Tomb raiding live stream: Starting as the mute Zhang

The dark red light in the passageway was fluctuating.

Like the wind blowing across a pool of blood, creating ripples on its surface.

The person dressed in tattered ancient clothes stood ten meters away.

The blurred facial features were hidden in the dim red light and could not be seen clearly.

Only those eyes, across distance, across time, across life and death, stared straight at "Zhang Qiling".

"Gatekeeper...you've finally arrived..."

The voice was dry and hoarse, like withered leaves rubbing against a stone.

Zhang Qiling did not move.

He just gripped the knife hilt a little tighter.

"Who are you?"

Three words, spoken in a very flat tone.

"I?"

The man chuckled softly, his laughter filled with exhaustion.

"Wu Heng, the last high priest of the Wu Xian tribe. He was also... the previous guardian of this door."

He turned to the side, revealing the depths of the passage behind him.

In the area where the dark red light was strongest, the outline of a door could be seen.

Bronze door.

It's not tall or big, but it's very heavy.

The door was covered with eyes, densely packed and layered.

Like those on the murals, stone pillars, and wooden plaques above, they have vertical pupils with swirling patterns in the pupils.

But the door was closed.

What's behind the door?

"Zhang Qiling" asked.

"Things that shouldn't exist in this world."

Wu Heng said, his voice even hoarser.

"Or rather... something that shouldn't be accepted by any world."

"specific."

"have no idea."

"have no idea?"

"Yes, I don't know."

Wu Heng shook his head.

"I can only tell you that once what's behind the door comes out, this island will sink, this sea will boil, and for thousands of miles along the coast, all life will be lost. That's why the Wuxian tribe has guarded this place for generations, using human pillars, seals, and lives to fill it, just to prevent it from coming out."

"How long have you been on guard?"

"From the beginning of records, 1,300 years ago."

Wu Heng raised his hand and pointed to the rock walls on both sides of the passage.

"Every gatekeeper carves their name here before they die. Look—"

The rock face is covered with countless carvings.

It's very light and old, but you can still make out individual names.

Some names have a date below them, while others only have the name.

The top line, with the newest handwriting, reads "Wu Heng".

"I'm the last one."

Wu Heng said.

"Thirty years ago, the previous goalkeeper died of old age, and I took over. But now... I've reached my limit too."

He paused, looking at "Zhang Qiling".

"The seal has loosened, the power of the human sacrifice is waning, and the shadow can already seep out. In three years at most, the gate will open. Then..."

He didn't finish speaking, but his meaning was clear.

"That's why we came."

"Zhang Qiling" said.

"Yes, you've arrived."

Wu Heng's gaze swept over "Zhang Qiling", over "Zhang Qiling", and over the tense Wu Xie, Wang Pangzi, Xie Yuchen, Huo Xiuxiu, and A Ning behind him.

"Two goalkeepers, a bunch of helpers... how strange is the way fate works."

"It's not fate."

"Zhang Qiling" said.

"It's a choice."

"Zhang Qiling" added.

Wu Heng paused for a moment, then smiled.

"Yes, it's a choice. So... what is your choice?"

Zhang Qiling did not answer immediately.

He looked at the bronze door.

The door was quiet and heavy, like a mountain standing there.

But he could sense something behind the door—moving, breathing, waiting.

Once the seal is completely broken, once the door opens, once it bursts out, it will engulf everything.

【Ding. 】

The system's voice rang in my mind, this time softly and seriously.

[Host, a core sealing point for the "Gap" has been detected. Danger level: Highest. Recommendation: Reinforce or completely close it immediately.]

"How do I turn it off?"

[A Ghost Seal is needed.]

"The Ghost Seal?"

[A heirloom of the Zhang family, the only key capable of controlling the Bronze Gate. Possessing the Ghost Seal allows one to close the gate when it is open, or to forcibly open it when it is closed.]

"I don't."

[It didn't exist before, but it does now.]

The system's voice carried a certain sense of ritual.

[Host, you have passed all the tests. The Divine Tree of Qinling, the Ghost City of Jingjue, the Tomb of King Xian, the Ancient Building of Zhang Family, the Northwest Ruins, the Southwest Tomb of the Gu-Feeding... In each place, you demonstrated the qualities a gatekeeper should possess—calmness, decisiveness, loyalty, and a sense of responsibility.]

Now, the time has come.

[Reward: The Zhang family's heirloom—the Ghost Seal.]

A warm current surged from Zhang Qiling's chest.

It wasn't a feeling of increased strength, but something else—heavy, cold, like a piece of ice stuck to my heart.

Then, the thing materialized from nothingness and appeared in his hand.

It is an imperial seal.

It is entirely black, with only a line of dark gold lines along the edge.

The seal is carved with intricate patterns—a qilin treading on clouds, its eyes like lightning.

