69- Riddles
As Liu Peng and Siyi entered a large chamber, they were taken aback by the sight of a hooded figure seated at the far end. The figure had a mysterious aura around him, and his face was obscured by the hood. He beckoned for them to come closer, and his voice was deep and commanding.
"Settle down, I've been waiting for you," the figure said, his voice echoing across the chamber.
Siyi and Liu Peng exchanged a nervous glance, unsure of what to expect from this stranger. They cautiously approached the figure, their senses on high alert, ready for any sign of danger.
As they drew closer, they could see that the figure was holding a small orb, which glowed with an eerie blue light. Siyi could feel a strange energy emanating from the orb, and she knew that it held great mystery.
The figure gestured for them to sit, and they obliged, their eyes never leaving the mysterious stranger. As they settled in, they noticed that the room was filled with strange artifacts and symbols, each one hinting at a deeper mystery.
Siyi couldn't shake off the feeling of foreboding, and she whispered to Liu Peng, "We need to be careful. Something doesn't feel right."
Liu Peng nodded in agreement, and they both remained on guard, ready to defend themselves if needed. The figure continued to speak, his voice calm and measured, as if he had all the time in the world.
"As you can see, I have been waiting for anyone for some time. We have much to discuss, but we must wait for the others to arrive," the hooded figure said, his eyes glinting with an otherworldly gleam.
Siyi and Liu Peng exchanged another glance, unsure of what to make of this. They knew that they were in the presence of someone strange; they had no idea what his intentions were.
Abruptly, the hooded figure stood up from his chair.
"The game is about to begin,"
Liu Peng and Siyi exchanged worried looks, unsure of what was to come.
Suddenly, nine figures appeared, hanging from the ceiling, most of them injured and barely conscious. Liu Peng and Siyi gasped in shock as they recognized their fellow travelers who had taken a different path. Elder Hanying was among them, barely clinging to her life.
Liu Peng rushed forward to try and rescue them, but he was stopped by an invisible wall that separated the hooded figure from them. Siyi and the others stood frozen, unsure of what to do next.
The hooded figure spoke again, his voice low and menacing. "Welcome to the game," he said. "As you can see, I have gathered all of the players together. You are all here to entertain me."
Siyi's heart raced as she looked at the injured and helpless figures hanging from the ceiling. "What game?" she demanded. "What are you talking about?"
The hooded figure smiled, but his eyes remained cold and distant. "You will soon find out," he said. "For now, prepare for the challenges ahead. You are all in for a long night. I will explain everything."
Liu Peng glared at the hooded figure, but he knew they were no match for him. "What do you want from us?" he demanded.
The hooded figure shrugged. "Nothing," he said. "Except for your cooperation. Follow the rules, and you might just survive."
Siyi and the others exchanged worried glances, knowing that they were in a fight for their lives. They settled down, their minds racing as they tried to figure out what was to come next.
The hooded figure's voice echoed throughout the room, "As I said before, you all have been selected to play. The rules are simple. I will give you a riddle. Answer it correctly, and the game ends. All of you will be free, and you will gain access to this orb that I am holding. This is the core of the trap formation. But, if you answer incorrectly, one of the people hanging from the ceiling must die."
Liu Peng's eyes widened in disbelief, "What kind of twisted game is this?" he murmured.
One of the Xiao disciples spoke up, "We won't participate in your game. You can't make us play!" The hooded figure simply lifted a hand, and the student's head was immediately severed by an unseen force.
Liu Peng and Siyi gasped in horror, and the remaining disciples backed away in fear.
The hooded figure spoke again, "I'm sorry, but you shouldn't interrupt people when they are speaking, it's rude,"
"What if we don't give an answer," Siyi carefully asked.
The hooded figure chuckled, "You don't have a choice, my dear. But don't worry, it's a simple game. You have two chances to answer the riddle. If you don't give me an answer within 10 minutes, one of them will die."
The hooded figure's voice was cold and emotionless, sending shivers down the students' spines.
The hooded figure's voice boomed through the chamber, like the voice that comes from the depths of hell. He revealed a massive scythe he held, which only added to the terror of the situation.
"The game begins now," he declared, his tone chilling. "The first question: In ancient lands where dragons roam, I am revered in every home. I bring good fortune and great luck. But when I break, it all runs amok. What am I?"
