Tomb raiding live stream: Starting as the mute Zhang

The car bumped along the Gobi Desert highway for most of the day.

The view outside the window gradually shifted from boundless barrenness to scattered drought-resistant plants.

Later, low mounds and a dried-up riverbed came into view.

Then, the outline of a city appeared on the distant horizon.

As evening fell, the two off-road vehicles finally entered a small city on the northwestern border.

Compared to the previous small town, this place finally has decent streets, buildings, and pedestrians.

Although the overall atmosphere has a gloomy, frontier feel, it's finally a return to modern society.

They didn't stop and drove directly to a small private airport on the outskirts of the city.

A small business jet was already waiting there.

We boarded the plane, the engines roared, and we soared into the sky.

Outside the porthole, the earth gradually shrank until it was finally covered by clouds.

Only then did my tense nerves finally relax.

Wu Xie leaned back in his comfortable seat, looking out at the surging sea of ​​clouds.

The thrilling experiences I've had in the underground world these past few days feel like an unreal dream.

Fatty Wang was already snoring softly, fast asleep.

Huo Xiuxiu sat by the window, holding a notebook in her hand, her brows slightly furrowed, as if she was recalling and recording something.

Xie Yuchen, holding a satellite phone, quietly arranged the follow-up matters.

Hei Xiazi sat opposite Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling".

He was fiddling with a lighter that he had somehow pulled out of his hand.

He glanced every now and then at the backpacks the two had placed at their feet—the "Source Heart Staff" was wrapped inside.

Zhang Qiling closed his eyes to rest, his breathing steady.

Zhang Qiling gazed out the porthole at the rapidly receding clouds.

His eyes were somewhat vacant, as if he was lost in thought.

The plane made a refueling stop in a major city before taking off again.

By the time the plane began its descent and I could see the familiar, water-rich landscape of southern China through the window, it was already completely dark.

The plane landed smoothly on a private helipad in the suburbs of Hangzhou.

Several cars had been waiting for a long time.

Without much small talk, everyone got into the car.

The car drove into the night, through the bustling city, and finally into a quiet garden-style residence by West Lake.

This is a villa owned by Xie Yuchen in Hangzhou.

It offers a quiet retreat amidst the hustle and bustle, with tight security and ample privacy and safety.

The house is a typical example of Chinese garden style.

There are pavilions, small bridges and flowing water.

In the darkness, the carefully arranged lights outline a tranquil silhouette.

The air is humid, carrying the unique fragrance of grass and trees characteristic of the South.

It is completely different from the dry and desolate Gobi Desert in Northwest China.

"We've arrived. Don't be shy, make yourselves at home."

Xie Yuchen led everyone inside and instructed the steward to arrange rooms and a late-night snack.

Wu Xie, Fatty Wang, and Huo Xiuxiu have all been here before, so it's not unfamiliar to them.

A Ning and Jiang Xun Gu followed silently behind.

They had an employment relationship with Xie Yuchen, and this place was also a temporary place for them to stay.

Hei Xiazi knew the place well and wandered off to find his usual room.

Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" were assigned to an adjacent suite with a separate courtyard.

The environment is quiet and peaceful.

Everyone went back to their rooms to wash up and rest.

After washing away the dust of the journey and changing into clean clothes, they arrived at the flower hall.

A table of delicate, light-flavored Jiangnan-style dishes and congee has been prepared.

There were no fancy dishes, but the hot soup and vegetables were refreshing and delicious.

It's just what soothes a tired body and mind.

There wasn't much talking during the meal; Xie Yuchen mainly gave a brief overview of the follow-up arrangements.

Let everyone get some rest first.

The study of the short cane and those bone plate symbols will begin after the people Huo Xiuxiu contacted arrive and the equipment is brought in.

After finishing their meal, everyone went their separate ways.

The tension, exhaustion, and life-or-death pressure of the past few days were completely released.

Sleepiness washed over me like a tidal wave.

