Chapter 176 The Darkness of the Middle Ages
Soon, during a time-travel training mission, Shen Jingqi and Li Baiyu were swept into a medieval town by a force. When they opened their eyes, a scene of desolation and ruin unfolded before them. On both sides of the street, houses had collapsed, and the endless desolation revealed itself among the crumbling walls. The people were in rags, their faces gaunt and emaciated, with eyes full of despair and helplessness. The air was filled with a stench of decay and death, making it almost impossible to breathe.
Shen Jingqi furrowed his brow, looking at everything around him, filled with sympathy and compassion. He whispered to Li Baiyu, "The people here are so pitiful."
They began to ask around and investigate, trying to uncover the secret behind this town. In a dilapidated tavern, they met an elderly man. The old man's face was full of wrinkles, and his eyes revealed endless vicissitudes. With trembling hands, he recounted the tragic fate of this town to them.
"It's all caused by that evil Lord," the old man said in a low voice, full of fear and anger, "He exploits and oppresses people to satisfy his own desires, plunging this town into endless darkness and chaos."
Shen Jingqi and Li Baiyu exchanged glances, both feeling a strong premonition. They decided to infiltrate the Lord's castle to expose his crimes and save the people of this town.
As night fell, they cautiously approached the castle. The castle towered into the clouds, with walls thick and strong, like an impregnable fortress. Guards patrolled, scanning the surroundings with vigilant eyes. Shen Jingqi and Li Baiyu hid behind a big tree, watching the activities of the castle.
"Let's find an opportunity to sneak in," Shen Jingqi said softly, his eyes gleaming with determination.
Li Baiyu nodded. They waited until the moment the guards changed shifts, quickly approaching the castle's wall. Shen Jingqi, agile and swift, climbed up with ease using the protrusions on the wall. Li Baiyu, not to be outdone, followed closely behind, and they soon climbed over the wall.
They passed through dark corridors and rooms, carefully avoiding the patrolling guards. The castle's interior was eerie and terrifying, with flickering candlelight casting long shadows. Their heartbeats sounded particularly loud in the silent castle, as if they could be discovered by the guards at any moment.
Finally, they reached the Lord's secret chamber. The door to the chamber was tightly closed, surrounded by numerous traps and mechanisms. Shen Jingqi carefully observed the chamber door lock, taking out a slender wire to try picking the lock. Li Baiyu stood by, vigilantly watching the surroundings, ready to respond to any potential danger.
After some effort, Shen Jingqi finally managed to pick the lock of the secret chamber door. They pushed the door open gently and walked in. The chamber was filled with gold, silver, and precious artifacts, glittering with tempting brilliance. However, Shen Jingqi and Li Baiyu were not seduced by these riches; their attention quickly focused on the Lord sitting in the center of the chamber.
The Lord was dressed in luxurious clothing, his face cunning and sinister. He was talking to a mysterious man in black, both wearing strange smiles. Shen Jingqi and Li Baiyu hid in the shadows, listening to their conversation and gradually understanding the truth of the situation.
"How is our plan proceeding?" the Lord asked softly, his voice filled with greed and anticipation.
The man in black laughed coldly, his voice hoarse and low: "Everything is under control. As long as we follow this plan, the future's course will be completely changed by us."
Shen Jingqi and Li Baiyu were startled, realizing that this man in black was an evil scientist from the future. He was trying to manipulate history to alter the future's course, and the tragic fate of this town was just part of his plan.
They rushed out, shouting loudly, "Stop! Your crimes have been exposed!"
The Lord and the man in black were shocked, turning their heads to look at Shen Jingqi and Li Baiyu with sinister smiles on their faces.
"Hmph, just a couple of reckless fools," the Lord sneered, waving his hand to signal the guards to seize them.
However, Shen Jingqi and Li Baiyu showed no fear. They engaged in a fierce battle with the guards. Shen Jingqi, quick and agile, punched and kicked, defeating the guards handily. Li Baiyu, not to be outdone, wielded his dagger, aiming for the enemies' vital points.
The man in black saw this and scoffed coldly, drawing a laser gun from his coat. He aimed at Shen Jingqi and pulled the trigger. However, Shen Jingqi, with his keen intuition, dodged this fatal attack. He took the opportunity to rush forward, punching the man in black's abdomen. The man in black screamed in pain, dropping the laser gun to the ground.
Seeing this, the Lord roared angrily, brandishing his treasure sword, and lunged at Shen Jingqi. Shen Jingqi calmly and swiftly dodged the Lord's attack. Then, he counterattacked, punching the Lord in the face. The Lord screamed in pain, falling to the ground.
After a fierce battle, Shen Jingqi and Li Baiyu finally defeated the Lord and the man in black. They were panting, looking at their fallen enemies, filled with exhaustion and contentment.
When the battle ended, the castle was in chaos. The flickering candlelight reflected the mess and scars on the ground.
However, when they prepared to leave, they found that the mysterious man in black had left a strange smile and a mysterious symbol. The symbol was drawn on the castle wall, with a peculiar shape, seemingly containing some profound meaning.
"Let's leave here quickly and return to study this symbol," Shen Jingqi said in a low voice, his tone filled with urgency.
They carefully walked through the castle's corridors and rooms, avoiding potential dangers. Finally, they successfully escaped the castle and returned to the small town.
The people in the town, seeing their return, gathered around them. Their eyes shone with hope and gratitude, as if looking at saviors. Shen Jingqi and Li Baiyu smiled at them.
However, that mysterious symbol seemed to be a puzzle. They didn't know the secrets and dangers lurking behind this symbol.
As night fell again, the people in the town had already fallen asleep peacefully. Shen Jingqi and Li Baiyu sat by the campfire, staring at the mysterious symbol.
"We must uncover the secret of this symbol," Shen Jingqi said softly.
The campfire flickered in the night wind, illuminating their determined faces.
The next second, they were far from the campfire, having returned to the Time Administration Bureau.