Morning at the Tengwang Pavilion in Nanchang was breathtaking. The breeze from the Gan River rippled gently, the water shimmering under the golden sunlight. The ancient building stood tall and proud, its red columns and green-glazed tiles glowing in the morning light, as if sharing stories from centuries past.

Noah stood in front of the pavilion, holding his treasure map. His eyes darted between the marked location on the map and the magnificent structure before him. He whispered to his corgi, Xiaolong, “This must be the place for the Li Trigram. The Tengwang Pavilion—it symbolizes fire and light. We’re close to a clue.”

Xiaolong sniffed the ground carefully, his amber eyes full of excitement and focus, and his short tail wagged slightly.

“It looks like we’re on the right track,” Noah said, patting Xiaolong’s head gently.

Suddenly, a deep, calm voice called out from behind him. “Are you searching for something?”

Noah spun around quickly. A middle-aged man stood a few steps away. He wore a neat, traditional suit and had an air of sophistication. His faint smile seemed friendly, but his sharp eyes suggested something hidden.

“Who are you?” Noah asked cautiously, pulling the treasure map closer to his chest.

“My name is Zhao Yi,” the man replied with a polite bow. “I’m a researcher of cultural relics. I couldn’t help but notice the map in your hands. It looks like you’re interested in the secrets of the Tengwang Pavilion, just like me. Perhaps I can assist you.”

Zhao Yi’s calm tone carried a certain charm that made Noah lower his guard slightly. After a moment of hesitation, Noah asked, “How do you know what this map means?”

Zhao Yi chuckled softly and pointed toward the pavilion. “The Tengwang Pavilion is full of mysteries. Legend has it that ancient mechanisms and hidden passageways lie beneath its foundation. I’ve studied these stories for years, but I’ve never seen a map like yours. Perhaps we can work together to uncover the truth.”

Noah remained cautious, but Xiaolong let out a low growl, clearly wary of the man.

Zhao Yi raised his hands in a gesture of peace. “I mean no harm, young man. I’m simply a scholar hoping to unlock history’s secrets. Your map may be the key to something extraordinary.”

With some reluctance, Noah nodded. “Alright, but we must be careful. This map is very important.”

“Of course,” Zhao Yi said with a smile, though a flicker of something unreadable crossed his eyes.

Zhao Yi led Noah and Xiaolong into the Tengwang Pavilion. They passed through halls filled with curious visitors and arrived at a quieter corner. Ancient landscape paintings hung on the walls, their intricate details catching Noah’s attention.

“Look at this painting,” Zhao Yi said, pointing to one of the works. “The arrangement of the rocks here looks similar to the symbols on your map.”

Noah leaned closer, studying the painting. One of the rocks bore the symbol of the Li Trigram, and a red mark in the painting matched a spot marked on his treasure map.

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“This must be the entrance,” Noah said, his voice brimming with excitement.

Zhao Yi nodded. “Exactly. But now we need to find the matching spot in the pavilion itself.”

With Xiaolong’s keen nose leading the way, they began their search around the pavilion’s base. Xiaolong suddenly stopped at a corner, barking softly.

Noah rushed over and saw the edge of a brick, engraved with the symbol of the Li Trigram. “Here it is!” he exclaimed.

Zhao Yi inspected the brick carefully. “It seems to be part of an ancient mechanism.”

Noah followed the clues on the map, pressing the brick in different ways, but it wouldn’t budge. Frowning, he examined it more closely and noticed faint arrow marks etched around its edges.

“These arrows... they must show us how to move it,” Noah muttered.

He shifted his grip and pressed the brick in the direction of the arrows. With a faint “click,” the brick sank into the wall. A low rumble followed, and slowly, a hidden stone door revealed itself.

The door was decorated with intricate patterns of fire and light, glowing faintly in the dim corridor beyond.

“We did it!” Noah said, his face lighting up with a smile.

“Indeed,” Zhao Yi replied, though his gaze lingered on the map in Noah’s hands.

Noah and Xiaolong entered the secret passage, with Zhao Yi following behind. The narrow hallway was lined with ancient carvings depicting the construction of the Tengwang Pavilion. The faint scent of earth and stone filled the air.

“This is incredible,” Noah murmured, shining his flashlight on the carvings. Many showed scenes of people offering fire to a mysterious symbol.

“It seems fire rituals were part of protecting the secrets here,” Zhao Yi said. His voice carried a hint of admiration, but also something colder.

As they reached the end of the corridor, a heavy bronze door stood before them, engraved with the symbol of the Li Trigram.

“This must be it!” Noah exclaimed, stepping forward eagerly to examine the door.

But before he could touch it, Zhao Yi suddenly stepped back, clapping his hands slowly. His warm tone had turned icy.

“Well done, young man. You’ve completed your task.”

Noah froze, spinning around to face Zhao Yi. “What do you mean?”

The man’s calm demeanor vanished, replaced by a smirk. “Did you really think I’m just a researcher? You were nothing more than my key to opening this door.”

At that moment, several black-clad men appeared, emerging silently from the shadows. They held weapons, encircling Noah and Xiaolong.

“No!” Noah shouted, his fists clenching as he tried to shield Xiaolong.

Moments later, Zhao Yi skillfully unlocked the mechanism, and a fragment of the Li Trigram emerged from within. He held the glowing piece in his hand and smirked.

“Thank you for making this so easy,” Zhao Yi said coldly. “But your journey ends here.”

He motioned for the black-clad men to restrain Noah and Xiaolong, then turned and disappeared into the shadows with the fragment.

The stone door groaned shut, trapping Noah and Xiaolong inside. The air was heavy, the space lit only by the faint glow of Noah’s flashlight.

“We can’t stay here,” Noah muttered, scanning the room for any way out. His eyes fell on a section of the wall where a brick seemed slightly loose.

Rushing over, he pushed against it with all his might, but it didn’t move. He dug into his backpack, pulling out a small folding knife. Carefully, he wedged it into the crack, prying the brick loose bit by bit.

After what felt like an eternity, the brick came free, revealing a small vent just big enough for a child and a dog to crawl through.

“Xiaolong, you go first,” Noah said, gesturing toward the vent.

Xiaolong crawled in without hesitation, his tail wagging encouragingly. Noah followed, squeezing through the narrow passage, the cold stone brushing against his arms and legs.

At the end of the vent, Xiaolong barked excitedly, pawing at a rusty grate. Together, they pushed it open, and sunlight spilled into the passage.

With one final effort, Noah and Xiaolong tumbled out onto soft grass. They had emerged in a quiet grove behind the Tengwang Pavilion.

Breathing deeply, Noah stood up, brushing dirt from his clothes. He looked down at Xiaolong, who wagged his tail as if to say, “What’s next?”

“We’ll stop them,” Noah said firmly, unfolding his map. “They may have the Li Trigram, but we’ll make sure they don’t get another one.”

With the pavilion behind them, Noah and Xiaolong headed off into the distance, ready for the challenges ahead.