Chapter 26: The Long Sword Transforms into a Silver Dragon

As they stepped through the stone gate, the sight before them made everyone hold their breath. It was not the gold, silver, or jewels they had imagined, but a vast, empty chamber. The surrounding walls were embedded with mysterious crystals that emitted a ghostly blue light.

These rays of light intertwined as if countless eyes were watching them from the shadows, and an unsettling sense of oppression permeated the air.

"Be careful," Feng Ruqing whispered, sensing a dangerous aura hidden within this space. She placed her hand on the hilt of her sword at her waist, her gaze sharpening.

Chen the boatman swallowed hard, his body trembling slightly. He gripped the sleeve of Miss Lin’s robe tightly, terrified of becoming the first casualty. Though Miss Lin’s face showed traces of nervousness, she straightened her back bravely, supporting Chen with one hand while clutching her dagger with the other. Despite his injury, Helmsman Li stood firmly behind Feng Ruqing, leaning on his crutch and ready to fight at a moment's notice.

Just as they inched forward, the ground began to tremble, and the blue light grew blindingly bright. Suddenly, cracks split the floor, and a group of dark figures emerged. They possessed human silhouettes but were covered in hard, scaled armor, their eyes glowing with a crimson light like demons crawled up from the depths of hell.

"They are the Guardians!" Miss Lin exclaimed, her voice trembling. The Guardians gave them no time to react, charging toward them while brandishing their sharp claws.

Feng Ruqing narrowed her eyes, drew her sword, and met the first Guardian. Her blade sliced through the air with a sharp, piercing sound.

"Watch yourselves!" Feng Ruqing’s voice was cold and firm. Her long sword danced into a blur of silver light, repelling the Guardians one after another.

Miss Lin fought alongside her, her movements agile as her dagger flickered, leaving a wound on a Guardian with every strike. During the fray, she noticed that the Guardians had a relatively weak defense on their left side. "Sister Feng, their defense is weak on the left!" she shouted. This discovery made Feng Ruqing’s subsequent strikes far more effective, successfully turning the tide of the battle.

Chen the boatman huddled in a corner, trembling and praying. While everyone was focused on the intense combat, the timid Chen, out of sheer fear, had been scanning the surroundings. Suddenly, he noticed a faint glimmer in the corner, resembling the button of a small mechanism. Too afraid to investigate it himself, he called out in a shaking voice, "E-everyone, there seems to be a mechanism over there!"

Helmsman Li, despite his injury, cleverly used the length of his crutch to parry the Guardians' attacks. "Do not fear, everyone! If we work together, we will surely overcome this crisis!" His optimism and encouragement bolstered the group's morale.

The Guardians’ attacks were fierce and relentless, like tireless beasts. Feng Ruqing knew this could not go on; she had to find a breakthrough, or they would all perish here. She took a deep breath, channeled her internal energy to its limit, and her blade grew sharper. With a flash, she dodged an attack and pierced the heart of another Guardian.

As the battle raged, the blue light intensified. Feng Ruqing felt her body growing weary, but she knew she could not fall. She had to keep her companions alive. She swung her sword again, forcing back her attackers.

Just then, her eyes locked onto a different kind of Guardian—larger than the rest, with tougher scales and claws that shimmered with a cold, tearing edge. It strode toward her, each step radiating immense pressure. Feng Ruqing tightened her grip on her sword, her heart pounding.

"It seems I must show some real skill today..." she murmured to herself. Her body reacted instantly, her sword slowly rising. She leaped upward like a nimble leopard, her blade transforming into a silver dragon, lashing out with fierce sword qi. Where the blade passed, the air seemed to tear, emitting sharp whistles.

She moved with ethereal grace, weaving through the Guardians. Each strike was precise, hitting vital points. Within a few breaths, three Guardians had fallen under her blade. The blue light reflected off her stern face, adding a touch of lethality.

Chen the boatman was dumbfounded; he had never seen such a powerful woman and felt a deep sense of awe. Miss Lin was equally stunned, knowing Feng Ruqing was skilled, but never imagining her to be this formidable. Even the reliable Helmsman Li couldn't help but marvel, his eyes filled with admiration.

However, Hu Dahi, hiding in the shadows, wore a grim expression. Feng Ruqing’s strength unsettled him. He had planned to eliminate her using the Guardians, but she had turned the situation around with ease. He gritted his teeth and, unseen by the others, sprinkled powder from a vial onto the Guardians.

As the powder touched their scales, it hissed, and a pungent odor filled the air. The Guardians turned berserk, their attacks becoming even more violent, and the already precarious situation grew dire.

Feng Ruqing noticed the change and realized someone was sabotaging them. Her gaze was like lightning as she scanned the area, finally locking onto Hu Dahi. "Hu Dahi, what are you doing!" she roared, her voice laced with murderous intent.

Hu Dahi was shaken by her aura, but quickly regained his composure, wearing a sinister grin. "Feng Ruqing, aren't you supposed to be strong? Then try and see if you can handle these even stronger Guardians!"