One of the students spoke up, "A jade amulet. It was believed to have protective and lucky properties. If a jade amulet was to break, it was believed to have lost its protective powers."
The other students breathed a sigh of relief, thinking they had the right answer. But the hooded figure's next words shattered their hope.
"That is incorrect," he said. With a swift motion, he swung his scythe, cleaving one of the hostages in half.
Panic spread among the remaining hostages and Siyi and Liu Peng's group. They were in the grip of a madman who seemed to enjoy taking lives.
"Please, there must be another answer!" Liu Peng pleaded.
The hooded figure merely laughed. "You have one more chance. You have ten minutes to give me an answer, or another one dies."
Siyi's mind raced, trying to come up with another answer. The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife, and the fear was palpable. They knew that another mistake would mean the loss of another life.
Another disciple speak, saying that the answer is a vase, which was also considered an important symbol of good fortune in culture. "Breaking a vase was believed to bring misfortune and bad luck," he added confidently.
The hooded figure will pause for a moment, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Interesting choice. You're a smart one, aren't you?" he said with a hint of admiration in his voice. "But unfortunately, it's wrong." The group let out a collective sigh, their hope quickly fading.
They watched in horror as another person whom they are acquainted with was severed. The hooded man is like a messenger of death.
"The answer is- a mirror," the hooded man said with conviction. "It's often considered a powerful symbol and believed to bring good luck when placed in the home. Breaking a mirror was thought to bring seven years of bad luck."
Siyi was growing increasingly suspicious. She couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. All three answers given by her peers could potentially be right, but each time the hooded man deemed them wrong, and another life was taken. She could feel the tension in the room, a palpable fear that was almost suffocating.
As the hooded figure announced the next question, Siyi couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. She racked her brain, trying to come up with the right answer.
"I am the ruler of the land, but I am held in every hand. I bring order to the chaos, and protect against all foes. What am I?" the hooded figure spoke.
The room fell silent as the students pondered the question. Each passing moment felt like an eternity as the hooded figure stood there, scythe in hand, waiting for an answer.
With just minutes to spare, Liu Peng mustered up the courage to answer, "A sword! It's a symbol of power and authority and can be held in the hand for protection."
But the hooded figure shook his head, disappointment etched on his face. "No, I'm afraid that's not the right answer," he said, his voice chilling to the bone. Another one suffered a horrible death.
Another disciple spoke up, "A seal! It's used as a stamp to indicate official approval or authority. It can be held in the hand and represents order and authority."
But the hooded figure just laughed, his laughter echoing through the chamber. "Wrong again," he said, and with a quick swipe of his scythe, another hostage was lost.
Siyi could feel her heart racing, the tension in the room palpable. She knew that every passing moment brought them closer to death, and they needed to find the answer soon.
"Come on, think!" Siyi muttered to herself, her mind racing. "What am I missing?"
The hooded figure will let out a deep chuckle before announcing that the correct answer was indeed a book. Siyi and the rest of the disciples looked at each other, somewhat surprised that the answer was that simple.
"But of course," the hooded figure continued. "A book contains knowledge and wisdom, the very things that bring order to the chaos of the world. And yet, so many fail to see its value."
The disciples remained silent, unsure of what to say next. The hooded figure, still shrouded in mystery, then announced the third riddle.
"I am a creature of myth and lore, Often depicted as wise and more. My appearance can be fierce and grand, But I am gentle in guiding your hand. What am I?"
One of the Xiao clan's disciples started to speak up, but Siyi interrupted.
"Wait," Siyi said. "There is no right answer that we will give. There are always three possible answers to your questions, and the one that we don't mention is the right one."
The hooded figure remained silent for a moment, its face obscured by the hood.
They waited for eternity, suddenly, a sudden burst of maniacal laughter filled the room. It was chilling, piercing, and seemed to come from all around them. Siyi and the disciples looked around in terror, the laughter sees to come from all corners.
"Very well," the hooded figure finally said. "That is the right answer."
Suddenly, the hooded figure began to dissipate into nothingness, as if it had never been there at all. Siyi and the others were left standing in the now-empty chamber, still trembling with fear. The only thing that left of it was the orb he was holding.