Peach Blossoms in Chang'an

Chapter 144: A letter from the peach blossoms, a ray of hope

"Want to know? Then go to hell and ask!" The leader of the organization grinned, and dozens of men in black emerged from all directions like ghosts, surrounding Wu Tao and Hu Bugui. The flashing of swords and the shouting of killing were deafening. Wu Tao and Hu Bugui stood back to back, trying their best to resist, but they were outnumbered and were eventually captured.

In the cold and damp cell, only a faint light came in through the gaps in the iron bars. Wu Tao leaned against the wall weakly, the wounds on her body aching slightly. What made her even more desperate was that they had once again fallen into the clutches of the leader of the organization.

"It seems like we've really failed this time." Wu Tao said bitterly, his tone full of powerlessness.

"Don't be afraid, Tao'er. Even if you are in dire straits, I will protect you." Hu Bugui held her in his arms and whispered to comfort her. His embrace was warm and strong, which made Wu Tao feel at ease.

Wu Tao raised her head and looked into his determined eyes, a glimmer of hope ignited in her heart. She looked around, trying to find a way to escape. Suddenly, she found an inconspicuous vent above the cell wall, which was covered with a thick layer of dust and almost merged with the wall.

"Bugui, look!" Wu Tao pointed at the vent, a gleam of light in his eyes.

Hu Bugui followed her gaze and immediately understood what she meant. "You want to..."

"That's right, this is our only hope!" Wu Tao said in a low voice.

They carefully moved a stone, stepped on it, and opened the vent with great effort. With the weak light, they found that the vent was connected to a narrow passage.

"I'll go up and take a look at the situation first, you wait here." Hu Bugui said.

"No, I'll go with you!" Wu Tao insisted, "Two people are always better than one."

Hu Bugui couldn't persuade her, so he had to agree. They crawled into the ventilation duct one after another, and crawled forward along the narrow passage. The passage was filled with a musty smell, making it difficult to breathe, but they didn't care about that, they just wanted to escape from here as soon as possible.

After an unknown amount of time, they finally reached the end of the passage. An iron door appeared in front of them, with a faint light coming through the crack.

Hu Bugui gently pushed open the iron door, followed by Wu Tao. They found themselves in a spacious room. In the middle of the room was a huge laboratory table filled with all kinds of strange instruments and reagents. In one corner of the room, there were a lot of books and materials.

"What is this place?" Wu Tao asked in a low voice, his heart full of doubts.

"It looks like a laboratory..." Hu Bugui looked around and his eyes fell on a document on the laboratory table. He walked over, picked up the document and read it carefully.

"Research report on divine artifacts..." Hu Bugui whispered the title of the document, and his face suddenly became solemn. He continued to flip through the pages, and when he saw the content of one of the pages, his pupils suddenly contracted.

"Tao'er, look at this!" Hu Bugui pointed at a few lines of words on the document, with a hint of disbelief in his tone.

Wu Tao came forward and saw the following words written on the document:

"After repeated experiments, we finally discovered the fatal flaw of the artifact..."

Wu Tao took a closer look and his heartbeat suddenly accelerated. The words clearly read: "Although the artifact is extremely powerful, its energy source is an extremely rare mineral - the Star Spirit Stone. The Star Spirit Stone contains powerful energy, but it is also extremely unstable. Once it loses control, it will produce huge destructive power. The key to controlling the Star Spirit Stone lies in a special frequency..."

"Frequency?" Wu Tao muttered to herself, and suddenly a flash of inspiration came to her mind. She remembered that she had participated in a research project on sonic weapons in modern times. The research direction of that project was to use sound waves of a specific frequency to interfere with and destroy the target's electronic equipment.

"I understand!" Wu Tao said excitedly, "We can use specific frequencies to interfere with the energy of the Star Spirit Stone and control the artifact!"

Hu Bugui looked at her in surprise, "Tao'er, you are so smart! But how can we know the frequency of controlling the Star Spirit Stone?"

Wu Tao looked around and his eyes fell on an old computer in the corner of the room. The computer looked very old, but it seemed to be still working properly.

"Maybe we can find the answer from this computer!" Wu Tao walked quickly to the computer and turned on the power switch. The computer screen flickered a few times and slowly lit up.

"This computer is not connected to the Internet, and the system is very old..." Hu Bugui looked at the computer screen and frowned slightly.

