The Company

Chapter 66: Painting the Straw Effigy

【One】

Kaifeng’s surrounding terrain is flat and expansive, unlike Chang’an, Luoyang, Beijing, Nanjing, Hangzhou, and other cities that have natural barriers in the form of mountains. Low-lying and swampy, it was historically referred to as the “land of brine” and was not an ideal location for establishing a capital. However, situated on the banks of the Yellow River, Kaifeng possessed unique advantages and served as a crucial hub for water transport, known as the “four rivers irrigating the capital,” facilitating easy access to resources. Throughout history, the Xia dynasty, the Wei state during the Warring States period, the Northern Song dynasty, and the Jin dynasty all established their capitals here, earning Kaifeng the title of “ancient capital of eight dynasties.”

Yet, just as water can carry a boat, it can also capsize it. Kaifeng’s rise and fall were both tied to the Yellow River. The city repeatedly became a capital due to its convenient water transport, but it was also repeatedly buried by the river’s floods.

Throughout history, when cities were destroyed and states fell due to war, the common practice was to abandon the old capital and select a new site. However, despite enduring both warfare and floods, Kaifeng was always rebuilt on the same location. It was submerged time and again, only to be reconstructed each time, creating the peculiar phenomenon of “cities stacked upon cities.” Beneath present-day Kaifeng, at depths ranging from three to twelve meters, six layers of cities are buried one atop the other: the Qing dynasty’s Kaifeng Prefecture, the Ming dynasty’s Kaifeng Prefecture, the Jin dynasty’s Bianjing City, the Song dynasty’s Eastern Capital, the Tang dynasty’s Bianzhou City, and the Wei state’s Daliang City.

To this day, Kaifeng remains the only city whose central axis has remained unchanged for millennia. Beneath Zhongshan Road, the city’s busiest thoroughfare today, lies the imperial street of Kaifeng from several dynasties.

Kaifeng—open and sealed, repeatedly opened and repeatedly sealed—perhaps this is the reason the city was named “Kaifeng.” Within this layered city stands the Po Tower, which has endured for a thousand years and still stands tall.

The name “Po Tower” sounds similar to “Buddhist pagoda,” and “Po” also means “white” or “many.” Thus, the Po Tower is not only a white Buddhist pagoda but also a tower with many, many layers.

However, when the Po Tower was first built, it had only nine layers, and today only three remain—far from “many, many layers.” In fact, the “eradication of royal aura” incident in the early Ming dynasty was quite peculiar. If we consider Kaifeng alone, aside from the Po Tower, there is also the more famous “First Tower Under Heaven”—the Iron Pagoda of Kaifeng. Why was only the Po Tower targeted in the “eradication of royal aura,” while not a single brick of the Iron Pagoda was touched? This indirectly highlights the extraordinary nature of the Po Tower.

Only a very few people know that within the shadow of the Po Tower lies a hidden Shadow Po Tower. This Shadow Po Tower can only be opened at a specific time, in a specific location, with specific items and specific individuals. Just as there are multiple cities buried beneath Kaifeng, this Shadow Po Tower also has many layers underground.

Boss had not yet made up his mind about whether to enter the Shadow Po Tower. He was merely following his original plan, visiting West Yong first and then checking the situation at the Shadow Po Tower. But he had not expected Doctor to fall into the Shadow Po Tower, and he could not simply stand by and watch him disappear. Without hesitation, Boss followed him down.

The sensation of falling into darkness and weightlessness was not particularly uncomfortable. What made Boss frown was the realization that Doctor had somehow slipped out of his grasp, and he now seemed to be alone in the surrounding darkness.

It felt like a long time, yet also like only an instant, before Boss’s feet finally touched solid ground in the darkness. Gazing at the palpable darkness around him, Boss let out a silent sigh.When a person is plunged into absolute darkness with their five senses sealed, their imagination tends to expand boundlessly. However, having encountered such situations many times throughout his long life, the Boss stood expressionless and motionless, responding to the ever-changing circumstances with unwavering composure.

A long time passed, yet the darkness remained enveloped in silence. After listening intently for a while, the Boss raised his right hand.

When he had gone out today, he wore an inconspicuous ring on his right middle finger, its surface adorned with a smooth piece of malachite. The Boss gently brushed his fingertip over it, and the malachite slid aside, revealing itself to be a lid. Instantly, a brilliant light burst forth, uncovering the long-concealed Night-Shining Pearl beneath.

Though the Night-Shining Pearl was only the size of a fingernail, it emitted a vivid green fluorescence, cutting through the surrounding darkness like a sharp blade.

