Chapter 1176
Outside the dilapidated old house, the massive Ancient Oak stood in silent vigilance.
Serena walked over to the tree and stopped.
She looked up.
The oak was exactly as she remembered it.
Only, she was no longer that tiny little girl.
Beneath the branches sat a stone stool, the exact spot where her grandmother used to wait for her.
But now p>
It was covered in a thick layer of dust.
Serena crouched down and dug into the soil beneath the stone stool.
Nothing.
She stood up and circled the tree.
There was a hollow in the trunk, a spot she used to reach into as a child.
She stuck her hand inside, feeling all the way to the bottom.
Still nothing.
She took a step back and re-examined the note in her hand.
“The old spot, beneath the Ancient Oak, find the answer p>
She studied it for a few seconds.
Then, it suddenly hit her.
When she was little, after waiting for her to come home, her grandmother would always walk to the back of the tree and pull a small jar from beneath its roots.
Inside the jar was handmade candy that Grandma Aria had prepared herself. She had made it using a special recipe that was delicious but wouldn’t ruin her teeth.
It was her absolute favorite treat.
Serena walked around to the back of the trunk and crouched down to inspect the roots.
After observing them carefully for a few seconds, she noticed one particular root looked different from the rest.
Its color was slightly darker, worn smooth as if it had been frequently handled.
Reaching out to touch it, she found a small groove underneath, just wide enough for her fingers.
She hooked her fingers in and pulled.
A piece of the wooden root slid entirely out.
The space beneath was hollow.
Inside lay a metal box.
It wasn’t large, but the material was unique-a completely waterproof, corrosion- resistant silver lockbox.
A combination lock was embedded into its surface.
Serena tried her grandmother’s birthday.
It didn’t open.
A glimmer flashed in her eyes, and she tried her own birthday.
Click.
The lock popped open.
Serena’s dark lashes fluttered.
Looking down at the container, she took a deep breath and slowly lifted the lid.
There were only two items inside.
A black micro hard drive, no bigger than a thumbnail, engraved with the national emblem of Elyndor.
And a specialized glass vial filled with a glowing, spectral blue liquid.
Serena’s heart suddenly gave a violent jolt.
Pressing her lips together, she reached out to pick up the emblem drive.
Instantly, her gaze turned predatory and sharp.
Someone was there.
Behind her. Very close.
So close she could feel their breathing.
For someone to walk up behind her completely undetected p>
The intruder’s skills were unfathomably deep.
Without a second of hesitation, Serena spun around, throwing her hand forward.
A silver needle was pinched between her fingers.
With a flick of her wrist, she thrust the weapon at the figure behind her.
The strike was swift and lethal; a normal person would never have been able to dodge it.
But the intruder didn’t even try to dodge.
Two bony fingers reached out and gently caught the silver needle mid-air.
Serena’s movement was instantly halted.
She took a closer look at the hand-wrinkled skin with dirt caked beneath the fingernails.
She looked up.
Standing before her was a shriveled
old man
in tattered clothes, castially
holding a battered wine gourd. sws
He radiated an aura of absolute laziness and eccentric disregard.
Serena’s throat tightened as she murmured, “Old Man p>
She lowered her hand.
The Old Man.
This man was the true Ghost Doctor.
He was the master who had taught her everything about his miraculous medical skills ultimately stepping aside when the student surpassed the teacher.
The Old Man let go of the needle and let out a dry chuckle. But the smile didn’t reach his eyes.
He looked down at the metal box resting in Serena’s hands.
For once, he dropped his usual
eccentric demeanor. He let out an et
long, heavy sigh his gaze, turning weathered and sofemn. “Kidoy you actually dug it up p>