Chapter 7: Unraveling the Mechanism

Zhao Zhiqiang grew anxious at once, furrowing his brows tightly as he demanded, "So how long do we have to wait for the trap to finish? At this rate, we'll be trapped here until we die!" With that, he slumped to the ground beside Ma Xu, both of them sinking into despair.

Seeing the two of them looking utterly defeated, the man in the black jacket grew visibly annoyed, his expression darkening as he barked, "Both of you, get up! None of us are dead yet, so why do you look like corpses?"

"Pang, we might not be dead, but we’re not far from it," Ma Xu grumbled, slumping against the wall, his head hanging low. But just then, he seemed to notice something. He leapt to his feet in a flash.

The man in the black jacket and Zhao Zhiqiang both stared at Ma Xu, curiosity and confusion written across their faces.

"The wall—it's moving," Ma Xu stammered, pointing at the wall. Unsure if it was just his imagination, he quickly pressed his ear and hand to the surface, straining to sense any movement. His eyes grew wider and wider.

"It's really moving!" Ma Xu declared, pointing at the wall with certainty.

Hearing this, Zhao Zhiqiang pressed his own hand to the wall, leaning in to feel it for himself. He quickly found that Ma Xu was right—the wall was indeed shifting!

"Brother, let's take a look," said the man in the black jacket, patting me on the shoulder as a signal. I nodded and approached Ma Xu and Zhao Zhiqiang, who stepped aside to let me through. I pressed my hand to the wall; though the movement was slight, it was unmistakable.

I let out a quiet breath. "It seems I was right. This mechanism moves slowly and imperceptibly, quietly altering the environment until we lose all sense of direction and become hopelessly lost in here."

Upon hearing my explanation, both Ma Xu and Zhao Zhiqiang nodded vigorously. Their earlier doubts had vanished, replaced by complete trust.

"Exactly! You're incredible, brother. That's exactly how this mechanism works!" Ma Xu exclaimed, clearly excited.

The man in the black jacket listened intently, falling into deep thought. With a wave of his hand, he said, "Enough talking. What matters now is finding a way to escape the trap."

"Ma Xu, you’re an expert in these mechanisms. Think of something!" Zhao Zhiqiang urged, giving Ma Xu a little shove.

The task clearly put Ma Xu on the spot; he scratched his head in frustration, pacing back and forth in agitation.

"I’ll give it a try," Ma Xu said somewhat reluctantly, moving closer to the wall to observe the direction and speed of its movement. He tried to discern a pattern, but the wall was unpredictable—sometimes it shifted this way, sometimes that, and its speed fluctuated as well.

Unable to make sense of it, Ma Xu scratched his head in irritation and exclaimed, "I can handle ordinary traps, but this one is just too complicated. I’m afraid..." He looked at the man in the black jacket, dejected and ashamed.

The man in the black jacket’s expression darkened, and he waved Ma Xu aside with a cold gesture. Forcing a thin smile, he turned to me. "Brother, why don’t you give it a try? You’re the most knowledgeable among us. It may be your first time in a tomb, but you are, after all, the heir of the Guan family."

I knew I wouldn’t be able to avoid this forever; eventually, I would have to step in myself. I nodded, indicating I’d try. Leaning close as Ma Xu had, I studied the movement of the wall. I stood motionless for a long time, prompting Ma Xu to tease me.

"Tsk tsk, looks like it’s not just me—this trap is too much for even our expert!" Ma Xu said, arms crossed, clearly expecting to see me fail. The man in the black jacket shot him a fierce glare, and Ma Xu wisely fell silent.

I remained quiet, listening intently to the faint sounds of the wall shifting. I don’t know how long I stood there. At last, I smiled knowingly and stepped away from the wall. The man in the black jacket, seeing my look of realization, was overjoyed.

"Have you figured something out?" he asked, barely able to contain his excitement.

I nodded. "Yes, I’ve understood how this mechanism works."

"That’s fantastic! Tell us quickly!" the man in the black jacket urged, unable to hide his delight.

Hearing that I’d solved the mystery, Ma Xu grew visibly unsettled. With a hint of sarcasm, he said, "I know you’re talented, but solving the mechanism this quickly—are you sure you’re not just bluffing?"

"Ma Xu, shut your big mouth and let him speak. If you’re so capable, why haven’t you solved it yourself?" Zhao Zhiqiang snapped, shoving Ma Xu, who finally quieted down.

I glanced at Ma Xu indifferently and began, calm and unhurried, "This mechanism may appear erratic, but in reality, its movements are governed by a set pattern. Since it’s a mechanism and not controlled by a person, there must be a logic behind it."

"So what’s the pattern, then? Go on, tell us," Ma Xu retorted, still unconvinced. I paid him no mind; soon enough, he’d have no choice but to acknowledge reality. With a faint smile, I explained, "The mechanism’s movements are based on the cyclical arrangement of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches. Each combination leads to a specific pattern of movement, resulting in twelve squared—one hundred forty-four—possible variations. That’s why it’s so complex."

"One hundred forty-four? Good heavens, just one would be complicated enough, but there are that many?" Zhao Zhiqiang exclaimed, clearly astounded. He looked at me with new respect; after all, the Guan family’s reputation was well-earned. The things I’d learned as a child were far out of reach for most people.

"Hahaha, I knew you could do it!" The man in the black jacket broke into a broad grin. I could tell he was feeling validated for bringing me along—this moment proved he’d made the right decision.

"Well, Ma Xu, looks like he really is better than you! Admit it, you’re convinced now, aren’t you?" Zhao Zhiqiang prodded Ma Xu, eager to see him humbled. Knowing he’d underestimated me, Ma Xu put on a sheepish grin and said ingratiatingly, "You’re amazing, brother. I admit it. I was short-sighted before, unable to recognize greatness. Please don’t hold it against me." He sidled up to me, trying to ingratiate himself.

Seeing him grovel, I couldn’t be bothered to argue. I, Wang Xudong, have never been one to elevate myself by belittling others.

"I didn’t take it to heart," I replied lightly. Seeing I wasn’t upset, Ma Xu sensibly retreated to join Zhao Zhiqiang.

I surveyed our surroundings. In just this short time, the space around us had changed again. I grew uneasy; though I’d unraveled the workings of the mechanism, the most urgent task was still to find a way out of here.