Wu Tao ignored him and concentrated on operating the computer. With the rich computer knowledge she had accumulated in modern times, she quickly found a hidden folder in the computer.

"Found it!" Wu Tao opened the folder and saw a file called "Artifact Control Program" inside.

"Tao'er, you are so awesome!" Hu Bugui hugged her excitedly and kissed her on the cheek.

Wu Tao blushed slightly, but quickly focused on the task at hand. She opened the file and began to study the code. The code was complex and difficult to understand, but she was determined to crack it.

Time passed by minute by minute, Wu Tao was completely immersed in the world of code, forgetting the time and everything around her. Hu Bugui quietly waited beside her, afraid to disturb her.

Finally, after several hours of hard work, Wu Tao successfully cracked the code and found the key frequency to control the Star Spirit Stone.

"I succeeded!" Wu Tao raised his head excitedly, only to find that Hu Bugui was staring at him intently, his eyes full of tenderness and admiration.

"Tao'er, you're amazing." Hu Bugui whispered with a hint of doting in his tone.

A shy smile appeared on Wu Tao's face. At this moment, she suddenly noticed that there was an old combination lock in the corner of the room, locking a heavy metal box.

"What is that?" Wu Tao pointed at the combination lock and asked curiously.

Hu Bugui followed her gaze and said, "I don't know either. I didn't notice there was a box here before..."

Wu Tao walked forward and carefully examined the combination lock. This combination lock looked very old, covered with rust, but still very delicate.

"Let me try!" Wu Tao's heart moved, and suddenly a book about ancient combination locks that she had read in modern times emerged in her mind.

She stretched out her slender fingers and gently turned the dial on the combination lock. As the dial turned, a crisp sound of springs rang out... With a "click", the combination lock opened. Wu Tao was ecstatic. She gently opened the metal box and saw an ancient book and an exquisite wooden box inside.

"What is this?" Hu Bugui came forward curiously.

Wu Tao picked up the book and gently blew away the dust on it, only to see five big words written on the cover - "Star Spirit Secret Book".

"Star Spirit Secret Book?" Hu Bugui exclaimed, "Could it be..."

Wu Tao did not speak, but turned to the first page of the book. On it was written an ancient text: "The power of the star spirit is vast and boundless. If you get it, you can get the world. If you lose it, you will be doomed..."

Wu Tao and Hu Bugui looked at each other in surprise. They realized that this "Secret Book of Star Spirits" might be the key to controlling the artifact.

However, before they could study it carefully, the door of the laboratory was suddenly kicked open. A cold voice sounded at the door: "Do you think you can escape like this?"

Wu Tao and Hu Bugui's faces changed. They looked up and saw the leader of the organization standing at the door with a sinister smile on his face.

"How did you find this place?" Hu Bugui stood in front of Wu Tao and asked vigilantly.

"Humph, your every move is under my control." The leader of the organization sneered, "Now, if you obediently hand over the Star Spirit Secret Book, I can consider sparing your life."

"Don't even think about it!" Hu Bugui flatly refused.

"court death!"

The leader of the organization roared, and his figure flashed, rushing towards Hu Bugui like a ghost. Hu Bugui was prepared, dodged sideways, and punched back at the same time.

For a moment, the laboratory was filled with fistfights and howling winds. Wu Tao stood by anxiously, wanting to help, but not knowing where to start.

The leader of the organization was obviously stronger than Hu Bugui. After several rounds, Hu Bugui gradually fell into a disadvantage.

"Be careful!" Wu Tao exclaimed, only to see the leader of the organization hit Hu Bugui in the chest with a palm. Hu Bugui groaned and a trace of blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.

"Bugui!" Wu Tao rushed forward and supported Hu Bugui's shaky body.

"I'm fine..." Hu Bugui endured the pain and whispered, "Tao'er, go quickly..."

"Want to leave? Not that easy!" The leader of the organization approached again, murderous intent flashing in his eyes.

At this critical moment, a strange noise suddenly came from the ventilation duct of the laboratory.

"Who is it?!" The leader of the organization turned his head and looked towards the ventilation duct vigilantly.

The next moment, a black shadow jumped down from the ventilation duct and stood in front of Wu Tao and Hu Bugui.

"It's you?!" The leader of the organization's face suddenly changed when he saw who was coming.