That night, the courtyard was unusually quiet.

Everyone fell into a deep sleep.

The next few days passed by unusually peacefully.

There are no ancient tombs, no rice dumplings, no eerie traps or deadly dangers.

Only the sunshine and light rain of early summer in Jiangnan.

Birdsong in the garden.

And exquisite desserts that seem to last forever.

Wu Xie felt like he had suddenly switched from hell mode to retirement mode.

He sleeps until he naturally wakes up every day.

Take a stroll in the garden and read a book.

Occasionally, Fatty Wang would drag me to wander aimlessly around West Lake.

Life was so leisurely it felt almost unreal.

Fatty Wang has completely let loose.

They kept saying they wanted to make up for the weight they lost in the ancient tomb.

They order different dishes every day.

The head chef at the Xie family's kitchen gets a headache just looking at him.

He also became fascinated by the small fishpond in the house.

He got a fishing rod and sat there all day.

It is euphemistically called cultivating one's character.

Although the number of fish he caught was less than the amount of bait he used to create the feeding area.

Huo Xiuxiu is the busiest.

Through her family and the Nine Gates, she contacted several old scholars specializing in ancient writing and semiotics.

Another batch of high-precision testing equipment was mobilized.

The materials were gradually transported to a temporary research lab converted from a hidden warehouse in the suburbs, provided by Xie Yuchen.

Those bone plates brought out of the ancient tomb.

And the "Source Heart Staff" itself.

All of these require detailed analysis.

Xie Yuchen was busy handling the logistics and intelligence for this operation.

Equipment damage and loss were replenished, and personnel were comforted.

They also utilized the Xie family's intelligence network to closely monitor the movements of the Wang family and other potential forces.

Although the matter of the Jingjue Ancient City was handled discreetly, it was hard to guarantee that word wouldn't leak out.

We must take precautions in advance.

In addition to their daily vigilance, Aning and Jiang Xungu...

He also assisted Huo Xiuxiu with some peripheral research and preparation work.

For example, consulting relevant materials and sorting out clues.

Black bears appear and disappear unpredictably.

Sometimes I sunbathe and sleep in the yard.

Sometimes they disappear without a trace, I don't know where they've gone off to.

They always arrive right on time for meals.

Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" are the two quietest people in the house.

They spend most of their time in their own courtyard.

Or sit quietly in a secluded corner of the garden.

Zhang Qiling would spend a lot of time wiping and maintaining his black gold ancient sword.

Or perhaps you're just staring blankly at a still pond in the yard.

Zhang Qiling was often seen carrying a book.

But it didn't turn a single page for half a day.

More often than not, he gazes at the distant sky.

His gaze was distant, as if he were deep in thought.

The two rarely communicated.

Often, a single glance or a subtle gesture is enough to understand what the other person means.

Sometimes they would take a walk together in the garden.

They walked slowly, side by side in silence.

Yet there was a tacit understanding between them that was difficult for others to grasp.

They remained quiet during the meal.

But they would quietly finish all the food carefully prepared by the Xie family's chef.

I always tend to eat a few more bites of poultry, in particular.

The floating live streaming ball is in standby and following mode most of the time.

I open it occasionally to record these peaceful moments of daily life.

It was a rare sight for the audience to see this group of people relax.

The comments section also appeared much calmer:

I'm finally back. It feels so unreal.

Xiao Hua's yard is so beautiful!

Is Fatty planning to stay and not leave?

Miss Xiuxiu is so busy, I feel sorry for her.

The two guys are just spacing out as usual...

Life is so peaceful and serene; I hope it will always remain this way.

Has there been any progress in research on short canes?

Peaceful days are the easiest time for people to relax.

It is also the easiest place to... cause trouble.

That afternoon, Wu Xie sat in the waterside pavilion.

Watching Fatty Wang struggle with the koi in the pond again.

The fishing rod swung around with a whooshing sound.

Not a single fish was caught, but water splashed high into the air.