Feng Ruqing, burning with rage, was about to strike when a powerful force surged from behind her. She instinctively dodged to the side, watching as a dark figure flashed past her with astonishing speed.

"Watch out!" a low voice sounded in her ear.

The dark figure moved like a phantom, weaving through the Guardians and striking their weak points with precision. He was agile and fluid, wielding a uniquely shaped curved blade that shimmered with a cold, chilling light. With every swing, he unleashed a heart-stopping power.

Feng Ruqing’s eyes narrowed. She sensed the dark figure was not an enemy; in his strikes, he seemed to be deliberately protecting her. Though she was puzzled, this was no time for questions. She raised her sword and joined the fray.

The two worked in tandem, back to back. The dark figure parried an attack with his blade, and Feng Ruqing followed through with a thrust, repelling several Guardians at once. With his help, the Guardians' momentum was clearly suppressed. Feng Ruqing realized this stranger was not only highly skilled but seemed to know the Guardians' weaknesses intimately.

In a lull in the fighting, the dark figure appeared beside her, his deep eyes filled with concern. "Are you alright?"

Feng Ruqing was taken aback. She looked up to see a handsome face with sharp brows and star-bright eyes. His tall, sturdy frame exuded an undeniable charm. His gaze was deep and gentle, as if he could see through all the secrets of her heart.

Feng Ruqing’s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly looked away. "I am fine," she said softly. The corners of his mouth curled into a faint smile. "That is good."

He gently helped the injured Feng Ruqing, his touch delicate for fear of causing her pain. Their eyes met, and time seemed to stand still. The chaotic sounds of battle faded away, leaving only the sound of each other's breathing. Feng Ruqing could feel a strange emotion quietly budding in her heart.

The man pulled a clean cloth from his robe and began to wipe the wound on her arm. His movements were gentle and meticulous, as if he were treating a precious treasure. Watching his face so close, and feeling the warmth from his fingertips, ripples spread through Feng Ruqing’s heart, and her cheeks flushed slightly. The air felt thick with an ambiguous tension.

"Watch out!" the man suddenly barked, pulling her behind him. A Guardian lunged with its claws, but with a flash of cold light from his curved blade, the creature fell to the ground.

At the climax of the battle, as he blocked a lethal blow, the blue light seemed to freeze. His hair stirred in the wind, his expression cold and resolute. Behind him, Feng Ruqing held her sword, the blade reflecting the light, and the surrounding Guardians paused, intimidated by their powerful aura.

He turned back to her, his gaze deep and gentle. "What shall we do now?" He paused, smiling meaningfully. "You decide."

Feng Ruqing steadied herself, suppressing the strange emotions in her heart. She looked around at the flickering blue light and the tense atmosphere. "This place is full of oddities," she said in a low voice. "We must find a way out, or... find the key to the treasure."

The man nodded, his deep eyes scanning the intricate carvings on the walls. "Look at these patterns," he said, pointing to a design. "Do they look like a star map to you?"

Feng Ruqing followed his lead and realized the patterns were not random but arranged in a curious star map. She focused, her mind racing through her knowledge of astronomy. "This is... the Big Dipper! And the map isn't static—it's slowly rotating! Based on the alignment of the stars and their connection to the environment, I suspect the direction it points holds special significance."

A flicker of admiration crossed his eyes. "Exactly. Look, this guiding star is now pointing..." His finger traced a shimmering star on the map. "Right there!"

Feng Ruqing followed his finger to an ordinary-looking stone slab in the center of the hall. They exchanged a look and walked toward it in perfect unison.

"Wait," Miss Lin called out. "Are you sure? What if it's a trap?"

Feng Ruqing did not turn back, simply saying, "Fortune favors the bold."

Standing before the slab, they observed the carvings, finding a subtle connection to the wall map. The man pressed a depression on the stone, and the slab vibrated slightly while the star map on the wall accelerated its rotation.

"It seems we found the right place," he said with a confident smile.

Feng Ruqing nodded, placed her hand on another depression, and pressed down with him. With a loud *click*, the slab sank, revealing a passage leading downward. Chen and Miss Lin, despite their fear, followed quickly behind. Helmsman Li remained at the entrance, keeping watch.

Inside the passage, they found a narrow tunnel lit by glowing crystals. "Be careful," the man said, leading the way. "There may be other traps."

As they moved forward, arrows suddenly shot from the walls. Feng Ruqing and the man reacted instantly, drawing their weapons to deflect them. "It seems the owner of this treasure does not welcome us," Feng Ruqing scoffed.

The man said nothing, merely picking up his pace. He knew the true test had only just begun.

At the end of the tunnel, the space opened up into a magnificent, gold-adorned underground palace. In the center sat a giant chest, encrusted with precious gems that emitted a dazzling light.

"We finally found it," Feng Ruqing breathed, her heart pounding with excitement.

However, the man suddenly reached out to stop her. "Wait," he said, his low voice laced with wariness. He looked at the chest with a meaningful gaze. "Things are likely not that simple. This is only the beginning..."