A Dangerous Plan
The small candle flickered on the wooden table as Li Xueyan, Feng Zhiwei, and Ling studied the ancient scroll. The words spoke of an entrance to the catacombs beneath the imperial palace.
Ling traced a finger over the faded text. "The entrance is hidden inside the palace dungeons. That's the only way in."
Xueyan frowned. "The dungeons? That place is heavily guarded. We can't just walk in."
Zhiwei leaned back and smiled. "We won't walk in. We'll sneak in."
Xueyan sighed. "You make it sound easy."
Zhiwei chuckled. "Nothing is easy. But if we plan carefully, we can do it."
Ling nodded. "I know someone who can help. An informant inside the palace. He might know how to get us inside."
Xueyan's eyes narrowed. "Can we trust him?"
Ling hesitated. "I don't trust anyone completely. But he has helped me before."
Zhiwei stood up. "Then let's meet him. The sooner we have a plan, the better."
---
A Meeting in the Shadows
They moved through the dark streets, avoiding patrols. The capital was always busy, even at night, but they knew how to stay unseen.
Ling led them to a quiet alley near the palace walls. A hooded man stood in the shadows, his face hidden.
"You brought friends?" his voice was low and rough.
Ling crossed her arms. "I need information."
The man looked at Xueyan and Zhiwei, then back at Ling. "What do you want?"
Ling pulled out a silver coin. "The palace dungeons. How do we get in without being caught?"
The man took the coin and rubbed it between his fingers. Then he spoke.
"There is a secret tunnel under the eastern wall. The tunnel leads to an old storage room in the dungeons. Few people know about it."
Xueyan's heart quickened. "How do we find the entrance?"
The man pointed toward the outer palace gardens. "There is a broken statue near the eastern wall. Dig beneath it."
Zhiwei smirked. "That sounds almost too easy."
The man laughed. "It is not. The tunnel is old and dangerous. And if you get caught inside the palace…" he trailed off, letting the warning hang in the air.
Ling nodded. "We understand."
The man stepped back into the shadows. "Then my work here is done. Be careful."
Then he was gone.
Xueyan turned to the others. "We have our way in. Now we just need to make sure we don't die inside."
Zhiwei grinned. "That's the fun part."
Hei Yue snorted. "This is the worst plan I've ever heard."
---
The Hidden Tunnel
The next night, they made their move. The palace gardens were quiet, only a few guards patrolling. They stayed low, moving like shadows between the trees.
Xueyan spotted the broken statue—a large stone figure missing its head.
Zhiwei knelt beside it and started digging. His fingers brushed against something hard. "Found it."
He pulled away the dirt, revealing a wooden hatch. Ling helped him lift it. A dark tunnel stretched below.
Xueyan took a deep breath. "Let's go."
One by one, they climbed inside.
---
Through the Darkness
The tunnel smelled of damp earth and mold. It was narrow, forcing them to move carefully.
Xueyan led the way, using a small lantern to light the path. "How far does this go?"
Ling's voice was soft. "Not far. Just keep moving."
Suddenly, a faint growl echoed ahead.
Xueyan froze. "Did you hear that?"
Zhiwei placed a hand on his sword. "We're not alone."
Something moved in the darkness. Red eyes flickered ahead. Then, with a low snarl, a shadow leaped at them.
A demon hound.
Xueyan reacted fast, swinging her sword. The blade slashed across the beast's side, making it howl.
Zhiwei struck next, his movements fast as lightning. The hound collapsed, its body dissolving into black mist.
Hei Yue's voice echoed in Xueyan's mind. "Demonic creatures… This tunnel is cursed."
Ling's face was tense. "We need to hurry."
They ran through the tunnel, avoiding more shadowy figures lurking in the corners. Finally, they reached the end—a wooden door.
Xueyan pushed it open.
They stepped into a dark, musty storage room.
They had made it into the palace dungeons.
---
Inside the Palace Dungeons
Xueyan looked around. Old crates and barrels lined the walls. A faint light flickered under the door leading to the main dungeon halls.
Zhiwei placed a hand on the door. "Guards outside."
Ling whispered. "We need to move quietly."
Xueyan nodded. "Let's find the entrance to the catacombs before anyone sees us."
They slipped through the corridors, avoiding the patrolling guards. The deeper they went, the colder the air became.
Then, they saw it.
A large stone gate covered in ancient symbols.
Hei Yue's voice was serious. "This is it. The entrance to the catacombs."
Zhiwei stepped forward. "How do we open it?"
Ling examined the carvings. "It needs a key… or a special technique."
Xueyan touched the stone, feeling a strange warmth beneath her fingers.
Suddenly, the symbols glowed.
The ground trembled.
The gate slowly began to open.
Zhiwei's eyes widened. "Looks like we're going in."
Xueyan took a deep breath. "Then let's see what secrets are hidden inside."
They stepped forward into the darkness, unaware of the dangers that awaited them.