"This is a transport conduit," Wang Chongyang said. Lin Chaoying guessed, "Yuan Xiangxian used it to retreat supplies and provisions." She lifted her right hand, which had been pressing the stone slab, and withdrew her left hand, which had been pulled. She felt ashamed of his words and anxious about his actions. Turning her gaze to the patch of vegetable ground they had visited earlier, she suddenly remembered something and asked, "Where did your eating utensils come from?" Receiving no answer, she turned and saw no trace of Wang Chongyang. A wave of bewilderment and worry surged through her. She involuntarily raised her voice and called out repeatedly, "Where are you? Where did you go?" Seeing him emerge from the top of the stone steps, her heart settled. Then, a thought of self-disgust arose—why had she gradually become like an ordinary woman, panicking at everything, shouting and screaming, destroying the superior upbringing she had received since childhood! While her thoughts were in disarray, she heard his call and couldn't help but go to look. Wang Chongyang said excitedly, "There's a gate at the end here. I listened for a while and touched its surroundings, deducing that water was stored behind it." Lin Chaoying's eyes lit up. "Open the sluice gate, and the objects will be washed out through the conduit. No wonder the conduit is curved." Wang Chongyang nodded approvingly and pondered, "What will be used to load the objects or provisions?" Lin Chaoying smiled proudly and said, "Where did you get the utensils you were using just now?" Wang Chongyang replied, "It was a stone chest." Lin Chaoying became even more confident. "Take me to see it, and then we'll talk."
Wang Chongyang led the way, bypassing the barren plots and scattered rocks. Beneath a thick, sprawling tree trunk, he pointed to a small cavity containing a large chest. They both bent down and crawled in. Lin Chaoying saw the chest, lying horizontally, about seven feet long. She immediately lifted the lid and took out the remaining utensils. Wang Chongyang, seeing the narrowness of the stone cavity, simply moved them all outside, creating space for her to examine them. Wang Chongyang sat on the ground at the entrance of the cavity, tilting his head to watch her move frequently between the stone chest and its sides.
More than two incense sticks had passed when Wang Chongyang heard a "click" sound. He saw her pull a basin from the original stone chest. Wang Chongyang immediately entered the cavity and helped her lift it out. Upon touching it, Wang Chongyang felt it was as hard as stone but lighter. Outside the cavity, he examined it more closely. This stone basin was shaped exactly like the bottom of a boat. He immediately imagined how objects could be stored and transported in the water pipe. "Don't worry," Lin Chaoying said calmly. Wang Chongyang gave her a thoughtful smile. In an instant, she pulled a stone slab from the lid of the original stone chest. Wang Chongyang saw that both sides of the stone slab had long, protruding tenons, which were meant to match the grooves he had just discovered on the basin's rim. Lin Chaoying reminded him, "This stone material is sourced from a southern volcano. It appears hard, but it is actually brittle and prone to breaking. It was placed inside another stone chest, perhaps for protection, or for some other purpose. It can float on water, which is perfect for its use." Giving Wang Chongyang another approving look, Lin Chaoying felt touched. "When I was young, everyone often said I was a child who burst out of a stone." Wang Chongyang felt a pang of sadness. He stepped closer, supporting her lowered hands with his left palm and covering them with his right. Lin Chaoying closed her eyes and leaned against his chest. Time passed, though it felt like only a moment, before he said, "Now, all that's left is to find the switch for the sluice gate." She sighed faintly. "You go and look, I'll go get something to eat." Glancing at his eagerly departing back, she felt so angry she wanted to split open his thick skull.
After finishing his search, he returned to find her slicing melon and roasting potatoes. He immediately felt as if his boat had docked safely in port, and despite the swaying, he felt stable, more determined than ever to strive for a better future. Seeing his smiling face, Lin Chaoying felt flustered and found a topic. "This melon is very strange. It looks like it's divided into segments on the outside, but it's a single piece inside." Wang Chongyang watched her slice the golden melon in the grooves between the segments, then handed a slice to him. Before even taking a bite, his heart was already full. "It's so sweet," he said. For some reason, Lin Chaoying felt even more embarrassed and found another topic. "No matter where a dog is, it can cook delicious food differently."
Wang Chongyang picked up a roasted potato and took a bite. "Isn't plain and simple good?" he asked. Are you willing to work together for it?
Staring at him, the initial provocative annoyance she felt was now a painful ache in her heart. She needed to use a harsh tactic to counter his every advance and said coldly, "Did you find the mechanism for the sluice gate?"
