Tomb raiding live stream: Starting as the mute Zhang

The way back seemed shorter than the way there.

Ascending the spiral stone steps, passing through the stone chamber where the battle once took place, past the stone tablet inscribed with "Eye of the Ruins," squeezing through the narrow crevice of the reef again, and finally emerging from the thick fog that never dissipates.

The silhouette of the "Sea Eagle" loomed faintly at the edge of the fog wall, like a silent, waiting behemoth. Climbing the rope ladder, unloading the heavy equipment, and stepping onto the swaying but solid deck, the salty sea breeze blew against our faces, leaving everyone feeling utterly exhausted. But the heavy weight in our hearts seemed to loosen a little.

Old Hai stood at the door of the wheelhouse, looking at them one by one like seaweed pulled from the water, his face expressionless. He simply gestured with his chin toward the cabin: "Hot water, rice."

"Thank you, Uncle Hai," Xie Yuchen said, his voice sounding somewhat tired.

First, they processed the artifacts and skeletal remains brought back from the underwater site, which belonged to the Xisha archaeological team, and located their location information. Several waterproof bags were carefully placed in the dry area of ​​the cabin. Looking at these, the atmosphere became somewhat heavy again. Wu Xie silently placed the iron box containing the photos and letter aside.

"Take a shower first, change your clothes, and eat something," Xie Yuchen instructed. "We'll talk about the rest when we get back."

Hot water washed away the seawater, mud, and fatigue. After changing into dry clothes, a steaming meal was already laid out on the small dining table. It was simple seafood porridge, steamed fish, and vegetables, but once the hot food was eaten, my frozen limbs and body truly came back to life.

Fatty Wang slurped down two large bowls of porridge and ate half a fish before letting out a satisfied sigh: "Finally, I'm alive again. In that dilapidated tower down there, even the air felt icy cold."

"The air pressure and composition there may have been adjusted," Xie Yuchen said, eating politely but quickly, "to preserve those jade slips and silks. Normal people would definitely feel uncomfortable staying there for too long."

"The guys seem alright?" Wu Xie looked at Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" sitting opposite him. The two were eating at a steady pace, showing no signs of anything amiss.

"I'm used to it," Zhang Qiling said, picking up a piece of green vegetable with his chopsticks.

Zhang Qiling nodded without saying a word.

"What are your plans next?" Jiang Xun Gu asked. "Go straight back?"

"Hmm," Xie Yuchen put down his chopsticks, "There's too much information here; we need time to process it. And we also need to contact the authorities about the remains and artifacts... to handle them prudently. We've been out for quite a while now; let's rest first."

The ship returned into the night. The thick fog was left behind, and the starry sky reappeared overhead. In the cabins, some sat, some lay down; those who were exhausted quickly fell asleep, while those who couldn't sleep stared blankly at the inky black sea outside the window.

Wu Xie leaned against the cabin wall, clutching the black-and-white group photo of the Xisha archaeological team in his hand. His third uncle's young face was somewhat blurred in the dim light. Chen Wenjin's letter, Wang Zanghai's jade slip, the image of the bronze door observed in the tower, the story of the gatekeeper... countless clues and questions churned in his mind, keeping him wide awake.

A hand gently patted his shoulder. Wu Xie looked up and saw Zhang Qiling. He had walked over at some point and handed him an apple he had found on the boat.

"Rest," Zhang Qiling said in a low voice.

Wu Xie took the apple; its cool touch sobered him up a bit. "Brother, does my third uncle... have anything to do with those gatekeepers?"

Zhang Qiling sat down next to him, watching the fishing lights flashing past the porthole, and remained silent for a while. "Perhaps, we've had contact."

"So that's why he kept investigating these things? And that's why he disappeared?"

Zhang Qiling turned to look at him, his eyes deep in the dim light. "You have to walk your own path. You have to find your own answers."

This was a somewhat mystical statement, but Wu Xie understood. It meant that his third uncle had chosen his own path, and Wu Xie needed to find out and face the reasons and consequences for it himself.

