Tomb raiding live stream: Starting as the mute Zhang

The lingering effects of the morning exercise in the courtyard hadn't completely dissipated, and the atmosphere at the breakfast table was a little awkward.

While stuffing a steamed bun into his mouth, Fatty Wang secretly glanced at Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" sitting opposite him, and whispered to Wu Xie next to him, "If those moves that guy made this morning were used on me..."

Wu Xie slowly sipped his porridge: "So you're lying in the hospital now, in the ICU, no less."

"Get lost!" the fat man said in a low voice. "I was just giving an example! But seriously, training so hard right after the injury has healed, aren't you afraid of tearing the stitches?"

"They know what they're doing," Wu Xie said, though he was also a little worried, especially seeing the fresh blood seeping from the edge of Zhang Qiling's bandage. But he knew that once these two made up their minds, no one could dissuade them.

Black Bear slowly peeled the egg, a half-smile playing on his lips behind his sunglasses: "Fatty, this is called recovery training. You think everyone's like you, spending a hundred days in bed recovering from a broken bone?"

"I was just following the doctor's orders!" the fat man protested.

Xie Yuchen and Huo Xiuxiu were discussing something in hushed tones, several star charts and notes spread out in front of them. A Ning ate her meal quietly, while Jiang Xun Gu seemed somewhat absent-minded, glancing out the window every now and then.

Just as they were finishing their breakfast, the doorbell rang at the villa.

Aunt Chen went to open the door and quickly returned, followed by two people. The one in front was a man in his forties, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, a well-tailored suit, and a standard smile. Behind him followed a younger man carrying a silver metal case, his expression serious.

The restaurant fell silent instantly. All eyes were on the two unexpected guests.

Xie Yuchen stood up, his face displaying a mixture of polite doubt and wariness: "May I ask who you two are?"

"Mr. Xie, I apologize for disturbing you." The man with the gold-rimmed glasses smiled amiably, his gaze sweeping across the table, lingering especially on Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" for a moment. Then he took out a folder from his pocket, opened it, and said, "Special Affairs Coordination Office, my surname is Zhou. This is Xiao Li. We are here for Mr. Xie Linyuan."

Xie Linyuan. This name made Zhang Qiling's hand, which was holding a chopstick, pause almost imperceptibly. Wu Xie also abruptly looked up. This was the name of the intermediary between the official team and Zhang Qiling (or rather, the "Xie Linyuan" who played Zhang Qiling), and the person who initially delivered the levitating live-streaming sphere. After the Qinling Mountains incident, the live-streaming sphere was destroyed, and the official team remained silent; they had almost forgotten about it.

"Mr. Xie?" Xie Yuchen took the identification, examined it carefully, confirmed it was correct, and handed it back, his expression unchanged. "Is there anything he needs?"

"Mr. Xie is very concerned about everyone's situation, especially Mr. Zhang Qiling." Director Zhou looked at Zhang Qiling, his smile unchanged, but his tone became more businesslike. "The live broadcast signal from Qinling was interrupted, which worried us greatly. Fortunately, we later confirmed that everyone returned safely. Mr. Xie specifically asked us to send new equipment and inquired about future... cooperation intentions."

As he spoke, he gestured to Xiao Li behind him. Xiao Li stepped forward, placed the silver metal box on the empty dining chair next to him, and entered the password to open it.

Inside the box lay a brand-new, slightly smaller, and more streamlined black levitation sphere. Its surface was matte, and the indicator lights were off. Next to it were several spare batteries and a miniature controller.

"This is the latest model, with stronger anti-interference and protection capabilities, and a longer battery life," Director Zhou explained. "Mr. Xie hopes that if you plan to conduct another inspection, we can continue with the previous cooperation model. Of course, everything is based on your wishes and safety."

The atmosphere in the restaurant was somewhat tense. Fatty Wang glanced at the live ball, then at the expressionless Zhang Qiling, and shrank back, not daring to speak. Wu Xie frowned. Hei Xiazi examined the new ball with great interest. Xie Yuchen and Huo Xiuxiu exchanged a glance.