As Ban Gu wrote in "Rhapsody on the Western Capital": "Kingfisher feathers and fiery gems, flowing radiance containing splendor. Suspended Li and hanging Ji, the night glow resides within." Among them, both Suspended Li and Hanging Ji are extremely rare Night-Shining Pearls. The one on the Boss's ring was the Hanging Ji Pearl.

The Boss slightly raised his hand, using the light of the Hanging Ji Pearl to clearly see his surroundings.

He was in a corridor built of bluish-white stone bricks, stretching into the darkness beyond the reach of the Hanging Ji Pearl's glow. On both sides of the corridor, the brick walls were densely lined with niches, much like the exterior of the Fan Pagoda. However, unlike the nearly uniform niches on the pagoda's outside, the niches here varied greatly in size—some large enough to accommodate a person, others as small as a fist—arranged without any discernible pattern or aesthetic appeal. Moreover, the arhats within these niches, regardless of size or form, all bore ferocious expressions, brandishing sharp blades, spears, swords, and halberds, exuding a murderous aura that sent chills down one's spine.

The Boss glanced around and noticed another corridor behind him, also extending into the darkness. Yet he did not turn back, instead stepping forward.

The corridor seemed endless, with niches on both sides displaying diverse forms. Upon closer inspection, one would find that no two arhats were exactly alike. The Boss walked slowly, occasionally pausing to observe the niches to his left and right, but never lingering for more than a breath before moving on. It was only when a faint light appeared ahead in the corridor that he finally came to a halt.

Amidst several sealed niches, a crescent-moon-shaped hall emerged. The hall was not particularly large, and at the most prominent curve of the crescent stood an incense table with curved legs, matching the hall's shape. On it burned a white-glazed lamp adorned with cloud-pattern reliefs. The light he had seen earlier in the corridor emanated from this lamp.

Before the curved-leg incense table, a middle-aged man around fifty years old paced back and forth. He wore a gold-purple round-collared robe with a golden jade belt at his waist and a Jinde crown on his head. Slightly portly, the fish pouch at his waist bounced with each step. As the man turned, he caught sight of the Boss standing at the hall's entrance from the corner of his eye. His eyebrows raised in surprise, and then a smile spread across his face."Oh my, please don't blame this old man for his neglect, but visitors are truly rare in this Yingfan Pagoda." The middle-aged man approached with a beaming smile, his benevolent face and warm expression instantly making one feel close to him. As he spoke, he gestured inward in welcome, "Young friend, you must have stumbled into this place by accident, right? The Yangxian Purple Bamboo tea I've brewed is at its perfect timing. Why not come in for a chat?"

Though this middle-aged man's every movement exuded approachability, there was an underlying authority that suggested someone long accustomed to high position. After finishing these words and seeing Boss remain completely unmoved outside the door, he intensified his tone: "This Yangxian Purple Bamboo tea was personally praised by Master Lu Yu as having the most exquisite fragrance in the world. Won't you come in and taste it, young friend?"

"Hehe, young friend, could it be that you don't trust this old man? Judging by your clothing and hairstyle, several hundred years must have passed in the outside world."

"Young friend, do you know why I am here? This is Yingfan Pagoda, the underground palace of Fan Pagoda. Do you know when Fan Pagoda was built? Construction began during the Kaibao era of Song and wasn't completed until the Chunhua era. These two reign periods - the former belongs to Emperor Taizu of Song,"

"while the latter belongs to Emperor Taizong of Song. 'Candlelight and axe sounds' - Zhao Guangyi killed Zhao Kuangyin, then falsely claimed the 'Golden Casket Agreement' to inherit his elder brother's throne. Of Zhao Kuangyin's only two remaining sons,"

"one committed suicide after being reprimanded by Zhao Guangyi, while the other suddenly died of violent illness - one died at twenty-eight, the other at merely twenty-two. If anyone says there was nothing suspicious about this, nobody would believe it."

"This Fan Pagoda was indeed initially built through public fundraising, but by the time Zhao Guangyi ascended the throne, only the pagoda foundation had been completed. Later, construction progressed rapidly because the latter stages of Fan Pagoda's construction relied almost entirely on donations from Zhao Kuangyin's descendants."

"Sealed within this underground palace of Fan Pagoda are all the gold, silver, and treasures Zhao Kuangyin obtained through his northern and southern campaigns to pacify the realm. Although Zhao Guangyi knew about this, Fan Pagoda was a Buddhist sacred site, so he could only turn a blind eye. Moreover, treasures are lifeless - as long as his throne was secure, this pagoda posed no threat."

