Chapter 51: Hidden Secrets Gradually Unfold

The scream echoed from deep within the back courtyard of the medical clinic. Qu Wanqing was burning with anxiety, deeply worried for Miss Bai's safety.

Jiang Yu tightly gripped her hand, a wave of warmth flowing from his palm, imparting immense strength to her.

The two of them sprinted through the winding corridors, a tense yet warm atmosphere lingering between them.

Finally, they came to a halt in front of a seemingly ordinary wall.

The screams had originated from here, but the wall was smooth and flat, devoid of any entrance.

Jiang Yu tapped the wall lightly, producing a dull echo. His brow furrowed deeply; this wall was clearly suspicious.

"Wanqing, be careful," Jiang Yu whispered warningly, while meticulously inspecting every detail of the wall.

Qu Wanqing held her breath, focusing her mind to sense the fluctuations of spiritual energy in the surroundings.

Suddenly, she sensed a faint flow of spiritual power at a certain spot on the wall—that was the entrance!

She extended her hand, pressing it gently against the wall. Channeling her spiritual power, a crack appeared on the wall, slowly parting to both sides to reveal a dim passage.

"There really is a mechanism!" Qu Wanqing uttered in a low voice, exchanging a glance with Jiang Yu before they stepped into the passage without hesitation.

Pitch black inside, the passage was filled with a strange medicinal odor that caused a slight dizziness.

Jiang Yu drew a fire-starter from his tunic and lit an oil lamp. The dim, yellowish light illuminated the narrow corridor, as well as an iron door at the very end.

The iron door was tightly shut, covered in thick rust, clearly having remained unopened for a long time.

Through the gaps in the iron door, they could faintly hear Miss Bai's feeble crying and some bizarre noises.

"Miss Bai is inside!" Qu Wanqing anxiously reached to open the iron door, but Jiang Yu held her back.

"Wait, there might be a trap on this door." Jiang Yu cautiously inspected the iron door and discovered an intricate pattern around the lock, resembling some ancient runic script.

"This pattern..." Qu Wanqing carefully scrutinized the runes. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck her mind, "This pattern looks very similar to the one on the medical prescription I saw in Dr. Li's study!"

Hearing this, Jiang Yu's expression shifted drastically. "Could it be..."

"This pattern looks very similar to the one on the medical prescription I saw in Dr. Li's study!" As soon as Qu Wanqing finished speaking, she began recalling the precise details of the pattern from the prescription.

That prescription had been exceptionally bizarre. Aside from ordinary medicinal herb names, it contained various strange symbols. At the time, she had merely found them odd and had not delved deeper. Now, it seemed the prescription harbored deeper secrets.

If my memory serves me right... Qu Wanqing muttered to herself while tracing the pattern on the iron door. "This symbol represents 'open', this one means 'close', and this is..." She suddenly paused, pointing at a complex symbol. "I feel like I've seen this symbol somewhere before..."

Watching her deep in thought, Jiang Yu felt a mixture of heartache and profound admiration in his heart.

He knew that Qu Wanqing possessed extraordinary wisdom and courage, which was one of the reasons he had fallen so deeply in love with her.

He gently placed his hand on her shoulder and said in a tender voice, "Don't rush, take your time to think."

Feeling Jiang Yu's encouragement, a wave of warmth surged through Qu Wanqing's heart.

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down, and continued to recall the meaning of that symbol.

Suddenly, a flash of realization crossed her mind. Wasn't that symbol the sign of the "Gate of Life" she had seen in ancient texts during her childhood!

"I know it!" Qu Wanqing cried out excitedly, her fingers dancing swiftly across the patterns on the iron door as she pressed several key symbols in accordance with the method for opening the "Gate of Life".

With a crisp "click", the lock on the iron door sprang open in response.

Successfully solving the first mechanism, a confident smile bloomed on Qu Wanqing's face, and a profound sense of accomplishment welled up within her.

"It worked!"

As Jiang Yu looked at her radiant joy, his eyes were filled with immense admiration and affection.

"Wanqing, you're amazing!" His voice was deep and magnetic, carrying an imperceptible gentleness.

He couldn't resist drawing closer to her, whispering softly beside her ear, "You always manage to bring me surprises." The warm breath brushed against Qu Wanqing's ear, sending a tingling sensation through her body.

Qu Wanqing's cheeks flushed slightly, her heartbeat accelerating.

She unconsciously leaned closer to Jiang Yu, basking in the warmth and sense of security radiating from him.

Seizing the moment, Jiang Yu wrapped his arm around her waist, gently pulling her into his embrace.

The surrounding air seemed to grow tender, and the dim lamplight stretched their silhouettes long, intertwining them together like a picturesque masterpiece.

Just then, a low cough broke out from behind the iron door, shattering the brief tranquility.

"Cough, cough... Who is... out there..."

Jiang Yu and Qu Wanqing exchanged a glance, a flicker of vigilance crossing both of their eyes.

"It seems the real show is only just beginning..." Jiang Yu murmured, his tone carrying a hint of excitement and anticipation.

The iron door slowly creaked open, and a chilling draft rushed out, carrying a heavy medicinal stench that made one feel slightly uncomfortable.

Qu Wanqing and Jiang Yu exchanged another look, stepping into the secret chamber together.

The chamber was quite small. On a crude wooden bed, Miss Bai was curled up in a ball, tear tracks still wet on her face.

Seeing them enter, Miss Bai was stunned for a moment before lunging toward Jiang Yu in terror, as if clutching at a straw of life. "Young Master Jiang, save me! They want to harm me!"

However, Jiang Yu shifted his body slightly, deftly evading Miss Bai's embrace and standing firmly by Qu Wanqing's side.

This action caused Miss Bai's expression to freeze instantly. The hopeful look in her eyes dimmed, replaced by profound disappointment and desolation.

Witnessing this scene, the corners of Qu Wanqing's mouth curled upward slightly, and a surge of triumphant satisfaction bloomed in her heart. Indeed, her man was thoroughly reliable!

"Miss Bai, what on earth happened here?" Qu Wanqing stepped forward, her tone carrying an oppressive weight.

Miss Bai bit her lip, her eyes shifting restlessly, as if hesitating whether to reveal the truth.

Ultimately, she chose to speak, her voice trembling as she said, "I... I was used by them! They lied to me, saying that as long as I did as they asked, I would get everything I wanted, but... but I never expected..."

"Never expected it would turn out like this?" Qu Wanqing sneered, her gaze tinged with skepticism. "Who are 'they' that you speak of? Why would they use you? And what is it that you wanted?"

Left speechless by the interrogation, Miss Bai's eyes darted about evasively, stuttering without making any sense.

"Miss Bai, you'd better tell the truth." Jiang Yu's voice grew cold, carrying a warning edge. "My patience is limited. If you try to conceal anything further, don't blame me for being ruthless."

Sensing Jiang Yu's formidable pressure, Miss Bai realized she could no longer hide the truth. She sighed, and just as she was about to disclose further details, a low, eerie voice resounded at the entrance of the secret chamber: "Hehehe... Everyone, it seems you are having a very pleasant chat here..."

Qu Wanqing and Jiang Yu turned their heads simultaneously, only to see the Patient Zhao standing at the doorway of the chamber.

Previously, he had always been in a state of unconsciousness, but now his eyes were clear, and a bizarre smile hung on his face as if he had become an entirely different person. His gaze locked onto them unwaveringly as he slowly stepped inside.