Tomb raiding live stream: Starting as the mute Zhang

We rested for another day in the village.

In the morning, Fatty Wang went to the village to buy some fresh mushrooms and bamboo shoots, and with the last bit of cured meat, he cooked a big pot of fragrant noodle soup. Everyone gathered around and ate, sweating profusely, exclaiming how delicious it was.

After dinner, Xie Yuchen received a phone call. He went outside the bamboo house, spoke a few words in a low voice, and returned looking more relaxed. "My friends at the research institute have made a preliminary comparison of several symbols on the map and believe that one of the markers points to a location possibly in the southeast of us, near the sea. But more evidence is needed."

"The beach?" Wu Xie pushed up his glasses. "Jumping straight from this deep mountain forest to the beach?"

"The map may cover a very wide area," Huo Xiuxiu said.

"Let's go to the beach!" Fatty Wang rubbed his hands together. "I haven't had seafood in ages!"

"No rush," Zhang Qiling said. He looked at Xie Yuchen, "Is it convenient for you?"

Xie Yuchen smiled: "That's what I was thinking too. Staying in the village all the time makes it inconvenient to look up a lot of information. I have a small courtyard on the outskirts of the city, which is quite spacious and quiet. Why don't we all go to my place first, study the map properly, rest well, replenish our equipment, and then make our next plans?"

"Hua'er's place?" Black Bear's sunglasses lit up. "I have to go! I heard the food there is Michelin-star level?"

"It's not that exaggerated," Xie Yuchen laughed, "but the chef's skills are alright, and the ingredients are fresh."

Wu Xie looked at Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling". Zhang Qiling pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Okay."

Zhang Qiling nodded as well.

"Alright, unanimously approved!" Jiang Xun Gu clapped his hands. "Let's go enjoy the good life with Master Hua!"

They set off without hesitation. After packing their simple belongings, they thanked the villagers and paid their rent. The villagers escorted them to the village entrance and watched them walk down the mountain path.

The descent was much easier than the ascent. Without the shadow of the curse and the imminent danger, even the oddly shaped trees along the roadside seemed more pleasing to the eye. Wang Pangzi and Wu Xie started bickering again, their topics ranging from who snored louder last night to which mushrooms in the mountains were the best, and then to what kind of vehicle they would take into town.

"If you ask me, let's just hire a car, it'll be spacious!" Fatty Wang waved his hand. "We're a team now, we need to show some respect!"

"Why hire a car? It's a waste," Wu Xie objected. "A long-distance bus will suffice; we can even see the scenery. Do you think Master Hua'er's money grows on trees?"

"Does Master Hua lack money for a ride?" the fat man glared. "Look at his style and demeanor, he's definitely a hidden tycoon! Right, Master Hua?"

Xie Yuchen, who was walking ahead, turned around and smiled when he heard this: "The car has been arranged and is waiting at the foot of the mountain."

By noon, they finally reached the roadside at the foot of the mountain. Instead of the van or SUV they had imagined, parked by the roadside was… a medium-sized bus. The body was a low-key dark gray, and the windows were tinted, obscuring the interior. The driver, a middle-aged man in a neat uniform, immediately got out of the bus upon seeing Xie Yuchen and respectfully opened the door.

"Wow, a private car!" Fatty Wang was the first to jump in. Inside were modified luxury seats with adjustable angles, small tables, and a hot and cold beverage cabinet. "Not bad, not bad, this is impressive!"

Everyone boarded the car and settled in. The car started smoothly and drove onto the highway. Outside the window, the rolling green hills and swirling clouds gradually receded, and the outline of the town appeared on the horizon.

Upon entering the city, the hustle and bustle of people and traffic rushed towards them. High-rise buildings, neon lights, GG brand cars, and well-dressed pedestrians. Having just emerged from the secluded mountain tombs, everyone was somewhat dazed by this vibrant and lively human scene. Even Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" glanced out the window a few more times.

"The city is still the best," Fatty Wang slumped in his chair, watching the shops flash by outside the window. "There's roast duck, hot pot, ice-cold beer..."

"All you ever think about is eating." Wu Xie looked at the street scene, feeling a little sentimental. Although the visit to the Tomb of the King of Xian was short, so much had happened. Now, returning to familiar surroundings, he felt a strange sense of relaxation.

