Chapter 78 Second Encounter: Judgment’s Domain
The Caesar cipher is one of the simplest and most recognized encryption methods. It functions by shifting each letter in the plaintext a fixed number of positions down the alphabet; for instance, {A} becomes {B}, {B} turns into {C}, and so forth.
Consider the commonplace English word {CAN}; when encrypted using the Caesar cipher with a single letter shift, it becomes {DBO}.
At first glance, this may seem like a random string of characters, yet when deciphered, it unveils a legitimate word.
‘The only variable left to ascertain now... is the number of shifts applied to the letters.’
Despite Qi Xia's grasp of the general concept, he was no expert in decryption. The lingering question could only be resolved through the most basic approach—
Initially, he assumed that each letter had been shifted by one position. However, after several minutes of fruitless attempts to decrypt the message, he was left with nothing but a jumble of nonsensical characters.
Undeterred, he moved on to test a second shift.
Lacking paper and pen, he was forced to rely solely on mental calculations. Shifting such an extensive sequence of letters twice—envisioning {M} as {K}, {L} as {J}—was no trivial endeavor.
After several minutes, Qi Xia’s brow began to furrow.
Despite attempting two shifts, he had yet to crack the code. Was he perhaps approaching the problem from the wrong perspective?
Each letter could be shifted up to twenty-five times, meaning {A} could represent any letter other than {A}. Attempting to rely on mental calculations for each possibility was a daunting task.
"Is this your strategy?" Jiang Ruoxue asked, leaning against the doorframe.
Qi Xia didn’t respond; instead, he steadied his mind and began the third round of shifting.
This time, he intended to advance each letter by three positions—envisioning {M} as {J} and {L} as {I}.
However, after testing just five letters, Qi Xia's expression darkened.
Jiang Ruoxue observed him with keen curiosity."Oh? Have you figured it out?"
Qi Xia's lips moved slightly as he voiced his answer: "JI... DAO... WAN... SUI?"
"Yes, yes, yes!" Jiang Ruoxue clapped her hands in delight. "After deciphering it, it really did become {极道万岁(All Hail Judgment’s Domain)}! I thought it hadn't worked!"
Upon hearing those four words, a rare panic flickered across Qi Xia's face.
He sank into his seat, fear evident in his eyes as he asked, "What are your intentions...?"
"Oh, it's nothing much," Jiang Ruoxue replied, shaking her head nonchalantly. "I’m going to die anyway, so I thought I should extend my greetings before I go."
"Extend your greetings?..." Qi Xia clenched his jaw. "The last time you people {extended your greetings}, two of my companions were killed..."
"Oh? Is that so?" Jiang Ruoxue blinked in surprise. "So Xiao Xiao took action? She never mentioned that to us, but it’s of little consequence. You’ll just have to forgive her—Xiao Xiao has always been like that, but she genuinely has a good heart."
"What nonsense are you spouting..." Qi Xia gradually rose to his feet. "A {good heart}? I can hardly contain my desire to tear her apart..."
"You really do seem quite peeved..." Jiang Ruoxue remarked, stepping closer to pat Qi Xia on the shoulder. "How about this: after this game, I'll die. A life for a life—would that help alleviate your anger?"
Qi Xia remained silent, sensing something unsettling in her demeanor.
Or rather, it seemed that everyone from {Judgment’s Domain} possessed a certain peculiarity.
He paused for a moment, then turned to pick up the letter on the table, asking, "What about the original {secret code}? If you've altered it, won't that put my teammates in danger again?"
"What are you talking about? This is the {secret code}," Jiang Ruoxue replied, regarding Qi Xia with confusion. "Isn't this the letter your teammate sent?"
"You...?" Qi Xia was equally perplexed. "Are you saying that {All Hail Judgment’s Domain} is the secret code? Are you all colluding with {Terrestrial Dog}?"
"Not exactly. We have no connection to the {Earthly Branches}," Jiang Ruoxue shook her head. "Qi Xia, you need to grasp the logical relation here: since {Terrestrial Dog} stated that {the letter contains the code}, and this letter indeed contains {All Hail Judgment’s Domain}, then it follows that {All Hail Judgment’s Domain} must be the code."
Qi Xia found the logic unsettling. Jiang Ruoxue didn’t strike him as completely irrational, yet her assertions were difficult to fathom.
He slowly approached the cabinet, hesitating before inputting the four characters {极道万岁 (All Hail Judgment’s Domain)} on the touch screen.
Observing this, Jiang Ruoxue smiled and remarked, "It's quite an incredible sight to witness those four characters written personally by you."
With a gentle {click}, the cabinet door creaked open.
Inside, Zhang Chenze huddled, visibly trembling. Her gaze met Qi Xia’s, filled with a mix of relief and fear.
Before he could utter a word, she dashed toward him, enveloping him in a tight embrace.
"I..." Qi Xia felt a rush of awkwardness, uncertain of where to position his hands.
"Thank goodness... I was so terrified..." Zhang Chenze shivered uncontrollably, whether from fear or the chill, he couldn't discern. "I thought I was going to be cooked alive in there..."
"Lawyer—Lawyer Zhang, I recall you don’t particularly enjoy being touched," Qi Xia said, his voice tinged with awkwardness.
"Ah…" Zhang Chenze quickly released her grip, hastily wiping away the tear streaks on her face. "I apologize... I hope I didn’t trouble you."
"Not at all; you merely caught me off guard," Qi Xia replied, shaking his head. "I’m not particularly fond of unexpected situations. You’re not usually this way in my memory."
"I’m—I’m sorry," Zhang Chenze murmured, her gaze dropping as her familiar composure gradually returned.
As a silence enveloped them, the intercom crackled to life, breaking the stillness.
"A team has successfully rescued their teammate. The game is now concluded."
The entire building erupted into a cacophony of noise—some voices rang with joy, while others were laced with distress.
Qi Xia's senses heightened as a flurry of footsteps approached, as if someone were desperately racing toward his room.
Feeling a twinge of unease, he stepped outside to investigate.
Before him was Ole Lu, battered and bruised, sprinting as if his very life depended on it.
"Punk Qi... help me!!"
Qi Xia frowned, his gaze shifting to a green-haired figure hot on Ole Lu’s heels, pursuing him with the ferocity of a rabid dog.
"You old bastard! Didn’t I warn you?! If I die, you’ll pay with your life!!" The green-haired figure's eyes burned with a frenzied intensity, relentlessly chasing Ole Lu.
"Isn’t that your boyfriend?" Qi Xia turned to ask. "Are all the members of {Judgment’s Domain} this unhinged?"
"He’s not an Adherent of {Judgment’s Domain}," Jiang Ruoxue retorted, crossing her arms defiantly. "This charade of mine ends here; it’s exhausting to feign the role of a lovesick woman."
"In other words, you’re saying you won’t take responsibility for what happens next?" Qi Xia replied.
"Yeah, I’m just waiting to die," Jiang Ruoxue replied, sinking into a chair within the room and closing her eyes, seeking a semblance of peace.
Qi Xia nodded, then reached for the iron box resting on the table.