First Diary

"Tunnel? I read it too, how could I not make the connection?" Li Ming Hao was confused. He had spent almost two years to decode this small notebook. He even visited the place described in it, by chance. He still could not recognize the place described in the book?

"Probably because you don't really know the area?" Su Xin Yu surmised. It was quite possible. The diary had been written quite scientifically yet it was about hundred years old it seemed.

Obviously, hundred years ago, there was no school here. The current school, that was built about seventy years ago, occupied a large area. There were few scattered buildings here and there in this area before the big modern building came into being and everything was merged into that one big building.

The entrance to that tunnel, which existed almost two floors below was part of an underground temple of the prince who had established the kingdom here. In its glory, it had a circular tunnel which opened to the platform area that Li Ming Hao had seen that day at its center.

The actual shape of the tunnel represented the diamond ring effect during a solar eclipse. The table that Li Ming Hao had seen was actually the altar of sorts. When they had discovered it for the first time, they had found things used for worship including matchsticks, rancid oils, intricately decorated bronze and copper vessels etc.

Of course, Mei Qingyang was not the one who discovered them. They had been dug out way before she was born. But she knew because she had been taught all that, some information from her dad and some from the Dean.

Now this diary talked much more in detail what was found there. However, only two pages were dedicated to this information.

"So actually, this talks more about the part that I was in," Su Xin Yu gave him a summary of whatever she could understand.

"Is there something different about that one?" Li Ming Hao now started connecting the dots of what he had seen and what was written in the notebook. The entrance hundred years ago was described exactly in the same way as he had seen it. Then, the notebook said that two people were required to open the second tunnel, since it was a five point lock. No wonder, he had ended up in the normal tunnel even if he had perfectly memorized where all she had put her limbs to open the tunnel. He had forgotten the fact that he was touching a few points on the platform too.

"Well, this says that the normal tunnel is an annular region while this inner tunnel is a… spiral?" Su Xin Yu read excitedly. These details were so enthralling that she really wanted to go right away.

"Spiral? Where does it end or begin? Also, if this person had already visited that cave, then how come there were still traps left?" Li Ming Hao asked. He had no idea how traps worked inside these dungeons. But the common sense dictated that once triggered, they should not activate again. Why did they fall into such unfortunate situation then?

Su Xin Yu raised her head to look at the guy whose face was just in front of her. They both were so engrossed in trying to decode the notebook, that they had forgotten all about personal space.

Su Xin Yu wanted to slide back since she was sitting on her bed, with her back facing the pillow against the head rest. But if she did that, her wounds would ache again. It would be rude to ask him to move, so she, with her poker face, concentrated back on the notebook, her heart thumping violently.

"You look quite knowledgeable about traps eh? Those traps were special ones, my ancestors lined any door with those. That's why it's a rule when exploring with me. If you have to cross a door, you can't cross it normally, you have to jump at least two feet in air from here to there," she stated. It was also because he would be exploring with her quite a bit in future, or so it seemed. It was better to inform him of a few ground rules.

"Noted ma'am. What next? Are we going to explore the tunnel first then?" he asked enthusiastically. He really would have loved to be in her company and listen to her translate the whole notebook. But he also knew this work needed concentration. If she continued telling him facts like these, he would end up asking her questions and disturbing.

"No, I feel that one is too high level for you for now. I will take you to some other place," she shattered his hopes with one sentence.

"Then, will you take me to another 'safe' place?" he rolled his eyes in his mind. Did she consider him as a kid?

"Yeah, I do have some other place in mind. Let me see if there is any notebook for that place," she flipped through other books to check if she could get a hint about that place.

"Hey, I said one notebook at a time!" Li Ming Hao, although did not have a choice but to use her as a guide, was also not very trustful of this girl. She had saved his life, twice at that, sure! But what if she ran away with the only information he had, leaving him behind in the dust? That won't do.

"Sorry, sorry. Doesn't seem like there is anything here about that place. But, I myself haven't explored it, so it will be a novel experience for you and me both," Su Xin Yu grinned. She had never taken anyone with her who was as excited to explore the dungeons as her. She was feeling quite happy to have a partner for some reason.

"So, Li Ming Hao, are you ready to run away with me for an adventure for a week?" she looked at him, the jet black eyes of his were radiating stars. They were going to explore them for a whole week? How did her question sound like a proposal though?

Li Ming Hao's face turned a faint pink on the thought. The prospect was not that bad, he could run away with her alright.

"Wherever you take me ma'am. I will gladly join you in the adventures." Well, something was better than nothing, right? If not that tunnel, a new cave would be good too. He readily agreed to her proposal.