C11 The Mystery of the System

"Are you the one who recited the secret verse?"

Gong Qian approached Yuh Wenming and set down the box he was carrying without a word. It contained Wenn Zheming's belongings from their Treasure Gathering Pavilion.

Yuh Wenming gave a slight nod, his face betraying no emotion, as though the contents of the box were rightfully his.

"Are those two behind you with you?"

Glancing back reflexively, he saw Qiao Siya and Hu Yanyong standing there, eyes wide as they gaped at the treasure chest on the table.

Having never stored anything at the Treasure Gathering Pavilion themselves, they were clueless about what made the contents special.

"I don't recognize them. Feel free to show them out."

Qiao Siya quickly caught on, pointing to the item on the table: "Don't you need to verify the owner? I doubt this even belongs to him."

Realizing they'd be thrown out without a fight, Hu Yanyong started to protest: "Exactly, it can't be his. Trust me on this."

Gong Yu whispered something to Gong Qian, prompting an immediate realization.

Their bickering on the way in suggested a preexisting feud; they were likely here just to watch the drama unfold.

Yuh Wenming faced them squarely. "If you have nothing stored here, I'd prefer you leave sooner rather than later."

The Treasure Gathering Pavilion wasn't a place for just anyone to linger, especially not for those without any treasures to claim, who were merely spectating.

He gave a curt nod: "Gong Yu, these two aren't with him. I'm not sure why you brought them up, but please escort them out."

Possibly feeling the sting of a reprimand, Gong Yu's face was tinged with annoyance as he addressed the pair.

"Kindly come with me. You shouldn't be here."

Once Yuh Wenming saw them exit the office, he allowed himself a moment of relief and took possession of the box.

In their line of work, there was one rule: they were only responsible for safekeeping the items; anything beyond that was not their concern.

"Now that the items are before you, please check to ensure nothing is missing."

Yuh Wenming was prompted to open the box in his presence.

If they later discovered items missing from the box, it would be too late for a recheck.

With a slight nod, he opened the unlocked box and found two letters, alongside a half-piece of jade.

"What is this..."

Gong Qian picked up the jade and quickly clarified, "We returned it to you exactly as you left it with us."

The box was stored securely in a designated area, making it impossible for the contents to have been tampered with.

"Could you verify everything is as it should be? If so, please sign for it."

Having the item in his possession, it was only natural to sign for it.

He accepted the item with a subtle smile and promptly took the document, signing his name.

Wenn Zheming's name was on the sender's line, so he naturally added his own name to the recipient's line, signifying the completion of the transaction.

"You may choose to stay and review the contents further, or take them with you. I'll leave you to it."

Gong Qian rose and headed towards the office.

In his recollection, it wasn't Yuh Wenming who had left the treasure chest; he wondered where that person might be.

Yuh Wenming watched them, nodding subtly, his face ever graced with a genteel smile.

He withdrew the letter addressed to Wenn Zheming, clearly intended for his eyes.

Unsealing the letter, he noted the pristine condition of the paper, free from any creases—a testament to their careful handling.

"Let's see what you have to tell me."

He placed the letter on the table, quickly scanning the area. Finding no surveillance, he felt at ease.

The text of the letter was crisp and clear, making for an effortless read.

Carefully digesting the words, he grasped the reason behind Wenn Zheming's correspondence.

Business had gone awry, and a system had been inadvertently triggered. Wenn Zheming sensed the oddity of the situation, unable to share it with others.

The most prudent course was to document the matter, allowing those who followed to understand, for he had harnessed the system's capabilities.

Beneath the paper lay numerous descriptions of the system's functions and effects.

Memory, too, proved advantageous. Yuh Wenming, drawing on Wenn Zheming's recollections, had spotted several valuable items.

In the past, Yuh Wenming wouldn't have recognized antiques; he would have merely joined the crowd for a spectacle.

"I've yet to fully grasp the system, and this letter is like a pillow to a sleepy head—I must delve into it."

Fortunately, the Treasure Gathering Pavilion was devoid of cameras, allowing him to inspect its contents without drawing any attention.

After committing the system's functions to memory, he noticed additional writing on the reverse side of the paper and began reading immediately.

The script on the back differed from that on the front, likely penned by someone else.

But with no signature left behind, the identity of the writer remained a mystery, leaving only their words to be remembered.

At the top was a single line, expressing the writer's hope that each successor would leave a clue for the next.

Just as Wenn Zheming had done, realizing his time was short, he swiftly placed the clue inside a treasure chest for safekeeping in the Treasure Gathering Pavilion.

Now, with the contents in hand, Yuh Wenming could instantly unravel all the mysteries without the slow and painstaking process of discovery—it was an immense relief.

"I understand that each predecessor has done the same, or the chain of letters would have ended, leaving me without guidance on how to proceed."

With the system on his person, Yuh Wenming needed to determine if there were any differences to be aware of.

Eyes closed, he attempted to harness the system's power.

To rely solely on trial and error would likely take a lifetime with little to show for it—unnecessary now.

Each successor had left a clue, a thread leading back to the original analysis of the system.

They had all used their capabilities to decipher the system, to comprehend its true nature.

Moreover, each had left behind an enigma, something profoundly mysterious that they had not unraveled in their lifetimes.

Yuh Wenming was determined to fulfill their desires, diligently working to unearth their secrets. He aimed to gradually decipher their enigmas, reassuring them that the system was not to be feared, as long as they were able to unlock its secrets.