Chapter 78

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

In short, it involves shifting 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 with a shift of one, becomes "DBO."

This makes it look like a string of gibberish, but after decryption, it can become an accurate word.

"The only thing that needs to be confirmed now... is how many times the letters have been shifted?"

Qixia is not an expert in cracking codes. 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 a few minutes decrypting, he still got a string of gibberish.

So he tried a second shift.

This seemingly simple step made Qixia silent for a long time.

"MLGDRZDQXL."

He had no paper and pen at hand, so everything had to be done in his head. Shifting each letter in this long string twice, turning "M" into "K" and "L" into "J," was not an easy task.

"It's still not right..."

A few minutes later, Qixia slowly furrowed his brow.

He had tried twice but still couldn't crack the code. Could his line of thinking be wrong?

All the letters can be shifted up to twenty-five times, meaning "A" can be any letter except "A." If each one had to be calculated mentally, the workload would be unimaginably large.

"Is this your method?" Jiang Ruoxue asked, leaning against the door frame.

Qixia didn't answer, but he steadied himself and began the third shift.

Now, he would try to shift each letter three times.

He imagined "M" as "J" and "L" as "I."

But this time, after just five letters, Qixia's expression became heavy.

Jiang Ruoxue watched him with interest. "Oh? Have you solved it?"

Qixia's lips moved as he read out his answer: "JI... DAO... WAN... SUI?"

"Right, right, right!" Jiang Ruoxue clapped her hands happily. "After decryption, it really is 'Jidao Wansui' (Long Live the Extreme Path)? I thought it wouldn't work."

Mentioning these four words, Qixia felt a rare sense of panic.

He plopped down into his seat, looking at Jiang Ruoxue with fear, muttering, "What are you planning to do...?"

"It's nothing much." Jiang Ruoxue shook her head. "I'm going to die anyway, so this time it's just a greeting."

"A greeting..." Qixia gritted his teeth. "The last time you 'greeted' me, you killed two of my comrades..."

"Oh? Is that so?" Jiang Ruoxue was slightly taken aback. "Xiao Xiao took action? She didn't mention this to us, but it doesn't matter. You have to understand, Xiao Xiao is always like that, but she's a good person."

"You're talking nonsense..." Qixia slowly stood up. "A 'good person'? I wish I could tear her apart..."

"You seem really angry..." Jiang Ruoxue walked up and patted Qixia's shoulder. "How about this, after this game, I'll die. A life for a life, will that make you feel better?"

Qixia didn't answer, but he felt that Jiang Ruoxue was strange.

Or rather, everyone in "Jidao" was strange.

He paused, turned around, and picked up the letter on the table, asking, "What was the original password? If you changed the password, won't it harm my teammates?"

"What are you talking about? This is the 'password.'" Jiang Ruoxue looked at Qixia in confusion. "Isn't this the letter your teammate sent?"

"You..." Qixia was equally confused. "You mean 'Jidao Wansui' is the password? Are you working with 'Digu'?"

"That's not the case, we have no connection with 'Shengxiao.'" Jiang Ruoxue shook her head. "Qixia, you need to understand the logic. Since Digu said 'the letter is the password,' and 'the letter is Jidao Wansui,' then 'Jidao Wansui' is the password."

"What...?"

Qixia felt this was a very bizarre logic.

Jiang Ruoxue didn't seem like a completely irrational madman, but her words were still hard to understand.

Qixia slowly walked to the cabinet and hesitantly wrote the four Chinese characters "Jidao Wansui" on the touch screen.

Jiang Ruoxue smiled. "It's quite unbelievable to see these four words written by you."

There was a soft "click," and the cabinet door opened.

Zhang Chenze, who was sitting inside, shivered. She looked up and met Qixia's gaze.

Before Qixia could say anything, Zhang Chenze immediately rushed over and hugged him.

"Qixia!!"

"I..." Qixia's expression was awkward, not knowing where to put his hands.

"That's great... I was so scared..." Zhang Chenze's whole body was shaking, whether from fear or cold. "I thought I would be roasted alive in there..."

"Zhang... Lawyer, I remember you don't like others..."

"Ah..." Zhang Chenze quickly let go, wiping her tear-streaked eyes. "Sorry... Did I cause you any trouble?"

"It's not that, but you startled me." Qixia shook his head. "I don't like unexpected things. In my memory, you're not that kind of person."

"Sorry, sorry." Zhang Chenze slowly lowered her head, regaining her usual demeanor.

Just as the two were silent, the room's intercom sounded again.

"A team has successfully rescued their teammate, the game is over."

The building instantly became noisy.

There were those who rejoiced and those who were worried.

Qixia heard a loud thumping sound, as if someone was running towards his room.

He felt it wasn't good and immediately went out to look.

He saw Lao Lu, with a bruised face, running towards him as if for his life.

"Qixia... save me!!"

Qixia frowned, noticing a green-haired person chasing Lao Lu like a mad dog.

"Old dog! I told you, if I die, you'll pay with your life!" The green-haired person seemed to be in a killing frenzy, closely following Lao Lu.

"Isn't that your boyfriend?" Qixia turned and asked. "Are all the people in 'Jidao' this crazy?"

"He's not from 'Jidao.'" Jiang Ruoxue crossed her arms. "My role-playing game is over. It's really tiring to act like a love-struck woman."

"So you mean you won't be involved in what happens next?" Qixia asked.

"I won't, I'm waiting to die." Jiang Ruoxue entered the room, sat down, and began to rest.

Qixia nodded, picked up the iron box from the table.