After being reborn, all I want to do is run away.

Chapter 513 The Eye of the Web Weaver

Bai Lu glanced at the star map and frowned.

All she could see was a star map above the Xingchuan region, and the fact that only the ship's walls had windows while the dome was closed was not in line with the habits of an astronomer.

For a true astrologer, being unable to see the stars is tantamount to cutting off one's own arm.

Therefore, there must be a secret room here, which Ji Ling Shuang obviously does not know.

Moreover, this is not her place. If she really finds the secret room, it is also a question whether Ji Ling Shuang will allow her to enter.

But since they'd already come all this way, it would be a huge loss to leave empty-handed. Besides, given Ji Ling Shuang's attitude, she'd most likely let them in.

Thinking of this, Bai Lu sat down on the soft chair in front of her desk, closed her eyes slightly, and activated her Star Awareness.

She sensed numerous star marks remaining in the study, but the most concentrated area...

Bai Lu opened her eyes and looked at an area under the desk that was slightly less worn than the surrounding floor.

She crouched down and pressed her finger on a specific, barely perceptible engraved star map on the bottom of the desk. The star map consisted of forty-nine tiny raised dots that seemed to form a special pattern.

"The Eye of the Web Weaver!"

Bai Lu immediately recalled the eye pattern from the inheritance.

"Miss, what's wrong?"

Guan Bi noticed Bai Lu's unusual behavior, and Ji Ling Shuang also looked over.

Bai Lu stood up and walked towards Ji Ling Shuang, "I may have discovered a secret room left behind by a senior. I wonder if Miss Ji would be willing to let me open it."

"A secret room!" Ji Ling Shuang was startled.

"Why didn't our ancestors tell me this?"

"Because only an astrologer can open that secret chamber, and Miss Ji, you seem to know nothing about astronomy."

"A astrologer? That means I have absolutely no chance of opening the ancestor's secret chamber without Miss Bai." Ji Ling Shuang's heart stirred.

"That's pretty much it."

“Then I’m willing to let Miss Bai open the secret room. I also want to know what my grandmother left behind.”

"Miss Ji, please rest assured, I only wish to borrow the observatory left by my senior. If I could find the blueprints for Guiyunfang, that would be even better. As for other items, I will not take them."

I hope Miss Ji can trust me.

“Miss Bai, you flatter me. Since I agreed to let you open the secret room, it means I trust you. As for the things left by our ancestors, you can take them if you find them useful.”

I remembered that my ancestors did teach me to observe the stars when I was a child, but I really don't have that talent. Rather than letting what my ancestors left behind gather dust in Guiyun Pavilion, I might as well give it to Miss Bai so that it can be put to greater use.

I think our ancestors would be pleased with this.

“We don’t know what else is inside yet, let’s go in and take a look first,” Guan Bi suggested.

“That’s true!” Ji Ling Shuang smiled.

Having received Ji Ling Shuang's affirmative answer, Bai Lu returned to her desk. Following a specific order, she traced the raised dots with her fingertips, while simultaneously infusing them with a trace of pure soul power and star power.

Once the correct "Star Power Key" was entered, the slightly worn floorboards beneath the desk silently sank about an inch, then smoothly slid to the side, revealing a downward-extending staircase entrance that could only accommodate one person at a time.

A faint, water-like barrier of starlight flowed along the edge of the entrance, blocking out the escaping air and sounds below.

When the entrance opened, the light in the study dimmed subtly for a moment, as if a sliver of its brilliance had been absorbed by the entrance.

The three women exchanged shocked glances. Guan Bi stopped Bai Lu, who wanted to go in first, and walked in with a tense expression.

Then Bai Lu and Ji Ling Shuang also entered the secret room.

……

Although night has not yet fully enveloped Hundred Flowers City, its prosperity is already beginning to emerge.

Shen Xu and Shang Xueyi walked on the street leading to Jinxiu Avenue.

A gentle breeze blows, and countless petals break free from the branches and vines, fluttering lightly in the air.

Various colored petals kept drifting down to them.

The petals of various colors seemed to have a life of their own, swirling in the air, weaving together into flowing, colorful veils, and converging into a rain of flowers that blanketed the sky.

They drifted past ornately decorated pavilions, skimmed across shimmering waters, and passed through bustling crowds.

Finally, it gently landed on the bluestone pavement, the glazed tile roof, the shoulders of pedestrians, and even floated on the flowing river.

The rain of petals, reflecting the golden-red sunset, cast a dreamlike and enchanting halo, enveloping the city's buildings, bridges, and pedestrians.

The already dim sunlight filtered through layers of flower shadows, casting dappled, swaying light spots on the ground, walls, and water.

Shang Xueyi reached out and caught a pink petal that had fallen in front of her. She said with some emotion, "Beautiful things are always fleeting, like this rain of flowers before us. Even if we see it again tomorrow, it probably won't be as beautiful as it is today."

"Fallen petals are not heartless things; they turn into spring mud to protect the flowers."

Tomorrow's shower of flowers may not be as beautiful as today's, but next year's will surely be even more magnificent.

Shang Xueyi looked at Shen Xu with some surprise, "I realize that my understanding of you is still quite shallow."

"Just parroting what others have said!"

"Is this how you usually interact with Xiao Yi at Tianjian Mountain?"

Shen Xu shook his head. "I rarely have the chance to be alone with Xiao Yi at Tianjian Mountain, let alone stroll around with you like this."

"As far as I know, you seem to live together, but even so, you don't have any time alone together?"

Shen Xu looked at the witch beside him, whose appearance had been altered. Even within the Sword Alliance, not many people knew that he lived with Li Xiaoyi and Bai Lu.

Li Xiaoyi probably won't bring this up on her own initiative, which suggests that the Blood Fiend Palace likely has an inside agent within the Sword Alliance, and one who holds a high position.

"I don't like to go out in Tianjian Mountain. I spend most of my time cultivating in the ancient forest, while Xiao Yi and the others usually have a lot of things to take care of."

It's more accurate to say we're neighbors than living together.

"Your neighbor has feelings for you, doesn't he?" Shang Xueyi sneered.

Shen Xu shook his head with a wry smile. "We won't be neighbors anymore. Because of what happened earlier, Bai Lu has already kicked me out of the Ancient Forest."

Moreover, if I'm not mistaken, you probably won't let me return to the Sword Alliance this time.

"Oh? How do you know?" Shang Xueyi asked with interest.

“You said last time that you would take me to the Blood Fiend Palace, and now you have the strength to do so, whether here or in the Blood Fiend Palace.”

Shang Xueyi smiled brightly, "You guessed right. The most important reason why I went against all odds to come to the Four Directions Sword Alliance again this time is to take you with me."

I thought it would take a lot of effort, but I didn't expect you to come to my side on your own initiative.