Chapter 1121
Muttering to Oneself
Liu Yichen nodded in agreement, his gaze becoming even more resolute: "That's right, we can't be intimidated by their conspiracy. Now, we need to be more cautious and resourceful, starting with every detail to find the flaws they've left behind. At the same time, we must also strengthen our defenses to prevent them from taking further action against us."
Upon hearing this, Shi Ji immediately looked around alertly to ensure that no potential threat had been overlooked. He said in a deep voice, "I will be in charge of guarding the area, while you continue to search for clues. We will work together to uncover the truth behind the elder's death and the disappearance of the physician and pharmacist."
Liu Yichen patted Shi Ji's shoulder lightly to show his gratitude: "Alright, Shi Ji, you take charge of keeping watch, and I'll continue the search. Remember, no matter what happens, we must remain calm and not let the enemy see any weaknesses in us."
Shi Ji nodded firmly: "Don't worry, Brother Liu, I will be vigilant at all times and will not give any enemy an opportunity to take advantage."
The two split up again. Liu Yichen began to carefully search every corner of the clinic and pharmacy, leaving no possible clue unchecked. He opened the medicine cabinet to check for any leftover prescriptions or notes, and carefully examined the floor and walls, hoping to find some traces that had been overlooked.
As Liu Yichen searched, he muttered to himself, "They couldn't have disappeared without a reason. They must have hidden themselves, or... been moved to another place." He stopped what he was doing and looked solemnly in the direction of Shi Ji. Although they were some distance apart, he could feel Shi Ji's vigilance and determination.
Shi Ji was also closely observing her surroundings, occasionally glancing up at Liu Yichen, conveying the message that "everything is fine" with her eyes. Suddenly, she called out softly, "Brother Liu, come here for a moment, something's strange here."
Upon hearing this, Liu Yichen immediately walked quickly to Shi Ji's side and looked in the direction he indicated. It was a hidden door that was usually difficult to notice, with a faint light seemingly shining through the crack in the door.
"Is this place usually locked?" Liu Yichen asked in a low voice.
Shi Ji nodded: "Yes, I have never seen this door open. Moreover, this location... if the doctor and pharmacist were secretly moved, this is very likely a passage."
Liu Yichen pondered for a moment, then decided to take action: "We need to go in and take a look. Get ready, I'll open the door."
Shi Ji gripped her sword hilt tightly, ready to deal with any unexpected situation. Liu Yichen carefully pushed open the hidden door, behind which was a dimly lit passageway, filled with a faint scent of herbs.
Liu Yichen and Shi Ji exchanged a glance and nodded to each other before slowly walking into the dimly lit passage. A strange sense of urgency welled up in Liu Yichen's heart, as if unpredictable dangers lurked ahead. He raised the torch in his hand to illuminate the path ahead. Several blurry ancient paintings hung on the walls on both sides of the passage, seemingly telling a story of a forgotten history.
"Brother Liu, be careful, this place is a bit eerie," Shi Ji whispered a warning, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily, ready to deal with any sudden danger.
The two walked slowly forward, and gradually, a stone door appeared at the end of the passage. The stone door was engraved with complex runes, which seemed to be some kind of ancient seal. Liu Yichen stopped and carefully observed the runes, discovering that they contained a powerful sealing force.
"It seems there's something important hidden behind this door," Liu Yichen said softly, his brows furrowed as he pondered how to break the seal.
Shi Ji also stepped forward and carefully examined the runes. Suddenly, his gaze fell on a special symbol: "Brother Liu, I have seen this symbol in ancient books. It seems to be a key to unlocking the seal."
Liu Yichen nodded, reached out and gently touched the symbol. Instantly, a soft light emanated from the rune, and the stone door slowly opened. A strong herbal scent wafted out, revealing a spacious underground pharmacy behind the door, filled with various precious medicinal herbs and utensils.
“It looks like this is some doctor’s secret pharmacy,” Shi Ji said in a low voice, his eyes darting around the pharmacy, trying to find any possible clues.
Just then, Liu Yichen suddenly felt a chill coming from behind. He quickly turned around and saw a mysterious person dressed in black robes standing at the door, holding a dagger that gleamed with a cold light in his hand.
"Who are you? Why are you here?" the mysterious man asked coldly, his eyes flashing with vigilance and hostility.
