The elderly eunuch stepped forward, his presence commanding quiet attention. His sharp gaze swept across the gathered individuals before he spoke.
"Welcome, fixers," he announced, his voice carrying an air of practiced authority. "Thank you for coming here to solve the problem troubling the Queen's Palace."
Shi Yao's mind buzzed with questions. Fixers? Solve the problem? What is he talking about?
Without offering further explanation, the eunuch beckoned to a maid, who approached with a silver tray. Upon it lay some ornate keys, each intricately carved, their designs different yet strangely unified.
"Take a key," the eunuch instructed. "Your assigned abode awaits you. Rest well—you will have much to do come morning."
Obediently, the group stepped forward one by one, taking their keys. Shi Yao examined his carefully— felt almost… familiar. A pattern he had seen before, yet couldn't quite place.
Once the keys were distributed, the eunuch gestured toward the right side of the hall, opposite to the side he had entered from.
"Your rooms are prepared. Proceed there."
Without hesitation, the group moved, following the silent command. Shi Yao kept pace, his mind racing with theories—was this like the last time? Or something deeper?
As they walked in, a row of perfectly aligned rooms came into view. The architecture mirrored the grandeur of the palace, each chamber seemingly untouched by time.
Shi Yao counted them in his head—fifteen rooms. Exactly as many people as there were.
One by one, the fixers entered their rooms, even Li Yuan, who carried a stoic air of unquestioning acceptance.
The dreamer guy from earlier hesitated at first, but Li Yuan's authoritative presence must have influenced him—he wordlessly followed suit, disappearing into his chamber.
Shi Yao stepped into his assigned room, exhaling as he took in the space. It was ornate but eerily quiet, the silence stretching far beyond the walls.
Then—a bell rang, its chime distant yet sharp.
Within moments, the candles flickered. Then went out.
Darkness consumed the room.
Shi Yao sat at the desk, fingers tracing the surface as he attempted to piece together the puzzle—the incident, the box, and the shifting reality surrounding him.
Then—something shifted.
The walls trembled, the windows moved on their own, sliding with slow, deliberate motion. One window creaked open, its edges glowing unnaturally—a bright, golden light flickered outside, pulsating as though it had a mind of its own.
Shi Yao's breath hitched. The light wasn't just flickering—it was trying to enter.
His body tensed—what was happening?
Before he could react—
Thud.
The window slammed shut.
Shi Yao turned sharply—Li Yuan stood there; hands pressed against the frame.
When did he enter?
Li Yuan shot him a sharp look.
"Stop zoning out and help me."
Shi Yao snapped back into action, scanning the room. His eyes landed on a large wooden cabinet, and without hesitation, he pushed it toward the window, aiding Li Yuan in reinforcing the barrier.
Both of them collapsed onto the floor, breathless, their chests rising and falling with exertion. The lingering tension of the moment settled around them, the weight of what had just happened pressing down like an unseen force.