"Yet how unpredictable worldly affairs are! Who could have known that although Zhao Guangyi usurped Zhao Kuangyin's position, by the Southern Song period, except for Zhao Gou and Zhao Fu, all other emperors were actually descendants of Zhao Kuangyin? Round and round it goes, the wheel of cause and effect. Unfortunately, the Southern Song had already lost Bianjing, so even though Zhao Kuangyin's descendants knew about the nation-wealthing treasure buried beneath Fan Pagoda, they couldn't access it."

"Later, this legend twisted and turned through the centuries, gradually losing its true meaning. By the Ming dynasty, even Zhu Yuanzhang only knew that Fan Pagoda was connected to imperial aura - he demolished four levels of the pagoda but remained unaware of the secret buried in Fan Pagoda's underground palace."

"And I have been guarding this place for over a thousand years, finally meeting a destined one."

After his impassioned lengthy speech, the middle-aged man found it quite captivating himself, yet noticed the young man standing outside the hall hadn't changed expression at all. He withdrew his smile and asked in a more enticing tone: "Young friend, aren't you even slightly tempted by Emperor Taizu of Song's treasure?"

Boss stared fixedly at the middle-aged man for a moment, finally lifting his foot to take a step toward the hall. But he truly took only one step, stopping right outside the boundary between the hall and the corridor under the middle-aged man's expectant gaze.

The middle-aged man could barely maintain his facial expression, the muscles around his lips trembling involuntarily. Where exactly had he given himself away?The middle-aged man still clung to a final shred of hope, intending to persuade further, but the person opposite him spoke first: "I stand here outside the hall, yet I detect not a single whiff of tea fragrance."

"Hehe, perhaps the aroma of Yangxian Purple Bamboo Shoot tea is not particularly strong." The middle-aged man adjusted his expression and smiled faintly. "You claim to be the guardian of the underground palace, yet you address Emperor Taizu of Song by his personal name without the slightest respect."

"That was a thousand years ago. What of emperors? What of beggars? Aren't they all just fleeting clouds?" The middle-aged man sighed with emotion.

Seeing the young man pause, the middle-aged man thought he had convinced him, but before joy could touch his brows, it was completely dispelled by the other's next words.

"For a man of the Tang dynasty to know of matters from the Song dynasty is quite remarkable."

"You..."The middle-aged man widened his eyes in shock, stroking his beard in a pretentious manner as he prepared to argue forcefully." "The furniture and decorations in this hall—spacious, heavy, luxurious, and ornate—are all in the Tang style. The crescent moon stools and curved-leg incense tables are all furniture with distinctive Tang characteristics. One could still argue that you simply have a preference for antiques. Even the fact that Yangxian Purple Bamboo Shoot was a tribute tea in the Tang dynasty could be attributed to your fondness for ancient Tang customs. But perhaps you simply don't know the popular furniture styles or the tea varieties that were in vogue during the Song dynasty."

"Am I correct, Chancellor Li Linfu?"

The middle-aged man's expression stiffened, and a storm began brewing between his brows. "Your explanation was quite cleverly crafted, Chancellor Li. However, Emperor Taizu of Song's reign had just ended the fragmentation of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. The Song imperial family, starting from Emperor Taizu, practiced frugality and self-cultivation—so much so that their tombs were too poor to even attract grave robbers. If you had claimed this was treasure hidden by Emperor Huizong of Song, I might have believed you somewhat. But Emperor Taizu? He was quite impoverished." Boss spoke with casual detachment. As for how he guessed the middle-aged man's identity—the Tang-style arrangements in the hall, the color of the other's court robes, and the fact that the only Tang dynasty chancellor likely to qualify for presence in Yingfan Pagoda was Li Linfu.

Li Linfu fell into a heavy silence, his face dark as water, before revealing a sinister smile and sneering, "Tsk, what a rare guest. It has been so very long since Yingfan Pagoda has welcomed anyone new..."

Boss lowered his eyelids and brushed nonexistent dust from his sleeve.

Pagodas were initially built to enshrine Buddhist relics, statues, and scriptures, gradually acquiring connotations of suppression. In the legend of The Tale of the White Snake, the white snake was suppressed beneath Leifeng Pagoda, never to attain liberation.

Yingfan Pagoda, however, suppressed antique objects bearing resentment. Long, long ago—so long that the exact time is unverifiable—this place was known as the Shadow Prison. Originally, a Fan Terrace was constructed here, followed by a Fan Pagoda, and the underground Shadow Prison came to be called Yingfan Pagoda.

