Translator: CinderTL
The first man said, "Lord, you are a valiant warrior. Everywhere you look, all the land and slaves belong to you."
"But on my way here, I saw the slaves huddled together in the distance. Their faces were gaunt, and their behavior suspicious. They have utterly disgraced you, Lord."
"I offer this treasure to make those wretched slaves vanish from your sight forever."
The second man said, "On my journey, I overheard many slaves whispering about you, Lord. They spoke vile words that must surely have caused you great distress."
"I offer this treasure to spare you from the torment of such rumors."
The third man shook his head and added, "That's not enough. Even within the castle walls, one can detect the foul stench emanating from those slaves."
"I offer this treasure to allow you, Lord, to completely ignore those slaves who reek of death."
The Lord's son was delighted and kept them in his service.
From that day forward, the three men served as the Lord's most loyal guards, forever at his side.
The story ended there.
"Is that all?" Gao Yan asked.
"Yes, that's all."
Fatty stroked his chin and said, "That's a strange story."
Shen Mengyun hesitated for a moment, her expression peculiar. "It doesn't seem like just a story. It's more like..." She paused, her expression suggesting she was searching for the right word.
"It's like a fable," Jiang Cheng said calmly, glancing at Shen Mengyun's profile.
At his words, a spark of recognition flashed in Shen Mengyun's eyes. "Yes, that's exactly how I felt. There are no specific characters in the story, nor is there any mention of time or place."
The situation was now clear: the path to survival in the library tonight lay hidden within this fable.
If they could decipher it, they might have a chance to live.
But as they pondered, a sharp click echoed from the lock on the library's gate, piercing the silence.
The next moment, the gate swung open.
Not fully, but only halfway, leaving an opening just wide enough for one person to squeeze through sideways.
Huai Yi quickly glanced at his phone and looked up. "Midnight."
Jiang Cheng took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on the partially opened gate. The mission has begun.
Entering the library was smooth, except for Fatty, who got stuck in the doorway. Huai Yi pushed from outside, and Jiang Cheng pulled from inside until they finally managed to squeeze him through.
Fatty rubbed his reddened arm, his face a mixture of embarrassment and determination. "You have my word," he said. "When we get back this time, I'll definitely..."
"Shhh," Shen Mengyun hushed him.
They were on the first floor of the library, and the atmosphere was similar to that of the Medical Building or the abandoned sports field—a pervasive sense of gloom hung over the entire building. It felt as though a dark filter had been applied.
Though there were no lights, they could still make out some details with careful observation. However, distant areas were reduced to blurry silhouettes.
Fatty had visited the library with Jiang Cheng during the day, but at night, it was an entirely different experience. Empty and silent, the midnight library was filled with black shadows that were impossible to identify. Staring too long, the shadows seemed to come alive, as though they might stir at any moment.
Gao Yan cautiously scanned their surroundings, then turned to Jiang Cheng, lowering his voice. "Brother Jiang, what do we do next?"
He was certain Jiang Cheng hadn't revealed everything. If he were in Jiang Cheng's shoes, he wouldn't have either.
"Brother Gao, don't overthink it," Jiang Cheng said, glancing at him calmly. "The information I have is the same as yours."
While placating the old fox Gao Yan, Jiang Cheng couldn't shake a strange, inexplicable feeling.
He had been here earlier that day, on this very floor.
He remembered the layout and furnishings, and nothing seemed to have changed.
Yet... why did it feel so unfamiliar?
He was certain something had changed in this area, but he hadn't found it yet.
His gaze slowly swept across the surroundings, a faint light flickering in his eyes. What was different?
Wang Qi walked a few steps toward a table where a black-covered notebook lay open, its pages filled with blurry names—like the registration form they had seen earlier.
But what truly captured their attention was the object on the other side of the table: a black hourglass, slightly larger than the ones they were used to seeing. Its wooden-looking casing felt surprisingly heavy to the touch.
The texture was also rather strange.
The wooden casing was pitted and uneven, clearly aged.
Jiang Cheng took the hourglass and examined it closely.
At first glance, it seemed unremarkable, but closer inspection revealed exquisite craftsmanship. The bottom was intricately hollowed out, and the edges were wrapped in silver.
However, years of wear and tear had taken their toll.
In short, the hourglass felt utterly out of place lying here. Its elegance suggested it belonged in a museum.
As the word "museum" crossed Jiang Cheng's mind, his finger felt a sharp prick. With a gentle shake, the hourglass flipped over.
Fine sand began to trickle slowly through the central connection.
Before anyone could react, a strange sound echoed from the distance.
"Creak—"
Everyone turned toward the sound, which seemed to be coming from a dark corner. In the shadows, they could vaguely make out a Gate.
It was an ordinary black, double-leaf Gate, likely leading to an emergency exit.
"What was that sound?" Shen Mengyun clenched her fists, her voice tense.
As the sound reached Jiang Cheng's ears, a scene flashed through his mind—the lending desk on the fourth floor of the library that Yuan Xiaoyi had mentioned.
The sound was eerily similar to the scraping of an old chair leg against the floor.
Thump.
Thump.
Following the sound came slow but heavy footsteps.
"Scatter," Jiang Cheng said. "Hide yourselves."
He didn't even need to tell them. The moment they heard the footsteps, Gao Yan and Wang Qi had already vanished. Shen Mengyun nodded and ran in another direction.
Jiang Cheng, Fatty, and Huai Yi also separated, but they didn't go far, remaining within each other's sight.
Huai Yi hid under a table, while Fatty concealed himself behind a large bookshelf. His beady eyes darted through the gaps between the books, peering outside.
Jiang Cheng hid behind a pillar.
Everyone held their breath, their eyes fixed on the commotion outside.
After a moment, the safety door creaked open.
In the dim light of the library, they finally saw the source of the noise.
Fatty's eyes widened slowly, and his breathing quickened.
(End of the Chapter)
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