RBCT Chapter 17 Archive
Chapter 17 Archive
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
Jiangcheng, night, the outer wall of the martial arts school in the north of the city—
Lin Yu and Su Wan lay in wait in the night, their eyes sweeping over the tall building of the martial arts school.
Stone walls, electric fences, patrol teams...
Su Wan turned her head away, her breathing very low:
"There are four at the main gate, two at the side gate, and a hidden sentry every ten meters along the back wall. These people are all Sequence Nine, so they won't be difficult to deal with."
Su Wan took out the Bewitching Incense from her bosom, uncorked it, and scattered the powder in the wind towards the martial arts school:
"Lin Yu, we only have ten minutes."
"That's enough." Lin Yu propped himself up, his night clothes clinging to his arm muscles, outlining smooth lines:
"Let's begin."
The two slid down from the roof, using their toes to brace against the wall, and landed silently in the shadows at the base of the wall.
The patrol team had just reached the corner and turned their backs to them when the sweet, cloying scent of the alluring fragrance drifted by.
The guards paused simultaneously, their eyes becoming somewhat dazed, and they stood motionless.
The side door was just ahead, with two guards leaning against it, one of them lighting a cigarette.
Lin Yu suddenly rushed out, twirling the dagger in his hand before swiftly stabbing it towards the hearts of the two men.
The guard died peacefully, without even making a sound.
Lin Yu pushed open the side door, and Su Wan followed closely behind him, closing the door behind her.
Inside the door was a long, narrow passageway, filled with the smell of dust and old wood.
According to Nightingale's intelligence, the entrance to the wine cellar is located underground in the inconspicuous little building in front.
The door to the small building was ajar, and it was pitch black inside.
Lin Yu opened the door a little, and moonlight drew a thin line in the air, illuminating the wooden staircase that stretched downwards.
The two quickly went downstairs, holding their breath and not daring to make a sound.
The cellar was deeper than I had imagined, with rows of oak barrels stacked up, and in addition to the aroma of aged wine, there was also a faint fishy smell in the air.
Su Wan walked quickly to the innermost row of wine racks, braced her hands against the heavy wooden frame, took a deep breath, and pushed hard.
The wine rack made a dull screech as it slid to the side.
There was no wall behind it, but a heavy iron door.
The door was undecorated, with only a simple keyhole that gleamed with a cold light.
"It's locked." Su Wan frowned slightly.
Lin Yu walked to the door and pushed it, but the iron door didn't budge.
He examined the edge of the keyhole carefully, then drew the dagger he had taken from Nightingale from his waist.
He pressed the tip of the dagger into the keyhole and slowly turned it. A slight "click" came from inside the lock, and the iron door slid open silently, revealing the bottomless darkness behind it.
Su Wan's eyes lit up, and she looked at Lin Yu with a look of surprise and delight.
Although she really wanted to ask Lin Yu how he knew, now was not the time to talk about it, so she had to keep her curiosity to herself.
Inside the door is a downward-sloping stone staircase that spirals downwards.
The two exchanged a glance and walked down without hesitation.
The temperature rises as you go down, and the air becomes extremely dry.
At the end of the stone steps was another door, but this door was made of stone, with a smooth surface and no keyhole.
Lin Yu reached out and pressed his hand on the center of the stone door, pushing it hard. The stone door spun heavily.
Immediately afterwards, Lin Yu felt a wave of heat rush towards him.
The secret chamber was not large, with dark red rock walls on all four sides, and a lone stone platform about half a person's height standing in the center of the chamber.
On the stone platform lay a half-open jade box, from which crimson light surged wildly through the cracks in the lid.
"Crimson Dragon Crystal!"
Su Wan's breathing quickened instantly, her eyes fixed on the jade box.
If we take it away, Chen Tianxiong's power will be weakened, and then we can use it to force him to reveal his sister's whereabouts.
While Su Wan was lost in her own thoughts, Lin Yu had already obtained the Crimson Dragon Crystal.
However, Lin Yu's expression didn't show much joy. Everything had gone too smoothly, making it hard not to be suspicious.
Su Wan clearly realized this as well, her delicate body trembling slightly as she said:
"Lin Yu... do you think this could be Chen Tianxiong's trap...?"
Just then—
"Looks like two bugs have trespassed into my territory." A slightly amused voice came from the doorway.
A tall figure slowly walked into the secret room.
With each step he took, the temperature in the sealed room rose a notch, and the invisible pressure in the air surged.
Chen Tianxiong was dressed in a black training uniform, his hands behind his back, his face showing no surprise or anger, only a calmness like a cat playing with a mouse.
"Su Wan." Chen Tianxiong's gaze swept past Lin Yu and landed on Su Wan's face. He shook his head, his tone filled with regret:
"If you had obediently helped me activate the Devouring Love Sword and become my pawn, there wouldn't have been so much trouble... But now you've teamed up with an ant to steal my lifeblood."
Tsk tsk tsk...what a pair of star-crossed lovers."
Then Chen Tianxiong’s gaze returned to the jade box in Lin Yu’s hand, his eyes still calm, even with a hint of appreciation.
"You guys have some skill to have gotten this far, but that's about it."
Chen Tianxiong's oppressive aura was like a mountain, crashing down with a deafening roar!
Su Wan let out a muffled groan, her face instantly turning ashen white. She swayed and almost couldn't stand, only managing to stay upright thanks to Lin Yu's support.
The full force of Sequence 6's pressure was like the sky falling on her.
Lin Yu also felt his breath catch in his throat, and the veins on his hand holding the jade box bulged slightly.
But he stood firm, looking at Chen Tianxiong with a calm gaze, not showing much surprise.
"I never intended to take it out."
Chen Tianxiong raised an eyebrow, not understanding the meaning behind Lin Yu's words.
Lin Yu raised the jade box in his hand, and the Crimson Dragon Crystal inside the box glowed faintly.
He looked at Chen Tianxiong, a very faint smile playing on his lips: "I came here simply to get my hands on it."
As he spoke, Lin Yu gently wiped away the tears on Su Wan's face.
He immediately drew the Love-Devouring Sword and pointed its sharp tip at his heart!
Without further hesitation, he thrust it in!
He heard Su Wan's heart-wrenching cries, but Lin Yu was too weak to respond.
The sharp blade pierced his heart, and the excruciating pain exploded instantly, but was quickly replaced by a spreading cold numbness.
Warm liquid gushed from his chest, soaking his night clothes.
You are dead...
You failed "Chapter Two: Stealing the Crystal"
[Acquired Ability: Sequence Nine: Shadow Strike Blade]
[Obtained Mysterious Items: Crimson Dragon Crystal (Recorded), Devouring Love Sword (Activated)]
[Memory Anchor Point (Half Piece)]
[Death ending unlocked: "Suicide"]
[Remaining rollback attempts: 3]
[Time and spacetime anchor point recorded: Su Wan's home, 11:47 PM]
Should I rewind and start a new life?
......
......