C22 I Read It in a Book!

Observing her delicate and petite frame, it was clear she was a woman.

She was dressed simply, with a stooped posture and a decidedly unattractive face—her eyes mismatched in size and her mouth askew.

Yet, Lin Yuanjian saw through the ruse at a glance. Beneath the disguise was a pure and stunning beauty!

Her identity was unmistakable; she was the very Miss Xiaozhao that Lin Yuanjian had been searching for.

Silently, Lin Yuanjian materialized behind her, completely undetected. She checked her surroundings for onlookers before moving closer to the eight stone pillars.

The subtle scent of a young woman wafted from her, prompting Lin Yuanjian to tap her on the shoulder.

"Ah!" Xiaozhao, engrossed in examining the stone pillar, let out a scream as an unexpected hand landed on her shoulder.

Quick as a flash, Lin Yuanjian covered her mouth from behind, whispering, "Shh, no noise. You wouldn't want to attract attention, right?"

Frozen, Xiaozhao's eyes betrayed her anxiety.

"Relax, I'm not going to hurt you," Lin Yuanjian assured her, releasing his grip and allowing her freedom once more.

"You... I thought you had left. Why have you returned?" Her voice was melodious, reminiscent of a sparrow, tinged with a touch of shyness.

Lin Yuanjian responded playfully, "If I hadn't come back, how would I have discovered what you're up to?"

Xiaozhao felt a pang of frustration. She had taken great care to conceal herself and had waited so long before emerging, only to be found out.

Yet she sensed no threat from the young man a few years her senior, who seemed unlikely to betray her. Besides, she recalled no Lin Yuanjian from Bright Peak, suggesting he wasn't affiliated with the Bright Cult.

This realization eased Xiaozhao's nerves slightly.

"Drop the act. It's a shame for a pretty girl to hide behind such an ugly disguise," Lin Yuanjian remarked offhandedly, sending Xiaozhao's emotions into turmoil. Her disguise was masterful; even Yang Xiao had been fooled. How had this young man seen through it instantly?

"How did you know?" Xiaozhao asked incredulously.

"A disguise will always have its flaws," Lin Yuanjian explained. "And a flaw cannot escape my notice."

With a huff, Xiaozhao briskly removed the ointment she'd used to alter her appearance. Her back straightened, her mouth corrected, and her eyes returned to their natural state.

Upon closer inspection, she was indeed a striking young lady, around sixteen or seventeen, with skin like porcelain, bright eyes, petite cherry lips, a prominent nose, and a subtle hint of sea blue in her gaze—distinctly different from the women of the Central Plains.

"What do you want from me?" Xiaozhao asked warily.

"I'm just curious. What are you doing here all by yourself? Would you mind sharing?" Lin Yuanjian circled Xiaozhao slowly, his gaze never straying from her.

"I'm... I'm catching scorpions," Xiaozhao's eyes darted about, revealing her unease.

"Catching scorpions? And for what purpose?" Lin Yuanjian inquired, one eyebrow raised.

"To eat," Xiaozhao replied. "Roasted over a fire with a sprinkle of pepper—they're delicious."

Lin Yuanjian couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and exasperation. The little girl was just too endearing. If she was going to make an excuse, at least she could come up with a better one.

"So, how many did you manage to catch?"

Tugging at the hem of her garment, Xiaozhao murmured, "I... I didn't catch any."

Lin Yuanjian tsked and sighed, "Miss Xiaozhao, you might fool others, but you can't fool me."

"How do you know my name?" Xiaozhao gasped in surprise.

"I know more than just your name," Lin Yuanjian revealed. "I also know that Golden Flower Grandma sent you."

Xiaozhao was utterly stunned. "Ah, what... what else are you privy to?"

With a leisurely tone, Lin Yuanjian disclosed, "Golden Flower Grandma is none other than the former Violet Dragon King Daisy of the Bright Cult's four great kings. You're her daughter, sent to pilfer the Universe Great Teleportation technique."

Xiaozhao nearly collapsed in shock. Who was this man, and how did he know everything about her?

"Who are you, exactly? How do you know so much about me?" Xiaozhao's voice quivered as she stepped back, her face awash with fear.

These secrets were known only to her and her mother. How could Lin Yuanjian, a stranger, be aware of them? Was he perhaps a friend of her mother's? But even so, her mother would never share such confidential matters.

How did I come to know this? I simply read it in a book, of course! Lin Yuanjian cleared his throat and said earnestly, "Don't concern yourself with how I know. I won't tell a soul. In return, you'll lead me into the secret passage."

It took a while for Xiaozhao to regain her composure, thinking she'd need to consult her mother about this development.

Upon hearing Lin Yuanjian's request to enter the secret passage, Xiaozhao's brows knitted together. "You want to go into the secret passage? What for?"

Lin Yuanjian was upfront about his intentions: "I'm after the Universe Great Teleportation technique, just like you."

Xiaozhao fumed, "You..."

"Relax, we'll each transcribe our own copy of the technique. You keep yours, and I'll keep mine. I won't meddle in your affairs," Lin Yuanjian assured her, easing her concerns.

Still, Xiaozhao couldn't shake her irritation. Why should she share the Universe Great Teleportation technique with this insufferable man?

After a moment's hesitation, she decided to relent.

He seemed skilled in martial arts, and she was no match for him. He appeared honest, so she chose to trust him this once. If he were to spill her secrets to Yang Xiao or Yang Buhui, all her efforts would be for naught.

"Hmph, you'd better keep this confidential," Xiaozhao demanded, clearly displeased.

"Of course," Lin Yuanjian promised readily, then inquired, "So, how do we enter this secret passage?"

"The eight stone pillars are a mechanism," Xiaozhao explained. "You need to step on them in the correct sequence to open the secret passage. I've tried many times and have figured out the right order. Just follow me once the passage opens."

"Golden Flower Grandma didn't instruct you on the path?" Lin Yuanjian probed.

"The mechanism has been altered; it's not the same as what my mother described. It took me a long time to work out the right sequence," Xiaozhao replied. She swiftly leapt onto one of the pillars, then to the adjacent one on the left, stepping a total of eight times. A muffled sound echoed as a massive stone slid aside on the wall, revealing a dark entrance.

Lin Yuanjian trailed Xiaozhao, cautiously making his way into the long-sealed secret passage. As they advanced, the massive stone behind them inched shut, snuffing out the last sliver of light that had filtered through.

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