The Forbidden City was shrouded in a thin layer of morning mist, like a celestial palace floating above the earthly realm. The first rays of dawn pierced the veil, casting a golden light on the red walls and gray tiles. The wide imperial pathway lay silent and serene, its stone slabs glistening with dew, as if each one whispered stories of past glories.

High above the towering palace gate, an ancient plaque hung solemnly, bearing the weight of centuries. Scattered visitors strolled quietly, their hushed conversations barely breaking the solemn stillness. As Noah gazed up at the ornate, layered eaves, he couldn’t help but marvel at the grandeur of this cultural treasure.

“It’s hard to believe this place was once home to emperors,” Noah murmured, awe evident in his voice.

Li Lian, consulting the map, responded thoughtfully:

“This wasn’t just their home. It was the center of power. Every structure here carries symbolic meaning. They say there are hidden tunnels under this palace—some still undiscovered.”

Xiaolong followed closely behind them, his nose occasionally sniffing the ground or the air. His ears stood alert, attuned to every shift in the atmosphere.

Guided by the treasure map, Noah and Li Lian made their way to the depths of the Imperial Garden behind the Palace of Heavenly Purity. The winding paths were lined with ancient cypress trees, their twisted branches casting deep shadows over weathered stone sculptures. Li Lian glanced between the map and their surroundings, murmuring softly:

“This is the marked location... but there’s no obvious entrance.”

Noah scanned the area until his eyes settled on an intricately carved stone stele, partially hidden by dense shrubs. Its surface was cracked and covered in moss, yet the bottom corner faintly revealed the Kan trigram symbol.

“Xiaolong, check that out,” Noah whispered, pointing at the stele.

Xiaolong trotted over, sniffed the base of the stone, and pawed at the ground as if sensing something unusual.

“This stele might be the key,” Noah observed, climbing a small mound beside it to clear away the overgrown foliage. At the base, he uncovered a thin seam between the stone and the ground, nearly invisible to the naked eye.

“There could be a hidden mechanism here,” Li Lian said as she crouched to inspect the seam. Brushing away the moss, she uncovered tiny engraved symbols.

Noah examined the map again and noticed a series of intersecting lines near the stele’s location. “These lines might represent the garden’s layout. Maybe there are conditions we need to meet to unlock it,” he speculated.

After a thorough search, they discovered three small stone pillars standing near the stele. Each pillar was engraved with symbols that echoed the Kan trigram. Noah tried pushing one of the pillars, but it remained firmly in place.

“These pillars must serve a purpose,” Li Lian said, thoughtfully running her fingers over the carvings. “Perhaps there’s a specific way to activate them.”

Noah noticed shallow grooves at the top of each pillar, shaped as if designed to hold certain objects. From his backpack, he retrieved several small stone fragments they had collected earlier. He placed one in a groove, but nothing happened.

“Maybe they need to be inserted in a specific order,” Li Lian suggested.

Together, they carefully compared the stele’s symbols with the lines on the map. After multiple attempts, they finally arranged the fragments correctly. The pillars rumbled softly as the grooves lit up with a dim glow.

“I think we did it!” Li Lian exclaimed.

At that moment, the base of the stele slid open, revealing a staircase descending into darkness. A cold, damp breeze wafted up from the depths, carrying a sense of ancient mystery.

“We found the way in,” Noah said, relief and anticipation mingling in his expression.

The underground chamber was vast, with a domed ceiling painted in flowing water patterns. The walls were etched with intricate diagrams of ancient water channels. At the center stood a stone platform engraved with the Kan trigram. Four large stone gates, each adorned with unique symbols, silently guarded the chamber’s corners.

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Li Lian pointed to an inscription on the platform.

“‘Guide the water, and wisdom will emerge.’ It seems we need to direct the water correctly to trigger the mechanism.”

Noah examined the gates, each bearing a different trigram. He attempted to turn one gate, causing water to shift directions within the channels. As he adjusted the gate, the flow altered in other sections as well.

“It’s like a chain reaction puzzle,” he mused, his brow furrowing in concentration. Despite the challenge, a spark of excitement lit his eyes.

Li Lian quickly took notes, mapping the effects of each adjustment. Xiaolong lay quietly beside the platform, his sharp gaze monitoring the chamber for any signs of danger.

After countless trials and errors, they finally unlocked the correct sequence. Water flowed smoothly to the center of the platform, illuminating the Kan trigram in a gentle blue glow.

The platform rumbled deeply as a polished fragment rose from its core, radiating a soft, serene light—embodying the wisdom and power of water.

“We did it!” Li Lian cheered, her voice echoing through the chamber.

