The Cycle of Reincarnation in the Four-Courtyard House: A Journey Through the Heavens

Meanwhile, in the library of Cairo, Evelyn was engrossed in studying ancient Egyptian documents and the secrets of ancient ruins, completely unaware of the series of events unfolding outside.

Just then, a tall and elegant figure quietly appeared beside her.

When Evelyn looked up and saw the young and handsome Eastern man in front of her, she paused slightly and was momentarily stunned.

She had traveled extensively and met many travelers from the East, but she had never seen such a handsome and distinguished man.

The young man before me had a handsome and refined face, a tall and straight posture, and a gentle and elegant demeanor, yet he also carried the air of someone in a superior position. Every gesture he made exuded confidence and composure.

Such a temperament and appearance stirred a strange flutter in Evelyn's heart, who was used to seeing exotic sights.

Noticing her gaze, Li Xiao's lips curled into a gentle and composed smile. He nodded lightly to her and said, "Hello, beautiful lady, my name is Li Xiao, and I come from China."

Upon hearing this, Evelyn immediately snapped out of her daze and walked lightly to Li Xiao's side, her fair and delicate face bearing a polite smile.

She extended a slender, fair hand with elegant and graceful movements: "Hello, my name is Evelyn."

Li Xiao raised his hand and gently shook hers. The touch of his fingertips was warm and gentle, just the right amount of touch, without the slightest hint of frivolity.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, he released her hand, turned and sat down on a wooden chair nearby, and said directly, "Miss Evelyn, I've heard that you are an expert in ancient Egyptian history and relics. I've come here today to ask you some questions on related topics."

Evelyn, who had initially appeared somewhat shy and gentle, suddenly lit up with a dazzling light upon hearing these words, her beautiful blue eyes sparkling.

Her lifelong passion was the study of ancient Egyptian history and relics, and hearing that someone had come specifically to ask her about related issues immediately piqued her great interest.

Seeing this, Li Xiao didn't hesitate and casually took out a small, octagonal box that was entirely black and had an antique design from his pocket.

The engraved patterns on the box were obscure and mysterious, carrying an aura of ancient times. He raised his hand and gently handed the box to Evelyn, waiting for her to examine it.

Evelyn quickly reached out and took the octagonal black box. It was slightly cool to the touch, and its ancient and weighty texture was immediately apparent.

With a serious expression, she stared intently at the box, carefully studying the obscure and distorted ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs on its surface, which had long been lost. Her fingertips gently caressed the mottled patterns, comparing them again and again with the ancient records in her mind.

After some careful exploration, a crisp "click" was heard, and the antique black box was opened.

The upper part of the box resembles layers of blooming black flowers, evenly divided into eight triangular modules that unfold and open outwards, showcasing an ingenious and masterful structure.

Inside the box lay a piece of parchment paper with slightly yellowed edges and an antique texture, showing the marks of time, yet it was perfectly preserved without any damage.

Evelyn's heart skipped a beat. She immediately took out the blueprints, laid them flat on the table, and bent down to study them carefully.

The drawings depict complex desert landscapes, hidden landmarks, and ancient rune routes, with intricate lines yet clear organization.

Relying on her profound knowledge, and combining it with the hidden clues and rune records on the blueprints, her pupils contracted as she arrived at a startling conclusion.

This is no ordinary map of a ruin; it is a map of the ruins of Hamunaptra, the city of the dead that disappeared three thousand years ago and which countless archaeologists have spent their entire lives searching for but have never found!

Upon confirming the origin of the blueprints, Evelyn couldn't hide her excitement. She quickly looked up at Li Xiao in front of her, her eyes filled with caution and inquiry: "Mr. Li, this blueprint is extremely unusual. It seems to be a map of the legendary ruins of the City of the Dead. I'd like to take it to the curator for further examination and confirmation, is that alright?"

Li Xiao remained calm and nodded slightly in agreement: "Okay."

After receiving permission, Evelyn immediately took the drawings and hurried toward the library's office area.

The curator is a middle-aged man in his fifties with a full beard and a solemn expression. He has been deeply involved in archaeology for many years and is highly respected in the field of ancient Egyptian ruins research.

Upon hearing that a map of what appears to be the site of Hamunaptra had been discovered, the curator immediately took a magnifying glass and examined the map line by line, carefully scrutinizing the runes and verifying the topographical clues with utmost concentration.

A moment later, in order to confirm the material of the drawing and whether there were any hidden records on the back, the curator subconsciously raised his hand and flipped the drawing over, wanting to check the texture information on the back of the drawing.

However, his movements were a little too large, and as he raised his hand, a corner of the drawing went straight toward the lit candle on the table.

The candlelight flickered, its warm glow already close to the edge of the yellowed parchment; a mere touch would ignite the drawing instantly!

Li Xiao, who was sitting quietly by the side, took in the whole scene. He knew the original plot well and also knew that the curator in front of him was not a bad person.

After confirming the authenticity of the blueprints, the curator named Terence deliberately attempted to burn them to prevent Evelyn and her brother from opening Imhotep's coffin and causing unforeseen consequences, thus extinguishing their hopes of exploring the ruins.

With the events of his past life still vivid in his mind, he naturally wouldn't let history repeat itself.

Just as the flame was about to touch the blueprint, Li Xiao flicked the candle flame with his finger.

With a soft "whoosh," a wisp of wind extinguished the candle flame, and wisps of smoke slowly rose into the air.

The sudden turn of events startled both the curator and Evelyn. Looking at the extinguished candles and then at the undamaged blueprints of the City of the Dead, the two instinctively glanced at the composed Li Xiao, their hearts filled with astonishment.

After a brief silence, Li Xiao, a faint smile playing on his lips, broke the silence first: "Director Terence, what are the results of your appraisal?"

Terence snapped out of his reverie upon hearing this, a deep sense of worry flashing across his eyes. He had studied ancient Egyptian ruins for decades and knew all too well the legend and danger of Hamunaptra. That city of the dead, which had disappeared three thousand years ago, was never a sacred ancient site, but rather a perilous place hiding endless curses and eerie dangers.

But looking at the unique ancient runes and precise desert topography markings on the map in his hand, and upholding the rigorous and truth-seeking nature of a scholar, he suppressed his concerns and solemnly nodded, saying, "That's right, it's real. From the runic dating and topographical markings to the ancient totem markings, it perfectly matches the lost records of the ancient Egyptian royal family. This is indeed a complete map of the ruins of Hamunaptra, the city of the dead that disappeared three thousand years ago."