I work as a security guard at a cemetery, and I overhear the dead chatting about getting rich quick.

That night, Lin Ye finally couldn't resist.

He stood on the outer edge of the west area, looking at the blue fence in the direction of the back mountain.

The noise from the machinery behind the fence was kept very low.

hum.

hum.

Unlike ordinary construction equipment, it's more like someone has inserted something into the ground and is probing deeper and deeper.

Xiaoman stood half a step behind him.

"You want to go there."

Lin Ye turned off the flashlight.

"I'll just take a look."

Xiaoman looked at him.

"This statement is usually unreliable."

"Really," Lin Ye said. "Without using any equipment or even meeting anyone in person, we'll just go around to the outer side of the back mountain and see what they're doing."

Xiaoman paused for two seconds.

"Ten minutes."

Lin Ye nodded immediately.

"OK."

"Watch and then leave."

"OK."

"If you try to crawl in, I'll knock you out."

Lin Ye paused in his steps.

"Can we discuss this?"

Xiaoman didn't say anything.

Lin Ye sighed.

"Fine, you've got the bigger fist, so you get to call the shots."

The two did not take the right path.

The night patrol route has been adjusted, and the reserved land behind the mountain and the old drainage culvert area have become construction control zones.

There are staff on duty at the main gate, side gates, and entrances/exits of the fence.

If Lin Ye were to actually go that way, it would be like putting his face right under someone's surveillance camera.

Xiaoman led him down a side road.

Go behind the old cypress tree on the outermost side of the west section, cross a low drainage ditch, and then walk along the bushes on the outer side of the back mountain.

This road is not easy to travel.

The ground was covered with wet mud and gravel.

Lin Ye had just been trained by Xiao Man for a few days, and his legs were still sore. He felt like cursing after taking only a few steps.

But he didn't say anything.

Xiaoman walked ahead, like a shadow in the night.

It avoids stepping on dead branches and touching bushes, and it's quite fast.

Lin Ye worked very hard to keep up.

He wanted to ask her several times if she had silent wheels on her feet.

They were also afraid that if they opened their mouths, they would reveal their locations first.

endured.

When the two went around to the outside of the back mountain, the lights behind the fence had already come on.

It's not a construction headlight.

It's a very low-powered, cool white light.

Light leaked through the gaps in the fence, falling on the ground like narrow white lines.

Xiaoman (Grain Buds) stops.

She raised her hand, gesturing for Lin Ye to squat down.

Lin Ye immediately squatted down.

The movements were very practiced.

The survival instincts I developed from being thrown around these past few days finally came in handy.

The two hid behind a bush.

From this angle, you can see part of the interior through the gaps between the fences.

Lin Ye only glanced at it, and his scalp tingled.

The area inside the fenced-off area was not simply a matter of equipment debugging.

The sealing layer on the outside of the old drainage culvert has been removed.

Several support frames were placed on both sides of the opening.

The ground was covered with anti-slip mats.

A portable light set was placed next to it, with the light beams pointing downwards, illuminating a cold white area.

A gas detector was placed next to the entrance of the hole, and the screen displayed the readings.

Two workers are placing a small robot into the culvert entrance. The robot has a camera and tracks at the front, and looks like a metal worm.

There were also low-noise cutting tools nearby, with cables wound up in a circle.

Several black sealed shipping boxes were placed further away, with the lids open and thick shock-absorbing foam padding inside.

Lin Ye's breathing slowed down as he watched.

This is not a drainage system renovation.

This is modern tomb raiding.

He lowered his voice.

"They even prepared the boxes."

Xiaoman saw it too.

Her face was expressionless, but her hand was already on the small bag at her waist.

"Prepare to evacuate."

Lin Ye looked at her.

"Let's take another look."

Xiaoman stared at him.

"You promised."

"Not ten minutes have passed yet."

"This isn't right."

"I know," Lin Ye said in an even lower voice. "It's precisely because something's not right that we need to know how far they've gone."

Xiaoman looked at him for two seconds and then didn't say anything more.

Inside the fenced-off area, Xing Shanhe stood at the entrance of the old drainage culvert, wearing a safety helmet and holding a tablet.

Luo Xiaohu squatted next to the gas detector, staring at the screen.

"Oxygen levels are normal, and there is no alarm for combustible gases."

Xing Shanhe hummed in agreement.