Boss had never entered Yingfan Pagoda either. Each time he delivered antiques here, he merely placed them in the shadow of Fan Pagoda at a specific time. He had always tried to visit this place as little as possible, because Kaifeng held an indescribable sense of guilt for him.

Back when the Qin state unified the six warring states, the stratagem he gave Wang Li was to flood Daliang. The countless soldiers and civilians who died or were injured because of this plan were sins he carried. Though their positions had been different then, and though he was not the one who ultimately wielded the blade, the guilt remained indelible.Although he had never been to the Shadow Pagoda before, he knew a thing or two about it. In each of the niches lining the corridors of the Shadow Pagoda, an antique tainted with lingering resentment was sealed away. Among them were blades that had followed famous generals and drunk the blood of thousands, executioner's swords that had beheaded countless people, bloodthirsty urns that had once held mutilated prisoners... Though these antiques were not inherently evil, they were haunted by the souls of countless wronged spirits and could no longer be compared to ordinary relics. If they fell into the hands of ordinary people, they would inevitably bring about great calamity.

In addition to sealing these antiques, the Shadow Pagoda occasionally imprisoned the souls of the most treacherous and wicked individuals.

The Boss didn't know whether the Li Linfu before him was the historical figure himself or an illusion conjured by an object the man had once possessed. But the fact that he could reduce the guarding arhats to nothingness and even knew events that occurred after the Tang Dynasty proved he was worthy of being the man who single-handedly overturned the glorious Great Tang.

Li Linfu was the longest-serving chancellor during Emperor Xuanzong's reign, holding power for nineteen years. He excelled at discerning Emperor Xuanzong's preferences, catering to the emperor's whims, eliminating political rivals, interfering with the appointment and deposition of crown princes, engaging in corruption to control official promotions, appearing amiable and friendly on the surface while hiding murderous intentions beneath—the phrase "honeyed words but a dagger in the heart" originated from him. Despite his own lack of talent, even misreading characters, he never reflected on his shortcomings. Instead, fearing others might surpass him, he only employed mediocrities while framing and persecuting capable officials. The court's atmosphere grew increasingly corrupt, ultimately leading to the An Lushan Rebellion. The once prosperous and powerful Great Tang never recovered, with Chang'an falling, palaces burning, the Yellow River region collapsing, and millions displaced.

In China's five-thousand-year history, if one were to list the top ten treacherous ministers, Li Linfu would undoubtedly be among them. Thus, it was no surprise that he was sealed within the Shadow Pagoda.

The Boss slightly furrowed his brows. Li Linfu was trying every possible means to lure him into the hall because, although the Shadow Pagoda appeared to be an impregnable prison, the method of escape was simple—if someone was willing to take one's place, the imprisoned could be freed.

Unfortunately, while this method seemed straightforward, every antique or soul sealed in the Shadow Pagoda was directly confined within a niche, unable to move freely. Moreover, ordinary people rarely stumbled into this place, making this escape clause nothing but an empty promise.

The Boss took one last look at the desperate middle-aged man standing in the hall and turned away without hesitation. "Young man, this is the lowest level of the Shadow Pagoda!" Li Linfu persistently called out. As long as this person stayed, he would have a chance to persuade him to enter the hall! The Boss continued walking at an unhurried pace.

"Those who enter the Shadow Pagoda fall deeper the greater their sins. Young man, I never expected you to be so deeply burdened by sin..."

The Boss's steps did not falter in the slightest. He knew he was deeply sinful—this was an unchangeable fact. "I did nothing wrong! Why was I condemned? There can only be one voice that rules the world! If it isn't me, then it must be him! If I don't guard my position, I will become that 'him'!" Seeing the Boss not stopping, Li Linfu began to shout hoarsely, unable to comprehend why he was sealed in the Shadow Pagoda when he believed he had done nothing wrong."Are you saying my methods were wrong? But if I hadn't eliminated them completely, hadn't eradicated them root and stem, countless people would have jumped out to seek revenge for them! For thousands of years, this is how people have acted! I wasn't wrong! I didn't harbor delusions of usurping power like that fellow An Lushan to become emperor! I fulfilled my duties faithfully! I wasn't wrong!"

The hoarse voice grew increasingly hysterical as the Boss moved forward, carrying far down the corridor with faint echoes.