"Fatty, I said be gentle."

Wu Xie couldn't help but complain.

"Don't scare Xie Yuchen's pond of valuable koi to death; you can't afford to pay for it."

"What do you know!"

Fatty Wang didn't turn his head, staring at the water.

"That's called momentum! Fishing is all about momentum!"

"Look at those old men, they don't move for ages, how can they catch any fish?"

"You have to be like me, take the initiative!"

"That's called deliberately scaring the fish."

Wu Xie rolled his eyes.

"I'm telling you, it's been days and you haven't caught a single decent fish. You've just been feeding them."

"I think all the fish in this pond recognize you. As soon as they see you, they swim over and wait for their meal."

"Stop talking nonsense!"

Fatty Wang was unconvinced.

"This fat man has been saving up for a long time! Just wait, today I'll catch a big one and show you!"

As he spoke, he cast his line again.

As a result, too much force was used.

The fishing hook didn't go into the pool.

Instead, it hung on the vines drooping from the eaves of the waterside pavilion.

"Hey! This is weird!"

Fatty Wang tugged hard.

It didn't come off; the fishing line was taut.

Wu Xie found it hilarious.

"Hahaha, Fatty, that's not fishing, that's fishing for houses!"

"What, are you planning to tear down Xiaohua's pavilion to add dishes to the menu?"

"Get out of here! Stop gloating!"

Fatty Wang felt a little embarrassed.

Pull hard.

A soft "click" sounded.

The fishing line didn't break.

The carved wooden rafter at the corner of the eaves looks quite old.

He tore it open, creating a crack.

Both of them were stunned.

"Well……"

Fatty Wang released the fishing rod, looked at the crack, and scratched his head.

Wu Xie suppressed a laugh, stood up, and went over to take a look.

"Well done, Fatty, you're really something."

"This wood looks quite old; you've torn it apart."

"Just wait and see how you pay up. I'll see how Xiaohua deals with you when she gets back."

"It's just a crack."

Fatty Wang was stubborn, but his eyes looked a little uneasy.

"I'll find some glue to fix it..."

"stick?"

A cool, clear voice came from the side.

The two turned their heads.

Only Jie Yuchen walked over at some point.

He was standing with his arms crossed, looking at them with a half-smile.

His gaze swept over the crack and then landed on Fatty Wang.

"Fatty, your cooking is pretty good."

"This waterside pavilion of mine is an old relic from the Qing Dynasty."

"This rafter is made of the finest Phoebe zhennan wood; this pole of yours is quite heavy."

Xie Yuchen spoke in a flat tone.

But the implication in his words made Fatty Wang shrink back.

"Um... Xiaohua, it's a misunderstanding, purely a misunderstanding!"

Fatty Wang immediately put on a fawning smile.

"This fish is too cunning! Look, it's not biting the hook; it's playing tricks on me!"

"My thread got tangled in the vine, and when I pulled hard, well... it was an accident, purely an accident!"

"Oh? The fish is playing tactics with you?"

Xie Yuchen raised an eyebrow.

"Fatty, is this fish some kind of spirit?"

"Of course!"

Fatty Wang seized the opportunity and started spouting nonsense with a straight face.

"I suspect there's a fish spirit in this pool!"

"How about we drain it dry and take a look?"

"Maybe we can make a delicious soup!"

Wu Xie was laughing so hard he couldn't stand up straight.

"Fatty, you're just making this up! Fish spirit? You're more like a gluttonous fool!"

"Shut up, you naive girl! Can't you see I'm explaining this to the creditor right now?!"

Fatty Wang glared at him.

"Alright."

Xie Yuchen was too lazy to argue with them and waved his hand.

"I'll have someone come and fix it later."

"But Fatty, the fish in my pond can't withstand your 'active' fishing method."

"Why don't you go somewhere else to cultivate your mind and spirit?"

"There's a small pond by the rockery in the backyard. There are only a few small fish in it. Feel free to fish as much as you want. If you catch them all, it's on me."

