C9 Chapter 9

“What? The artifact was stolen?” Shi Dian and Chen Rui stared at Professor Feng in shock, unable to make sense of it.

Half an hour earlier, Professor Feng had called and pulled Shi Dian and Chen Rui out of class to the excavation site, where he broke the news.

“Yeah. Come with me—you’ll understand once you see it,” Professor Feng said, clearly anxious, though his voice stayed steady.

Shi Dian and Chen Rui followed him down a temporary staircase into the ruins. After several days of digging, the site had mostly been uncovered: an ancient temple. As he led the way, the professor explained what they were seeing.

The spider-monster relief they’d found earlier was actually part of the temple floor. Six stone pillars stood around the perimeter, and if you followed the central path, it led to a small stone chamber. The moment Shi Dian stepped inside, he spotted an altar.

“When we excavated this chamber, it was in perfect condition. No one had been in here,” Professor Feng said, standing beside the altar. “And on this altar, there was an artifact. This is the first time I’ve ever found something in a site like this that you could honestly call a treasure, so I was thrilled. But I never expected that after just one night, it would be gone.”

“What did it look like?” Shi Dian asked, eyeing the now-empty altar with growing curiosity.

“It looked like an eye. Here—come take a look. This is a drawing of it,” Professor Feng said, walking to a wall beside the altar and pointing to a specific spot.

Shi Dian and Chen Rui hurried over. Where the professor pointed, a stylized eye seemed to stare back at them, surrounded by radiating lines—like it was shining.

“The drawing’s probably simplified,” Professor Feng added, “but it was likely some kind of jewelry—maybe a bracelet.”

“Jewelry? Who would treat that like some priceless treasure?” Chen Rui sounded skeptical.

“Maybe it has some kind of special purpose,” Shi Dian guessed.

“Exactly—and that’s what makes it so strange. We have to get it back. It could be the key to uncovering the secrets behind those ancient monsters,” Professor Feng said, practically vibrating with excitement.

“But shouldn’t we be going to the police?” Chen Rui finally got to the point.

“I’ve thought about it,” Professor Feng sighed, “but whoever stole it might just be in it for the money. If the police start investigating, there’s a good chance they’ll panic and skip town with it. Then it’ll vanish for good, and we’ll never see it again. That’s why I’m asking you to look for it quietly. For now, I’m not going to let anyone know it’s missing.”

Professor Feng’s reasoning made sense. Shi Dian agreed right away. Deep down, he had a feeling this “treasure” was more important than it sounded.

But on the way back, Chen Rui asked, confused, “Why did you agree so fast? We’re not cops. How are we supposed to find it?”

“Heh. That’s not something an ordinary person should be messing with,” Shi Dian said, his eyes sharpening. A powerful presence surged out of him.

“Shi Dian… you…” Chen Rui hesitated, lifting a hand like he wanted to pat his shoulder, but he didn’t dare. The pressure in the air made it hard to breathe.

“Hm? What is it, Chen Rui?” Shi Dian turned back, looking at him like usual. The feeling vanished in an instant.

“Oh—no, it’s nothing,” Chen Rui mumbled, thinking maybe he’d imagined it. Wasn’t that only supposed to happen when they were in danger?

Sure enough, Professor Feng kept his word. Over the next few days, there wasn’t a whisper about the stolen item—not even Chen Xin, who usually knew everything, had heard a thing.

“Shi Dian, let’s go to evening study hall together tonight,” Chen Rui suddenly suggested.

“Huh, what’s next—pigs flying?” Shidian couldn’t hide his surprise. Chen Rui usually hated reading, let alone staying for evening study hall.

“Hey, don’t be so blunt. I’m a straight-A, well-rounded student, you know!” Chen Rui bragged without missing a beat.

So after dinner, the two of them headed to the same classroom building where they normally had class. Shidian figured they’d just grab an empty room on the first floor, but Chen Rui practically dragged him up to the third.

“What are we doing on the third floor?” Shidian asked, confused.

Chen Rui just held a finger to his lips. Then he quietly slipped to the back door of a classroom, leaned in to peek inside, and his face lit up with excitement.