The warm sunlight danced on the rippling waters of West Lake, creating shimmering golden patterns. A soft breeze whispered across the lake, carrying with it the scent of nature. Leifeng Pagoda stood tall by the shore, majestic and ancient, as though guarding secrets hidden in the mists of time.

Noah and Xiaolong stopped to admire it, their gazes drawn to the towering structure.

“This pagoda... it’s not just any building,” Noah muttered, his eyes narrowing in thought. “The Xun trigram represents wind. I bet there’s a clue hidden here.”

A sudden breeze rustled through the trees. Xiaolong’s ears perked up, and he sniffed the air, as if sensing something unusual.

“Hello there!” A young man in a light gray jacket approached, smiling warmly. “Welcome to Leifeng Pagoda. I’m Li Hao, your guide today. Let me share with you some of the stories and history of this ancient place.”

Noah and Xiaolong exchanged a quick glance. Noah nodded, and they quietly joined the tour group.

Li Hao began his tale: “Long ago, the White Snake Lady fell in love with a man named Xu Xian. Their love was pure and true, but it broke heavenly rules. The monk Fahai trapped the White Snake beneath this very pagoda to keep them apart forever.”

Noah listened intently, the Xun trigram symbol from the treasure map flashing in his mind. He whispered to himself, “The Xun clue must be somewhere inside this pagoda.”

As Li Hao continued his story, Noah and Xiaolong slipped away from the group and sneaked into the pagoda’s quiet interior.

On the second floor, Noah paused. He carefully studied the treasure map and looked around. The walls were decorated with small windmill-like designs, but they all faced in random directions.

“Could these windmills be hiding the answer?” Noah wondered aloud.

He moved to the spot marked on the map and gently turned one of the windmills. A soft breeze stirred, and the light on the walls began to shift. Slowly, the moving light pointed to a specific stone slab on the floor.

“Got it!” Noah whispered excitedly. He crouched down and saw the Xun trigram symbol engraved along the edge of the slab. There was also a small button nearby.

Pressing the button, Noah heard a deep “click.” The stone slab slid aside, revealing a secret entrance leading underground.

“Come on, Xiaolong. Let’s check it out.”

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The narrow passageway echoed with faint gusts of wind. Xiaolong wagged his tail and eagerly followed Noah into the hidden chamber below.

Inside, the walls were carved with the ancient Xun trigram symbol (☴). Moss and vines clung to the stone, giving it an eerie, magical feel.

At the center of the room was a stone platform covered in symbols of wind. Surrounding it were several old wind-powered mechanisms, still intact despite their age.

“I need to direct the wind to these grooves... maybe that will activate the platform,” Noah mused, studying the intricate patterns.

He began pushing the main wind lever, while Xiaolong darted around, searching for other hidden switches. The clever corgi jumped up and pressed a small button with his paw, activating an auxiliary wind system. Together, they redirected the wind, guiding it into the carved grooves on the platform.

When the final groove lit up, the platform began to glow, and a shimmering piece of the ancient treasure rose from its center.

“We did it!” Noah whispered in awe, reaching for the glowing fragment.

But just as his fingers brushed the treasure, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the chamber.

“Not so fast! That belongs to us!”

A group of men dressed in black stormed into the room. Their leader barked orders: “Destroy the wind mechanisms! Don’t let them take the treasure!”

The black-clad men smashed the wind devices, causing the wind to stop. The glowing light dimmed, and the treasure began sinking back into the platform.

Noah’s heart raced. He quickly gestured to Xiaolong: “Distract them!”

Xiaolong barked and darted around the chamber, nipping at the intruders and dodging their attempts to grab him. Meanwhile, Noah picked up a rock and hurled it at the leader’s hand, knocking away his gun.

“You little brat! You’ll pay for that!” the leader growled, charging at Noah with his fists.

Noah dodged and grabbed a fallen stick to defend himself. The fight was fierce, but the man’s strength overwhelmed Noah, forcing him into a corner.

“Xiaolong, now!” Noah shouted.

Xiaolong leaped at the leader, biting his arm and holding on tight.

“Get that dog off me!” the leader screamed.

Amid the chaos, Noah spotted a backup wind mechanism in the corner. He sprinted toward it, but two men moved to block his path.

“Stop him!” one of them yelled, raising a knife.

Noah dodged the blade and used a heavy stone to knock it out of the man’s hand. He then turned and kneed the second man in the stomach, sending him stumbling backward.

With the path clear, Noah reached the wind mechanism and activated it. The grooves on the platform glowed brightly once more, and the treasure fragment reappeared.

“No! This can’t be happening!” the leader roared, watching helplessly as the chamber began to shake.

Large stones fell from the ceiling, forcing the black-clad men to retreat. “This isn’t over! You’ll regret this!” the leader shouted as he fled.

Noah grabbed the treasure fragment and signaled Xiaolong: “Let’s get out of here!”

The two dashed out of the chamber just as it collapsed behind them. Outside, the sunlight felt warm and safe. Noah held the fragment close, whispering, “We did it, Xiaolong. The Xun treasure is ours.”

Xiaolong wagged his tail, nudging Noah’s hand affectionately.

“Next stop: Nanchang,” Noah said, his face set with determination. “Kane won’t stop chasing us. We’ll need to be ready.”

The breeze over West Lake seemed to cheer them on, urging them to continue their journey.