"And what about you?" Wu Xie asked. "The gatekeepers in those paintings, those shadows... what do they have to do with you?"

This time, Zhang Qiling remained silent for an even longer time. So long that Wu Xie thought he wouldn't answer that he finally spoke softly, his voice so low it was almost drowned out by the sound of the waves.

"Some things, once forgotten, feel heavy when remembered."

After he finished speaking, he stood up, walked back to his resting spot, closed his eyes, and said no more.

Wu Xie watched his retreating figure, then looked at the apple in his hand that had already cooled down, feeling a mix of emotions.

The following afternoon, the "Sea Eagle" slowly docked. The pier was still bustling, and the sun was blinding. After bidding farewell to the silent old sea, the group boarded the waiting convoy and returned to Xie Yuchen's villa.

Stepping back into that quiet and comfortable villa, seeing the familiar courtyard and Aunt Chen waiting there, I truly felt like I had "come back."

"Finally home!" Fatty Wang threw himself into the soft sofa in the living room and groaned comfortably. "This place is so much better! My bones are about to fall apart."

"Take a good shower and rest first," Xie Yuchen said with a smile. "I'll have the kitchen prepare something nice for everyone tonight to welcome them back, and also... to calm their nerves."

Everyone returned to their rooms. They thoroughly washed away the last traces of sea odor and fatigue, changed into clean and comfortable loungewear, and it seemed as if even the oppressive atmosphere of that eerie underwater tower had been washed away.

As evening fell, an enticing aroma wafted from the restaurant. A pristine white tablecloth covered the long dining table, adorned with fresh flowers in the center. Exquisite tableware, flickering candlelight, and soothing music filled the air. Aunt Chen led the way, serving dishes one after another. These were not the usual extravagant banquets, but rather hearty, fragrant home-style dishes, yet the quality of the ingredients and the cooking techniques were unmistakable.

The braised pork hock was glistening and tender, the steamed grouper was delicate and juicy, the boiled prawns were sweet and bouncy, and there were also various stir-fried seasonal vegetables. In the very center were two huge white porcelain plates, each holding a roasted chicken with a golden-brown, crispy, glistening, and fragrant exterior, accompanied by perfectly roasted potatoes and carrots.

"Wow! Roast chicken!" Fatty Wang's eyes widened instantly, and he almost drooled. "Master Hua, you really know us!"

"You must be tired from traveling, so you need to eat something substantial." Xie Yuchen smiled and gestured for everyone to take their seats.

Everyone sat down and, without any hesitation, began to eat. Wu Xie picked up a piece of fish, its freshness almost making his eyebrows fall off. Fatty, on the other hand, went straight for the roast chicken, tearing off a plump leg. Ignoring the heat, he took a big bite. The skin was crispy, the inside juicy, and the chicken tender and flavorful. He squinted his eyes in satisfaction and mumbled, "Mmm! Delicious! Absolutely amazing!"

Black Bear also broke off a chicken wing and ate it with relish: "Not bad, this skill is no worse than Fatty's."

"That's right!" the fat man said smugly, as if he had roasted the chicken himself.

Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" sat in a slightly off-center spot, each picking up a piece of chicken breast in unison and eating quietly. They ate slowly and attentively, chewing each bite carefully. Seeing that their plates quickly piled up with several clean chicken bones, it was clear they were quite satisfied with the roast chicken.

"Brother, try this pork hock, it's stewed until it's very tender." Wu Xie put a piece of pork hock on Zhang Qiling's plate after he finished the chicken.

Zhang Qiling looked up at him and nodded: "Thank you."

On Zhang Qiling's plate, Huo Xiuxiu placed a few peeled shrimp on it. He paused, whispered "thank you," and then quietly ate them.

The atmosphere was relaxed and pleasant, with the clinking of bowls and chopsticks and hushed laughter echoing around the table. Even A Ning's usually aloof expression softened. Jiang Xun Gu and Hei Xia Zi discussed which type of sea fish tasted better, while Xie Yu Chen and Huo Xiu Xiu whispered about their upcoming research plans.

