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

After the shaft was revealed, the tomb passage remained quiet for a while.

Nobody was in a hurry to go down.

It's not that I don't want to.

That vertical shaft doesn't look like it's meant for living people to walk through.

The well opening was small, and the four walls were made of dark gray stones. There was hardened mud in the cracks between the stones. When the light shone in, it was swallowed up by darkness after going down a short distance.

The patterns on the stone wall were covered with dust.

giant.

Flash flood.

Broken bone.

Sacrificial ceremony.

The human figure pattern of Torgui.

These things mixed together don't look like normal tomb decorations at all.

Luo Xiaohu squatted down by the well and shone a lamp down into the water.

"Brother Shan, is this... the tomb passage?"

Xing Shanhe did not answer.

He lowered the probe and probed for a while before saying, "It's not a vertical well. There's a gentle slope below; you can walk on it."

"Just because you can go down doesn't mean you can come back alive, right?"

Xing Shanhe looked up at him.

Luo Xiaohu immediately pursed his lips.

"I'll shut up."

Master Lai stood at the edge of the well, staring into the darkness below.

His expression was completely different from before.

He seemed to wake up on the first floor.

On the second floor, he seemed to regain his senses.

When he arrived at the shaft, he felt as if he were being lifted up by something.

His eyes brightened, his back straightened, and he looked younger overall.

Lin Ye looked at him, feeling even more uneasy.

The more energetic the old man is, the more something is wrong down there.

Xing Shanhe had someone set up the equipment.

The ground-penetrating radar was pushed near the wellhead, and the screen flickered as soon as it lit up.

The technician frowned.

"The signal is unstable."

Luo Xiaohu leaned over to take a look.

The screen should have shown a layered reaction, but instead, a large black area appeared in the middle.

It's not that there's no data.

It's more like there's a place that's swallowed up the data.

Luo Xiaohu's face was almost pressed against the screen.

"What does this 'black zone' mean?"

The technician whispered, "I don't know."

"I didn't know you were so calm?"

"Would it be of any use if I were afraid?"

Luo Xiaohu thought for a moment.

That makes sense.

Xing Shanhe glanced at the screen.

"Change your perspective."

The technician moved the equipment half a meter to the side.

The screen is still flickering.

The black zone is still there.

Moreover, the edges are like fog, sometimes large and sometimes small.

Xing Shanhe's face darkened.

"Write it down."

"Yes."

Another person next to him put down his communication device.

"Team Leader Xing, the signal down here is very poor. The repeater we just deployed is giving intermittent feedback."

Xing Shanhe asked, "How far can it go?"

"It's barely within ten meters. Any further and the sound will cut off."

Luo Xiaohu scratched his head.

"It broke after only a few meters? Our cell phones are more reliable than this in an elevator."

Xing Shanhe glanced at him.

"You're using this place as an elevator?"

Luo Xiaohu immediately replied, "I wouldn't dare."

The gas detector was lowered.

A few seconds later, the value popped up on the screen.

"Oxygen levels are normal."

"No alarm was triggered for hazardous gases."

"The temperature is too low."

"The humidity is too high."

None of them sound bad.

But none of the people present relaxed.

The more normal things appear on the surface, the more it indicates that the problem lies elsewhere.

Before the first group of tomb raiders had even officially left, having only sent the lights and detectors a little below the shaft, some of them already looked rather grim.

"I feel a bit tightness in my chest."

Xing Shanhe immediately checked the gas detector.

The values ​​are still normal.

He said, "Get back up."

After being pulled up, the man paused for a few seconds before his complexion improved.

Luo Xiaohu felt a chill run down his spine.

"Brother Shan, this isn't poison gas, is it?"

"The instrument didn't report anything."

"Then what's making him so depressed?"

Xing Shanhe looked down into the shaft.

"That's why it's troublesome."

Try pressing the light assembly down.

The cold white light had just shone into the well when it suddenly dimmed.

It's not extinguished.

It looks like it's been covered with a thin layer of dust.

