The so-called Caesar Cipher is currently the simplest and most widely known encryption method.

Simply put, it shifts all the letters in the alphabet, such as “A” becoming “B,” “B” becoming “C,” and so on.

For example, the common English word “CAN,” when encrypted using the Caesar Cipher method by shifting the letters once, becomes “DBO.”

This way, what’s written appears to be a string of garbled text, but after decryption, it can become an accurate word.

“Now the only thing that needs to be confirmed… is how many times the letters have been shifted?”

Qi Xia wasn’t an expert at cracking codes after all. Although he knew the general direction, the remaining problem could only be solved using the most straightforward and direct method—

Trial and error.

He first assumed that each letter had been shifted once, but after spending several minutes decrypting, he still ended up with a string of garbled text.

So he tried a second shift.

This seemingly simple step left Qi Xia silent for a long time.

“MLGDRZDQVXL”

He had no paper or pen at hand. Everything could only rely on his brain’s calculations. To shift each letter in this long string twice, thinking of “M” as “K” and “L” as “J,” was truly not a simple task.

“Still not right…”

Several minutes later, Qi Xia slowly frowned.

He had already tried twice but still hadn’t cracked the password. Could his line of thinking be wrong?

All the letters in total could be shifted twenty-five times. In other words, “A” could be any letter except “A” itself. If each one had to rely on mental calculation, the workload would be unimaginably enormous.

“Is this your method?” Jiang Ruoxue asked from the side, leaning against the door frame.

Qi Xia didn’t answer. He just steadied his mind and began the third round of shifting.

Starting now, he would attempt to shift each letter backward three times.

Imagining “M” as “J,” imagining “L” as “I.”

But this time, after testing only five letters, Qi Xia’s expression became heavy.

Jiang Ruoxue also watched him with great interest: “Oh? Did you solve it?”

Qi Xia’s lips moved slightly as he recited his answer: “JI… DAO… WAN… SUI?”

“Right, right, right!” Jiang Ruoxue clapped her hands happily. “After decryption, it really is ‘Extreme Path Ten Thousand Years’? I thought it hadn’t succeeded.”

Upon mentioning these four words, Qi Xia was rarely somewhat panicked.

He plopped down in his seat and looked at Jiang Ruoxue with some terror, muttering to himself: “What exactly are you people trying to do…?”

“Nothing much.” Jiang Ruoxue shook her head. “I’m going to die anyway, so this time, consider it saying hello to you.”

“Saying hello…” Qi Xia gritted his teeth fiercely. “The last time you people ‘said hello’ to me, you killed two of my companions…”

“Oh? That happened?” Jiang Ruoxue was slightly stunned. “So Xiao Xiao took action? She never mentioned this to us, but it doesn’t matter. You have to bear with it. Xiao Xiao has always been like that, but she’s actually quite nice.”

“What kind of nonsense are you spouting at me…” Qi Xia slowly stood up. “‘Quite nice’? Right now I wish I could tear her to pieces…”

“You seem really angry…” Jiang Ruoxue walked forward and patted Qi Xia on the shoulder, saying, “How about this—after this game, I’ll die. A life for a life. Will that help you cool down?”

Qi Xia didn’t answer this question. He just felt that the Jiang Ruoxue before him was very strange.

Or rather, all the people from “Extreme Path” were very strange.

He paused for a moment, turned back to pick up the letter on the table, and asked: “What about the original password? If you changed the password, won’t that get my teammates killed?”

“What are you talking about? This is the ‘password.'” Jiang Ruoxue looked at Qi Xia with confusion. “Isn’t this the letter your teammate sent out?”

“You…” Qi Xia was equally puzzled. “You’re saying ‘Extreme Path Ten Thousand Years’ is the password? Are you people working together with ‘Earth-Dog’?”

“Not really. We have no relationship with the ‘Zodiacs.'” Jiang Ruoxue shook her head. “Qi Xia, you need to understand a logical relationship. Since Earth-Dog said ‘the letter is the password,’ and ‘the letter is Extreme Path Ten Thousand Years,’ then ‘Extreme Path Ten Thousand Years’ is the password.”

“What…?”

Qi Xia felt this was a very bizarre logical relationship.

Jiang Ruoxue didn’t seem like the kind of completely irrational lunatic, but what she said was still incomprehensible.

Qi Xia slowly walked to the cabinet and, half-believing and half-doubting, handwrote the four Chinese characters “Extreme Path Ten Thousand Years” on the touchscreen.

Seeing this, Jiang Ruoxue said with a smile: “These four words coming from your hand is really quite incredible.”

With a light “click,” the cabinet door opened.

Zhang Chenze was currently sitting inside, trembling. As she looked up, their eyes met.

Before Qi Xia could say anything, Zhang Chenze immediately rushed forward and embraced him.

“Qi Xia!!”

“I…” Qi Xia’s expression was somewhat awkward, not knowing where to place his hands.

“Thank goodness… I was scared to death…” Zhang Chenze’s entire body was trembling, whether from fear or cold. “I thought I would be roasted alive in there…”

“Lawyer Zhang, I remember you don’t like people touching you.” Qi Xia said awkwardly.

“Ah…” Zhang Chenze hurriedly let go and wiped her tear-stained eyes. “I’m sorry… I didn’t cause you any trouble, did I?”

“It’s not trouble, just startled me.” Qi Xia shook his head. “I don’t really like things that exceed expectations. In my impression, you’re not this type of person.”

“I’m, I’m sorry.” Zhang Chenze slowly lowered her head, returning to her usual demeanor.

Just as the two fell silent, the broadcast in the room sounded again.

“A team has successfully rescued their teammate. The game is over.”

The people in the entire building instantly became noisy.

As the saying goes, some rejoice while others worry.

Qi Xia only heard a burst of intense footsteps. It seemed someone was running toward the room where he was located.

He felt something was wrong and immediately went out to look.

He saw Old Lu with a bruised and battered face, now running toward him as if fleeing for his life.

“Little Qi… save me!!”

Qi Xia frowned and noticed a green-haired person following behind Old Lu, currently chasing and beating him like a mad dog.

“Old dog! I told you, didn’t I?! If I die, you’ll definitely pay with your life!!” The green-haired person seemed to have killing intent in his eyes, closely pursuing Old Lu.

“Isn’t that your boyfriend?” Qi Xia turned his head to ask. “Are all ‘Extreme Path’ people this crazy?”

“He’s not from ‘Extreme Path.'” Jiang Ruoxue crossed her arms. “My role-playing game ends here too. Playing a love-brained woman is really exhausting.”

“Meaning you won’t care about what happens next?” Qi Xia said.

“I won’t care. I’m waiting to die.” Jiang Ruoxue entered the room and sat down, beginning to close her eyes and rest.

Qi Xia nodded and picked up the metal box from the table.