Noah carefully placed the fragment in his backpack. Xiaolong pranced around the platform, his tail wagging like a propeller.

Suddenly, heavy footsteps echoed down the staircase. A chilling voice broke the silence:

“Well done, kids.”

Noah and Li Lian spun around to see a group of men in black entering the chamber. Their cold, steely eyes locked onto them. At the forefront stood a tall, menacing figure with a cruel smirk.

“So, you managed to collect quite a few pieces,” the man sneered. “The last guy who failed to catch you was pathetic. But now, I’ll finish what he couldn’t.”

Noah instinctively tightened his grip on the backpack and whispered to Li Lian,

“Be ready to run.”

“Hand over the pieces,” the man ordered, signaling his men to surround them.

Li Lian attempted to stall for time. “Who are you? Why are you after these artifacts?”

“You don’t need to know,” the man replied coldly, removing his gloves with deliberate slowness, as if savoring the moment of control.

Noah grabbed a loose stone slab and hurled it at one of the attackers, striking his shoulder with a resounding thud.

“Run!” he shouted, distracting their pursuers.

Li Lian clutched the backpack tightly and dashed toward the chamber's entrance. However, two black-clad men immediately blocked her path. One of them lunged for her arm, but Li Lian swiftly dodged, her reflexes sharp. She gritted her teeth and kicked the man hard in the knee. He stumbled back, grimacing in pain.

“Let’s see how tough you really are!” Li Lian snarled, her face filled with defiance.

Meanwhile, Noah was fending off two more attackers. He swung a piece of wood like a club, striking one man in the ribs. The attacker groaned and staggered, but his partner quickly closed the distance, yanking the makeshift weapon out of Noah’s hands. With a smirk, he shoved Noah to the ground.

Xiaolong barked furiously, launching himself at the attacker with all his strength. His sharp teeth sank into the man’s sleeve, yanking him backward. The man cried out, trying to shake Xiaolong off, but the determined corgi wouldn’t let go.

“Good boy, Xiaolong!” Noah encouraged as he scrambled to his feet.

Suddenly, another attacker grabbed Xiaolong by the scruff and flung him into a nearby pillar. Xiaolong let out a pained yelp as he hit the ground, causing Noah’s heart to sink in fear and rage.

“Don’t you dare hurt him!” Noah roared, charging forward. He tackled the man who had hurt Xiaolong, punching wildly. The man barely managed to block a few strikes before falling backward.

“Restrain them!” the tall leader barked, his voice sharp and commanding.

The black-clad men regrouped, overpowering both Noah and Li Lian. Noah struggled fiercely, but his arms were quickly tied behind his back. Li Lian kicked and twisted, but two men held her down, binding her hands with rope.

Xiaolong, still dizzy from the impact, wobbled to his feet and growled weakly. He tried to rush to Noah’s side, but another man caught him with a net, trapping him. The little dog barked furiously, thrashing against the net, but it was no use.

The tall leader walked over with a smug expression. He knelt beside Noah, grabbing his chin roughly.

“You’re persistent, I’ll give you that,” he said with a cold grin. “But in the end, you’re just a kid playing a game you don’t understand.”

Noah glared at him, defiance burning in his eyes. “You’ll never win. We’ll stop you, no matter what.”

The leader chuckled darkly. “Oh, I admire your spirit. Too bad it won’t matter. Soon, everything you’ve fought for will be mine.” He stood up and turned to his men. “Secure the fragments and get them in the truck. We’re moving out.”

The attackers quickly gathered the fragments from Noah’s and Li Lian’s backpacks, placing them in a secure metal case. The leader inspected each piece carefully, nodding with satisfaction.

“Finally, the treasure is almost complete,” he murmured. His gaze then fell on an ancient map tucked inside the backpack. He unfolded it, studying the details with growing interest.

“Mount Tai... That’s where the final piece is hidden,” he muttered, a sinister gleam in his eyes. He snapped the map shut and barked another command. “Bring the kids and the dog. We might still need them to unlock the last gate.”

Noah and Li Lian were shoved roughly into the back of a truck, their hands still bound. Xiaolong was tossed into a metal cage, his growls muffled by exhaustion.

As the truck roared to life and sped away from the Forbidden City, Noah stared out through the narrow slits in the truck’s door. The ancient palace grew smaller and smaller in the distance, its golden rooftops glowing in the fading light of sunset.

Noah clenched his fists tightly, fury and determination surging through him. They had come too far to lose now. He vowed silently to find a way to stop these thieves and reclaim the fragments. Their journey wasn’t over yet—and the battle ahead, on Mount Tai, would be their greatest challenge.