The Boss halted his steps, and the shouting behind him abruptly ceased, as if anticipating his turn. But the Boss didn't look back, merely sighing softly before speaking quietly: "Is there any difference between killing a man with a club and with a knife?"

The breathing behind him grew heavier, as if guessing what he intended to say.

Not expecting a response, the Boss continued: "Is there any difference between killing with a knife and with governance?" Complete silence answered from behind.

The Boss resumed walking forward.

"Is there any difference? There is no difference." This dialogue comes from Mencius, King Hui of Liang I. Is there any difference between killing someone with a wooden club versus with a blade? Is there any difference between killing with a blade and killing with oppressive governance?

There is no difference, just like in the ancient city of Daliang. Is there any difference between killing with a blade and killing with schemes? There is no difference.

The voice behind him never sounded again, the corridor returning to deathly silence, broken only by the Boss's footsteps on the stone bricks.

The Boss walked forward until he reached a massive stone wall before stopping.

By the faint glow of the Chuiji Pearl in his hand, the Boss could see a winding stone staircase on the left side of the wall, likely leading to the upper level of the Shadow Profusion Pagoda.

However, the Boss knew this wasn't actually the lowest level of the Shadow Profusion Pagoda.

On the stone wall before him was a recess. The Boss removed the jade Xuanji he always wore around his neck and placed it perfectly into the recess.

Amid rumbling mechanisms, the stone wall slowly shifted rightward, revealing a dark, deep passage with descending stone steps behind it.

Below this level lay the ancient malevolent artifacts sealed in the Shadow Prison. Any one of them, casually retrieved, could likely secure his victory in the chess game against Zhao Gao.

But the Doctor had also fallen into the Shadow Profusion Pagoda. Given his life experience limited to dissecting a few frogs for experiments, he must be on the first level. Unaware of the pagoda's rules, he could easily be tricked into a Buddhist niche to serve as a substitute.

One stone staircase led upward, another set of steps descended downward.

In the darkness, the Boss rubbed the Chuiji Pearl in his hand, its light flickering across his face.

【Two】

The Doctor, caught off guard as he fell into darkness, didn't panic, especially since the weightless descent didn't last long before his feet found solid ground.

The moldy, damp smell assaulted his nostrils, prompting him to quickly pull out a tissue to cover his nose and mouth. It took quite some time before he adapted to the pungent odor.

He took out his phone, turned on the screen, and unsurprisingly found no signal. Tch, why didn't this feel unexpected at all?

The Doctor curled his lip, switched on the phone's flashlight, but didn't see the Boss anywhere. If he hadn't mistaken, the Boss should have fallen with him, yet for some reason they weren't together.

Well, encountering this situation didn't feel particularly surprising either.He just needed to stay quietly until the Boss came to find him, the Doctor shrugged, thinking optimistically. Although he had no memory of that person's existence, he didn't know why he was so naturally certain about it.

However, the phone flashlight was too glaring and power-consuming. After checking the remaining battery, the Doctor decisively turned off the flashlight and chose to use the phone screen as a light source.

After switching from strong light to weak light, his eyes adapted after a moment, making it easier for him to see the surroundings clearly. Someone?

The Doctor discovered there was actually a human face right in front of him, which gave him a terrible fright. He took a big step backward. If there hadn't been a wall behind him, he would have wanted to get even further away.

But after realizing that the terrifying face almost nose-to-nose with him was merely an exquisitely carved stone statue, he let out a huge sigh of relief.

Thankfully, no one was around to witness his embarrassing moment.

The Doctor steadied himself and, using the light from his phone screen, examined his surroundings. He found himself standing in a corridor paved with broken stone bricks. Even with his phone's flashlight at full strength, he couldn't see either end of the passage. The walls on both sides were lined with life-sized arhat statues—like the one that had startled him—alongside numerous smaller arhats, the largest being only arm-length. These were enshrined in niches of varying sizes, arranged chaotically,

crammed densely together. Upon closer inspection, he noticed the life-sized arhat statue was also housed in a niche, gripping a demon-subduing staff in a tense posture, as if in the midst of vanquishing evil spirits.

Bored out of his mind, the Doctor stepped closer to examine the ferocious-looking arhat. He rarely had opportunities to observe such statues up close—during temple visits, sculptures were always placed

on high pedestals, making details hard to discern from a distance. Now, with this statue directly before him, his phone's faint glow illuminated only its face, yet it was enough to reveal the exquisite craftsmanship. Every detail was masterfully carved: not just the texture of skin and muscle, but even individual eyebrow strands stood out distinctly, the expression vividly lifelike.

