Enemy Attack

Feng Ling stared blankly at the message Daoist Priest Li had sent, her heart churning with stormy waves!

There was both surging, overwhelming joy and exasperated fury!

Because the final line of the riddle was far too advanced!

If one knew nothing about Taoism, who would have guessed that Snake Moon referred to Si Month?!

...Oh, right. What month was Si Month?

'Aisha: Daoist Priest, when is Si Month?'

'Daoist Priest Li: The fourth month of the lunar calendar. It has already passed; it is now the fifth lunar month, Horse Month, protected by Shengguang Yuancheng.'

Feng Ling's heart immediately sank halfway.

It had already passed? Horse Month?

Could she still find the Maze?

Feng Ling did not want to beat around the bush anymore. Clinging to her last hope, she rapidly sent the Daoist Priest a barrage of messages.

'Aisha: The Supervision Bureau has provided me with an absolutely safe place to stay, but I need to solve their riddle to learn where it is. "Snake Moon's Skyfire burns a door from the ashes"—do you know what that means?'

'Aisha: Daoist Priest (ToT)'

'Daoist Priest Li: I'm not sure I can help you. It feels like this riddle is incomplete.'

'Daoist Priest Li: Snake Moon refers to last month. Skyfire should refer to fiery clouds—the red clouds that appear at sunrise or sunset. Fiery clouds at sunrise grow brighter and brighter, while those at sunset grow darker and darker, eventually turning blackish gray, which is close to the meaning of ashes. So this means that at sunset last month, you should search for a door in the direction of the setting sun.'

'Daoist Priest Li: However, the direction of sunset covers too large and vague an area. I believe the riddle should have another part. Otherwise, it would be difficult to find an exact location using only the clues in this sentence.'

'Aisha: (ToT) There really is another part to the riddle, and I've already solved it! But I didn't expect it to no longer be Snake Moon! What should I do?'

'Daoist Priest Li: Compared with now, sunset during Snake Moon was probably about twenty minutes earlier.'

'Aisha: Will the sunset position be shifted?'

'Daoist Priest Li: Yes, but Snake Moon and Horse Month are adjacent, so the shift will not be too obvious. It should not affect your riddle-solving. Only with a large gap in time, such as summer and winter, would the sunset point be noticeably different.'

Feng Ling breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that her efforts throughout the day had not been wasted.

'Aisha: Thank you, Daoist Priest. I want to treat you to a meal.'

'Daoist Priest Li: No need. I'm fasting.'

'Aisha: How about I treat you to a movie?'

'Daoist Priest Li: No need, thank you.'

'Aisha: Then I'll donate some incense money to Sanqing Palace. Daoist Priest, I want to thank you in person.'

'Daoist Priest Li: There is no need. In truth, the help I can offer is limited and not worth your thanks. I hope you find a safe place to stay as soon as possible. Remember not to go out again anytime soon. Learn to protect yourself, remain vigilant at all times, and do not be too afraid. Once the Hidden Boss incident passes, everything will be all right.'

Feng Ling thought, Why was this guy so stubborn? What did he mean by refusing to meet her no matter what?

Just then, another message arrived from him.

'Daoist Priest Li: If you feel like you are on the verge of losing control, you can try meditating. Place some aromatherapy you like indoors and play soothing music. It may help regulate your emotions.'

After sending that message, he also sent her a fifty-yuan red packet.

The note on the red packet read: Buy aromatherapy.

Feng Ling did not think it was too little and happily accepted it.

'Aisha: Thank you, Daoist Priest. You know so much.'

'Aisha: Daoist Priest, can I learn from you? If I go to Sanqing Palace, will I be able to meet you?'

After sending the red packet, the Daoist Priest stopped talking.

It was not the first time. This Daoist Priest Li often vanished in the middle of a conversation. Still, Feng Ling could not bring herself to get angry—after all, she had accepted his red packet.

She smiled at the night sky, suddenly realizing that the river's night view was rather lovely~

The Patrol Boat docked—

Feng Ling arranged to use the boat again at six the next day, then went home in high spirits.

Zhou Diao and Huangfu Miaomiao were both baffled by her shift in mood.

Once home, she ate another huge meal as usual.

Of the two nests she had built, the spider nest was already like a water-filled balloon and could not hold another drop of energy. The other nest, belonging to some unknown bird, was nearly full as well.

Once she found the Maze entrance, she would deal with those two nests. Otherwise, carrying them around every day was a burden.

Feng Ling made her plans accordingly.

The next day was bright and sunny.

In a rare occurrence, Feng Ling stayed cooped up at home all day and did not leave for the Dock until evening.

As the weather entered Midsummer, sunset gradually came later and later. It was nearly seven before the sun leisurely began to sink.

Feng Ling boarded the Patrol Boat again. A gust of wind swept across the river, blowing away the strands of hair stuck to her cheeks with sweat.

She was in an excellent mood and took the initiative to send the Daoist Priest a message.

'Aisha: Daoist Priest, the sun is about to set.'

In the distance, the setting sun dyed the entire river a dazzling crimson gold, while the evening glow painted the mountains until they lost their original colors.

Feng Ling stared unblinkingly at that brilliant red "Skyfire," her entire heart soaring.

Zhou Diao and Huangfu Miaomiao were also completely captivated by the sunset.

Everyone waited.

They waited to see exactly where the evening glow would "burn into ashes" at the instant the sun set.

Suddenly, Feng Ling spotted a conspicuous flash amid the magnificent evening glow. Like gold, it reflected the last sunlight. It lasted only a brief half minute before rapidly dimming.

Feng Ling narrowed her eyes, trying hard to identify the source of that light, when she suddenly heard the sound of water beside her.

The next instant, something pierced through her chest from behind!

"Enemy attack!!!" Qin Liang shouted.

Gunfire rang out across the river, sending sprays of water flying!

Feng Ling stared in disbelief at the hole in her chest. Everything had happened too quickly; she had not even seen what had attacked her. By the time she came back to herself, blood was already gushing out like a waterfall.

Huangfu Miaomiao stared blankly at her bleeding, her face deathly pale.

Zhou Diao cursed angrily from the Yacht. "It's a Xenomorph! The Xenomorph is in the water!"

His ability was completely useless underwater!

"Get to shore immediately!" Zhou Diao roared. He turned to Feng Ling and asked anxiously, "Hey! Can you hold on?!"

Feng Ling's hands went limp, and her phone slipped from her grasp, hitting the floor with a thud.

Her mind seemed disconnected as she thought in confusion, Why now of all times...

"They're coming after us!" Cao Hongyi shouted, raising his gun and rapidly firing at the waves behind the Patrol Boat!

The waves churned as unknown creatures sped after them beneath the water.

The sun had already set, and the dark river had become their best hiding place.

Feng Ling looked toward the spot that had just been glowing. It had dimmed until all color was gone, blending indistinctly with the clouds.

Just a little more...

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

"Go faster!" Zhou Diao bellowed. "As long as they dare come ashore, I'll tear them apart!!!"

The Patrol Boat suddenly lurched violently!

As though something had slammed hard into its side!

The hull tilted severely. Everyone hurriedly grabbed the metal railings within reach, but Feng Ling lost her balance and fell backward into the water—

I didn't expect today's update to be late, but there was actually... not a single comment urging me to update... really, not one...