"We finally made it out." Shen Jingqi said softly, his voice carrying a barely detectable tremor, uncertain if it was due to relaxation after tension or lingering fears from their recent ordeal.

Li Baiyu nodded vigorously, her lips curling into a radiant smile: "Yes, this journey was tough, but we made it through." Her voice was clear and melodious, like a silver bell echoing in the air, dispersing the surrounding gloom.

They stood quietly outside the castle, neither speaking for a moment. Their gazes instinctively turned towards the castle they had just escaped, the tall walls casting a long shadow in the sunset, resembling a dormant giant beast, ready to swallow them once more. The castle's gate lay half-open, exuding an aura of mystery and danger, as if whispering the countless secrets hidden within.

Recalling the experiences inside the castle, waves of unease still rippled through Shen Jingqi's heart. The endless corridors felt like they stretched on forever, each step echoing heavily in the silent space, like a countdown to death. Flickering torches on the walls distorted their shadows into grotesque forms, like demons ready to pounce and tear them apart. Then there were the sudden traps, where a single misstep could lead to utter ruin. They had once been trapped in a room covered in spikes, the walls relentlessly pressing inward, the sharp spikes glinting coldly, as if mocking their insignificance and helplessness. At that critical moment, Shen Jingqi used his wit and agility to discover a small mechanism on the wall. Pressing it firmly, the walls gradually ceased moving, allowing them to escape death.

Meanwhile, Li Baiyu displayed extraordinary courage and composure in the face of danger. When they were attacked by a group of mysterious guards, those guards moved with agility, their weapons sharp and deadly. Li Baiyu, wielding a long sword, moved gracefully among the guards, her sword maneuvers flickering like meteors across the night sky, each strike precisely hitting the enemies' vital points. Her eyes focused and determined, showing no fear or hesitation, as if the enemies before her were merely small challenges on her path to growth.

"How many secrets do you think are still hidden within that castle?" Shen Jingqi suddenly broke the silence, his gaze still fixed on the castle, as if trying to see through the thick walls and unveil all that lay within.

Li Baiyu slightly furrowed her brows, contemplating briefly before speaking: "I think there must be more dangers and mysteries we haven't discovered inside. Like the ancient book we found—maybe it's just the tip of the iceberg."

Mentioning the ancient book, Shen Jingqi's eyes flashed with solemnity. It was discovered in a secret chamber at the castle's deepest point, where a peculiar glow lingered, the book silently resting on a stone platform surrounded by mystical runes. As they approached, the runes suddenly flickered, emitting a deep buzzing sound, as if warning them not to touch it lightly. Yet compelled by a thirst for knowledge and truth, Shen Jingqi summoned his courage and reached out to take the book. The moment he touched it, a powerful force surged through his body, nearly causing him to lose balance. Simultaneously, strange images flashed through his mind—ancient battlefields, mysterious rituals, and some blurred figures, like a distant and earth-shattering secret being told to him.

"What kind of power does this book hold? What impact will it have on us?" Shen Jingqi murmured, filled with doubt and concern.

Li Baiyu stepped beside him, gently patting his shoulder: "No matter what, we've brought it out. Since fate allowed us to obtain it, there must be a reason. Perhaps, this is the responsibility we are meant to carry."

Shen Jingqi looked up, seeing the firm gaze of Li Baiyu, his worries gradually dissipating. He took a deep breath, standing tall: "You're right, we cannot be defeated by fear of the unknown. Since we chose this path, we must bravely continue on."

At this moment, night began to quietly descend, the sky studded with stars like jewels set into the black tapestry, glinting with mysterious light. In the distance, several cries of night owls echoed, particularly poignant in the still night. Shen Jingqi and Li Baiyu exchanged a glance, seeing a hint of caution in each other's eyes. They knew, although they had left the castle, danger hadn't fully passed.

"We need to quickly find a safe place for the night." Shen Jingqi said, scanning the surroundings for a suitable hiding spot.

Li Baiyu nodded: "There's a patch of forest over there, let's check it out."

They proceeded cautiously towards the forest, each step taken with extra care to avoid alarming any lurking danger in the darkness. The forest exuded a humid air, the trees towering and dense, their branches intertwining, blocking much of the moonlight, making the forest appear especially dim. Navigating through the woods with faint starlight, suddenly, a rustling sound emerged from ahead, as if something was moving among the grass.

Shen Jingqi and Li Baiyu immediately stopped, exchanging a tense glance. Shen Jingqi tightened his grip on his weapon, whispering: "Be careful, it might be a wild beast."

Slowly, they approached the source of the sound, their heartbeats involuntarily quickening. When they finally saw the creature in the shrubs, they couldn't help but inhale sharply. It was a wolf of enormous size, its eyes gleaming with an eerie green light, like two ghostly flames, particularly terrifying in the darkness. Its mouth slightly open, revealing sharp teeth, saliva dripping from the corners as it growled in a low voice, seemingly warning them not to come closer.

"Move back!" Shen Jingqi whispered to Li Baiyu as he slowly retreated, trying to keep a distance from the wolf.

However, the wolf seemed uninterested in letting them go. It suddenly leapt forward, lunging toward Shen Jingqi. Shen Jingqi reacted swiftly, sidestepping the attack, simultaneously swinging his weapon at the wolf. But the wolf moved with agility, easily dodging his strike, then launched another assault. For a moment, human and wolf were locked in fierce combat.

Li Baiyu, watching anxiously from the side, knew she couldn't stand by. Seizing the moment, she charged at the wolf from the side, thrusting her sword into its hind leg. The wolf howled in pain, its body staggering slightly. Shen Jingqi seized the opportunity to strike again, this time his weapon landed squarely on the wolf's head, and the creature fell heavily to the ground, motionless.