Could this be considered art? It's easily on par with that David statue! Our ancestors truly were superior! Swelling with pride, the Doctor moved his phone light back and forth, increasingly marveling at the statue's hyperrealism. As a medical professional, he could appreciate the precise anatomical proportions and muscle definition—even the posterior flexion of the right foot and the bulging curve of the gastrocnemius muscle in the calf were anatomically perfect.

Every muscle group's movement, every subtle facial expression—it all mirrored a living human. Compelled, the Doctor reached out to verify whether this was truly just a stone statue.

But as he did so, he chuckled at himself. When his fingertips met the cold stone surface, his smile widened further. What was happening to him? Just yesterday, he'd been a rational, science-driven young man who dealt in facts and logic!

However, his emerging smile froze abruptly on his lips.

The arhat statue before him, upon his touch, seemed to activate like a switch—it began glowing, then gradually faded until it turned semi-transparent and vanished completely within a breath!

The Doctor stumbled backward in shock.

Only then did he realize the glow hadn't come from the statue itself. After its disappearance, a room was revealed within the niche, illuminated by a burning bronze lamp inside.Beside the goose-shaped bronze lamp stood a young woman in ancient attire, wearing a lotus-root-colored long robe. Her cloud-like hair was adorned with moon-white flowers, and two jet-black braids cascaded beside her ears. Her delicate features were charmingly lovely, and a vivid red mole between her eyebrows added to her endearing aura. Before her lay a small table, spread with a half-sewn garment, while the needle and thread in her hand hovered mid-air. Her almond-shaped eyes widened in astonishment as she stared at the Doctor.

"This... you can see me?" The Doctor scratched his head, realizing his words were awkward. "Ah, no, no—I'm human, so of course you can see me. I mean... can I see you? Wait, that's not right either—I clearly do see you..."

"Pfft!" The initially shocked woman was instead amused by the Doctor's flustered speech. Her naturally elegant and serene demeanor blossomed into a smile, captivating as a magnolia flower in full bloom.

The Doctor couldn't possibly believe such a woman was some malevolent spirit. He instinctively stepped forward, intending to ask if she knew how to escape this wretched place.

But the moment he lifted his foot, her expression shifted to alarm. She waved her hands urgently, exclaiming, "Don't come in! Stay where you are!" Startled, the Doctor stumbled, nearly falling. Steadying himself, he wondered in confusion—did he really look so threatening?

Seeing him halt at the shrine's entrance, the woman patted her chest in relief and sighed softly. Noting his bewildered expression, she smiled wryly and remarked, "You must... have no idea where this is, do you?"

The Doctor nodded eagerly, mimicking gestures from historical dramas as he clasped his hands and bowed. "I've stumbled into this place by accident. Might I trouble you for guidance?"

The ancient-attired woman studied him for a long while—so long that he began to fidget under her gaze. Finally, covering her mouth with a sleeve, she apologized, "Forgive me. It's just... I haven't seen another person in so very many years."

"So... many years?" Her words sent a chill down his spine.

"I don't even know how long it's been," she admitted with a self-deprecating smile. "There's no cycle of sun and moon here—no way to mark the time."

The Doctor sighed in sympathy. His history knowledge was poor; otherwise, he might have identified her dynasty just from her clothing.

"This is the Shadow Prison, later renamed the Shadow Pagoda. Those judged guilty are imprisoned here," she stated plainly, resuming her sewing on the robe spread across the table.

"Guilty?" the Doctor repeated softly. To him, the charming young woman before him seemed nothing like a wicked criminal.

"Just don't come in, that's all," she replied, dropping the subject. Her excitement at having company after so long was palpable. Bending over the robe, she quickly stitched the final few threads and held it up for him to see. "Perfect timing—what do you think of this robe? I tapered the waist a bit..."

The Doctor had no eye for historical fashion distinctions and could only offer clumsy compliments about its color, stitching, and patterns. His limited vocabulary and stiff delivery made him cringe inwardly, but the woman showed no disdain for his amateur opinions. Enthusiastically, she pulled out several more robes to showcase.It was only then that the Doctor noticed a wall of cabinets behind the ancient-attired woman, filled with brand-new robes, all in shades of green—from willow green, bamboo blue, and scallion green to cyan, emerald, and raven black...

The Doctor also observed that these robes were elegantly simple and understated, with few patterns or designs. Where present, they were subtle motifs or discreetly placed at the collar or hem, hardly noticeable. So... these must be men’s clothing, right? Who was the lucky one to have such a lovely lady making clothes for him!