Wang Chongyang looked a little dejected. "Not yet." He slightly regretted his tone of reply, not wanting to disappoint her. So, he explained his idea. "On the surface of the gate, on both sides, there are four small iron rings cast. If they are connected, and then pulled with external force, perhaps the water can be channeled to rush out."
Lin Chaoying quietly finished the slice of melon in her hand, took two more slices, and then went to the barren plot.
Wang Chongyang assumed she was strategizing and did not disturb her. After eating, he leaned against the stone steps, considering what else was missing from their plan and weighing the risks of returning the way they came. Perhaps he was too tired, or perhaps his mood was so good that he momentarily drifted off to sleep.
When he suddenly woke up, he saw that the water columns were not as dazzling as before, guessing that he had slept for several hours. He saw her again, sitting by the bonfire near the water. The oppressive feeling of resistance from their first meeting was gone, replaced by a leisurely ambiance of brewing tea and enjoying the scenery. Wang Chongyang understood what he had done to her and what he should continue to do for her. He sighed, thinking that if it weren't for the urgency of saving his grandmother from danger, staying here would also be a pleasant affair.
He came over to sit and drink with her. He was captivated by the changing colors of the water columns and paid no attention to her. Later, he glanced at her, seeing that she was also admiring the view, and he was even less inclined to break the atmosphere. After a while, he felt her gaze shift to him. Fearing he might lose composure, he spoke first, "Are you thinking about how to escape from here using the floating stone basin?"
Wang Chongyang collected himself. "I surmise this was operated collectively to transport objects. When the covers of the stone basin and the stone channel were closed, someone would then open the sluice gate. Now, it's changed for us to escape. Finding an external force to open the sluice gate is not difficult, but closing the covers of the stone chest and the stone channel simultaneously will require some thought." As he reached the end of his sentence, he observed her expression, guessing she had most of the countermeasures in mind. He asked with a smile, "Could it be that while I was asleep, the Jade Maiden sister from the Bodhisattva's seat came to help?" You bestow the Golden Boy, and I shall not hesitate to borrow the Jade Maiden. Since our feelings are already set, there is no room for disrespect.
Hearing his playful words, Lin Chaoying was surprised that she no longer felt pressured. She felt that his words didn't bother her much and said calmly, "Let's go and see."
Wang Chongyang followed her to the small stone cavity and discovered a thumb-thick hole in the upper right corner of the floating stone basin's lid. He couldn't help but face her, showing a surprised and admiring smile. Lin Chaoying felt a surge of joy and pretended to casually say, "I also made one in the lid on the stone steps." Wang Chongyang understood that asking for details would be pointless, so he directly asked what the next step required. "You must have also found the connecting items?" Lin Chaoying handed him a vine and said, "Let's have a contest." Wang Chongyang understood her meaning. Holding one end, he exerted his strength to pull against her. He felt the object was as tough as beef tendon and rejoiced. "With this vine, we can connect the two lids and the iron rings of the sluice gate, tie it to an external force, and then cut it. The falling force will then open each position to channel the water. But that external force..." Both of them looked at the stone chest inside the cavity and then at each other. Lin Chaoying pointed to a protruding stone beam on the wall. Wang Chongyang looked up and examined it, then agreed. "This stone can serve as an axle. I'll go find something to serve as a support, and you can be responsible for connecting the vines." He said this excitedly and was about to leave when he noticed her hesitation when facing the floating stone basin. He remembered that they were sharing a small space without any formal title or connection, which was not in accordance with propriety. He thought, why not express his true feelings now and let them both confirm their commitment. "Miss Lin," he said, bowing deeply, "Wang has something to say..."
Lin Chaoying hurriedly stopped him from speaking and blurted out, "Save your words for when you speak to my grandmother." Things had become too fast and too easy, making it difficult to handle. Alas, if he really spoke to his grandmother, what would her reaction be? She had already suffered enough from her parents' union back then... Maintaining the current situation might not be bad. With a flurry of thoughts, she took a few steps and stopped, turning her back to him. "I trust your character, but if anything of today is leaked, I will not forgive you."
Wang Chongyang was delighted that she had agreed to his proposal for marriage, and naturally nodded in agreement regarding matters of reputation.
