Morning in Chengdu was peaceful and beautiful. A light mist covered the city like a soft veil. The rippling surface of the Jin River reflected the early sunlight, creating a scene that looked like a moving landscape painting. The sun shone gently on the red walls and gray roofs of Wuhou Shrine, giving it a warm yet solemn atmosphere, as if silently telling stories of the legendary heroes from the Three Kingdoms era.

Noah and Xiaolong had just stepped off the plane when they saw a middle-aged man waving to them. It was Professor Li, Noah’s grandma her friend in China.

“Welcome to Chengdu,” Professor Li greeted warmly, though his eyes carried a hint of apology. “I'm afraid I’ve been too busy with work lately, so I won’t be able to go with you to Wuhou Shrine. But don’t worry—my granddaughter, Li Lian, will be your guide. She knows everything about this place!”

From behind the professor, a girl with twin ponytails popped her head out and smiled brightly.

“Hi! I’m Li Lian! Nice to meet you!” she said cheerfully.

Noah smiled back and extended his hand. “Hi, Li Lian! I’m Noah, and this is my partner, Xiaolong.”

Xiaolong gave a friendly bark and wagged his tail as he trotted over to Li Lian.

“Wow, Xiaolong is so cute!” Li Lian exclaimed, crouching down to pet his head, her face lighting up with joy.

“He’s very smart too,” Noah said proudly. “Let’s go on an adventure together!”

As they drove to the shrine, Li Lian pulled out a notebook, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

“Wuhou Shrine isn’t just a historical site,” she explained. “There’s an ancient secret hidden here. According to my grandpa’s notes, we have to find and activate four stone tablets to unlock the mystery.”

“Where are these stone tablets?” Noah asked curiously.

Li Lian pointed to several marked spots in her notebook. “They’re scattered around the shrine, and finding them won’t be easy. But I know we can do it!”

Xiaolong listened attentively from the car window, his ears perked up and tail wagging, as if he understood every word.

When they arrived at Wuhou Shrine, ancient cypress trees stood tall and proud. The winding stone paths stretched deep into the heart of the historic site. The air was filled with the faint scent of aged wood, and the entire place radiated an air of timeless mystery.

Suddenly, Xiaolong stopped at a secluded side courtyard. He sniffed the ground intently and then barked, pawing at a patch of moss-covered stone.

Noah crouched down and gently brushed away the moss, revealing a carved character on the stone: “Loyalty.”

“This is the first tablet!” Noah exclaimed excitedly.

He pressed a hidden button on the tablet, and a faint vibration spread through the air, as if the shrine itself were awakening.

Following the notes in Li Lian’s notebook, they continued their search. Guided by Xiaolong’s sharp nose and Li Lian’s knowledge, they found the second, third, and fourth stone tablets one by one.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

The second tablet was buried beneath the roots of a thousand-year-old cypress tree and had the word “Wisdom” engraved on it. The third was hidden under the foundation of an ancient pavilion, bearing the word “Benevolence.” The fourth tablet was near an old well, with the word “Courage” carved into its surface.

Each time they activated a tablet, a deep vibration echoed through the ground, accompanied by the distant sound of ancient mechanisms coming to life.

When they pressed the final button, a deep rumble filled the air. The ground beneath them trembled, and a hidden door slowly rose from the earth, revealing a spiral stone staircase leading downward.

Noah, Li Lian, and Xiaolong exchanged nervous but excited glances. Together, they descended into the chamber.

At the center of the chamber was a still stone pool with crystal-clear water. Floating on the surface were eight stone lotus flowers. Around the pool, beautifully carved stone walls shimmered faintly with golden inscriptions.

Li Lian opened her notebook and pointed to the positions of the stone lotuses.

“Look, these eight lotuses correspond to the eight symbols of the Dui Trigram. We need to fill each lotus with water in the correct order. If we mess up, the mechanism will reset,” she explained. “My grandpa’s notes say this puzzle is meant to test patience and teamwork.”

Noah nodded, carefully studying the arrangement of the lotuses. He grabbed a water ladle and climbed up the stone platform, pouring water into each lotus while Li Lian guided him from below.

As he filled the first few lotuses, they began to glow softly. However, when they reached the third lotus, Li Lian accidentally gave the wrong instruction.

“Quick, pour the water!” she shouted.

Noah did as she said, but the lotus only flickered briefly before going dark. Moments later, the first two lotuses also dimmed and reset.

“I’m so sorry! It’s all my fault,” Li Lian said, her voice trembling with guilt.

Noah gave her a reassuring smile. “It’s okay. Everyone makes mistakes. We’ve learned the pattern, so we can try again.”

Li Lian wiped the tears from her eyes and nodded firmly.

After a short break, they tried again, this time more carefully. One by one, the lotuses bloomed, their soft glow illuminating the chamber.

“Seventh lotus… ready!” Li Lian said, her excitement barely contained.

But just as they prepared to fill the last lotus, the chamber door burst open. A group of men in black stormed in, their footsteps echoing ominously.

The leader of the group, a tall man with a cruel sneer, scanned the room. His gaze lingered on the blooming lotuses and then on Noah’s backpack.

“You’ve caused us enough trouble,” he said coldly. “This time, you won’t escape.”

Noah quickly stepped in front of Li Lian, his expression hardening. “You’re talking about the guy your team lost last time, right? The one the police caught?”

The leader chuckled darkly. “That fool couldn’t handle a couple of kids. Pathetic. But don’t worry—I won’t make the same mistake.”

With a snap of his fingers, the black-clad men surrounded the stone platform. One charged at Noah with a knife, while two others tried to grab Li Lian’s notebook.

Noah dodged the blade and used the ladle to knock the knife out of the attacker’s hand. He tripped the man, sending him crashing into the stone platform. Meanwhile, Xiaolong darted between the attackers, biting one man’s leg and dragging him to the ground.

The leader smirked and raised a steel whip. “Stop now, or I’ll destroy everything,” he threatened, pointing the whip at the glowing lotuses.

Noah glared at him. “If you destroy the lotuses, you’ll never get the fragment!”

The leader sneered. “We’ll see about that.”

He swung the whip, striking the platform.

“Xiaolong, distract him!” Noah signaled silently.

Xiaolong rushed forward, weaving between the attackers and causing chaos. Taking advantage of the confusion, Li Lian filled the final lotus.

The pool began to glow brightly as a stone platform rose from the center, revealing the Dui Trigram fragment.

Noah grabbed the fragment and shouted, “Let’s go!” He pulled Li Lian toward the exit, with Xiaolong close behind.

As they emerged from the chamber, the warm glow of the setting sun bathed Wuhou Shrine in golden light. Noah held the fragment tightly, his face beaming with relief and pride.

“We did it! Teamwork really pays off,” he said with a grin.

Xiaolong barked happily, wagging his tail as he circled around them in excitement.

Night fell, and the shrine returned to peaceful silence. Noah, Li Lian, and Xiaolong disappeared into the distance, ready for the next adventure awaiting them.