The person who came was none other than Li Xiaoyao, whom Wu Tao had met once before in a restaurant.

"You go first, I'll stop him." Li Xiaoyao said without turning his head, his tone firm.

Wu Tao knew that now was not the time to hesitate, so she helped Hu Bugui up, turned around and ran.

"Want to leave? Dream on!" The leader of the organization roared and wanted to chase after him, but was entangled by Li Xiaoyao.

Wu Tao and Hu Bugui stumbled out of the laboratory and returned to the place where they were imprisoned.

"Cough cough..." Hu Bugui leaned against the wall, coughing violently, his face as pale as paper.

"Bugui, how are you?" Wu Tao asked anxiously, tears welling up in her eyes.

"I'm fine..." Hu Bugui forced a smile, "I just suffered some internal injuries, I just need to rest for a while..."

Wu Tao knew that he was comforting her, and she felt even worse. She helped Hu Bugui lie down, then found some water and food, and took good care of him.

At this moment, there was a sudden sound of chaotic footsteps outside the door, accompanied by several shouts: "Search for me, you must find them!"

Wu Tao and Hu Bugui's faces changed. They knew that the organization's people were chasing them...

 Peach Blossoms Shining Brightly in Chang'an Chapter 144 Peach Blossoms Bring Hope, Brightens the Sky

Wu Tao's heartbeat was getting faster and faster with the chaotic footsteps. She held Hu Bugui's hand tightly, as if this could give him strength. Hu Bugui held her hand in return, with a comforting smile on his pale face.

"Don't be afraid, Taoer." He said softly, his voice weak but firm.

At this moment, a familiar voice sounded outside the door, with a bit of anxiety and panic: "Found it! They are here!"

Wu Tao and Hu Bugui looked at each other, their eyes full of confusion. The voice sounded familiar, but they couldn't remember who it was.

The door was suddenly pushed open and a tall figure appeared at the door. The person was none other than Wu Tao, who had met once before at the palace banquet - the current imperial tutor, and also an undercover agent lurking in the mysterious organization.

"Master Taifu?" Wu Tao exclaimed in surprise.

The Grand Master winked at them, signaling them not to speak. He turned to the members of the organization who were chasing after him outside the door, and pretended to be angry and scolded them: "What are you doing? It's so rude to barge in like this! How can you be so disrespectful!"

"Master Grand Tutor, we..." The leading member of the organization seemed to be very afraid of the Grand Tutor, and his voice was a little weaker.

"Why don't you retreat!" The master shouted sternly, "You have nothing to do here!"

Those people looked at each other, and finally retreated reluctantly.

The Grand Tutor heaved a sigh of relief, turned around and closed the door, walked up to Wu Tao and Hu Bugui, and said in a low voice: "My Lord, Princess, I am late and have caused you to suffer."

Hu Bugui endured the pain and nodded slightly, but he was unable to speak.

"Master Taifu, why are you here?" Wu Tao asked puzzledly.

"It's a long story," the Grand Tutor sighed, "I have been lurking in the organization for many years, always looking for an opportunity to disintegrate them. This time when I learned that the prince and princess were captured, I took the opportunity to come and rescue them."

Wu Tao then realized that the Grand Tutor had been helping them secretly. She looked at the Grand Tutor with gratitude, and a glimmer of hope ignited in her heart.

"Master Taifu, you've come at the right time," Wu Tao quickly told the Taifu what had happened before and that they had discovered the weakness of the organization's leader.

After listening to this, the Grand Tutor pondered for a moment and said, "My Lord, Princess, in my opinion, the only way to deal with this situation now is to use wits, not force."

"What the Grand Tutor means is..." Hu Bugui asked with all his strength.

"We can use the leader's tactic against him," said Taifu, with a gleam in his eyes. "We can take advantage of the leader's eagerness to achieve success, pretend to surrender, get close to him, and then..."

The Grand Tutor did not say anything else, but Wu Tao and Hu Bugui both understood what he meant.

"Okay, let's do it!" A hint of determination flashed in Hu Bugui's eyes.

Although Wu Tao was worried, she also knew that this was the only way at the moment. She clenched her fists and prayed silently in her heart, hoping that their plan would succeed.

Time is running out, Wu Tao and Hu Bugui, with the help of the master, began to prepare their plan. Little did they know that what was waiting for them would be a more dangerous test...