Tomb raiding live stream: Starting as the mute Zhang

For the next two days, things remained calm on the surface.

But the atmosphere inside the house was noticeably tense.

Xie Yuchen's study became a temporary intelligence center.

Encrypted information is constantly being gathered from various locations, especially from the southwest.

Huo Xiuxiu practically lived in her research lab on the outskirts of the city, only occasionally returning to pick up a change of clothes.

His face showed signs of exhaustion from staying up all night, but his eyes were getting brighter and brighter.

Clearly, the research has made groundbreaking progress.

Wu Xie felt a deep unease, like a heavy stone at the bottom of the water.

He knew that it wouldn't be long before he set off again.

So he spent most of his time looking through various materials.

In particular, ancient legends and local anecdotes about ethnic minorities in Southwest China.

There was also information about known or rumored ancient tombs and ruins in that area, which Xie Yuchen had collected.

He was dizzy from looking at it, but he still got a vague impression of it.

Wang Pangzi, unable to stay idle, started messing with the small pond in the backyard again.

Unfortunately, the "small fish" inside were also very clever and just wouldn't bite the hook.

He was so angry that he cursed the fish ancestor.

Later, I somehow got hold of a small net and secretly tried to catch it.

When Xie Yuchen discovered this, he tactfully "invited" her out of the backyard.

He was ordered to go to the front yard and wreak havoc on those lotus pots, and was forbidden from going near any water.

Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" remained confined to their small courtyard and a few secluded corners of their house.

The two of them spoke even less.

But occasionally they would get together and whisper a few words.

The conversation was unclear to those around them, but judging from their expressions, they were clearly preparing for their upcoming trip to the southwest.

Zhang Qiling increased the frequency of equipment inspections.

"Zhang Qiling" often makes empty gestures in the air.

It seemed to be simulating some kind of attack or defense action, so fast that only afterimages remained.

Black Bear remained elusive.

But more and more news was brought back.

He had extensive connections in the underworld, and had contact with people from all walks of life.

They can obtain a lot of more secretive and underworld information that the Jie family's intelligence network cannot cover.

That afternoon, Wu Xie was rubbing his sore eyes.

I stared blankly at a few blurry photos on the computer screen, supposedly of a "fairy cave" deep in the mountains.

Xie Yuchen and Huo Xiuxiu walked in together, neither of them looking relaxed.

Something's happened.

Xie Yuchen got straight to the point, placing a newly printed document on the table.

Huo Xiuxiu then spoke, her tone a mixture of suppressed excitement and seriousness:

"The energy connection between the short staff and the bone plate has been basically confirmed."

"Furthermore, we deciphered a small section of symbols on the bone plate that had a high repetition rate."

"Although it's not complete yet, its direction is very clear."

"What is it?"

Wu Xie and Fatty Wang both came over.

Even Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" who seemed to be resting with their eyes closed opened their eyes.

"Those symbols record a method of locating things that is similar to 'earth vein nodes' or 'energy convergence points'."

"Very ancient and abstract."

"But considering the faint directional nature of the short staff's own energy, and the recent geomagnetic and gravitational anomaly data we retrieved from parts of the southwest..."

Huo Xiuxiu pointed to a hand-drawn map on the document.

On the map, several red dots are marked in a mountainous region in the southwest.

"It can be basically confirmed that in this remote mountainous area where Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou provinces meet, there exists at least one 'point' that resonates with the 'Source Heart Staff' of the Jingjue Ancient City."

"This spot could very well be where another similar 'key' is located."

"Or, it could be the area where the so-called 'source species' might have had an influence or left traces."

"The Wang family has been frequently active in the southwest recently, and their target areas highly overlap with these red dots."

Xie Yuchen drew several more circles on the map, intersecting with the red dot areas.

"They're looking for something, and they're in a hurry."

"Our people also discovered that the Wang family seemed to have made secret contact with several very isolated villages in the area."

"The specific purpose is unclear, but it is definitely related to their goals."

"In addition," Xie Yuchen looked at Hei Xiazi.

