Tomb raiding live stream: Starting as the mute Zhang

Just as Zhang Qiling opened his eyes, the stone pillar completed one pulse.

The dark red light flickered, like breathing.

He remained seated cross-legged, not moving, but simply raised his hand and looked at his palm.

My skin was clean and dry, without any sweat, but I could feel the humidity in the air—it was very high, like a morning after a rain.

Beside him, "Zhang Qiling" also opened his eyes.

The two looked at each other and nodded.

Without saying a word, the meaning was clear—the rest was over, and it was time to get back to work.

Zhang Qiling stood up and stretched his shoulders.

The bones made a slight "click" sound, which was very clear in the silence.

He walked up to the stone pillar and reached out to press his hand on it.

The pulse is very steady.

Just like yesterday, just like the moment before, and probably just like every day for the next ten years.

"Thirty percent."

He said.

Zhang Qiling walked over and placed his hand on hers.

"Nothing has changed."

"Um."

They need to confirm the status of the seal.

Once a day is a must.

Even with a 30% reduction, it can still last for another ten years.

But "can still hold on" and "must hold on" are two different things.

They had to stay and make sure that the "30%" didn't turn into "40%" or "50%" until the door opened.

After confirming the seal, the next step is the food.

Zhang Qiling walked to the back of the stone pillar.

There, there are cracks in the rock face, and things grow in the cracks.

mushroom.

Dark purple, with small canopies, only the size of a thumb, but densely packed in clusters.

The stipe is slender and has a sticky sheen on its surface.

It smells bad, with an earthy and rusty odor.

But it's edible.

They tried it yesterday—picking a few flowers, tearing them open, and putting them in their mouths.

It tasted strange, like chewing on waterlogged paper, but after swallowing it, it warmed my stomach.

This thing can provide energy and sustain life.

Zhang Qiling picked a handful, about twenty or so flowers.

He walked to the stone pillar, sat down, and gave half of it to "Zhang Qiling".

Zhang Qiling took it but didn't eat it right away.

He took a small leather bag out of his pocket and poured out some things.

salt.

The fine white salt grains gleamed faintly in the dark red light.

He pinched off a small amount and sprinkled it on the mushrooms before picking one up and putting it in his mouth.

Chewing and swallowing, the movements are slow but steady.

Zhang Qiling looked at him, picked up a mushroom, and ate it without adding salt.

The two finished their breakfast quietly.

After finishing his meal, Zhang Qiling stood up and walked to the other side of the stone pillar.

The ground there is relatively flat, making it suitable for activities.

He began practicing his skills.

It's not the kind of big, sweeping moves; it's the basics—stance, punch, retract punch, turn, kick.

Every movement is slow, like a movie in slow motion.

But you can see the muscles tensing and relaxing under the clothes, and you can hear the subtle sounds of the joints turning.

"Zhang Qiling" was also practicing on the other side.

His method was different—he didn't punch or kick; he just stood there, closed his eyes, and regulated his breathing.

Breathing was slow and deep, with barely any rise and fall of the chest.

But the surrounding air was moving slightly, as if an invisible energy field was expanding and contracting.

After practicing for about half an hour, the two stopped at the same time.

Zhang Qiling wiped his forehead—actually, he wasn't sweating; it was just a habitual action.

Zhang Qiling opened his eyes and walked up to him.

"firewood."

He said.

"Zhang Qiling" nodded and called out in his heart.

【system.】

【Ding. 】

The sound immediately rang out, carrying a hint of drowsiness from just waking up.

[Good morning, host. What do you need?]

"firewood."

[Firewood? Oh, the kind of firewood used for starting a fire?]

"Um."

Okay, right away.

A few seconds later, a small bundle of firewood appeared out of thin air on the ground in front of the two of them.

Dry, chopped, and of uniform length.

About a dozen or so, enough for one meal.

Zhang Qiling squatted down and piled the firewood into a small heap.

Then he pulled out a lighter from his pocket—it was the one he had taken out of his backpack earlier; it had a metal casing, had been used for a long time, and the edges were worn smooth.

"Click."

Flames leaped up and licked the firewood.

The dry wood quickly caught fire, making a crackling sound.

The orange-red firelight illuminated a small area, pushing back the dark red color somewhat.

Zhang Qiling skewered the remaining mushrooms onto a small twig he had casually folded and roasted them by the fire.

When mushrooms are heated, they make a sizzling sound and a clear liquid seeps out from their surface.

The earthy smell faded, replaced by a more complex aroma, somewhat like roasted nuts.

[Host, you're living a rather refined life.]

The system said in my mind.

Zhang Qiling ignored it and focused on turning the mushrooms over.

However, having a fire is good. This place is cold and damp; warming yourself by the fire will warm you up. By the way, do you have enough water?

"enough."

Zhang Qiling took the water bottle off his waist and shook it.

There's still more than half left; if I drink it sparingly, it should last for a few days.

Moreover, water seeps from the base of the stone pillar, very slowly, but it can collect a small handful a day.

The water was clean, with a slightly sweet taste from the stones.

That's fine then.

The system paused for a moment.

[Host, what day is it today?]

"the next day."

It's only the second day...

The system sighed.

There are 3,648 days left.

Zhang Qiling paused in his hand as he flipped the mushrooms.

Then continue.

The mushrooms are roasted, slightly charred on the surface, and steaming hot.

He picked up a string of pearls, blew on it, and handed it to "Zhang Qiling".