The Doctor adjusted his glasses, feeling as though a few images had flashed through his mind. It seemed that in his memory, there was someone who favored wearing green robes.

No, that was a scene from ancient times—how could he have such a memory? Could it be an impression left by some movie or TV drama?

Shaking off his doubts, the Doctor sincerely engaged in conversation with the ancient-attired woman. Seeing her cheerful and lost in a blissful smile while holding the robes, he couldn’t help but ask with a smile, "Are these robes sewn for your beloved, sister?"

At his words, the ancient-attired woman blushed deeply, waving her hands repeatedly in embarrassment. Too flustered to speak, her delicate face flushed crimson, and the red mole between her eyebrows seemed to glow vividly... so vividly...

The Doctor suddenly froze, for the red mole between the ancient-attired woman’s eyebrows had begun to bleed!

The woman also sensed liquid trickling down her forehead and instinctively reached up to touch it, her fingers coming away stained with blood. She quickly tilted her head back to stop the bleeding, all the while carefully holding the robes farther away, afraid they might be soiled by the drops.

"How did this happen? Sit down quickly!" The young man who had been outside the shrine was now standing before her. Gently taking the robes from her hands, he guided her to sit down.

The ancient-attired woman stared at him blankly, her lips parting as if to say something, but no words came out.

The Doctor, completely unaware of her strange and conflicted gaze, reacted instinctively as a medical professional at the sight of blood. Without a second thought, he stepped into the room and picked up a scallion-green long cloth strip from the table—likely intended for a belt—and, after a few cuts with scissors, used it as a bandage.

Up close, the Doctor realized that what appeared to be a mole on the ancient-attired woman’s forehead was actually a wound, likely pierced by a sharp object, leaving a bleeding hole. Lacking medical tools or supplies, he could only stop the bleeding and wrap the long cloth strip around her head as a simple bandage.

The scallion-green cloth strip rested on her forehead like a head ornament, accentuating the paleness of her skin. Her expression was dazed, but as the Doctor tidied the robes on the table, it turned resolute. She sighed softly and said, "I’ve wronged you."

The Doctor looked at her, baffled, as she gracefully rose and walked to the shrine’s entrance in a few steps.

"The rule of the Shadow Pagoda is that if someone is willing to take another’s place, that person can be freed from it." Unable to bear turning back, fearing she might lose the resolve to leave, the ancient-attired woman spoke while stepping out of the shrine, her feet touching the stone bricks of the corridor.Hearing this, the doctor recalled the woman's earlier conflicted expression and instantly understood. He glanced down at the bloodstains on his hands and smiled bitterly. "So now I'm the one trapped here, is that it?" He couldn't blame her—the guardian arhat at the shrine's entrance had vanished because of him, and she had warned him from the beginning not to enter.

"I... was once used as a substitute too," the ancient-garbed woman murmured, her delicate frame trembling at the memory. That person from her past hadn't spared her even in death. And why was that sinner only confined to the first layer of the Shadow Prison? They had attempted to usurp the Qin dynasty's legacy—their crimes deserved far worse!

The doctor fell silent, utterly at a loss for how to handle such a situation.

"Don't worry. There's something I must verify—I'll return shortly, I promise." Suppressing her fear, the woman took a deep breath, her sleeves fluttering as she vanished into the corridor's darkness.

The doctor stared blankly at the empty passage before settling cross-legged before the low table, propping his chin on his hand. Since he was waiting for the Boss to rescue him anyway, did it matter whether he waited inside the shrine or outside? Besides, the shrine had lighting and seating—far preferable to the dark, icy corridor! He cheered himself up with the thought. Having barely slept the previous night, drowsiness soon washed over him, his eyelids growing heavy.

He could only hope the woman he'd released was truly kind-hearted and not merely acting...

【Three】

"Wake up..."

The doctor was roused by someone tapping his head—he'd been on the verge of tasting freshly steamed fish head with chopped peppers! Blinking awake to see the Boss's handsome face wearing an amused smirk, he clicked his tongue in regret, vowing to order takeout of that very dish later.

The Boss couldn't help an exasperated laugh. He'd given up the chance to explore the Shadow Prison's deepest level to rush back for this fool, fearing he'd been tricked... and what did he find? The guy had indeed been inside the shrine—sleeping soundly, no less!

Should he have expected anything else?

Rubbing his temples, the Boss asked wearily, "Alright, who talked you into coming in here?"