Liu Yichen and Shi Ji exchanged a glance. Liu Yichen replied in a deep voice, "We are here to find the missing doctor and pharmacist. If you know anything, you'd better tell us immediately."
The mysterious man sneered, "You've trespassed into a place you shouldn't be. Now you'll stay here!"
Before he finished speaking, he swiftly brandished his dagger and lunged at Liu Yichen. Liu Yichen reacted quickly, drawing his sword to meet the attack. The two clashed instantly, their swords flashing and daggers gleaming in the dimly lit pharmacy, a tense atmosphere filling the air.
Shi Ji quickly circled behind the mysterious man, looking for an opportunity to launch a surprise attack. Just as the mysterious man was focused on dealing with Liu Yichen, Shi Ji seized the moment and thrust her sword into the mysterious man's back. The mysterious man let out a painful cry and fell to the ground, the dagger slipping from his hand.
Liu Yichen and Shi Ji quickly stepped forward and subdued the mysterious man. Liu Yichen coldly asked, "Now, can you tell us where these physicians and pharmacists are?"
A hint of hesitation flashed in the mysterious man's eyes, but under the threat of Liu Yichen and Shi Ji, he reluctantly said, "They are locked in a secret underground chamber. I will take you there."
Liu Yichen and Shi Ji, escorting the mysterious man, continued deeper into the pharmacy through a hidden passage. The passage gradually narrowed and darkened, filled with a damp, musty smell. Liu Yichen gripped his torch tightly, cautiously observing his surroundings, ready to deal with any potential dangers.
"The secret room is just ahead," the mysterious man said, pointing to a heavy iron door, his tone tinged with tension.
Liu Yichen stepped forward to inspect the iron gate and found it covered with intricate locks and mechanisms. He turned to look at Shi Ji, and the two exchanged a glance, tacitly dividing their tasks: Liu Yichen would unlock the mechanisms, while Shi Ji would continue to hold the mysterious man hostage to prevent him from playing any tricks.
After some effort, Liu Yichen finally managed to unlock the last lock, and the iron door slowly opened with a low click. Inside the secret room behind the door, several doctors and pharmacists dressed in white robes were tied to the wall. Their faces were pale, but their eyes still shone with a determined light.
"We've come to save you." Liu Yichen strode in and began to untie their restraints. The doctors looked at Liu Yichen and Shi Ji with gratitude. An older doctor grasped Liu Yichen's hand, his voice weak but full of gratitude: "Thank you. If it weren't for you, we might not have survived this calamity."
Shi Ji stood guard at the door, vigilantly watching her surroundings to make sure there were no other threats. She turned to Liu Yichen and said, "Brother Liu, we need to leave quickly; it's not safe here."
Liu Yichen nodded, preparing to lead everyone away, when suddenly his gaze fell upon a corner of the secret chamber where an ancient wooden box was engraved with strange runes. Liu Yichen stepped forward, opened the box, and found it filled with various precious herbs and potions.
“These medicinal herbs will be very useful to us, take them with you,” Liu Yichen said to Shi Ji, and then handed him the box.
Shi Ji took the box and quickly tidied it up. Liu Yichen and the doctors then walked out of the secret room together, carefully retracing their steps. Just as they were about to reach the exit, they suddenly heard hurried footsteps. Liu Yichen immediately signaled everyone to stop. A group of armed men dressed in black appeared at the other end of the passage; they had clearly come to reinforce the mysterious man. Liu Yichen and Shi Ji quickly covered the doctors as they retreated to the side, preparing to engage them.
"It seems we have no choice but to force our way out," Liu Yichen said calmly, drawing his longsword and preparing to fight.
Shi Ji also gripped the hilt of her sword and stood beside Liu Yichen, her eyes resolute: "That's right, Brother Liu, we have to fight this battle with our backs against the wall. We must protect these doctors and ensure their safe departure."
……
The armed men in black quickly approached, and the leader sneered, "Hmph, trying to escape from us? What a pipe dream!"
Liu Yichen ignored his sarcasm and whispered to Shi Ji, "You take the doctors and go first, I'll hold them off."
Upon hearing this, Shi Ji frowned and firmly objected: "No, Brother Liu, we'll fight together. I can't let you face the danger alone."
Liu Yichen smiled slightly, a hint of confidence flashing in his eyes: "Don't worry, I have my own plans. You take them first, I'll be there shortly."