"The robot will go in three meters first, don't rush."

Luo Xiaohu asked in a low voice, "Brother Shan, what happens after three meters?"

"Look at the image."

What if it's empty inside?

Xing Shanhe glanced at him.

Luo Xiaohu immediately changed his tune.

"I just want to ask about the operating procedures."

Xing Shanhe didn't scold him, he just stared at the cave entrance.

"If this place doesn't follow the procedures, we'll probably have to stay inside."

Luo Xiaohu swallowed.

"clear."

The robot slowly crawled into the hole.

The tracks made a very quiet sound.

The image on the screen is shaky.

Luo Xiaohu's expression changed little by little.

"Brother Shan".

"explain."

"There are no pipes inside."

Xing Shanhe remained silent.

Luo Xiaohu added, "It's like a hollow space."

Xing Shanhe took the tablet from him.

The light shone on his face, and his eyes were very deep.

After a long pause, he said, "Cut the sealing layer."

The two people next to them immediately picked up low-noise cutting tools.

Xiaoman grabbed Lin Ye's shoulder.

"Walk."

The forest didn't move.

Because at that very instant, he heard a sound in his ear.

The voices weren't from people inside the construction site.

It wasn't the sound of the elderly people in the East District arguing about burning paper money.

The sound was even lower.

Like squeezing it out little by little from the soil.

"They're going in."

Lin Ye's back stiffened instantly.

The second sound followed.

"Those old geezers down there have woken up."

The third voice was very soft, but it carried a hint of schadenfreude.

"This is going to be interesting."

Lin Ye crouched behind the bushes, his fingers tightening little by little.

Seeing his reaction, Xiaoman immediately lowered her voice.

"Did you hear something?"

Lin Ye's Adam's apple bobbed.

"Um."

"What did you say?"

Just as Lin Ye was about to speak, a lazy voice suddenly came from behind him.

"I want to know too."

Lin Ye felt a chill run through his body.

Xiaoman is faster than him.

She moved almost the instant the sound appeared.

There was no turning back to confirm, no unnecessary actions.

Her body was like a taut string; she turned around right on the ground, her right hand grabbing the wrist of the person behind her, while her left elbow pressed down on the other person's ribs.

So fast that Lin Ye could only see a dark shadow.

Available in the next second.

Xiaoman stopped moving.

She didn't stop it herself.

It was forced to stop.

Master Lai stood in the shadow of the tree, still holding the thermos in his arms.

He still looked like he hadn't woken up yet.

Her hair was a bit messy, and her coat wasn't buttoned up properly.

But his right hand was already resting on Xiaoman's elbow at some point.

It's just a gentle twist.

Xiaoman's strength in her entire arm dissipated.

She reacted extremely quickly, raising her knee to strike.

Master Lai shifted half a step to the side, pressing his toes against the spot where she landed.

Then he placed a palm on her shoulder.

Xiaoman's body sank.

Kneel on one knee.

Her knee slammed into the wet mud on the ground with a dull thud.

Lin Ye felt a chill run down his spine.

He knew Xiaomanqiang.

These past few days, Xiaoman's tumbles have made him question his existence, and he knows very well that she is no ordinary person.

But now, under Master Lai's guidance, it's as if all her moves have been anticipated.

It's not that Xiaoman (the 14th solar term) is weak.

Master Lai is too strong, so strong that he seems inhuman.

Xiaoman wanted to get up again.

Master Lai whispered, "Don't move."

His fingers landed on a spot behind her shoulder.

Xiaoman's expression changed for the first time.

She didn't cry out in pain.

But the veins on his forehead suddenly bulged out.

Lin Ye was about to step back.

Master Lai had already put his other hand on his shoulder.

The movements are slow.

It even looks like it was just a casual snapshot.

But Lin Ye's body went numb on one side instantly.

From my shoulder to my fingers, it felt like I'd been electrocuted.

His legs went weak, and he almost knelt down.

Master Lai helped him up.

"Don't fall, you still have to walk later."

Lin Ye gritted his teeth.

"Master Lai, your service is quite attentive."

Master Lai smiled.

"I am a kind-hearted person."

Lin Ye glanced at Xiao Man, who was being held down.

"So kind-hearted as to launch a sneak attack?"

"You two sneaked out onto the outskirts of the construction area in the middle of the night," Master Lai said slowly. "I call this catching thieves."

"We didn't go in."

