A Fantasy Love Story Across the Warring States Period

Chapter 176 Symbolic Puzzle and the Edge of Life and Death

Inside the stone house, the ground shook violently, as if the end of the world had arrived. Stone chips flew like bullets, and every tremor was terrifying, as if the entire stone house would collapse completely at any moment, burying everyone in endless darkness.

Huanmo suppressed his fear, his mind racing like a rapidly spinning gear, frantically trying to recall the sequence of images on the murals. "We must remember; this is the key to everyone's survival." Sweat beaded on his forehead, his eyes filled with determination and focus. The images from the murals flashed through his mind, but in this tense atmosphere, clearly discerning their order was no easy task.

Wanru gripped Huanmo's arm tightly, her nails almost digging into his flesh. Her face was as pale as paper, and her voice trembled: "Huanmo, think of something quickly. I feel like the stone house won't last much longer." Fear washed over her like a tidal wave, but she knew that Huanmo needed to concentrate at this moment, so she tried her best to control her emotions, only subconsciously holding onto Huanmo tightly, as if that would give her a sense of security.

Ling'er was sobbing uncontrollably, her small body pressed tightly against Huanmo, tears and dust mingling and covering her face. "Brother Huanmo, I don't want to die..." Her voice was filled with endless fear and despair, her hands clutching the book tightly, as if it were her last glimmer of hope in this dark world.

The woman in white also looked tense. While warily watching the falling rocks around her, she said, "Huanmo, we don't have much time left. Have you thought of a way?" Her eyes revealed a hint of anxiety. Although she tried to remain calm, her trembling hands betrayed her inner unease.

The mysterious man stood to the side, calmly observing the changes in the stone house while simultaneously considering a countermeasure. "Everyone, stay calm. It's precisely in times like these that we mustn't panic. Huanmo, take your time thinking. We'll try to buy some time." His voice was steady, attempting to instill a sense of confidence in everyone.

Huanmo took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He closed his eyes, trying to construct the complete picture of the mural in his mind. "Right, first is that circular pattern, representing the starting point, then a winding line, like a road..." He murmured to himself, gradually making some sense of it.

"I think I understand!" Huanmo suddenly opened his eyes, a glimmer of hope flashing in them. "Listen to me, everyone. We will trigger the symbols in the order I describe. Wanru, you trigger the symbol that looks like a bird's wings; the girl in white, you trigger the symbol that looks like a vortex; mysterious senior, please trigger the symbol with three vertical lines; Ling'er and I will trigger this square symbol here."

Everyone quickly sprang into action according to Huanmo's instructions. Wanru ran towards the designated symbol, her heart pounding, each step filled with tension and anticipation. "I must succeed," she prayed silently.

Without hesitation, the woman in white quickly approached the corresponding symbol. Her fingers trembled slightly as she gently touched the vortex-shaped symbol. The symbol shimmered faintly at her touch.

The mysterious man calmly walked towards the symbol with three vertical lines, his eyes resolute, and triggered the symbol without hesitation.

Huanmo looked at Ling'er and said, "Ling'er, don't be afraid, we'll do it together." Ling'er nodded vigorously and triggered the square symbol with Huanmo.

The moment the last symbol was triggered, the shaking of the stone house suddenly stopped. Everyone was overjoyed, thinking the crisis was over. However, an eerie silence then enveloped the stone house.

"What happened?" Wanru asked, puzzled.

Before anyone could react, the floor of the stone house suddenly cracked open, revealing a huge black hole. A powerful suction force emanated from the hole, pulling everyone towards it.

"No!" Huanmo shouted, trying to grab the rocks around him, but the suction was too strong, and his hand was thrown away as soon as it touched the rocks.

Pulled by the gravitational pull, the group is helplessly plummeting towards the black hole. On the brink of death, can they find a way to resist the gravity during their fall? What dangers lurk on the other side of the black hole? Does the powerful force hidden within the stone house await them? Everything is shrouded in deep uncertainty and fear; their fate hangs in the balance, like a candle flickering in the wind…