Shi Ji knew Liu Yichen's strength, and although she was worried, she understood that it was not the right time to argue. She nodded and said to the doctors, "Everyone, come with me quickly. Brother Liu will buy us some time."
Although the doctors were panicked, they quickly evacuated along the passage under Shi Ji's leadership. Liu Yichen stood still, his long sword held horizontally in front of his chest, ready to fight the black-clad armed men.
"Hmph, you think you can stop us all by yourself?" The leader of the men in black sneered and charged at Liu Yichen with his knife.
Liu Yichen dodged the attack with a swift movement, simultaneously brandishing his longsword and unleashing a sharp sword aura that forced the man in black to retreat. While fighting, he kept an eye on Shi Ji and the physicians' movements, ensuring their safe evacuation.
Seeing this, the men in black swarmed forward, trying to restrain Liu Yichen. However, Liu Yichen's swordsmanship was exquisite; every swing of his sword accurately found the opponent's weakness, making it difficult for the men in black to get close.
Liu Yichen's sword light flashed like a silver snake. Although there were many men in black, they were suppressed by his swordsmanship and could not form an effective offensive. Every attack was skillfully neutralized by Liu Yichen, and instead, they themselves were severely injured.
Shi Ji led the doctors on a run, but his mind was constantly preoccupied with Liu Yichen's safety. He forced himself to calm down, thinking about how to find a safe way out as soon as possible, while praying in his heart that Liu Yichen would escape safely.
Guided by Shi Ji, the doctors quickly traversed a narrow passage and finally arrived at a hidden exit. Shi Ji glanced back and said firmly to the doctors, "You go first, I'll go meet Brother Liu."
"Brother Shi, be careful!" a doctor warned anxiously.
Shi Ji nodded, turned around, and quickly returned. A burning determination resided within him; he absolutely could not allow Liu Yichen to face those armed men in black alone.
Meanwhile, Liu Yichen had been fighting the man in black for quite some time. Although his stamina had been somewhat depleted, his eyes remained sharp and his movements agile. Every swing of his sword was a precise calculation, and every movement was full of power and beauty.
The leader of the men in black had a grim expression. He realized that Liu Yichen was not as easy to deal with as he had imagined, and a sense of unease crept in. He shouted, "Brothers, attack with all your might! We can't let him buy us time!"
Upon hearing this, the men in black launched an even fiercer attack, their blades flashing and flashing. However, Liu Yichen remained as steady as a mountain, single-handedly blocking their attacks.
Just then, Shi Ji silently returned to the battlefield. Seeing Liu Yichen surrounded, his heart tightened, and he immediately joined the battle. His sword was drawn swiftly, its light flashing like lightning, aimed directly at the back of the man in black.
Caught off guard, the men in black were all stunned by Shi Ji's sudden attack. Seeing this, Liu Yichen's eyes flashed with a hint of relief. He quickly adjusted his tactics, coordinating with Shi Ji. The two fought back to back, instantly breaking through the encirclement of the men in black.
"Shiji, why are you back?" Liu Yichen asked while fighting.
“I can’t let you fight alone!” Shi Ji replied firmly.
The two men's coordinated attacks gradually put the men in a disadvantageous position. Seeing no way to win, the leader of the men in black gritted his teeth and decided to retreat. He shouted, "Retreat!"
The men in black turned and fled. Liu Yichen and Shi Ji did not pursue them, but silently watched them disappear into the night. The two looked at each other, their eyes shining with determination and trust despite their exhaustion.
Liu Yichen sheathed his longsword and patted Shi Ji on the shoulder: "Let's go, the physicians are still waiting for us."
Shi Ji nodded, her eyes filled with determination: "Brother Liu, we were able to retreat safely today thanks to your swordsmanship."
Liu Yichen smiled slightly: "We are teammates, it's only right that we support each other. Let's go, the safety of the doctors is the most important."
The two quickly returned and followed the path that Shi Ji had led the doctors to evacuate. Although they were exhausted, their determination kept them moving forward.
Soon after, they returned to the hideout where the doctors were hiding. The doctors breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that the two were safe and sound; some even shed tears of joy.
"Brother Liu, Brother Shi, you're finally back!" a young doctor said excitedly.
Liu Yichen nodded and reassured everyone, "Don't worry, everyone. We've already repelled the men in black. Now we need to leave here as soon as possible and find a safer place." (End of Chapter)