The seal has two ancient seal characters engraved on its base: Ghost Seal.

It's very heavy and feels heavy in your hand.

Zhang Qiling looked down at the Ghost Seal for a long time.

Then, he looked up at Wu Heng.

"The door can be closed."

Wu Heng's eyes lit up.

"Do you have a key?"

"have."

"Then what are we waiting for?"

Wu Heng's voice trembled.

"Now, immediately, close the door! Use your blood, use the Ghost Seal, to reinforce the seal!"

Zhang Qiling shook his head.

"not enough."

"What?"

"Reinforcement will only last for ten years."

He said.

"Ten years from now, the seal will loosen and the gate will open again. At that time, a new gatekeeper will be needed."

Wu Heng was stunned.

"Then... what should we do?"

"I'll guard it."

Three words, very calm.

But falling into the quiet passageway is like a boulder crashing into a deep pool.

Wu Xie's eyes widened.

"Hey buddy, what did you say?"

"I'll guard it."

Zhang Qiling repeated, then turned to look at Wu Xie.

"I've guarded this place for ten years. If the seal remains intact after ten years, I'll emerge. If it's not... I'll continue guarding it."

"Then I'll go with you!"

Wu Xie rushed forward.

Zhang Qiling pressed down on his shoulder.

"You can't do it."

Why?

"You are not the gatekeeper."

"Can……"

Zhang Qiling shook his head, very lightly, but very resolutely.

He looked at Xie Yuchen, then at Huo Xiuxiu, then at A Ning, then at Wang Pangzi, and finally back at Wu Xie.

"You, go back."

"Go back where?"

Wang Pangzi's voice also changed.

"Go back up, go back to the land, go back to where you belong."

He said.

"What happens here is none of your business."

"fart!"

Fatty Wang's eyes reddened.

"What do you mean 'irrelevant'? Dude, how many times have we gone through life and death together? And now you're saying it's irrelevant?"

"It's irrelevant."

Zhang Qiling spoke very slowly, pronouncing each word clearly.

"I am Zhang Qiling, the last Zhang Qiling of the Zhang family. Guarding the gate is my responsibility, not yours."

He paused, then looked at "Zhang Qiling".

"You, go back too."

Zhang Qiling didn't speak, he just looked at him.

Looked for a long time.

Then, he shook his head.

"Together."

Two words.

Zhang Qiling remained silent.

"You don't need to..."

"have."

"Zhang Qiling" interrupted him.

"I am Zhang Qiling from another world, but guarding the gate is also my responsibility. And..."

He looked at the bronze door.

"If anything here leaks, not only will this world suffer. My world might also be affected. So, I have to protect it too."

Zhang Qiling stared at him for a long time.

Then, he nodded.

"it is good."

The two reached an agreement, but the others were furious.

"No, what do you two mean?"

Xie Yuchen spoke, his voice strained.

"Are you really planning to stay in this godforsaken place for ten years?"

"It's not about holding out for ten years."

"Zhang Qiling" is correct.

"It will be at least ten years. Maybe longer."

"What's the difference between that and going to jail?"

Huo Xiuxiu also became anxious.

"No difference."

"Zhang Qiling" said.

"But someone has to sit down."

Ah Ning wanted to say something, but opened her mouth and didn't say anything.

She looked at "Zhang Qiling" and then at "Zhang Qiling," her eyes reddening.

Jiang Xun Gu gripped the gun tightly, his fingers turning white.

The levitating live-streaming ball floated silently, the camera focused on this scene.

The chat in the live stream stopped.

Everyone stared at the screen, at the two figures in black, at their calm faces, and at the heavy bronze door behind them.

Then, the comments started scrolling.

"No……"

"No!"

"Are you two staying here?"

"Ten years? Are you kidding me?"

"Is this a place fit for a human being?"

Zhang Qiling didn't read the comments.

He walked up to Wu Xie and handed him the Ghost Seal.

"Take it."

Wu Xie took it blankly. The jade seal was very cold, so cold that his hand trembled.

"What is this?"

"The Ghost Seal. An heirloom of the Zhang family, the only key that can open this door."

He said.

"Ten years from now, if you still remember me, take this and come here, open the door."

"What if I forget?"

"Then there's no need to come."

Zhang Qiling spoke casually, but Wu Xie sensed the weight in his words.

Ten years is a long time.

Long enough for one person to forget another, to forget an experience, to forget a promise.

"I will not forget."

Wu Xie gritted his teeth.

Hopefully.

"Zhang Qiling" turned around and looked at "Zhang Qiling".

Zhang Qiling also took something out of his pocket and handed it to Xie Yuchen.

It was a black iron plaque with a qilin (a mythical creature) engraved on it.

"This is my keepsake."

He said.