The person in charge of the lighting patted the lights.

The lights came on again.

He looked up at Xing Shanhe.

"The battery is full."

Xing Shanhe said, "Prepare two sets."

"clear."

Luo Xiaohu took a compass out of his toolbox.

The pointer was stable at first.

As it turned to the wellhead, it suddenly began to sway gently.

First it swayed left and right.

Then he spun half a circle.

Luo Xiaohu stared at it.

"Brother Shan".

Xing Shanhe looked over.

Luo Xiaohu handed him the compass.

"It's acting strangely."

Xing Shanhe took it, glanced at it, and then handed it back.

"Put it away."

"what?"

"We won't use it below."

Luo Xiaohu swallowed.

"Brother Shan, I'm starting to miss mobile navigation."

Lin Ye listened from the side and whispered, "I miss it too."

Master Lai glanced at them and smiled.

"You expect to use navigation when entering a tomb?"

Lin Ye said, "Having navigation can at least remind you that the road ahead is dangerous and you should drive carefully."

Master Lai said slowly, "I don't need it to remind me."

"Who reminded you?"

Master Lai looked down into the shaft.

"This place will remind you itself."

Upon hearing this, Luo Xiaohu's face turned even paler.

Lin Ye wasn't much better off.

Because he really heard the sounds from below.

It wasn't the kind of broken ritual inscription found in the Warring States period tomb earlier.

Instead, it's even lower.

farther.

Like someone slowly dragging an old bell through the darkness, separated by many layers of stones.

thump.

thump.

thump.

One sound after another, no rush.

It didn't seem like they were rushing me.

It was as if it had always been there, but now they had finally moved to a position where they could hear it.

The sound wasn't directed at anyone in particular.

I don't even know that there's a person named Lin Ye standing at the well's mouth.

It was just that it was too old and too deeply buried, and they disturbed it little by little.

Lin Ye subconsciously raised his hand and pressed his ear.

Xiaoman immediately looked at him.

"You heard that again?"

Lin Ye nodded.

"Like a drum."

Xiaoman frowned.

"I didn't hear you."

"Not the kind that comes from inside the ear," Lin Ye said softly, "It feels like it's coming from below."

Xiaoman looked at his face.

"Your complexion has improved again."

Lin Ye was stunned.

"Is that so?"

"have."

"This tomb even has a health regeneration function?"

Xiaoman thought about it carefully.

"Like fast charging."

Lin Ye: "..."

This girl's analogy has finally become truly down-to-earth.

But now is not the time to complain.

Because Lin Ye himself also sensed it.

From the first floor to the second floor, he only felt that his ears were clearer and his body was lighter.

The feeling became even stronger when we reached the shaft.

My shoulders don't ache anymore.

The pain from back training has also faded.

My mind is clearer than before.

It was as if someone had washed away all the messy fatigue in his body, little by little.

This feels so good.

It was so comfortable it gave me the creeps.

Xiaoman whispered, "Something's not right."

Lin Ye hummed in agreement.

"I know."

"The more comfortable it is, the less you should believe it."

Master Lai suddenly turned around and looked at him.

His gaze was even deeper than before.

"You feel comfortable too?"

Lin Ye remained unfazed.

"No, I'm scared."

Master Lai smiled.

"It doesn't look like it."

"Master Lai, can't people respect each other's privacy?"

"Not really right now."

Lin Ye: "..."

Master Lai looked at him and lowered his voice.

"Do you know why you feel comfortable?"

Lin Ye didn't answer.

Master Lai didn't really expect him to answer.

He looked back at the wellhead.

"The air here is cleaner than up here."

Lin Ye frowned.

"gas?"

You can think of it as the things below spreading outwards.

"What are you talking about?"

Master Lai smiled.

"No rush."

Lin Ye looked at him.

This is the part that the old man hates the most.

Speak only half the story, leave the other half unsaid.

Like fishing.

But Lin Ye is now a fish.

Su Tinglan stood not far away and heard Master Lai's word "qi" as her fingers tightened slightly.

