Tomb raiding live stream: Starting as the mute Zhang

The way out of the cave was more difficult than the way in.

Collapsed rocks, broken stone bridges, and ground corroded with venom all became obstacles. Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" took turns clearing the way. When they encountered cliffs and deep ravines, they swung across with ropes; when they encountered blocked passages, they found weak points and skillfully broke through them. Chen Man was carried on "Zhang Qiling's" back the whole time. His steps were extremely steady, and even carrying someone, he was not affected at all when leaping among the slippery rocks.

Lin Guoce, Jiang Shouyi, Kun Ge, and Wang Yihan followed closely behind, with Jiang Xungu bringing up the rear. Wu Xie, Fatty, and Xie Yuchen stood guard in the middle. The atmosphere was heavy, with only heavy breathing and the sound of footsteps; no one spoke. Occasionally, a piece of gravel would roll down, sending chills down everyone's spine.

The levitating live-streaming sphere followed silently, its camera capturing the disheveled and silent team as they struggled through the dark and winding underground.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, a faint glimmer of light finally appeared ahead. It was a narrow, upward-facing crack, through which fresh air and the faint sound of water seeped in.

"It's near the upstream tributary of the underground river," Jiang Shouyi said, his voice hoarse.

The crack was narrow, allowing only one person to squeeze through sideways. Zhang Qiling went out to scout first, then returned a moment later, nodding. "Safe."

One by one, the group squeezed out of the crevice. It was early morning outside, the sky just beginning to lighten, and mist swirled among the mountains and forests. They were on a steep slope, and below they could hear the rushing sound of flowing water. In the distance, the outline of the small village they had entered the mountains was faintly visible.

Finally, it's out.

The sunlight shone on their faces, carrying a damp, cool warmth. Everyone felt a sense of unreality, as if they were in another world. Fatty Wang plopped down on the ground, grabbed a handful of dew-covered grass, and took a deep sniff. "Damn it, finally the sun is out again!"

Lin Guoce immediately contacted the outside world via satellite phone, reporting his location and casualties, and requesting medical assistance. Kun Ge and Wang Yihan stayed by Chen Man's side, who was still unconscious, and fed her some water. Jiang Shouyi leaned against a tree, gazing blankly at the mountains they had come from. Professor Zhou Xu'an remained forever under that deep blue "starry sky."

Wu Xie slumped down, looking at his neck, which used to have red spots but was now smooth, his feelings a mix of emotions. The curse was broken, but too many people had died on this trip.

Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" stood on slightly higher ground, looking around. "Zhang Qiling" carefully laid Chen Man flat on a dry rock, checking her pulse and the wound on her back. The wound had not worsened, but she needed to receive proper medical treatment as soon as possible.

"Mr. Zhang," Lin Guoce said, looking tired as he walked over after finishing his call, "the people who are supposed to meet us won't arrive until at least this afternoon. Shall we go down the mountain and wait in the village?"

Zhang Qiling nodded.

The path down the mountain was difficult, but compared to the cemetery, it was paradise. Around noon, they returned to the small border village. The villagers were startled to see this group of ragged, blood-stained, and wounded people return. Recognizing them as the "exploration team" that had gone into the mountains earlier, several elders quickly cleared out a few bamboo houses, boiled water, and cooked hot porridge.

Chen Man was placed on a bamboo bed. The village's herbal doctor came to see her and applied some herbal poultices, but shook his head and said that it could only temporarily stabilize her condition. He said that she still needed to go to the hospital to deal with the internal injuries and poisoning.

In the afternoon, two helicopters roared to life and landed in an open area outside the village. Medical personnel rushed down with a stretcher, carefully secured Chen Man, and were the first to be put on the helicopter. Lin Guoce, Jiang Shouyi, Kun Ge, and Wang Yihan also needed to go back with them to report on the situation and undergo examinations and psychological assessments.

Just before boarding the plane, Lin Guoce walked up to Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" and gave them a solemn salute. "Mr. Zhang, I am deeply grateful. If you need anything in the future, as long as it doesn't violate my principles, I will do my best."

Kun Ge and Wang Yihan also came over and bowed deeply. "Thank you, thank you so much..."

Zhang Qiling waved his hand. Zhang Qiling nodded but didn't say anything.

The helicopter, carrying the original official team and the wounded, took off and disappeared behind the mountains. At the edge of the village, only Zhang Qiling, "Zhang Qiling," Wu Xie, Fatty Wang, Xie Yuchen, Hei Xiazi, Huo Xiuxiu, A Ning, and one person who hadn't boarded the helicopter—Jiang Xun Gu.

He stood to one side with a smile, carrying his bag, watching the helicopter disappear into the distance.

"Aren't you going back?" Black Bear raised an eyebrow.

"Why go back?" Jiang Xun Gu stretched. "What's there to write in the report? We haven't seen enough interesting things in that tomb yet. Besides," he looked at Zhang Qiling and the other man, "following you two big shots is much more interesting than hanging out with those bureaucrats. Take me with you? I'm pretty good at fighting, I can do odd jobs, and I won't hold you back."

Zhang Qiling looked at "Zhang Qiling". "Zhang Qiling" sized up Jiang Xun Gu and nodded.

"Okay," Zhang Qiling uttered a single word.

"Alright!" Jiang Xun Gu laughed. "So, am I considered a member now? Brother Hei, please take good care of me!"

Black Bear chuckled: "You're an interesting kid."

