Chapter 18. non-returning guest
Outside Zhou Mansion, there were boiling shouts and flames, while inside, over a dozen horses belonging to the Spy Department were tied to trees in the courtyard, disturbed by the restless air, pacing anxiously.
Someone forcefully shoved the mansion's gate, which was barricaded with a horizontal bolt and shook with loud thuds.
Yun Yang looked at Chen Ji, "The Liu Family might break through the door in less than fifteen minutes, and by then, no one can guarantee what will happen. Can you find the evidence within fifteen minutes?"
Another quarter of an hour.
Chen Ji asked himself if he could really decipher the secrets of the book in fifteen minutes. Impossible.
His face, hidden under a masked gray cloth, bowed his head in thought before responding, "Fifteen minutes won't be enough. I need at least..."
Outside Zhou Mansion, someone roared loudly, interrupting his thoughts, "People inside, come out and explain yourselves quickly! If you have evidence, present it; if not, let the murderer pay with their life!"
But Yun Yang tucked the hem of his robe into his waistband and casually drew a long knife from the belt of a nearby spy. He walked toward the door. "Qiwan, Wubing, guard the gate well for me; Jiao Tu, watch the rear wall. Anyone who dares to break in shall be considered a traitor and killed without mercy! Chen Ji, I'll give you fifteen minutes. Find the evidence, or we all die here!"
Chen Ji no longer hesitated, turned around, closed the door, and shut out the noise from outside.
He flipped open the "Four Books with Chapter Notes" transcribed by Zhou Chengyi and rapidly sifted through all the ancient secret communication techniques he could recall to see which method was used by the other side to convey messages.
Was it hiding characters? No.