65: Parchment effect

Using the same method, Lin Xiu resolved the crisis on Qin Zhi's side.

Seeing the two standing together, free from danger, Lin Xiu focused on dealing with the others.

"I refuse to believe you can take down all of us by yourself." Bai Shan charged over, bringing the others with him.

After a brief moment of panic, Bai Shan also understood.

Currently, Du Chaoping couldn't be Wang Ming's opponent. As long as they held Lin Xiu back, once Wang Ming dealt with Du Chaoping, Lin Xiu alone wouldn't be able to cause much trouble.

Thus, after Bai Shan and his men surrounded Lin Xiu, they didn't expect to defeat Lin Xiu, but rather to primarily contain him, preventing him from supporting Du Chaoping.

With lightning clenched in his palm, Lin Xiu felt a surge of frustration; his Ben Lei Palm couldn't find a target.

Bai Shan and his group were nimble, each of them extremely vigilant.

Every time Lin Xiu found a slight opening and was about to act, two or even three people would immediately come to interfere.

In this situation, if Lin Xiu made a move, he would suffer at least two attacks.

The method of trading injuries for injuries was clearly highly unsuitable at the moment.

Because Wang Ming was the biggest threat.

"Junior, don't get entangled with them," Du Chaoping called out. He actively retreated to the cave entrance, waiting for Lin Xiu to come over.

The two stood side by side, confronting Bai Shan and the others.

Behind them was the cave.

As long as Bai Shan and the others dared to press forward, they could retreat into the cave to defend.

The cave entrance was narrow, allowing only one person to pass. Du Chaoping was confident that he and Lin Xiu, working together, could first deal with one person.

It was precisely because they saw their plan that Bai Shan and Wang Ming were somewhat wary.

Both knew how formidable Lin Xiu was when he erupted. At this point, whoever charged first would definitely pay the price of severe injury.

Wang Ming was merely entrusted by others. He hadn't gained any benefits yet. If he suffered a severe injury, who would compensate for the time lost recuperating?

Therefore, Wang Ming also had no intention of actively charging. They pressed forward step by step, and after seeing Lin Xiu and the others retreat into the cave, they all stopped.

"Everyone go get wood and smoke them out," Bai Shan ordered.

Someone immediately took action.

"Senior, maybe what they said is true. Since there's nothing inside the cave, there's no need to waste time," Wang Ming had a mind to return to the academy.

"Senior, wait another half day. If we can't smoke them out, we'll leave." Bai Shan decided that even if he couldn't gain an advantage, he would at least annoy them.

Before long, a large pile of wood was stacked at the cave entrance, and then a fire was lit.

Inside the cave, the four also saw Bai Shan's plan from outside.

"Senior, they've started a fire." Qin Zhi covered her nose, her expression somewhat unpleasant.

The air was already very unpleasant, and now with the smoke and no ventilation, it would be extremely uncomfortable going forward.

Du Chaoping looked at Lin Xiu, "Junior, what level is your strength at currently?"

He wanted to rush out and fight Bai Shan.

"If I go all out, I can probably achieve a mutual defeat with Wang Ming," Lin Xiu replied.

"Ah?" At these words, the three inside the cave were visibly startled.

On the three faces illuminated by the firelight, expressions of shock appeared simultaneously.

"Junior, your progress speed is too terrifying." Du Chaoping's mood was complex, his heart a mix of emotions.

He had been in the academy for nearly two years, yet he couldn't compare to a Junior Lin Xiu who had been enrolled for less than a month.

No wonder the mentor valued Junior Lin Xiu so much.

Han Pu and Qin Zhi's emotions were similar to Du Chaoping's.

"Senior, is there no other path in the cave? Have you all searched?" Lin Xiu smiled and asked about the situation inside the cave.

Because he didn't want to suffer a mutual defeat with Wang Ming. After all, besides Bai Shan and Wang Ming, there were several other people who couldn't be ignored.

Once he and Wang Ming suffered a mutual defeat, he would still end up in Bai Shan's hands.

Then, what would happen in the end was hard to say.

"No, we've searched everywhere," Qin Zhi sighed.

Du Chaoping said, "Junior, you really shouldn't have come before. Now you're dragged into this again. Alas."

He sighed, feeling somewhat guilty.

"You took me on training before and even gave me weapons. If I didn't help when I saw you in trouble, would I even be human?" Lin Xiu waved his hand.

"You all adjust your condition first, I'll go look again."

The cave was still bearable for now, so Lin Xiu decided to check the situation inside.

Du Chaoping didn't say anything either. He sat cross-legged on the ground, recovering his internal Qi, preparing for a breakout later.

The cave was about ten square meters, and Lin Xiu walked around it twice, which didn't take much time.

He finally stopped in front of the wall with the patterns.

"When we first came in, the Three-Headed Golden-Tailed Rat was sleeping beneath this wall."

Han Pu walked to Lin Xiu's side, his right hand touching the patterns on the wall, "These markings are very strange, like they were drawn randomly. I tried before, but found no clues."

"I feel like it's a bit familiar." Lin Xiu examined it carefully twice, feeling as if he had vaguely seen it before.

But he was clearly in this cave for the first time.

Hearing this, Han Pu did not ask. They had observed the cave after entering, and there were no human traces in this cave for at least half a year.

So, he didn't think Lin Xiu had been here before; perhaps he had seen it elsewhere.

Lin Xiu frowned in thought, finding the patterns on the wall increasingly familiar, but they were a bit jumbled and didn't match his impression.

"That's right, the parchment."

Suddenly, Lin Xiu remembered the item he had obtained earlier. He took it out and compared it to the patterns on the wall. "I knew it felt familiar."

On the parchment, the pattern was different, a complete version compared to the one on the wall.

"Junior, where did you get that drawing?" Han Pu leaned over to take a look and also noticed that the pattern on it was consistent with the one on the wall.

"A reward for a mission," Lin Xiu replied, and following the hints on the parchment, he successfully found a protrusion on the wall and pressed it.

Click!

Inside the cave, a sound was heard.

"It can move!" Han Pu pressed the pattern and nearly exclaimed in surprise, but remembering there were others outside, he quickly stopped himself.

Du Chaoping and Qin Zhi came over, their faces showing delight.

"I told you to keep looking, keep looking! The Golden-Tailed Rat wouldn't just choose any random place for its nest!" Du Chaoping's eyes showed excitement.

Qin Zhi rolled her eyes. "Senior, if you ask me, we should have called Junior Lin Xiu earlier. You even said we should wait until we had a discovery before calling him."

"When was that?" Lin Xiu, who was moving the pattern, turned his head in confusion.

Qin Zhi explained it was when they met at the academy that day.

Du Chaoping awkwardly rubbed his head. "I was mainly worried about wasting Junior's time. You know, the mentor is hoping Junior will contend for a top five spot."

"It seems I'm a lucky star then. Don't forget to call me for good things like this next time." Lin Xiu smiled.

"Definitely! I'll certainly call you next time," Du Chaoping quickly promised.

Lin Xiu called the three to help.

He added, "I said don't get happy too soon. No one knows what's beyond."

The three nodded, but smiles still adorned their faces.

No matter what, it at least gave them hope again. After all, they hadn't had an easy week, sustained only by a single thought.

The patterns on the wall were not complicated, and with the parchment pattern as a reference, it didn't take long for them to complete it.

Subsequently, the wall surface sank a section, revealing a pitch-black hole.

"I'll go first." Du Chaoping picked up a torch. The front was unknown, and he didn't know if there was danger, but he showed no fear.