As dusk approached, they thanked the villagers and rented an old, detached bamboo house on the edge of the village to stay in. Although the bamboo house was simple, it was clean, had a stove, and could be used for cooking.

Wang Pangzi volunteered to go to the village and buy a chicken, some vegetables, and rice. He busied himself at the stove, humming a silly tune. Wu Xie helped fetch water and wash the vegetables, while Xie Yuchen and Huo Xiuxiu organized the medicines and remaining equipment. A Ning checked and wiped her crossbow. Hei Xiazi and Jiang Xun Gu sat on the wooden steps outside the bamboo house, one wiping a knife, the other sharpening a dagger, chatting quietly, occasionally breaking into laughter.

Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" sat by the open window on the second floor of the bamboo house, one with his eyes closed in meditation, the other gazing at the indistinct outline of the Tomb of the Prince of Xian in the twilight. Neither of them spoke, like two silent statues.

The levitating live-streaming sphere rested on the crossbeam of the bamboo house, its camera quietly recording the tranquility of this post-disaster recovery.

The comments scrolled by:

The prophet: It's finally out. It's exhausting to watch.

Jiang Xun Gu is a guy who can handle anyone and has good judgment. He's a real expert.

The male fan club: Husbands, get some rest!

Dinner was plentiful. Fatty Wang displayed his impressive culinary skills, stewing fragrant chicken soup, stir-frying vegetables, and steaming rice. Everyone sat around in the open space in the middle of the bamboo house, eating by the dim light of an oil lamp. No one mentioned the tomb; they simply ate quietly, enjoying this rare and comforting feeling of fullness.

"Grandpa Flower," Fatty Wang mumbled, gnawing on a chicken leg, "do you still have any of that braised beef? We're going into the mountains tomorrow, so treat us to something nice."

Xie Yuchen smiled: "There are still some. But we may not go into the mountains immediately tomorrow."

"Huh? Not going in? That jade eye..." Wu Xie looked up.

"The jade eye and the clues are both in our hands," said Zhang Qiling.

"No rush." ​​Zhang Qiling took a sip of soup.

"Yes, no rush," Black Bear chimed in. "That tomb isn't going to grow legs and run away. It just went through something, full of poisonous miasma and corpse odor. Let it dissipate. Let's take a break and recharge."

"Furthermore," Xie Yuchen looked at Zhang Qiling, "there might be something else connected deep within the tomb of the Prince of Xian. We need to plan where to enter. The original entrance is probably no longer accessible."

Zhang Qiling put down the bowl, took out the unified jade eye from his robes, and placed it on the table. Under the lamplight, the jade eye shone with a warm and restrained luster, and the swirling pattern at its center seemed to be clearer than before.

Zhang Qiling also took out the small jade piece and placed it next to the jade eye.

"This thing," Jiang Xun Gu looked at it curiously, "besides being used as a key, is there any other use for it?"

"I don't know," Zhang Qiling said.

"It might be guidance," Zhang Qiling added.

Wu Xie recalled the scene in the mural of the jade eye communicating with the vortex, and then thought of the bronze door. "Brother, do you think the King of Xian is doing this because he really wants to see that 'god'? Or, to open some kind of 'door'?"

Zhang Qiling was silent for a moment, then nodded.

"What's behind the door?" Fatty Wang asked.

No one can answer that.

After dinner, they finished cleaning up. Wu Xie took out his notebook and, by the light of the oil lamp, began to organize the things he had seen and heard along the way. The structure of the Xianwang Tomb, the content of the murals, the jade pupa, the golden-armored corpse king, the use of the Muchen Pearl... He wrote very carefully, occasionally looking up to ask Zhang Qiling or "Zhang Qiling" a detail or two. The two of them spoke very little, but they would give simple answers to any questions asked.

Xie Yuchen and Huo Xiuxiu were studying the silk scroll they had obtained from beside the jade cocoon, trying to decipher more information. A Ning was tending to her arrows. Hei Xiazi and Jiang Xun Gu were in the open space outside, using the moonlight to practice a few moves, their movements quick and light, making very little noise.

Night deepened, and the oil lamp dimmed.

Everyone gradually settled down to sleep on the bamboo floor. Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" were on night duty, sitting at the doorway, one gazing at the starry sky, the other at the mountain shadows in the darkness.

A mountain breeze swept through the bamboo house, carrying coolness and the fresh scent of grass and trees. In the distance, an unknown night bird cried out.

It was a very peaceful night.

The next day, it was broad daylight. Everyone had slept well and felt much better. After a simple breakfast, Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" left the bamboo house and went to a high place on the back mountain of the village. They returned about an hour later.

"Have you taken a good look?" Xie Yuchen asked.

"Hmm." Zhang Qiling unfolded a simple hand-drawn sketch, showing the terrain of the nearby mountains. "The original entrance is abandoned. To the northeast, three miles away, there is a fissure in the earth's energy that leads to the lower level of the tomb passage."

"Feng Shui positioning?" Zhang Qiling asked.

"Yes." Zhang Qiling nodded.

"Then what are we waiting for?" Fatty Wang rubbed his hands together, eager to get started. "Shall we go?"

"Pack your things," Zhang Qiling said.

Half an hour later, the group left the village and headed towards the mountains to the northeast. Jiang Xun Gu was now in the group; he carried his own equipment, walked briskly, and looked excited.

The villagers stood by the roadside, watching them walk away into the misty mountains once more, their eyes filled with curiosity, awe, and a hint of barely perceptible pity.

The secrets of the tomb of King Xian are not yet over.

This time, they're going to go even deeper.