"You're ready to go in."

"Which eye did you see it with?"

Master Lai raised his finger and pointed to his ear.

"I heard you."

Lin Ye didn't respond immediately.

Master Lai looked at him, his eyes gradually clearing.

That hazy, half-awake feeling is gone.

Instead, something very bright was introduced.

Like an old dog suddenly opening its eyes and spotting its prey.

Master Lai looked down at Xiaoman.

"Don't worry, I won't kill you."

Lin Ye gritted his teeth: "Then I should thank you?"

"No need," Master Lai said. "You're a key person the organization is paying close attention to; you'll still be useful down below."

This was said very softly.

But Lin Ye felt a chill run down his spine upon hearing this.

Inside the fenced-off area, the sound of cutting tools continued.

Nourishes—

Nourishes—

The voice was very low, yet it felt like a knife slowly cutting into bone.

Lin Ye looked toward the old drainage culvert.

The people over there have already cut a slit in the sealing layer.

When the cold white light shines inside, it's completely dark.

It was so dark that even the light seemed to have been swallowed up.

Xing Shanhe walked to the cave entrance and whispered something.

Luo Xiaohu handed over the gas detector.

Several people began to reinforce the support frame.

All movements were performed skillfully.

The fact that he was so skilled made Lin Ye feel even more uneasy.

This isn't the first time they've done something like this.

Master Lai followed his gaze.

"You saw it?"

Lin Ye didn't answer.

Master Lai said, "This is no ordinary culvert."

Lin Ye sneered.

"Didn't you already know?"

"Knowing is one thing, but when we get to the door, we still have to be careful." Master Lai hugged his thermos tightly.

Xiaoman gritted her teeth, her voice very low.

"Let him go."

Master Lai looked at her.

"You can't protect him now."

Xiaoman looked up, her eyes as cold as knives.

"That's not a reason for you to take him away."

Master Lai nodded.

"Quite loyal."

Xiaoman's shoulder twitched.

Master Lai pressed his fingers down slightly.

Sweat immediately broke out on her forehead.

Lin Ye immediately said, "Don't touch her."

Master Lai looked at him.

Lin Ye endured the numbness in his shoulder, his voice deep.

"You're taking me with you. She's just there to protect me."

"I know."

Master Lai released his hand from Xiaoman's shoulder, but did not completely let go of her.

"So she has to go down too."

Lin Ye's expression changed.

"What do you mean?"

Master Lai raised his chin and pointed to the cave entrance.

"The situation down there is unclear. You can hear, and she can fight. Both are quite useful."

Lin Ye stared at him.

"Your division of labor in tomb raiding is quite clear."

Master Lai actually thought about it seriously.

"After all, times have changed."

Lin Ye laughed in exasperation.

"You're really not being polite."

Master Lai looked at him and said slowly, "Lin Ye, I know you can hear what they're saying."

This sentence made Lin Ye pause for a moment.

Master Lai looked at the old drainage culvert.

"I can feel something down there, and I can sense that something is wrong. But I can't hear the dead talking."

He turned to look at the woods.

"You can hear me."

Lin Ye's last shred of hope vanished completely.

He always thought these people were just speculating that something was wrong with him.

It now seems that Master Lai has made his intentions clear.

Lin Ye asked, "Who told you that?"

Master Lai smiled.

"If you don't want others to know, then don't do it in the first place. You're still too young."

Lin Ye thought those words were incredibly rude and provocative.

But his shoulder is still numb, so he's really not qualified to make a move.

Inside the construction site, someone whispered:

"Captain Xing, the stitches have come open."

Xing Shanhe turned to look at the shadows of the trees.

Master Lai raised his hand.

"Bring it over."

Two tomb raiders came in through the side gate of the enclosure.

He was clearly taken aback when he saw Xiaoman and Linye.

Luo Xiaohu also came over.

He saw Xiaoman kneeling on one knee, and then his eyes changed when he looked at the thermos in Master Lai's hand.

"Master Lai, this..."

Master Lai didn't look at him.

"Ask less."

Luo Xiaohu immediately shut up.

Xing Shanhe walked closer.

He looked at Lin Ye first, then Xiao Man, and finally Master Lai.

"Did you catch them?"

"Hmm," Master Lai said, "This security guard is more useful than the equipment."

Lin Ye looked at Xing Shanhe.

Xing Shanhe was also looking at him.