"Oh, I walked in on my own," the doctor defended himself before recounting the earlier events. He added, "That young lady seemed to have been sewing clothes the whole time she was trapped here—this entire cabinet behind me is filled with her work!"

"Clothes?" The Boss looked up, eyebrows raised as he studied the cabinet.

Noticing his doubtful tone, the doctor turned—only to find the cabinet now stuffed entirely with dried withered grass instead of the elegant robes he'd seen earlier.

"This..." Rubbing his eyes, the doctor began wondering if he'd been dreaming since first encountering the woman in ancient attire.

The Boss approached the cabinet, running a hand over it. "These should be Straw Effigies."

"Straw Effigies? What are those?" The doctor hurriedly stood, realizing the cabinet itself was molded from clay."'The Tao Te Ching states: ''Heaven and Earth are ruthless, and treat the myriad creatures as straw dogs.'' The term 'straw dogs' here refers to a type of Straw Effigy.'" The Boss gazed at the withered grass on the cabinet, which had dried to the point of crumbling at the slightest touch. "'The Book of Rites says: ''Clay chariots and straw effigies have existed since ancient times, embodying the principle of burial objects.'' Here, 'clay chariots and straw effigies' refer to earthen chariots and figurines woven from straw—both funerary items that can be considered precursors to the Terracotta Army of the Qin dynasty.'" The Boss's voice grew somber.

Doctor adjusted his glasses, deciding to treat everything the Boss said as mere storytelling. The young woman he had just encountered and the cabinet full of robes must have been part of a dream. But even in dreams, there was a strange logic—like that "substitution" concept... He glanced around and teased the Boss, "Speaking of which, isn't the rule here 'one for one'? Since you've entered, does that mean I can leave?"

The melancholy that had begun to gather around the Boss dissipated with Doctor's remark. He turned to Doctor and nodded, "Oh? You're right. Then you should hurry and leave first."

"Uh..." Doctor had meant it as a joke, but the Boss's earnest expression made him hesitate. "Well... since I caused this mess by releasing that young woman, and she promised to return, I'll wait here for her."

After hearing this, the Boss fell silent for a long while.

Doctor grew uneasy under his gaze. Hadn't this person claimed they didn't know each other? Why was he looking at him with such complexity?

The Boss let out a long sigh.

Doctor detected a hint of disappointment in it, as if the Boss were lamenting his naivety. Just as he was about to defend himself, he saw the Boss turn and walk out of the shrine.

"..." Doctor stared at the Boss's retreating figure, lips parting as if to speak, but no words came. After all, he had just declared he would stay and wait for the young woman. But what if... she had lied and never intended to return?

Doctor watched helplessly as the Boss stepped out of the shrine, much like the ancient-clad woman who had left him earlier.

Before any bitterness could well up in his heart, the Boss turned back, urging him with exasperation, "Hurry up. Do you plan to spend your entire life here? There aren't even any xiaolongbao for sale."

"Eh? How did you know I love xiaolongbao?" Doctor was startled. "I also know your favorite are the ones made by Old Zhang at the street corner." The Boss beckoned to him. "Come on, I'll treat you to xiaolongbao when we get back."

Doctor instinctively followed, stepping out of the shrine without any hindrance.

"Ah! I really made it out! That young woman was lying after all!" Doctor widened his eyes, exclaiming in frustration.

"Yes, you're so easily fooled... How can I not worry?" the Boss murmured under his breath with a sigh. "Hmm? What did you just say?"

"Nothing."

The Boss raised his hand, illuminating the corridor with the Chuiji Pearl between his fingers, guiding Doctor outward.

After all, Doctor was now equivalent to the key to the Shadow Pagoda—how could a key be locked in a cage? Thus, Doctor moved through this place completely unimpeded.However, perhaps he had been mistaken from the very beginning—he should never have come to Yingfan Tower. Every cursed antique sealed within this place, if released, would lead to uncontrollable chaos, a fate far more dreadful than losing a mere game of chess. Perhaps this was exactly what that person wished to see.

As for the woman who had been accidentally set free—she was merely a Straw Effigy skilled at sewing clothes, and she had been confined to the first floor of Yingfan Tower. It was unlikely she could stir up any significant trouble. Moreover, if she hadn't lied to the Doctor, she must be an innocent soul, imprisoned here as a substitute to endure suffering. If she could seize this chance to escape, it might well be a serendipitous turn in her fate.

A woman who sews clothes... The Boss recalled a graceful figure from his distant memories and allowed a faint smile to touch his lips. Women who love sewing must be kind-hearted, just like her...

(End of Chapter)