Black Bear leaned lazily against the doorframe and replied:

"I've heard some rumors that things haven't been peaceful in that old forest in the southwest lately, and it's not just the livestock and strange noises from underground that's causing trouble."

"Several old buddies who used to make a living there have recently come back."

"They say something's not right deep in the forest. Near some old tunnels, things that shouldn't be there have appeared. It's really eerie."

"They suspect that some foolish person might have touched something they shouldn't have, thus waking up some 'old friend'."

"Something that shouldn't be here? An old friend?"

Wu Xie's heart tightened.

"They're just some strange, inexplicable things; they might be living beings, or they might not."

Black Bear shrugged.

"Anyway, those old foxes are scared, they'd rather stay home and drink porridge than go back in."

"It seems the waters here are deeper and muddier than I thought."

Fatty Wang rubbed his arms:

"Does this mean we're going back to working in the fields?"

"It's still those old forests in the southwest, just hearing about them makes me shudder."

"It's not that I have to, it's that I absolutely have to go."

Xie Yuchen's tone was firm.

"The Wang family has already set off. If we are too slow, the goods may fall into their hands."

"Or, they might trigger some danger we're unaware of beforehand."

"In the southwest region, ethnic groups live together, history is complex, and there are too many and too varied things buried underground."

"If it is truly related to the 'Origin Seed,' the consequences could be even more severe than those of the Jingjue Ancient City."

"When are you leaving?"

Wu Xie asked.

"As soon as possible."

"Xiuxiu needs to integrate the relevant data and preliminary analysis results."

"The equipment also needs to be redeployed, as the environment in the southwestern mountainous areas is completely different from that in the desert and Gobi."

"At the earliest, we can leave early the day after tomorrow."

Xie Yuchen looked at Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling".

"Gentlemen, I'm afraid we'll have to trouble you again this time."

"The situation in the Southwest is complex, and we need your experience."

Zhang Qiling nodded without saying anything.

Zhang Qiling nodded slightly in agreement.

And that's how it was settled.

The house became busy in the following days.

Various types of equipment suitable for jungle and mountain operations were sorted, checked, and replenished.

Huo Xiuxiu plunged into the archives, copying and organizing the research findings and ancient records that might be useful.

Xie Yuchen arranged the route, rendezvous points, and logistical support.

Hei Xiazi went out to get some "special" equipment and information.

Wu Xie and Fatty Wang helped out.

At the same time, I also crammed on knowledge about survival in the mountains and forests of Southwest China and burial practices.

At dinner time, Aning and Jiang Xungu returned, bringing more detailed information.

Using their past mercenary connections, they found out the number of people the Wang family had sent to the southwest this time.

The leader was Wang Cen's cousin, named Wang Luan.

He was ruthless, skilled in tracking and ambush, and quite familiar with the terrain of the southwest.

Moreover, the Wang family also appears to have hired a team of local "guides".

They are all characters who have spent years roaming the deep mountains, and who are neither entirely righteous nor entirely evil.

"The visitor is not friendly."

Jiang Xun's words are concise and to the point.

"The virtuous do not come."

Aning added.

The situation is clear; it's going to be another tough battle.

Moreover, it was in a more unfamiliar and complex environment.

At night, Wu Xie lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

He got up and walked to the window.

Looking out at the tranquil courtyard bathed in moonlight.

You can vaguely see that there are still figures standing quietly under the trees in the small courtyard where Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" live.

He thought for a moment, put on his clothes, and went outside.

In the courtyard, Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" were indeed both there.

Zhang Qiling stood beside a clump of green bamboo, looking up at the moon in the sky.

The moonlight shone on him, gilding him with a cool, silvery edge.

Zhang Qiling sat leaning against the stone bench next to him.

He seemed to be holding a small piece of something in his hand, looking at it repeatedly in the moonlight.

Hearing Wu Xie's footsteps, the two of them turned around.

"Still not asleep?"

Wu Xie walked over.

Zhang Qiling handed over the small item in his hand.

Wu Xie took it and looked at it by the moonlight.