"Director Zhou" didn't seem surprised by the silence. He pushed up his glasses, took out a tablet computer from his briefcase, opened it, pulled up an encrypted file, and turned to Xie Yuchen.

"Furthermore, Mr. Xie asked me to bring you some information. Based on the clues you provided earlier, as well as some of our... internal information, after cross-analysis, we've identified a potentially highly relevant location. It's not in China, but deep in the mountains of the southwestern border region, an almost completely isolated area. There are some very old local legends about the 'Immortal's Pavilion' and the 'Shadowless Land.' From its geographical features, historical background, and some scattered electromagnetic anomaly records, it matches the characteristics of the 'node' you're looking for very closely. And..."

He paused, looked at Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling", and slowly said three words: "It is said that the place was once the core of the ancestral land of an ancient Zhang family. They moved away a long time ago, but left behind some... things."

The Zhang family is a large clan. Their ancestral home is in the heart of the region.

These words are like stones thrown into a calm pond.

Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" simultaneously looked up, their sharp gazes fixed on the tablet in "Director Zhou's" hand. "Zhang Qiling's" breathing quickened almost imperceptibly. Something flickered deep within Zhang Qiling's eyes, as if a dormant memory had been triggered.

Wu Xie was also stunned. The Zhang family, a prominent clan? Related to Xiao Ge and the others? Could it be… the Zhang family's ancestral home? That legendary Zhang family ancient building?

"The detailed coordinates and known intelligence are all here," Director Zhou handed the tablet to Xie Yuchen. "Mr. Xie said that this information might be more valuable to you all. Whether to go, and when to go, is entirely up to you. We will only provide information and support, and will never interfere with the operation. Of course, if you do go, we hope that the new equipment can accompany you, as this is also part of the cooperation."

The meaning is clear. The authorities (or rather, the faction represented by Xie Linyuan) are using a new, potentially crucial clue in exchange for the right to continue live streaming and observation. Moreover, this clue points directly to the core of Zhang Qiling's and "Zhang Qiling's" origins.

Xie Yuchen took the tablet and quickly scanned the information on it, his expression growing increasingly serious. He looked up at Zhang Qiling, his eyes questioning.

Zhang Qiling remained silent. He put down his chopsticks, stood up, walked to the window, and looked out with his back to the others. Sunlight fell on his straight back, yet it seemed inexplicably lonely and heavy. Those chaotic fragments that flashed back deep in the Qinling Mountains, when he was destroying the core of the Ruins Guardian—fragments about the Bronze Gate, about bloodlines, about ancient responsibilities—now seemed to buzz and try to piece together a clearer picture because of this place name.

Zhang Qiling also stood up and walked to Zhang Qiling's side, standing side by side. He didn't look out the window, but instead lowered his head slightly, looking at his outstretched palm, which was covered with thin calluses, as if there were some marks on it that only he could see.

About a minute later, Zhang Qiling turned around, his gaze calmly sweeping over "Director Zhou" and Xiao Li, finally landing on the brand-new floating live broadcast ball.

"Leave the things behind," he said, his tone devoid of emotion.

Director Zhou's smile deepened: "Okay. Then let's cooperate..."

"We'll see," Zhang Qiling interrupted him, offering no promise.

Director Zhou didn't mind and nodded, "I understand. Then I won't bother you any longer. If you need anything, you can contact us through the encrypted channel on the device. Goodbye."

He left with Xiao Li decisively, leaving the restaurant silent and the open silver box.

The levitating live-streaming sphere lay quietly in the box, like a silent watcher, or a key to unlocking a new mystery.

"Zhang Family... Ancient Building?" Wu Xie was the first to break the silence, his voice a little hoarse. "Brother, is that your family's... ancestral land?"

Zhang Qiling didn't answer. He walked back to the table, picked up the tablet, and started looking at it. His brows furrowed slightly.

