instant, something punched through her chest from behind.

“Enemy attack!!!” Qin Liang screamed.

Gunshots cracked across the river, bullets whipping up sprays of water.

Feng Ling stared at the ragged hole in her chest, mind refusing to accept what her eyes were showing. It happened too fast—she hadn’t even seen what hit her.

Then the blood came.

It poured out like a burst pipe, hot and relentless.

Huang Fu Miao Miao stood frozen, face drained white.

Zhou Zhou slammed a hand against the railing and cursed, voice raw. “It’s an aberrant! It’s in the water!” His ability was useless down there.

“Dock now!” he roared.

Then he snapped his head back to Feng Ling. “Hey! Can you hold on?!”

Feng Ling’s hands went slack. Her phone slid from her grip and hit the deck with a heavy thud.

Her brain felt disconnected, like someone had cut a wire. A single thought drifted through the haze.

Why now, of all times…

“They’re chasing!” Cao Hong Yi shouted. He raised his gun and fired rapidly into the wake.

The water churned. Something moved beneath the surface, fast and hungry, racing after them.

The sun was down. The river was dark—perfect cover.

Feng Ling forced her head toward the spot where the light had flashed.

It was gone now, faded into nothing, smudged into the clouds like it had never existed.

Just a little more.

Just a little more, and she would have found the Maze entrance.

“Go faster!” Zhou Zhou bellowed. “If they dare come ashore, I’ll tear them apart!”

The patrol boat lurched.

Something slammed hard into the side.

The hull tilted sharply. Everyone lunged for the metal railings—

And Feng Ling, already weak, lost her balance. Her body tipped backward over the edge and dropped into the river.