It is a palm-sized, irregularly shaped fragment of ancient jade.

The jade is warm and lustrous, but the edges are damaged.

It is engraved with extremely fine, twisted patterns.

It resembles a simplified form of some insects, or perhaps an abstract rune.

"This is?"

"Before, in a tomb."

"Zhang Qiling" said.

"Southwest. The pattern is somewhat similar."

Wu Xie examined it carefully.

Indeed, the patterns on this fragment, along with the bone plate symbols he had seen in photographs and some of the engravings on the "Source Heart Staff," shared a certain stylistic resemblance.

They all exude an ancient, eerie, and inhuman aura.

"You suspect that what's happening in the southwest is related to what you encountered before?"

Wu Xie asked.

Zhang Qiling nodded:

"The feeling is the same. Something bad."

Zhang Qiling also walked over, his gaze falling on the jade fragment, his eyes deep:

"Be careful this time."

Even Zhang Qiling specifically reminded him to be careful, which made Wu Xie's unease even stronger.

He nodded and handed the jade fragment back to "Zhang Qiling".

"Oh, right," Wu Xie remembered something, "that short staff... are you sure it's okay for you to take it?"

"Will they sense something on the road, or will the Wang family track us down?"

"There's cloth, which isolates part of it."

"Zhang Qiling" said.

Before setting off, they would wrap the short sticks in layers of a specially made thick cloth mixed with some rare metal powder and special coating.

To shield it from any special energy fluctuations it may emit to the greatest extent possible.

"We have a way to track down the Wang family."

Zhang Qiling said calmly.

The meaning is clear: it's impossible to guard against everything, but the necessary preparations should be made.

Wu Xie understood.

It seems this trip to Southwest China is destined to be anything but peaceful.

They not only have to face unknown and dangerous environments and possible bizarre existences.

We must also be wary of the Wang family, who are relentless and ruthless.

Get some rest.

Zhang Qiling glanced at Wu Xie, then turned and walked back to his room.

Zhang Qiling also put away the jade fragment, nodded to Wu Xie, and followed.

Wu Xie stood there, watching the two figures disappear behind the door.

I looked up again at the cold, clear moon in the sky.

I took a deep breath of the moist air, which carried the fresh scent of grass and trees.

A storm is brewing.

The levitating live-streaming sphere floated silently in the shadows under the corridor.

It records all of this.

The image in night vision mode has a faint green glow.

The tranquility of the courtyard and the solemnity between Wu Xie's brows are clearly presented.

The comments were few, but full of concern:

We're setting off again...

The old forests of Southwest China sound dangerous.

The Wang family, as expected, refused to give up.

Both young men warned me to be careful, so they must be someone special.

Go Wu Xie!

Be careful!

Wu Xie returned to his room, lay on the bed, but could no longer fall asleep.

The red dotted area marked by Huo Xiuxiu kept replaying in his mind.

The "evil" that Hei Xiazi spoke of.

Wang Luan, mentioned by Aning.

There's also Zhang Qiling and the phrase "Be careful" from "Zhang Qiling".

He knew that this time, unlike the Jingjue Ancient City, there wouldn't be a clear goal or a relatively clear path.

The deep forests of the southwest are inherently full of unknowns.

Add to that the bizarre "source species".

And then there's the Wang family, lurking in the shadows, watching us with predatory eyes...

He took out his phone.

The screen displayed a message that had been received a few hours earlier.

It came from a number that I don't contact often, but every time I do, it's for something important.

The message is very simple, just one sentence:

"The southwest is fraught with danger, and old grudges are plentiful; beware of acquaintances."

Sender: Pan Zi.

Wu Xie stared at the message, his brows furrowing deeply.

What does Panzi mean by "old grudges" and "acquaintances"?

Could it be that besides the Wang family, there are other troubles waiting for them in the southwest?

He put down his phone, closed his eyes, and forced himself to fall asleep.

Only by conserving our energy can we face the tough battles ahead.

Outside the window, the moonlight was hazy, enveloping the courtyard in tranquility.

But how long can this tranquility last?