She knew what Master Lai was talking about.

It is also known that Lin Ye most likely does not know.

But Lin Ye didn't know, just because he couldn't sense it.

He is even more special than Master Lai.

She suddenly felt a little regretful.

It's not that I regret letting Lin Ye come down.

That's too hypocritical to say.

What she regretted was that she hadn't made it clearer that "some of it wasn't an act" before things started getting out of control.

But it's too late to say anything now.

Xing Shanhe's men have already lowered the first safety rope.

"Check it one last time before going down the well."

His voice was very steady.

"First group, Lao Fang and Zhao He, you go down ten meters first and set up the second level of support."

"The second group includes lights and gas detectors."

"The third group brings equipment."

"Lin Ye and Master Lai."

As he said this, he looked at Chen Jin and Bai Yuan.

"You two and Miss Su."

Chen Jin nodded.

Bai Yuan nodded as well.

Xiaoman looked at Xing Shanhe.

"I want to sit in front of or behind him."

Xing Shanhe remained silent, looking at Master Lai.

Master Lai waved his hand.

"Let her go."

Bai Yuan frowned.

"Master Lai"

"It's alright," Master Lai said. "This girl is very protective. Not letting her get close to Lin Ye would only cause trouble."

Xiaoman looked at Master Lai.

"Pay attention to your word choice."

Master Lai paused for a moment.

"It's very well protected."

Xiaoman then looked away.

Lin Ye wanted to laugh.

Master Lai isn't entirely clueless.

I know that some words shouldn't be used indiscriminately.

After the first group of tomb raiders went down, several low responses came from below.

"A stable footing."

"There is a slope."

"There are carvings on the stone wall."

"You can continue."

Xing Shanhe waited another half minute before letting the second group leave.

The team is advancing very slowly.

It's not cowardice.

The more professional someone is, the more they know that this is a place where you can't rush things.

Lin Ye stood by the well, watching the rope being lowered inch by inch, his palms starting to sweat.

It's not because I'm afraid of heights.

It was because the drumbeats were becoming clearer and clearer.

thump.

thump.

thump.

Xiaoman stood behind him.

Just before it was their turn to go down, Su Tinglan suddenly walked over.

She handed Lin Ye a spare lighting clip.

"Put this on the inside."

Lin Ye glanced at it but didn't take it.

Su Tinglan's hand stopped in mid-air.

It was very quiet around.

Xiaoman glanced at her but didn't reach out.

In the end, Lin Ye accepted.

"Thanks."

The tone was very polite.

They were as polite as strangers.

Su Tinglan lowered her eyes.

"The signal below may drop, and the lights may become unstable. This is a mechanical latch."

Lin Ye fastened the seatbelt to the inside.

"Miss Su has made very thoughtful preparations."

Su Tinglan twitched her finger.

"You don't have to call me that."

Lin Ye looked at her.

"What's it called?"

Su Tinglan did not answer.

He used to call her Su Tinglan.

It is also called Guotinglan.

At hot pot restaurants, at movie theaters, at the intersection of Nanqiao Street.

Those titles now seem inappropriate, as if illuminated by a cold white light.

Lin Ye didn't wait for her to answer.

He looked down to check his safety buckle.

"Never mind, let's go down."

Su Tinglan stood still, without saying anything more.

Xiaoman glanced at Lin Ye.

Lin Ye didn't look at her.

Xing Shanhe whispered from the front, "Lin Ye, it's your turn."

Master Lai was already standing by the shaft.

He was also wearing a safety harness, but he stood more steadily than the others.

It's like stepping on the edge of a well with one foot and the doorway to another world with the other.

Lin Ye walked over.

As I approached the wellhead, the comfortable feeling became even more pronounced.

Cool.

wide awake.

It makes you want to keep going.

Lin Ye suddenly understood why Master Lai was becoming more and more energetic.

If the area above is a plateau with thin air...

So, for Master Lai, what's down there might be an oxygen chamber.

Xing Shanhe's men handed over the deduction button.

