Enemy Attack

Chapter 49: Enemy Attack

Feng Ling stared blankly at the message Daoist Priest Li had sent, a storm surging in her heart!

There was both a surging, overwhelming joy and a furious, exasperated anger!

Because the last line of the riddle was far too out of bounds!

If she hadn't known anything about Daoism, who would have guessed that Snake Moon referred to Si Month!

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

'Aisha: Daoist, when is Si Month?'

'Daoist Priest Li: The fourth month of the lunar calendar. It's already passed. Now it's the fifth month, the Horse Month under the protection of the Shenggang Yuanchen.'

Feng Ling's heart instantly sank halfway.

Already passed? Horse Month?

Then could she still find the Maze?

Feng Ling didn't want to beat around the bush anymore. Clinging to her last shred of hope, she frantically typed messages to the Daoist.

'Aisha: The Supervision Bureau gave me an absolutely safe place to stay, but I need to solve the puzzle they set to know where it is. "The gate in the ashes burned by the Skyfire of Snake Moon"—do you know what this line means?'

'Aisha: Daoist (ToT)'

'Daoist Priest Li: I'm not sure I can help you. This riddle feels incomplete to me.'

'Daoist Priest Li: Snake Moon refers to last month. Skyfire should be the burning clouds—the red clouds at sunrise or sunset. The burning clouds at sunrise grow brighter as they burn, while at sunset they grow darker, eventually turning black-gray, close to the meaning of ashes. So this line means: at sunset last month, look for the gate in the direction of the sunset.'

'Daoist Priest Li: But the range of the sunset direction is too broad, too vague. I think the riddle must have another part. Otherwise, with just the clues in this line, it's hard to find the exact location.'

'Aisha: (ToT) The riddle does have another part, and I've already solved it. But I didn't expect it's no longer Snake Month! What should I do?'

'Daoist Priest Li: The sunset time in Snake Month is about 20 minutes earlier than now.'

'Aisha: Will the sunset position shift?'

'Daoist Priest Li: Yes, but Snake Month and Horse Month are adjacent, so the shift won't be too obvious. It shouldn't affect your puzzle-solving, unless it's a large time span like summer versus winter—then the sunset point would be noticeably different.'

Feng Ling breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that all her effort today hadn't been wasted.

'Aisha: Thank you, Daoist. Daoist, I'd like to treat you to a meal.'

'Daoist Priest Li: No need. I'm in 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, I want to thank you in person.'

'Daoist Priest Li: No need. Actually, the help I can offer is limited, not worth your thanks. I hope you can find a safe place to stay soon. Remember, don't go out anymore recently. Learn to protect yourself, stay alert at all times, but don't be too afraid. Once the Hidden Boss storm passes, everything will get better.'

Feng Ling thought, why is this person so stubborn? What's the deal with refusing to meet?

Just then, another message came from the other side.

'Daoist Priest Li: If you feel like you're on the edge of losing control, try meditation. Place your favorite incense indoors, play some soothing music—it can help regulate your emotions.'

After sending this message, he also sent a red envelope of 50 yuan.

On the envelope, it said: Buy incense.

Feng Ling didn't think it was too little; she happily accepted it.

'Aisha: Thank you, Daoist. Daoist knows so much.'

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

The Daoist went silent after sending the red envelope.

It wasn't the first time. This Daoist Priest Li often disappeared mid-conversation, but Feng Ling couldn't get angry either—after all, she'd taken his red envelope.

She smiled as she looked up at the night sky, suddenly realizing the river view was really nice~

The patrol boat docked—

Feng Ling arranged to use the boat again at 6 p.m. tomorrow and went home in a cheerful mood.

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

Once home, as usual, she had a big meal.

Of the two nests she'd built, the spider nest was already like a water balloon, unable to hold another drop of energy, while the other nest from an unknown bird was nearly full.

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

Feng Ling made her calculations.

The next day, the sun blazed brightly.

Feng Ling spent a rare day holed up at home, only heading to the dock in the evening.

As the weather entered midsummer, the sunset time gradually delayed, and it wasn't until nearly seven o'clock that the sun unhurriedly began to sink.

Feng Ling boarded the patrol boat once again. The wind on the river suddenly blew, scattering the strands of hair stuck to her cheeks by sweat.

In an excellent mood, she took the initiative to send a message to the Daoist Master.

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

In the distance, the setting sun dyed the entire river a dazzling reddish gold, and the mountains were smeared by the sunset glow, losing their original colors.

Feng Ling stared unblinkingly at that mass of vivid red "Skyfire," her entire heart soaring.

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

Everyone was waiting.

Waiting for the moment the sun fully set, to see exactly where the sunset glow would "burn to ashes."

Suddenly, Feng Ling spotted a striking gleam within the magnificent sunset glow. It reflected the last sunlight like gold, but after only half a minute, it began to dim rapidly.

Feng Ling squinted, trying hard to identify where that gleam came from, when she suddenly heard the sound of water.

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

"Enemy attack!!!" Qin Liang shouted.

Gunfire rang out over the river, stirring up splashes of water!

Feng Ling looked incredulously at the hole in her chest. Everything happened too fast; she hadn't even seen what attacked her. By the time she came to her senses, blood was already gushing out like a waterfall.

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

Zhou Diao cursed angrily on 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, then turned to look at Feng Ling, asking anxiously, "Hey! Can you hold on?!"

Feng Ling's hands lost their strength, and her phone slipped from her grasp, landing with a thud.

Her mind seemed to disconnect, thinking dazedly: Why now of all times...

"They're chasing us!" Cao Hongyi shouted, raising his gun and firing rapidly at the water waves behind the patrol boat!

The waves churned as unknown creatures sped after them underwater.

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

Feng Ling looked toward the spot that had glowed earlier. It had already dimmed to nothing, blurring and merging into the clouds.

Just a little more...

Just a little bit more, and she could have found the entrance to the Maze.

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

The patrol boat suddenly lurched violently!

It was as if something had slammed hard into its side!

The hull tilted severely. Everyone hurriedly grabbed the metal railings at hand, but Feng Ling lost her balance, toppled backward, and plunged into the water—

I didn't expect that today's update would be late, but... not a single comment urging me on... not even one...