"If you still can't find the Ghost Seal or the way in ten years, use this sign to go to the Zhang family's old residence in the northwest. The people there will guide you there."

"Is there anyone else in your Zhang family?"

Xie Yuchen took the iron plaque, surprised.

Yes, but not many.

"Zhang Qiling" said.

"Tell them that Zhang Qiling sent you. They'll understand."

After explaining these things, the two looked up at the passageway.

There came sounds of fighting, screams, and gunshots.

It was Hei Xiazi and Jiang Xun Gu who were dealing with those shadows, and incidentally... dealing with the Wang and Luo families who had followed them in.

"Zhang Qiling" glanced at "Zhang Qiling".

The two moved at the same time.

It's not walking, it's flying.

With a light touch of their feet on the rock face, their bodies soared into the air, like two black birds, flying towards the top of the passageway.

Wu Xie and the others were stunned for a moment, then quickly followed.

By the time they rushed back into the stone chamber, the battle was over.

More than twenty corpses lay on the ground, some with shadows, others with human figures.

The shadow collapsed into a pool of dark red smoke, which slowly dissipated.

The people... were from the Wang and Luo families, a total of twenty-three, and they were all dead.

The manner of death was straightforward—the neck was snapped, the chest was pierced, and the skull was shattered.

They all killed with a single, decisive blow, without any unnecessary movements.

Hei Xiazi and Jiang Xun Gu stood among the corpses, panting, covered in blood, but mostly other people's blood.

"Zhang Qiling" and "Zhang Qiling" stood opposite them, their swords sheathed, not a drop of blood on their bodies.

"Resolved?"

"Black Bear asked."

"Um."

Zhang Qiling nodded.

"Kill them all?"

"Um."

"Clean and efficient."

Jiang Xun Gu's evaluation.

"He deserves to die."

"Zhang Qiling" said.

Wu Xie looked at the corpses scattered on the ground, his throat dry.

He recognized several of them—they were high-ranking members of the Wang family and elders of the Luo family.

Outside, these people are all influential figures.

But here, they were trampled to death like ants.

Why...?

He murmured.

"They wanted to come in and steal what was behind the door."

"Zhang Qiling" said.

"We can't let them succeed."

"There's no need to kill them all..."

"They must all be killed."

Zhang Qiling glanced at him.

"The fewer people there are, the greater the risk. We can't reveal even a single thing behind that door."

He spoke coldly, but Wu Xie sensed the resolute determination in his voice.

To keep that secret, to prevent what's behind the door from coming out, these two are willing to kill all threats and lock themselves in here for ten years, or even longer.

Is it worth it?

Wu Xie asked.

Zhang Qiling remained silent for a while.

"have no idea."

"But it has to be done."

After saying that, he turned around and walked towards the passage below.

"Zhang Qiling" followed.

The others stood frozen in place, watching the two figures disappear into the darkness.

The floating live-streaming sphere followed, and in the camera's view, two figures in black, one after the other, walked down the steps, passed through the stone chamber, and stood once again in front of the bronze door.

Wu Heng was still standing there, watching them.

"Have you decided?"

"Um."

"No regrets?"

"No."

Wu Heng smiled, a smile of relief.

"Okay, okay... then I can rest now."

His body began to fade, dissipating like smoke.

In the end, only one sentence remained, floating in the air.

"The gatekeepers... are now in your hands..."

Disappeared completely.

In the passage, only "Zhang Qiling" and "Zhang Qiling" remained, along with the bronze door.

Zhang Qiling took out the Ghost Seal, bit his fingertip, and dripped his blood onto the seal.

The Ghost Seal emitted a dark golden light.

One by one, the eyes on the bronze door lit up.

From dark red to dark gold.

Then, the door slowly opened a crack.

Inside the crevice was boundless darkness.

"Zhang Qiling" looked at "Zhang Qiling".

"Walk?"

"Walk."

The two walked side by side into the door.

The door slowly closed behind me.

Before the last glimmer of light disappeared, Wu Xie and the others rushed down.

All I could see was the tightly closed bronze door and the eyes on it that were gradually dimming.

"Hey bro—!"

Wu Xie's shouts echoed through the passage.

But no one responded anymore.

Only the floating live broadcast ball, quietly drifting in front of the door, with the camera pointed at that door that could never be opened again.

The live stream room was deathly silent.

Then, the comments section started flooding the screen.

"No……"

"Did they really go in?"

"ten years?"

"What kind of ending is this?"

I cried.

"You two guys absolutely have to get out of here alive!"

The final image freezes on the bronze door.

The eyes on the door, one by one, slowly closed.

It was as if it had fallen into a deep sleep.

Ten years from now, someone will come to awaken us.

[Goalkeeping term: ten years]

[System Note: Host, the choice has been made, the path has been chosen. Ten years is not a long time, I will wait for you.]