Chapter 71: Gao Ning’s Letter

I took what Chengqing was holding in his hand and said, somewhat confused, “Maybe?”

I couldn’t help but be confused because the box in my hand was too exquisite. It had a diagram of the eight trigrams and some patterns unique to Taoism. It didn’t look like a letter at all.

Because I was so sad and had so many things weighing on my mind, I had forgotten about this matter. Chengqing had also forgotten about it. When I took it out again, everyone was curious and interested in this object, especially Chengxin, who looked at me like I was an idiot: “Chengyi, you say this is a letter? A clue? You definitely didn’t buy a fake antique at Panjiayuan, forget to take it, and then someone else brought it to you?”

Me: …

I wanted to say that I didn’t have the money to buy any antiques, but I didn’t say it because I suddenly remembered that this kid Huigen would be my responsibility in the future, and that I would have to consider supporting myself after leaving my master. At this time, I couldn’t mention that I didn’t have the money.

So, I ignored Chengxin’s teasing and just kept looking at the box over and over again. After looking at it for a while, I finally saw something. This box is not like a normal box. It is the kind that opens from the middle and has a connection at the edge.

It seems to be a box with a lid that completely covers the small box inside, so it looks very neat and tidy. It also has a lock, which is similar to the pattern on the bottom of the box.

I couldn’t be sure if it was a letter from Gao Ning, but who else would send me something with my address in Beijing? Anyway, I had no idea what it was, so I had to open it to find out.

Thinking of this, I pointed to the nine-square grid and said, “This is the lock. Let’s open it first.”

Don’t think that Taoists are a bunch of charlatans. In fact, Taoists are very proficient in mathematics, especially those who practice numerology and divination, because the process of calculation involves strict mathematical theory. In addition, Taoist formations and other things also imply the principles of mathematics, or should be called Sudoku.

The nine-square grid is also a kind of formation or the basis of formation. It is a structural plan that has existed in ancient China, and Confucian scholars also introduced it into calligraphy to develop it.

But my master once said that a small nine-square grid contains the ultimate truth of heaven and earth, and vaguely corresponds to a part of the way of heaven. When I was a child, I was also taught to play this nine-square grid game carefully.

My master said that this is the introduction to the formation, not just a game, and that I should take it seriously.

Others think that Taoist formations are just a bunch of scribbles, but perhaps it is the layman who is watching the show, while the insider is looking at the door. Who knows that Taoist formations are actually a serious matter. The scientific principles in the middle may not be able to be interpreted by modern science, but its existence can never be denied.

Just as you cannot deny the various rationalities contained in the nine-square grid, you will often be lost in it and exclaim that it is wonderful.

If this lock were an ancient mechanical lock, we might have a headache for a while. After all, the wisdom of the ancients is unfathomable, and their mechanical locks are even difficult for modern lock-picking masters to crack, let alone us.

But the nine-square grid? I picked up the box and started to study it, and Cheng Qingge was even more willing to say that it was up to me.

We had to unlock it honestly and not take any chances, because the addition of this lock meant that if we used force, there would be a small mechanism inside that would destroy the contents of the box.

After all, it is the familiar nine-square grid. With the efforts of Chengqing and I, we spent nearly an hour finally unlocking the lock.

With a crisp sound, the box was opened. I carefully lifted the lid and found that the lid was very thick, and the box inside was only a small part of the space. When I saw this part, I breathed a sigh of relief, because it was exactly the thick pages of paper that were inside.

Over there, Chengxin was curious and picked up the lid and bottom of the box to look at it again and again. He couldn’t see anything, so he patted it left and right, and the lid and bottom of the box actually started to burn.

Chengxin was scared and quickly threw it away, and I was also scared and had a cold sweat. If we had chosen to open the box violently, wouldn’t the letter in the box have been burned up?

Cheng Qing put out the fire with water. The box was already badly burned. He took a closer look and said, “There are traces of paraffin wax and white phosphorus sealed in the paraffin wax. This is a really elaborate mechanism. I’m curious about the letter in your hand. It seems that this careful and strict defense is to ensure that the letter will be in your hands, and it is calculated that we will solve the nine-square grid.”

I picked up the thick letter and after only a few glances, I said to Chengxin, “Chengxin, you’re done. This box was left behind by the master. It came into the hands of Grandma Gao Ning for a certain reason. The white phosphorus inside was put in by Gao Ning according to the mechanism in the box. It used to contain a highly corrosive liquid that was preserved in a special way.”

Chengxin looked up with a black line on his face and said, “You’re lying to me! Just go ahead and lie.”

I waved the letter in my hand and said, “It’s already written clearly in the letter. I don’t bother to deceive you.”

My words undoubtedly aroused the interest of everyone. After all, the mysterious and magical master was about to become our heartache. The letter mentioned the master at the beginning, which of course aroused the interest of everyone, and everyone gathered around.

I was not familiar with Gao Ning’s handwriting, but from the content of the letter, I knew at a glance that this was the letter Gao Ning had left for me.

Chen Chengyi:

When you read this letter, I’m afraid it will be the moment I die. Don’t worry about the box. It’s just a trinket. It’s actually your master’s. He used it to put a rebellious egg in it and gave it to my grandmother. No one else can open it because if they do, the corrosive poison in the box will destroy the egg. poison would destroy the egg. Only my grandmother, who knew how to open the box, could get the egg. I studied the box, so I put a little white phosphorus in the mechanism of the box. I had to do this because this letter contains a shocking secret. The best person to see it is you.

I think since it is a little trinket left by your master, you must have a way to open it, right? If you have read this text, it means that my judgment is correct.

I am arrogant and consider myself clever, and although I already know that my final outcome may be very different from my plan, I am sure that you will be able to read this letter.

I wrote this letter before I left, and for some reason, it ended up in your hands before I did. I had just gotten rid of it, so I set up a simple trap. In any case, it will be in the hands of many people for half a month after I leave, and it will probably be in your hands for more than a month before that.

I have calculated that, by this time, I will either be successful or dead. It doesn’t matter if the letter reaches you. Otherwise, I will withdraw this letter.

Well, my hunch tells me that the time for everything is in January of this year. After January, will I still be able to see the sun the next day? Who knows!

After reading this letter, everyone is a little surprised. They are surprised at Gao Ning’s wisdom, and that he has designed a letter that is so watertight, and has also left himself a way out, taking into account all aspects. How can one not be surprised?

I am the only one who is calm, because I am more familiar with Gao Ning than everyone else. I have seen his ability to plan ahead. He may be a genius, but perhaps it is because he is a genius that he will not be content with an ordinary fate, and that is why he has a madman’s pursuit.

The letter was long and told a story that shocked us. It also did not disappoint us. The letter did mention Kunlun and my master, thanking him for successfully connecting all the clues.

In the early spring of 1908, the whole country, except for a few southern regions, was still in the grip of a cold spell. Just like the weak motherland at that time, it was cold everywhere.

Although it was cold in early spring, it was always getting closer to spring.

Where was the news of spring in the motherland at that time?

The world was in chaos, and the lives of the people were in turmoil. In such troubled times, whose fate was not like a floating leaf?

But none of this had anything to do with the Black Rock Miao village. It was a village of the Miao people, far from the world, even far from the people. They lived in their own world, and only the village’s great shaman would occasionally make plans.

It was such an early spring morning, and on such an ordinary day in the early spring, a baby girl was born. She was Gao Ning’s grandmother, Buhua.