The two stared at each other for a second.

Lin Ye spoke first.

"Your drainage system renovation is quite drastic."

Luo Xiaohu couldn't help but almost burst out laughing.

Xing Shanhe glanced at him.

Luo Xiaohu immediately lowered his head.

Xing Shanhe looked at Lin Ye and said, "You're pretty stubborn."

Lin Ye: "It's alright, mainly my shoulder is numb, only my mouth is still usable."

Xing Shanhe ignored him and asked Master Lai, "What about Miss Su?"

Master Lai said, "Take it with you."

Xiaoman was finally relieved.

When she stood up, her shoulders visibly stiffened.

Lin Ye immediately looked at her.

"Are you alright?"

Xiaoman wiggled her fingers.

"It's not broken."

Lin Ye was about to speak when Xiao Man looked at Master Lai and suddenly said, "You borrowed strength just now."

Master Lai smiled.

"You figured it out?"

"It's not pure strength."

"Of course not." Master Lai unscrewed the lid of the thermos, blew on it, and said, "My old bones are no match for your young people's strength."

Xiaoman stared at him.

"You are not an ordinary person."

Master Lai screwed the lid back on.

"Neither do you."

Xiaoman didn't say anything more.

But the way she looked at Master Lai changed.

The group was led into the enclosure.

The inside looks more like a temporary underground construction site than the outside.

The entrance to the cave was covered with a dustproof cloth.

The support frame has already held the sealing layer in place on both sides.

Gas detectors were set up one after another.

The endoscope is connected to the screen.

The portable light set shone on the entrance of the cave, but the light did not penetrate deeply.

The cut opening was eerily dark.

The sealed shipping boxes were neatly arranged to one side, as if they had been prepared to receive something for a long time.

Lin Ye looked at the boxes and his heart sank.

Xiaoman whispered, "Don't move around."

"I know."

"And don't talk nonsense."

Lin Ye looked at her.

Xiaoman looked ahead.

"They need you now."

Lin Ye understood what she meant.

As long as Master Lai thinks he is useful, he will not take action against him immediately.

But this "usefulness" is itself very dangerous.

Master Lai walked to the entrance of the old drainage culvert and suddenly stopped.

He closed his eyes.

This time, he was in a completely different state.

Lin Ye could see it very clearly.

When Master Lai stood at the cave entrance, his back was a little straighter than before.

The brightness under the eyes is even more pronounced.

He took a breath.

It's very light.

Then he laughed.

Xing Shanhe asked, "Master Lai, is it time to go down?"

Master Lai nodded.

"able."

After he finished speaking, he turned to look at Lin Ye.

"You felt it too, didn't you?"

Lin Ye didn't answer.

He actually sensed it.

From the moment I entered the enclosure, especially as I got closer to this opening, the heaviness in my chest seemed to dissipate a little.

My ears are clear.

Even the sound of leaves rustling in the wind in the distance can be heard in distinct layers.

And there were whispers coming from underground.

Getting closer.

It's becoming clearer and clearer.

"Don't pretend," Master Lai said. "You look much better now."

Lin Ye touched his face.

"I might just be mentally disturbed by the fright."

Master Lai smiled.

It wasn't exposed.

He looked toward the entrance to the old drainage culvert, his voice gradually softening.

"I know you can hear what they're saying."

"So after you go down, walk next to me."

Lin Ye raised his eyes.

"Can I refuse?"

Master Lai looked at him.

"cannot."

"Then what did you ask?"

"Be polite."

Lin Ye: "..."

Master Lai, holding his thermos, took a step toward the cave entrance.

From the darkness, a sound came again.

This time, Lin Ye heard it clearly.

"The living person is coming down."

"Damn tomb raiders."

Lin Ye froze.

Master Lai stopped and looked back at him.

"Did you hear that?"

Lin Ye didn't say anything.

Master Lai's smile faded slightly.

"Linye."

His voice wasn't loud, but it was so oppressive it made it hard to breathe.

"If you don't tell the truth, I'll kill this woman right in front of you."

Lin Ye looked at the darkness deep inside the old drainage culvert.

My palms are getting cold.

Xiaoman stood beside him, her shoulder not fully recovered, but she had already blocked his path by half a step.

Master Lai saw it but ignored it.

He simply raised his hand and pointed to the cave entrance.

"Let's go."

"Come down with us."