That's too polite of you.

But the meaning is obvious.

Please don't ruin my precious koi fish and old house here.

Fatty Wang sheepishly put away his fishing rod.

"Alright, I'll listen to you, boss. I'm going to the backyard to play with those little fish."

With that, he picked up his fishing rod and slunk away.

Before leaving, he didn't forget to give Wu Xie a "you just wait" look.

Wu Xie laughed even louder.

Xie Yuchen shook his head and walked to the waterside pavilion to sit down.

He glanced at Wu Xie.

"You two are such a pair of troublemakers, you never stop causing a disturbance wherever you go."

"Isn't this boring?"

Wu Xie also sat down and looked at the pool.

"Coming out of that kind of place and living such a leisurely life all at once is really a bit hard to get used to."

"By the way, any progress on Xiuxiu's side?"

When it came to serious matters, Xie Yuchen's expression became more serious.

"The senior experts we invited have arrived, and the equipment is almost ready for testing."

"The first comprehensive testing and analysis should begin this afternoon."

"That short staff... is very special."

"It's difficult to analyze the specific material using conventional methods, let alone the internal structure."

"The symbols on the bone plate are something that several senior experts have seen in photos and said they have never seen before. It will take time to figure them out."

Wu Xie nodded.

This was expected.

If it were that easy to crack, the Wang family wouldn't have spent generations racking their brains over it.

"The Wang family's side."

Xie Yuchen lowered his voice.

"There was some movement, but it was very subtle."

"They are withdrawing their peripheral forces and seem to be focusing their attention back to their home base."

"However, given Wang Cen's personality, he will never let this go after suffering such a great loss."

"They're waiting, waiting for us to figure something out, or waiting for us to slip up."

"Then we..."

Wu Xie was somewhat worried.

"Respond to all changes with constancy."

Jie Yuchen said.

"The goods are in our hands, so the initiative is on our side."

"Strengthen security and accelerate research."

"in addition."

He paused.

"I've instructed my men to keep an eye out for any unusual news on the streets and in other areas."

"Especially those related to 'source species,' ancient corpses, and strange energies."

"The Jingjue Ancient City is not the only goal; the Wang family's objective is probably not just that short staff."

Wu Xie seemed to be deep in thought.

Indeed, the murals in the ancient tomb and the records on the bone tablets.

There are also the "Source Heart Staff" and the "Myriad Stones".

It points to a grander, older, and more dangerous secret.

The ancient city of Jingjue may only be the tip of the iceberg.

The two chatted for a few more minutes.

Xie Yuchen then got up and left to attend to other matters.

Wu Xie sat alone in the waterside pavilion.

Looking at the pool water that had gradually returned to calm after being disturbed by Fatty Wang.

My thoughts drifted away.

He recalled the bizarre and fantastical experiences he had in the ancient tomb.

I remembered that eerie "Myriad Stones".

I recalled the image of Zhang Qiling fighting with "Zhang Qiling".

He also thought of that black short staff that is now being carefully preserved.

The calm days may just be the calm before the storm.

He raised his head and looked in the direction of Zhang Qiling and the "Zhang Qiling" courtyard.

It was very quiet there.

The only sound was the rustling of the wind through the bamboo leaves.

But for some reason, Wu Xie had a vague feeling in his heart.

This calm won't last long.

The levitating live-streaming ball hovered quietly beside him.

It captures the waterside pavilion, the fish in the pond, and Wu Xie's thoughtful profile.

Comments floated by:

The fat guy has gotten into trouble again, hahaha!

Xiaohua: I'm so tired.

Wu Xie seems to have something on his mind.

Peaceful days are so good.

But I still feel a little uneasy.

Research on the short staff is about to begin!

The Wang family is definitely up to no good.

Wu Xie withdrew his gaze and let out a soft breath.

Whatever the future holds, what's meant to come will come.

Now, let's enjoy this rare, stolen peace.