The car didn't stop in the city center, driving directly through it towards the west. The high-rises thinned out, the greenery thickened, and a low-density residential area nestled among the trees came into view. The car finally entered a gate with a guard post, drove along a tree-lined avenue for a few more minutes, and stopped in front of a three-story, gray-white building with a simple, modern exterior. The building was surrounded by meticulously maintained lawns, trees, and a small artificial lake, creating an extremely tranquil environment.

"We've arrived." Xie Yuchen got out of the car first.

"This...is this the courtyard?" Fatty Wang stood on the lawn, looking up at the well-designed building in front of him, and swallowed hard.

"It's a bit more spacious than the bamboo houses in the village," Xie Yuchen said with a smile, leading everyone inside.

The foyer was spacious and bright, with a high ceiling and a minimalist modern style. However, details revealed some antique porcelain pieces and calligraphy, exuding an understated elegance. A well-dressed, gentle-looking middle-aged woman greeted him: "Mr. Xie, the room is ready."

"This is Aunt Chen, she takes care of the daily operations here," Xie Yuchen introduced. "Please make this place your home, and feel free to tell Aunt Chen if you need anything. The rooms are on the second and third floors, two people per room, choose whichever you like. Go take a hot shower and rest for a bit, we'll call you when dinner is ready."

After a long car ride and so much travel in the mountains, everyone was exhausted. They followed Aunt Chen upstairs. The rooms were spacious, with en-suite bathrooms, comfortable bedding, and good views.

Wu Xie and Fatty Wang naturally shared a room, while Hei Xiazi and Jiang Xun Gu chose the one next door. Xie Yuchen and Huo Xiuxiu each had their own room. A Ning chose a smaller but quieter room. Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" were arranged in two adjacent guest rooms at the end of the corridor.

After a relaxing hot shower and changing into clean clothes, Wu Xie felt much of his fatigue disappear. He dried his hair and walked to the window. Outside was a lush, green courtyard, and in the distance, the city skyline was visible. He let out a long sigh of relief.

Dinner was prepared by Mrs. Chen and another chef. The dishes weren't particularly complicated, but they were extremely refined, with fresh ingredients and authentic flavors. A long table was filled with both light soups and hearty dishes, catering to different tastes.

"Grandpa, you're living the life of the rich!" Fatty Wang, his mouth greasy with food, still couldn't resist commenting, "This braised pork is amazing! So fatty yet not greasy, it melts in your mouth! And this steamed fish is so fresh it'll make your tongue fall off!"

"Eat more if you like it," Xie Yuchen said with a smile, putting food on his plate.

Zhang Qiling ate quietly, at a decent pace, but with refined manners. Zhang Qiling was similar; the two occasionally exchanged a glance and nodded slightly at a particular dish.

"Mute Zhangs," Black Bear started again, scooping up a spoonful of crab roe tofu and asking across the table, "How's this environment? Much more comfortable than in the tomb, right?"

Zhang Qiling looked up at him and nodded. "Mm."

Zhang Qiling nodded as well.

"That's good," Black Bear said with satisfaction. "I was worried that you two wouldn't be used to the soft bed and would miss the stone slabs in the tomb."

"Hey, Blackie," Wu Xie said helplessly, "We're eating, can we not talk about the tomb?"

"What's wrong with Titi? Just reminiscing about the bitter past and appreciating the sweet present." Black Bear grinned. "Look at us now, we have food, drink, a bed to sleep in, and people to serve us. Even an emperor wouldn't get this kind of treatment, right? Hey, Flower Master, do you need a gatekeeper? How about me? I don't ask for much, just meals, that's all I need."

"Brother Hei is joking," Xie Yuchen said slowly, peeling a shrimp. "With your skills, it's a waste of your talent to be a gatekeeper. But you can stay as long as you want."

"Great!" Black Bear gave a thumbs up.

After lunch, Xie Yuchen led everyone to the study on the third floor. The study was large, with one wall lined with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves filled with all kinds of books, including ancient texts and modern materials. Another wall featured a huge display screen and a workbench. In the center was a large solid wood table, on which were already spread some enlarged maps and photographs, as well as printed documents.

