The so-called Caesar cipher is currently one of the simplest and most widely known methods of encryption. Simply put, it involves shifting every letter in the alphabet by a certain number of places, such as "A" becoming "B", "B" becoming "C", and so on. For example, take the common English word "CAN".
Using a Caesar cipher to shift the letters by one place, it would be written as "DBO". This way, what is written looks like a string of gibberish, but after decryption, it can become a proper word.
"The only thing that needs to be confirmed now... is how many times the letters have been shifted?"
Qi Xia was no expert in cracking codes, after all. Although he knew the general direction, the remaining problem could only be solved using the dumbest, most direct method— Trial and error.
He first assumed each letter was shifted by one place, but after spending a few minutes trying to crack it, he still ended up with a string of gibberish. So he moved on to a two-place shift. This seemingly simple step made Qi Xia fall silent for a long time.
MLGDRZDQVXL.
He had no pen or paper on hand, so everything had to rely on mental calculation. To shift every letter in this long string twice, to think of "M" as "K", and "L" as "J", was truly not a simple matter.
"Still not right..."
A few minutes later, Qi Xia slowly furrowed his brow. He had already tried twice but still hadn't cracked the code. Could it be that his line of thinking was wrong?
The letters could be shifted a total of twenty-five times. In other words, "A" could be any letter except "A". If he had to mentally calculate every single possibility, the amount of work would be unimaginably large.
"Is this your method?"
Jiang Ruoxue asked, leaning against the doorframe beside him. Qi Xia didn't answer. He just composed himself and began the third round of shifts.
Starting now, he would try to shift every letter forward three places. He imagined "M" as "J", and "L" as "I". But this time, after testing only five letters, Qi Xia's expression grew heavy.
Jiang Ruoxue watched him with great interest.
"Oh? Did you figure it out?"
Qi Xia's lips moved slightly as he uttered his answer, "JI...
DAO... WAN... SUI?"
"Yes, yes, yes!"
Jiang Ruoxue clapped her hands happily.
"So it really is 'Long live the Extreme Dao' after being deciphered? I thought it wouldn't work."
The moment these four words were mentioned, Qi Xia showed a rare sign of panic. He plopped down into a seat, looking at Jiang Ruoxue with some horror, and asked in a mumble, "What on earth are you people trying to do...?"
"Oh, nothing much."
Jiang Ruoxue shook her head.
"I'm going to die soon anyway. Consider this a greeting."
"A greeting..."
Qi Xia gritted his teeth fiercely.
"The last time you people 'greeted' me, you killed two of my companions..."
"Oh? Did that happen?"
Jiang Ruoxue paused for a moment.
"So Xiaoxiao did make a move? She never mentioned it to us, but it doesn't matter. You'll have to bear with it. Xiaoxiao has always been like that, but she's not bad, really."
"What kind of nonsense are you spouting..."
Qi Xia slowly stood up.
"'Not bad'? Right now, I wish I could tear her to pieces..."
"You seem really angry..."
Jiang Ruoxue walked over and patted Qi Xia's shoulder.
"How about this? I'll die after this game. A life for a life. Will that help you calm down a bit?"
Qi Xia didn't answer the question. He only felt that the Jiang Ruoxue before him was very strange. Or rather, everyone in "Extreme Dao" was strange.
He paused for a moment, then turned back to pick up the letter from the desk and asked, "What about the original password? By changing the password, aren't you going to get my teammate killed again?"
"What are you talking about? This is the 'password'," Jiang Ruoxue said, looking at Qi Xia with confusion.
"Isn't this the letter your teammate sent?"
"You..."
Qi Xia was equally confused.
"You're saying 'Long live the Extreme Dao' is the password? Are you working with the 'Earth Dog'?"
"Not at all. We have no connection with the 'Zodiac'," Jiang Ruoxue shook her head.
"Qi Xia, you need to understand a certain logic. Since the Earth Dog said 'the letter is the password', and 'the letter is Long live the Extreme Dao', then 'Long live the Extreme Dao' is the password."
"What...?"
Qi Xia felt this was a very bizarre line of logic. Jiang Ruoxue didn't seem like a completely irrational madwoman, but the words she spoke were still difficult to comprehend. Qi Xia slowly walked to the cabinet and, with doubt, wrote the four characters for "Long live the Extreme Dao" on the touchscreen.
Seeing this, Jiang Ruoxue smiled and said, "To see these four words written by your hand, it truly is a bit incredible." With a soft click, the cabinet door opened. Zhang Chenze was sitting inside, shivering.
She looked up and her eyes met Qi Xia's. Before Qi Xia could say anything, Zhang Chenze immediately threw herself at him, embracing him tightly.
"Qi Xia!!"
"I..."
Qi Xia looked a bit awkward, not knowing where to put his hands.
"Thank goodness... You scared me to death..."
Zhang Chenze was trembling all over, whether from fear or cold, he couldn't tell.
"I thought I was going to be baked alive in there..."
"Lawyer... Lawyer Zhang, I remember you don't seem to like others touching you," Qi Xia said awkwardly.
"Ah..."
Zhang Chenze quickly let go and wiped her tear-streaked eyes.
"Sorry... I didn't cause you any trouble, did I?"
"No trouble, you just startled me."
Qi Xia shook his head.
"I don't really like things that are beyond my expectations. In my impression, you're not this kind of person."
"S-Sorry."
Zhang Chenze slowly lowered her head, resuming 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 entire building instantly erupted into a clamor. It was a case of some being happy while others were sad. Qi Xia heard a burst of frantic footsteps, as if someone was running towards his room.
He had a bad feeling and immediately went out to look. He saw Old Lu, his face bruised and swollen, running towards him as if for his life.
"Kid Qi... Help!!"
Qi Xia frowned. He saw a green-haired man behind Old Lu, chasing him like a mad dog.
"Old dog! I told you, didn't I?! If I die, I'll make you pay with your life!!"
The green-haired man seemed to be seeing red, sticking close behind Old Lu.
"Isn't that your boyfriend?"
Qi Xia turned his head and asked.
"Are all the people from 'Extreme Dao' this crazy?"
"He's not from 'Extreme Dao'," Jiang Ruoxue said with her arms crossed.
"My role-playing game ends here. It's so tiring having to act like a love-struck woman."
"Meaning you're not going to do anything about what happens next?"
Qi Xia said.
"I won't. I'm waiting to die."
Jiang Ruoxue went into the room, sat down, and began to rest with her eyes closed. Qi Xia nodded and picked up the iron box from the table. Gentle reminder: The website is about to be updated, which may result in the loss of reading progress.
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