Zhang Qiling also leaned over to look, his gaze quickly sweeping across the topographical map, blurry satellite image fragments, and a few lines of text describing the eerie local rumors on the screen. "It's very remote," he said. "The mountains are deep. The roads are difficult to travel."

"The official coordinates are in the core area of ​​a primeval rainforest near the border," Xie Yuchen said in a deep voice. "There are almost no modern roads there, the climate is hot and humid, and poisonous insects and miasma abound. There are also rumors that people who go in are prone to getting lost and seeing hallucinations. If that place really is... the ancestral home of the Zhang family, the defenses and concealment measures must be extraordinary."

"We still have to go!" Fatty Wang slapped his thigh. "It's the guys' hometown! Maybe we can regain our memories! I've never even seen what the Immortal Pavilion looks like!"

"Fatty, stop yelling," Black Bear stroked his chin. "The authorities are so 'kind' in bringing this clue to our doorstep, even emphasizing that it's the Zhang family's ancestral home. Do you think it's just a coincidence? Why don't they go themselves? Why do they have to wait for us guys to come?"

"You mean... a trap?" Wu Xie's heart tightened.

"Not necessarily," Zhang Qiling looked at the tablet and slowly shook his head. "There, perhaps... only 'we' can get in. Or, we'll only know once we're inside."

"Bloodline restrictions? Or some other mechanism?" Huo Xiuxiu guessed. "If it really is the ancestral homeland of a family that guards secrets, it will definitely have dangers that only family members can pass through, or that only family members can understand."

Zhang Qiling put down the tablet and looked up at everyone. His gaze swept over Wu Xie, Fatty, Xie Yuchen, Hei Xiazi, A Ning, and Jiang Xun Gu, finally meeting the eyes of "Zhang Qiling".

"I'm going," he said without hesitation.

"Hmm." Zhang Qiling nodded.

The answer is self-evident. It concerns one's origins, one's memories, and the source of the "gatekeeper" role. Even knowing there might be a trap, even if the road ahead is fraught with danger, one must go.

"Then let's go!" Xie Yuchen made up his mind. "But this time the preparations must be more thorough. Rainforest environment, international procedures, targeted equipment, antidotes, anti-interference equipment... Also, we need to make as many contingency plans as possible for the traps and defenses that the Zhang family might set up. It may take a little longer."

"No problem!" Fatty Wang rubbed his hands together, eager to get started. "This time, I'm going to be fully armed! I'll show those poisonous insects and mosquitoes what a true iron-blooded man is!"

Wu Xie took a deep breath, suppressing the trepidation and a strange excitement in his heart. The Zhang Family Ancient Building…could it hold the clues his Third Uncle was searching for back then? Could it hold more answers about the bronze door and “it”?

Aning and Jiang Xungu also expressed no objection.

Black Bear shrugged: "Alright, it's the hometown of the Dumb Zhangs, we should at least pay them a visit. But I suggest we figure out how to use this new ball first, so it doesn't break down at the crucial moment like last time."

All eyes turned once again to the brand-new floating live-streaming sphere.

Zhang Qiling walked over and picked up the sphere. It was lighter and felt smoother than the previous one. He found the switch and pressed it.

The sphere emitted a very faint hum, then floated steadily, its indicator light illuminating a soft blue. The camera rotated, focusing on Zhang Qiling's face, its red light flashing as it began to focus.

Zhang Qiling looked at the camera, his face expressionless. A few seconds later, he stretched out his finger and quickly tapped the side of the sphere a few times, setting a similar command as before—normal standby, activation upon entering the target area.

Then, he placed the ball aside. The live broadcast ball buzzed and floated to the corner of the living room, hovering there, its indicator light turning into a slow, standby yellow flash.

A new journey is about to begin.

This time, the target is the Zhang Family Ancient Building, hidden deep in the rainforest in the southwest border region, isolated from the world.