Xiaoman checked it herself.

"Is it tight?"

Lin Ye said, "It's alright."

"Is it tight or not?"

"This is much gentler than the last time you grabbed me by the back of my collar."

Xiaoman said, "I saved you that time."

"I know," Lin Ye smiled.

Xiaoman pressed the buttons tight.

"After you get off, I'll be behind you."

"Um."

"Tell me what you heard first."

"Know."

"Don't make the judgment alone."

Lin Ye paused for a moment.

"it is good."

He answered very seriously.

Xiaoman glanced at him, as if to confirm that he wasn't being sarcastic this time.

Master Lai smiled to himself.

"Have the young couple finished explaining?"

Lin Ye looked at him.

"Master Lai, if you can't speak properly, you can lend me your thermos, and I'll stop you from speaking."

Master Lai laughed heartily.

"Great, you're in high spirits."

Xing Shanhe didn't laugh.

He only glanced at the time.

"Down."

Lin Ye stepped down the stone steps along the edge of the well.

The stone steps are very narrow.

Unlike the steps that were built later, these are more like the footholds that were originally carved into the stone wall.

When I stepped on it, I felt a very cold sensation under my feet.

The light shone down from above, making the engravings on the well wall appear to flicker.

Lin Ye took a few steps down.

The gentle slope beneath our feet slowly came into view.

This shaft is not straight up and down to the bottom; instead, after descending to a certain height, it connects to a downward-sloping stone path.

At the end of the stone path, there is a very low stone gate.

The gate was half-buried in the ground, with a section of stone pillar on each side, the pillars engraved with blurred patterns.

There are words on the door.

not many.

But every stroke was pressed very deeply.

Su Tinglan followed behind and saw Lin Ye stop, so she also raised her lamp and shone it over.

She frowned as she tried to make out the details.

"seal up……"

The light shines down along the stone gate.

"Feng Feng".

She then looked to the side.

"Shou Kei."

Below that was a line of even lighter text.

She looked for a long time before whispering:

Do not open.

As soon as those three words were uttered, the entire shaft fell silent.

Luo Xiaohu whispered from below, "What does that mean?"

No one answered.

Lin Ye understood the general meaning.

Even if you don't know, you can guess.

Feng Feng.

Shougui.

Do not open.

Every word seemed unwelcoming to the guests.

Master Lai reached out and touched those words.

His fingers were trembling slightly.

It's not fear.

It's excitement.

"That's right."

He kept his voice very low.

"This is it."

Lin Ye looked at the words "Do not open" and suddenly wanted to turn around and go back.

But their escape route has been blocked.

The person above is Xing Shanhe.

Next is Xiaoman (Grain Buds).

Further behind are Su Tinglan, Chen Jin, and Bai Yuan.

The person in front is Master Lai.

Below came the continuous drumbeats.

thump.

thump.

thump.

This time, it's even clearer than before.

It wasn't something I heard with my ears.

It felt like something gently tapped inside my bones.

Lin Ye gripped the safety rope tightly.

Xiaoman asked in a low voice from behind him, "What's wrong?"

Lin Ye looked at the darkness behind the stone gate.

"It rang again."

Xiaoman asked, "A drum?"

Lin Ye nodded.

Master Lai could not hear any specific sounds.

But he could feel the changes in the energy flow, one after another.

He closed his eyes, and the smile on his face gradually widened.

There's something behind the door.

Lin Ye said in a low voice, "Isn't that obvious?"

Master Lai opened his eyes.

"It's not an ordinary thing."

Behind the stone gate, that low, rumbling vibration came again.

thump.

The entire stone path seemed to tremble slightly.

Luo Xiaohu cursed from the front.

"Holy crap."

Xing Shanhe's voice came through the walkie-talkie intermittently.

"Everyone... stay still... don't move."

The signal crackled twice and then dropped again.

Lin Ye looked down at the stone gate.

At that moment, he suddenly had a very clear feeling.

They were not entering a tomb.

It's more like waking up something that's been locked up for a long time, layer by layer.