Wang Chongyang felt refreshed, as if he had completed a major circulation of energy, doubling his strength. He quickly noticed that the third water column from the left was splashing with stronger and different water. He rolled up his trouser legs and waded closer, seeing a pointed stone beneath. Following the flow, he touched it diagonally. The entire stone was shaped like an almond, about six feet long by his estimation, fitting the width of the conduit perfectly. He believed that all things were arranged by fate and felt even happier and more determined. Wang Chongyang reached into the crevice, exerted his strength to lift the almond-shaped stone to an upright position, and then pushed it to roll towards the stone steps.
Lin Chaoying had collected enough vines and was ready to extend them. She saw him moving the large stone and intended to go and help, but he gestured for her to wait by the water, understanding that he didn't want her leg injury to get wet. After Wang Chongyang pushed the stone onto the shore, Lin Chaoying immediately helped, without a word. They moved the stone to rest beside the stone steps near the sluice gate. Only then did she look at Wang Chongyang and see him nod, as if he understood what she was about to do. She returned to her original position. As she tied the vines, she suddenly thought, "He must be drying his clothes and... body... Ugh, from now on, I will have to face and accept this..." She immediately felt hot and stiff all over, as if she had been struck by some strange poison. She needed to recite a heart mantra to calm herself. About half an hour later, after Wang Chongyang tidied his clothes, he came over to help her. Lin Chaoying said, "This side is almost done." She handed him ten sweet potatoes and continued, "It's always good to be prepared. Go and make some more quickly." While Wang Chongyang was busy roasting potatoes, his eyes were fixed on Lin Chaoying connecting the vines, while his heart gained new experience from the concept of "men farming and women weaving."
Seeing her finish her work, she picked up stones from the water's edge and made several trips to the stone steps. A thought struck him, and he stepped forward to confirm. He saw her placing stones in a plum blossom shape near the sluice gate of the conduit and couldn't help but grin. Firstly, he smiled at his eagerness to help her, tidying his clothes and rushing over, forgetting about this matter. Secondly, he was fortunate to have found a soulmate, picking up on her oversight and smiling. Seeing her calculating, he said, "The number and position are just right, they won't slow down the water's force." Lin Chaoying nodded in agreement and then walked to the right side of the almond-shaped stone. Wang Chongyang followed her to the left side of the stone. They exchanged glances, exerted their energy, lifted the almond-shaped stone, and placed it on top of the plum blossom-shaped stone pile.
They first placed the floating stone chest about two feet in front of the plum blossom-shaped stone pile. Then they moved the stone chest from the small cavity and pushed it under the protruding stone beam. Wang Chongyang was responsible for lifting the stone chest, allowing Lin Chaoying to thread and tie the long string of vines. After completing this, they both grabbed the middle section of the long string together, leaped up, and pulled the stone chest upward, causing it to fall to the ground across the stone beam. Wang Chongyang braced his feet against the ground, channeling energy from his kidneys to pull, holding the stone chest against the stone beam to prevent it from falling back into place. Lin Chaoying, holding the end, swiftly threaded it through the space of the plum blossom-shaped stone pile and tied it to the almond-shaped stone.
Confirming that the almond-shaped stone had successfully secured the suspended stone chest, they did not dare to delay. Lin Chaoying took the second strand of vine, connected the two lids, and then tied the main line that would pull the stone chest. Wang Chongyang was responsible for the branch line from the main line to the small iron rings of the sluice gate. After completing this, he rushed to the floating stone basin and saw that Lin Chaoying had already stored food and water inside.
"I'll lie on the right side; it's easier to move," Lin Chaoying said.
Wang Chongyang held her hand and said, "No matter what happens afterwards, we're together anyway."
Lin Chaoying's gaze darted away, and she said softly, "Since we're together anyway, let's not worry about what happens afterwards." After speaking, she looked at him. Seeing him nod with a smile, she took his hand and stepped into the chest.
Having confirmed their readiness with him, Lin Chaoying poked her head out and aimed at the main line, cutting it with a flying knife, and immediately retracted into the stone basin. The lid of the stone basin was pulled shut. She then untied the knot and plugged the hole with a wooden stopper to prevent water from entering. At that moment, they heard a loud bang, guessing that the stone chest had fallen to the ground.
Inside the stone basin, it was dark and silent. Wang Chongyang heard the "creak... creak..." sound from outside gradually intensify. He reached out and embraced her, pressing her face against his shoulder, vowing to protect her from any harm.
The stone basin suddenly began to shake. Lin Chaoying estimated that they were already in the midst of a swift current. Although this method was more time-consuming and risky than returning the way they came, the warmth, scent, and affection surrounding her were what she sought. Therefore, no matter the outcome, she was too lazy to care where she would be swept away.