"This is where I usually work and handle some affairs," Xie Yuchen said. "It's relatively quiet and has all the necessary equipment. I've already uploaded the high-resolution scan of that leather map to the system; everyone can take a look together."

He operated it, and the central display screen lit up, showing the complete image of the dark yellow leather map, with clear details. On the adjacent split screen were historical and geographical data that Xie Yuchen had compiled, possibly related to the symbols on the map.

The group sat down around the long table and began to study the map carefully. Xie Yuchen pointed out the marker that his friend had initially judged to be "possibly pointing to the sea," and pulled up satellite maps and geological data for the corresponding area.

"Look at this ripple pattern and dotted markings," Huo Xiuxiu pointed to the symbol. "On its own, it does resemble a body of water. But when you combine it with the almost completely weathered and illegible remnants of small characters next to it, as well as some ancient legends from the history of this area, the possibility of it pointing to something else increases."

"What legend?" Ah Ning asked.

"Near that sea area, there are several small islands that are almost isolated from the world. Since ancient times, there have been legends of 'the fairy mountain shrouded in mist, with strange lights appearing from time to time'," Xie Yuchen pulled up some electronic versions of local chronicles. "During the Republic of China period, there were even expeditions that went there, but most of them returned empty-handed, only saying that the islands had unique landforms and many caves, and that they dared not go deep into them. Later, no one mentioned it anymore."

"A cave..." Wu Xie looked at Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling," "Could it be another underground project?"

"It's possible," said Zhang Qiling.

"Let's go take a look," Zhang Qiling said.

"There's no rush," Xie Yuchen said. "Going there requires preparing boats, diving equipment, and studying the tides and weather. We've just come out, so we need at least a week to rest, get ourselves into top condition, and make sure we have sufficient supplies."

Everyone nodded. The continuous tomb raiding had taken a toll on their mental and physical energy; they definitely needed a good rest.

"Oh, right," Wu Xie suddenly remembered something, "What will the authorities do after Captain Lin and his team go back?"

"Not for now," Xie Yuchen shook his head. "The deaths of Wen Jingshan and his trusted confidants, while they could be attributed to an accident, have still shaken the official ranks. Moreover, the curse has been lifted, so their most pressing objective is gone. In the short term, they will likely focus on handling the aftermath and internal issues. However, we must keep the existence of that map a secret."

"Understood," everyone replied.

After discussing for a while longer, night fell. Xie Yuchen told everyone to go back and rest, and that the research could be done slowly.

Back in his room on the second floor, Wu Xie lay down on the soft bed and sighed contentedly. Wang Pangzi was already snoring softly in the next bed.

Wu Xie, however, couldn't sleep. He thought about the map, the bronze door, and the looks in Zhang Qiling's and "Zhang Qiling's" eyes when they saw the pattern on the door. What was behind that door? And why did his friends have to go in?

Just then, very light footsteps came from outside the door and stopped at the entrance. Wu Xie immediately recognized Zhang Qiling's footsteps. He got up and gently opened the door.

Zhang Qiling stood outside the door, the corridor lights casting a soft glow on his profile. He held a small cloth bag in his hand.

"Hey bro?"

Zhang Qiling handed him the cloth bag. "It's calming. Soak it in water and drink it."

Wu Xie took the bag; it had a faint herbal scent. "Thank you, brother."

Zhang Qiling nodded, said nothing more, and turned to walk towards his room. His figure remained upright in the empty and quiet corridor, but seemed to have lost some of the constant tension and sharpness he possessed in the tomb, gaining instead a sense of peace that blended into the tranquil night.

Wu Xie closed the door, looking at the cloth bag in his hand, feeling a warm glow inside. He followed Zhang Qiling's instructions, soaked it in the hot water in the room, and drank a few sips. The herbs tasted slightly bitter, but had a sweet aftertaste.

Lying in bed, listening to Fatty's long snores, smelling the faint scent of herbs in the air and the aroma of grass and trees wafting in from outside the window, Wu Xie's heart gradually calmed down.

The road ahead is long, and many mysteries remain. But at least for now, they are safe together, in a comfortable place, well-fed and watered, with a clear direction and reliable companions.

That's good.

Outside the window, the city lights stretch into a gentle sea of ​​stars in the distance.