Chapter 182: Re‑entering the Qin Manor, Seeking the Ancient Map

"It should……should be hidden in her usual study's secret chamber!" Qin Boyan gasped, a glimmer of hope in his eyes, "If we can find that map……perhaps……perhaps we can figure out their true scheme, even……find a way to counter it!"

That point of light in Qin Boyan's eye was the sole star in the black night.

Faint, yet it gave Zhang Jun and Lin Xue great hope.

"An ancient map?" Zhang Jun's heart leapt to his throat, "Senior, is that map really that important?"

"More than important!" Qin Boyan gasped raggedly, each word draining his already scant vitality, "That fragment map ties to the long-lost core treasure of my Medicine Sect! What's worse, it likely marks the key nodes of the 'City's Life Source'! Whether it's you or the Shadow Organization, whoever gets those nodes first seizes the initiative!"

Lin Xue's clear eyes flickered with solemnity: "Senior, do you know how to enter Qin Yueyao's study's secret chamber?"

"Cough cough," Qin Boyan had another fit of coughing, then caught his breath and said, "That child Yueyao thinks very carefully. Her study is in the Tranquil Heart Pavilion east of the main manor; the secret chamber's entrance should be under the zitan wood desk she often uses. The mechanism……cough……the mechanism is in the third drawer of the desk's lower right corner, where there's an inconspicuous hidden button that requires a special method to open."

He paused, struggling to recall: "As for the password……Yueyao has been obsessed with the Big Dipper since childhood; try directions or numbers related to it. But be careful—after her personality changed drastically, the setup inside is likely far more dangerous than I know!"

Zhang Jun and Lin Xue exchanged a glance, each knowing what to do.

"The Qin household is now in utter chaos; defenses are surely laxer than usual—this is the perfect chance for us to sneak in." Zhang Jun lowered his voice.

Lin Xue nodded: "We can't wait any longer; we'll move out immediately. Senior Qin, rest and recuperate here—Master Liu San will look after things."

"You……be extremely careful!" Qin Boyan's eyes full of worry and anticipation, "That map must absolutely not fall into the hands of the Shadow Organization or Yueyao!"

The night was ink-black, the capital city dead silent. Over at the Qin manor, though the chaos had subsided, the air still carried a faint smell of blood and a sense of oppression.

Zhang Jun and Lin Xue once again turned into two black shadows, silently creeping toward the Qin household.

Although the Black Judge had fled with his main forces, his vengeful nature would not let this go. Zhang Jun could almost be certain that around the Qin manor, Shadow Organization scouts were lurking like vultures, waiting for another chance to strike.

The two carefully avoided several spots obviously guarded by people, relying on Qin Boyan's memory and their prior infiltration experience, and made it safely to the east side of the main manor.

The three characters "Tranquil Heart Pavilion" were faintly visible in the moonlight.

Around the pavilion, the killing intent was stronger than last time. Faint energy fluctuations rippled in the air—obviously Qin Yueyao had reset a defensive formation afterward.

"There's a new formation," Lin Xue whispered, her Yin Yang Jade Pendant faintly glowing as it sensed the surrounding energy.

"Can we break it?" Zhang Jun asked, lowering his voice.

Lin Xue closed her eyes, feeling carefully for a moment; her fingertips flicked out several nearly invisible threads of dark yin qi, gently plucking at the formation's nodes: "It's Qin Yueyao's technique, but she laid it out hastily—there should be a gap."

She led Zhang Jun in a leisurely walk along the formation's edge, like a butterfly among flowers, pausing occasionally or lightly tapping, cleverly bypassing several deadly trigger points.

Soon after, the two landed silently outside the study window of the Tranquil Heart Pavilion.

Inside the study, it was pitch black, with not a sound.

The two pried open the window and slipped inside like cats.

The study was tastefully furnished, exuding a faint scent of ink and herbs. The large zitan wood desk Qin Boyan had mentioned stood right in the center.

Following his instructions, Zhang Jun found the third drawer of the desk's lower right, reached in, and felt carefully. Sure enough, he felt a small protrusion—the hidden button Qin Boyan had described.

He performed the special method Qin Boyan taught—press then twist—and heard a soft "click"; a muffled mechanical turning came from beneath the desk.

The floor slowly split open a crack, revealing a dark downward opening.

"The Big Dipper," Lin Xue whispered.

Sure enough, on the stone wall beside the entrance were seven inconspicuous depressions arranged roughly like the Big Dipper.

Zhang Jun focused, recalling the order—Tian Shu, Tian Xuan, Tian Ji, Tian Quan, Yu Heng, Kai Yang, Yao Guang—and lightly pressed each depression in turn.

"Hum——"

The stone wall emitted a faint vibration, and the dark opening fully opened, a stone stairway extending downward.

The two hesitated not, flashing inside.

The secret chamber wasn't large—just about three or four zhang square—its four walls lined with shelves filled with various ancient texts and scrolls; the air was thick with medicinal fragrance and a hint of dust. In a corner lay stacked jade boxes, apparently holding rare medicinal ingredients.

"Split up and search!" Zhang Jun whispered.

The two began carefully rummaging through the chamber. Most of the ancient texts were Medicine Sect canonicles, plus many notes Qin Yueyao herself had written on forbidden arts—her handwriting elegant yet betraying a streak of mad obsession.

Lin Xue noticed an inconspicuous hidden compartment in the corner.

She gave it a light push, and the compartment sprang open.

Inside lay a palm-sized specially crafted jade box, warm and smooth all over.

Opening the jade box revealed a yellowed animal‑skin scroll—the very fragmentary ancient map!

On the map, cinnabar and an unknown metallic substance intertwined, tracing rivers and mountains, covered in strange symbols, an ancient mysterious aura emanating from it.

"Found it!" Lin Xue's voice was barely a whisper, unable to conceal her joy.

Zhang Jun leaned in for a glance, and his spirits likewise lifted.

Just as the two were about to stow the ancient map and make a swift exit—

"Who goes there?"

Suddenly, a harsh shout came from outside the study!

Immediately followed by several sharp piercing sounds!

Zhang Jun and Lin Xue's faces changed at once!

"Shadow Organization people!" They've actually made it here too!

The two exchanged a glance, then without hesitation darted out from the secret passage; upon returning to the study, they saw three black‑clad, chilly‑aura Shadow Organization elite scouts who had smashed through the window, now staring at them tiger‑like.

"Hand it over!" the lead scout rasped, his greedy eyes sweeping over the jade box in Lin Xue's hand.

"Courting death!" Zhang Jun shouted angrily, his pure yang energy exploding outward as he lunged forward.

A fierce battle erupted instantly!

In the instant the sides clashed, one Shadow Organization scout suddenly produced a specially made bone whistle from his pocket and blew it hard!

"Whoosh——"

A piercing, shrill whistle rang out, carrying far across the silent night sky!

Deep within the Qin manor, several lurking profound auras were suddenly stirred, rapidly converging toward the Tranquil Heart Pavilion from all sides!

Even inside the Qin household, there turned out to be a Shadow Organization insider!