"Hey, how naive," Fatty Wang said, finishing his chicken leg and eyeing the chicken wing. "Do you think that old bastard Wang Zanghai is eating chicken legs in the tower?"

Wu Xie was drinking his soup when he heard this and almost choked: "Can't you think of something serious? That person is an enlightened master, living on air and dew!"

"Come on!" the fat man scoffed. "Even the most skilled person needs to eat! He's probably in that underwater tower, roasting chicken legs just by imagining them! How pathetic! We're much better off; we have meat to eat and wine to drink!"

"You're the only one who's right." Wu Xie was too lazy to argue with him.

"That's for sure!" The fat man tore off another chicken leg, this time offering it to "Zhang Qiling." "Brother Qiling, want another one? You put in a lot of effort in the fight, you need to replenish your strength!"

Zhang Qiling stared at the chicken leg being offered to him, paused for a moment, then reached out and took it, saying in a low voice, "That's enough."

"Hey, Zhang the Mute," Black Bear next to "Zhang Qiling" nudged him with his elbow, lowering his voice and giving him a mischievous smile, "Look at Fatty, how good he is at flattering people. Why don't you give me one too?"

Zhang Qiling glanced at him, ignored him, and continued eating.

Zhang Qiling simply pretended not to hear and picked up a piece of green vegetable.

"Well, another disappointment." Black Bear wasn't annoyed and chuckled as he picked up a piece of fish for himself.

The welcome feast lasted a long time. There was none of the eeriness of the tomb, none of the life-or-death pressure of the underwater world, only warm lights, delicious food, and companions you could trust with your back. Everyone temporarily put down their burdens and enjoyed this rare peace.

After dinner, everyone moved to the small living room. Aunt Chen served tea and fruit. The moonlight outside the window was perfect, and the night breeze was slightly cool.

"For the next period of time," Xie Yuchen picked up his teacup, "we need to focus on studying what we brought back from the underwater tower: the jade slips, silk scrolls, the star map metal pieces, and the map inside the snake-browed bronze fish. This may take a considerable amount of time and require consulting a large amount of data. What are everyone's plans?"

"I'm fine anyway," Black Bear said, crossing his legs. "I'll hang out with Flower Master, eating and drinking for free, and protecting you intellectuals along the way."

"I'll stay and help too," Jiang Xun Gu said. "I can lend a hand."

"We're all here," Huo Xiuxiu said to Xie Yuchen. "Studying together will be more efficient."

Wu Xie and Fatty Wang naturally had nowhere to go. A Ning nodded, indicating that she would stay.

Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" sat on a sofa a little further away, without saying a word, but it was clear that they tacitly agreed to stay.

"Alright," Xie Yuchen smiled, "There are enough rooms, everyone can settle in comfortably. The research will begin tomorrow. Tonight, everyone should get a good rest."

After chatting for a while, they went back to their rooms. Wu Xie lay on his bed, listening to the faint chirping of insects outside the window, thinking about his third uncle, the bronze door, the gatekeeper, the relaxed smiles at the dinner table today, and the fragrant roasted chicken leg.

My thoughts gradually became blurred.

The moonlight shone quietly on the villa's quiet corridor. Zhang Qiling's room door opened a crack without a sound, and he walked to the door of the neighboring room, "Zhang Qiling," and knocked twice gently.

The door opened. Zhang Qiling stood inside, the two exchanged a glance, and walked tacitly to the terrace at the end of the corridor.

The night breeze ruffled their hair. In the distance, the city lights twinkled.

"Those shadows," Zhang Qiling said suddenly, gazing at the night sky.

"Hmm." Zhang Qiling was also looking in the same direction.

"It's our past."

"It could also be in the future."

A moment of silence.

"Are you scared?" Zhang Qiling asked.

Zhang Qiling shook his head: "What needs to be done must be done."

Zhang Qiling fell silent. The two stood side by side, like two silent mountains, blending into the night.