Chapter 378: Labyrinth

"What?!" Mu Yuanzhi doubted she had misheard.

What does it mean to judge by blood?

How should we judge it?

Cao Cixiu shook his head, looking as if he sighed inwardly.

Mu Yuanzhi: ……

Then she saw Cao Cixiu crouch down, wipe a handful of the bloodstain on the ground, and study it.

Mu Yuanzhi didn't know what he could figure out; she could only tell that this was human blood, not animal blood.

"What did you see?" she asked.

"I don't know Young Master Jin or the Qilin Valley Master, so I can't tell whether this is their blood; I can only confirm that this blood was shed within an hour." Cao Cixiu said.

He took out a clean handkerchief to wipe the bloodstain from his hand, then stood up and continued walking inward.

Mu Yuanzhi also continued walking inward.

After walking about a quarter of an hour, Cao Cixiu ahead suddenly stopped. He took out the handkerchief he hadn't discarded earlier, brought it to his nose to sniff, then curled his lip in a cold smile: "Surely there's something odd?"

Mu Yuanzhi puzzled: "What's odd? What did you smell?"

A dog's nose?

Mu Yuanzhi suspiciously took the handkerchief, gave it a sniff, and grew more suspicious: "No smell?"

"Exactly, no smell—why is that?" Cao Cixiu turned his head to look at Mu Yuanzhi, smiling as he asked.

"Is there some deodorizing drug hidden in your handkerchief?" Mu Yuanzhi guessed.

Cao Cixiu shook his head. "You can guess more boldly."

He watched her expression change, smiling encouragingly.

Upon hearing that, Mu Yuanzhi blinked, lifted her gaze to Cao Cixiu: "There's no bloodstain on this at all! An illusion?!"

Thinking that, she lowered her head again to look—the bloodstain on the handkerchief was still there; she rubbed it with her finger, feeling the undeniable texture of blood.

Yet there was no smell of blood.

Cao Cixiu curled his lip in satisfaction: "Congratulations, you got it right."

"So it seems a maze formation has been laid here..." Mu Yuanzhi glanced around again.

I don't know if it's because of the suggestion, but I increasingly feel this place isn't real.

"Not necessarily; perhaps it's due to its geographic location, or influence from something nearby, causing people to hallucinate." Cao Cixiu said.

Mu Yuanzhi asked him: "Master Cao, do you have any method?"

"Hard to say." Cao Cixiu replied vaguely.

Although he said it was hard to say, there was not a trace of worry on his expression, just as when he entered; he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying this "adventure."

Since there might be a maze formation here, they needed to be more careful, not let their guard down, lest they fall into someone's scheme.

This place should be inhabited by someone, but perhaps only the founding ancestor knows of it, and no one else.

That person has always lived in the Back Mountain, never leaving.

How long has this family instruction been in effect? Perhaps it's not just one person but more than two, and they've been reproducing offspring here. Mu Yuanzhi thought.

Cao Cixiu suddenly said: "This place is still a maze, huh?"

Upon saying that, Mu Yuanzhi realized they had returned to the very spot they had just been.

The place where they had seen the bloodstain earlier—now the bloodstain was gone.

Was it because it was originally an illusion, and they noticed it after becoming wary, or is this actually not the place they had just come to?

Is there a floor that is exactly the same?

Cao Cixiu carved a horizontal line with his sword, then they walked around and came back; that line was still there, but now there was another line beneath it.

After all, is it really the same place?

Mu Yuanzhi had kept the sachet that Gu Rongjin had given her earlier.

When they returned to the original spot later, the sachet was missing.

The extra line was still there.

It is the same place!

So that means the earlier line was newly drawn by someone!

And they took her sachet—perhaps it was Rongjin and company!

This time Mu Yuanzhi left a message, carved into the wall: "Rongjin Qilin, is that you?"

"Shall we wait here a bit?" Mu Yuanzhi proposed.

"Although I think it's unnecessary, you're surely not going to give up, so let's wait here a bit." Cao Cixiu said.

So they sat there waiting; Mu Yuanzhi kept looking around, while Cao Cixiu closed his eyes to rest, his hand loosely pressing on the hilt of his sword at his waist.

Time passed slowly; there was nothing here to measure time, so Mu Yuanzhi didn't know how long had passed, but at least half an hour had elapsed.

And yet each time they passed through this place, it didn't seem to have taken half an hour.

So they couldn't wait any longer?

What principle is this exactly?

What exactly has happened to this space?

"How about it? Princess, have you waited enough?" Cao Cixiu, eyes closed, seemed to sense Mu Yuanzhi's impatience and asked.

"Let's go; next time we come back we'll see what they say."

Just waiting here isn't a solution.

They walked another loop and returned; the spot where they had left their message now had a reply!

Mu Yuanzhi hurried over eagerly and delighted to find that the writing on the message was in Gu Rongjin's hand!

——It's us! Little Yuanzhi! Indeed you've come in!

Are you okay? Anywhere hurt? How did you get in? Do you have the protective armor?

I and the Qilin are fine, but one is wandering the maze here, can't get out or reach anywhere else.

We originally planned to wait for you here, but after waiting a long time and you didn't show up, we had no choice but to leave.

By the way, who are you with? Looks like someone highly skilled in martial arts.

Be careful, we'll try to meet up with you.

Your loving Rongjin.

Mu Yuanzhi murmured it to the end, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart.

"Looks like your husband and junior fellow disciple are both fine."

Cao Cixiu crossed his arms, teasingly saying the last line.

Mu Yuanzhi now has no time to bother with his teasing; she wants to reply to Gu Rongjin:

It's a long story; today the chief of Hanlu Stronghold, a man named Anderlu, came, secretly bringing many people; if it weren't for the Third Prince bringing his death warriors in time, a fierce battle would have been inevitable.

I used the two iron face masks he provided to finish the last set of protective armor, and together with their death warrior leader I came in here to find you.

I'm fine, you don't need to worry; as long as you're fine too, that's good.

There seems to be a bewildering formation here; be careful, we'll also try to find a way to meet up with you.

Having carved to this point, Mu Yuanzhi paused, then carved 'Your loving Yuanzhi'.

Cao Cixiu, who had been watching the whole show of affection, let out a soft laugh.

Mu Yuanzhi's ear tips instantly turned red; she flicked her hair, stood up as if nothing happened, and said: 'Let's go, Young Master Cao.'

Just kept going in circles, not knowing when it would end.

After they came back again, Mu Yuanzhi didn't see Gu Rongjin's reply; only an unfinished stroke remained, confirming that her words had been seen.

What happened?

Could Rongjin and the Qilin be in danger?! Mu Yuanzhi instantly became tense.