Chapter Eighty-Five: The Mechanism

As soon as Qin Yu and her group entered the courtyard, they were stunned by what lay before them. The entire courtyard was filled with corpses, not a single one intact, each twisted into various grotesque postures. Some of the bodies were unrecognizable, while others bore bizarre smiles on their faces. Most suspicious of all, it was clear these bodies had not undergone any signs of corpse transformation; every single one appeared disturbingly fresh, as if they had only died yesterday.

In her previous life, Qin Yu had witnessed countless deaths in all imaginable forms. Though she found the scene disgusting, she didn’t feel fear. Zhao Meng, having regained memories from her time in the organization, and Xia Cheng, a renowned surgeon, were both far from strangers to corpses. Tao, too, merely kept a stern face, silent as she surveyed the courtyard full of bodies.

Suppressing his own fear, Chen Yang observed the calm faces of the four and found his estimation of them rising yet again.

Glancing around the courtyard, which offered nowhere to step, Qin Yu spoke, “Captain Chen, this…”

Chen Yang wore a troubled expression as well. Was he supposed to have them clear out all these bodies? He certainly had no desire to do so.

Xia Cheng glanced at the two, then said, “Shall we move the bodies aside?”

Qin Yu considered it; this seemed the only solution. Just as she nodded and prepared to act, Tao stepped forward, blocking her path. “Don’t act rashly,” she said to Qin Yu.

With that, Tao moved to a corner near the entrance and fiddled with something unseen. Before their eyes, the corpses vanished without a trace, revealing a smooth, unobstructed path.

Chen Yang shot Tao a meaningful look, then turned to Qin Yu with a mysterious smile. “It seems Captain Qin is surrounded by remarkable people.”

Qin Yu returned the smile with equal poise. “We’re all the same.” Their exchange was loaded with unspoken understanding.

Tao, having finished her work, quietly returned to Qin Yu’s side and took her hand, remaining silent and downcast. Qin Yu glanced at Tao’s hand in hers, lost in thought.

Chen Yang paid no mind to their interaction. Gazing down the now open path, he murmured, half to himself, “Who knows what traps might lie in wait beneath this calm?”

Tao overheard him, shot him a glance, then led Qin Yu forward by the hand. Xia Cheng and Zhao Meng followed, and after a moment’s hesitation, Chen Yang shrugged, signaling his team to keep up before hurrying after them himself.

Tao led Qin Yu through a series of twists and turns, finally arriving at a place reminiscent of an ancient rear garden. At its center stood a prominent artificial rock formation, drawing everyone’s attention amid the flat landscape.

Qin Yu felt uneasy about how conspicuously it stood out and looked to Tao for explanation. Tao approached the rock and said, “This used to be a field of poppies, planted especially for me. He said I was like a poppy—deadly, yet irresistible. Sadly, the flowers are gone now, and this rock is all that remains of them.”

“A vessel?” Qin Yu found the explanation perplexing, but wisely held her tongue. Poppies… In the West, they symbolize sacrifice, love, respect, and remembrance, she thought to herself.

Chen Yang and the others caught up to find Qin Yu’s group standing before the unusual rock. Chen Yang stepped forward. “Captain Qin, this rock formation—?”

Qin Yu shook her head, indicating she was as much in the dark as he was. Tao then lifted her head, her expression grave. “From here on, you must stay close to me and do not act on your own. Otherwise, I cannot guarantee your safety.”

The others nodded and waited for Tao’s next move. She stepped forward, tapping here and there on the rock. Suddenly, before their eyes, the rock split open, revealing an entrance.

Despite the gravity of the moment, Qin Yu couldn’t help but feel a strange amusement. Was this really the apocalypse? Why did it feel as though she’d stepped into ancient times? Secret mechanisms in artificial rocks—how utterly at odds with modern technology.

But what lay within the rock surpassed even her wildest expectations of ancient ingenuity.

Hand in hand, Tao led Qin Yu into the rock formation. Throughout the journey, Qin Yu wore a mask of calm, though inwardly she was shouting in disbelief. Mechanisms that forced them five steps forward, one step back—was this really modern technology? Poison-tipped arrows springing out of nowhere—was this not the domain of ancient palaces? Twisting corridors and passages that required climbing up and down—was this not the tomb of some long-dead emperor?

Though inwardly she complained, her face stayed fixed in its signature gentle smile. Zhao Meng, however, studied the mechanisms thoughtfully. She felt she had seen a similar layout somewhere before, but the memory was too distant and hazy to recall clearly.

After nearly an hour’s trek, they finally reached a stone chamber sealed by a heavy door. Qin Yu raised an eyebrow at the sight and looked at Chen Yang, who promptly produced a stone key from his pocket. He approached the door, found the keyhole, and inserted the key.

As the stone door slowly opened, Chen Yang’s team members suddenly raised their guns and aimed them at Qin Yu and her companions.

Qin Yu frowned. “Captain Chen, what is the meaning of this?”

Chen Yang forced a smile. “Captain Qin, I have no choice. What’s inside is too important. If something were to happen…”

He left the rest unsaid, but everyone understood his meaning. Qin Yu began to laugh, her laughter growing louder and louder, leaving Chen Yang uneasy and increasingly anxious, as though he had overlooked something crucial.

His face darkened. “What are you laughing at?”

Qin Yu wiped away tears of mirth. “I’m laughing at how naive you are, Captain Chen. Do you really think there aren’t any traps in this stone chamber?”

Chen Yang’s face tightened. He tried to sound confident. “Hmph! Our intel says it’s clear of traps!”

Qin Yu’s smile deepened. “Is that so? Then why don’t you go in first, Captain Chen?”

Chen Yang glared at her, then ordered one of his men, “You—go inside!”

The chosen man hesitated, a flicker of struggle in his eyes, but obeyed and stepped cautiously into the chamber. The moment he crossed the threshold, a hidden arrow flew out of nowhere, piercing his skull and splattering white matter.

Chen Yang’s expression turned grim. “You go first! Move!” He gestured with his gun for Qin Yu to proceed. Qin Yu flexed her fingers, and Xia Cheng and Zhao Meng exchanged a meaningful glance. Under Chen Yang’s armed escort, they slowly advanced into the depths of the stone chamber.