Zhang Qiling took it and took a bite.

Chew, swallow, and then nod.

"It'll taste better."

"Um."

The two sat by the fire, slowly eating roasted mushrooms.

The firelight danced on his face, casting a long shadow on the stone pillar behind him.

After finishing eating, Zhang Qiling put out the fire.

The firewood had burned to charcoal, but still retained some warmth.

He gathered the charcoal ash into a pile, waited for it to cool completely, and then sprinkled it at the base of the stone pillars—this would prevent moisture and repel insects.

Although there don't seem to be any bugs here.

After doing all this, he sat down again, cross-legged, and closed his eyes.

They spend most of the day meditating.

They regulate their breathing, cultivate, sense the seal, and also sense each other's presence.

They didn't speak, but they knew the other person was there.

This is enough.

Outside.

West of Lin'an City, Wushan Residence.

The store is small, about 30 square meters, and filled with shelves.

The shelves are filled with bottles and jars, old books, calligraphy and paintings, and small ornaments.

None of them were anything of great value, but they were neatly arranged and clean.

Wu Xie sat behind the counter, holding a soft cloth in his hand, slowly wiping a celadon bottle.

The movements were very light and careful, as if wiping some fragile treasure.

A light rain was falling outside the window, pattering on the bluestone slabs.

There weren't many people in the alley, except for the occasional bicycle bell ringing, jingling, coming closer and then going away.

Fatty Wang came in from the backyard, carrying a bowl in his hand.

"Dinner's ready."

The bowl contains noodles, clear broth, a poached egg, and some chopped green onions.

Wu Xie put down the porcelain bottle, took the bowl, and picked up the chopsticks.

Thanks.

"No need to thank me."

Fatty Wang also picked up a bowl and leaned against the counter to eat.

"I may not be good at much else, but I can certainly cook noodles."

The two ate their noodles quietly.

After eating half a bowl, Wu Xie suddenly spoke.

"What day is it today?"

Fatty Wang paused with his chopsticks.

"The third day."

"oh."

Wu Xie continued eating noodles.

After finishing his meal, he put down his bowl, walked behind the counter, and opened a drawer.

There was a notebook inside, with a leather cover, and it was very old.

He opened the book, picked up his pen, and wrote on the latest page:

"Day three, overcast, light rain. Business was good at the shop, I sold a brush washer. Aning called to say everything was fine at the villa. Fatty's noodles were too salty."

After finishing writing, I closed the notebook and put it back in the drawer.

This is a diary.

I started writing it the night I returned from the bronze gate.

One article a day, short, just a few sentences.

Record the weather, record trivial matters, record those small, seemingly unimportant things.

But he knew it was important.

Because ten years from now, when his friends come out, he wants to tell them—how we spent these ten years.

"What are you doing this afternoon?"

Fatty Wang asked.

"Watch the shop."

Wu Xie sat back down in his chair, picked up an old book, and started flipping through it.

But I couldn't get into it.

My gaze kept drifting towards the corner of the counter—where the Ghost Seal was placed.

The black jade seal was placed in a brocade box with the lid open, and the eyes of the Qilin gleamed faintly in the dim light.

It was as if reminding him that ten years had only just begun.

North City, the old Xie family residence.

The study was filled with books.

The floor, the table, the chairs were all covered with books.

There were thick stacks of documents, including thread-bound books, handwritten copies, rubbings, and printed materials.

The air was filled with the smell of old paper and ink.

Xie Yuchen sat amidst a pile of books, wearing glasses on his nose and holding a magnifying glass in his hand, looking directly at a rubbing.

The rubbing was brought from a tomb in the southwest where the insects were fed to the dead. The sacrificial inscription on it is very blurry, and some strokes are broken.

He looked at it for three days before recognizing only a small portion of it.

Huo Xiuxiu pushed open the door and came in, carrying a cup of tea.

"Take a break."

Xie Yuchen didn't look up, he just stretched out his hand.

Huo Xiuxiu handed him the tea, which he took, drank a sip, put down, and continued reading.

"What did you figure out?"

Huo Xiuxiu asked.

"This sentence."

Xie Yuchen pointed to a line of characters on the rubbing.

"The root of the gap lies in the depths of the eye." I always thought it was a metaphor, but now I think... it might really mean the literal meaning.

"What do you mean?"

"The root of the gap lies deep within the 'eye'."

Xie Yuchen took off his glasses and rubbed his temples.

"The island we went to is shaped like an eye. The bronze gate at the bottom of the island is covered with eyes. The seals inside the gate are centered on stone pillars, and human figures are embedded in the pillars—if you connect the positions of those human figures, they also resemble an eye."

Huo Xiuxiu remained silent for a few seconds.

"So... the 'eye' isn't a symbol, it's something that actually exists?"

"possible."

Xie Yuchen put his glasses back on.

"I need to research more. The Wuxian tribe, sacrificial texts, sealing techniques... I need to figure everything out in the next ten years."

"I'll help you."

Huo Xiuxiu sat down next to her and picked up another document.

The two fell silent, and the only sound in the study was the rustling of pages turning.

Like time passing.

villa.

Aning was watering the flowers in the yard.

The flowers are ordinary roses, planted in the corner of the wall, and they are in full bloom.

Pink, red, and white blossoms unfolded in the sunlight.

Water spilled from the spout, landing on the leaves and rolling into glistening droplets.

After watering the flowers, she went to the tool shed and took out her toolbox.

Inside are diving equipment, oxygen tanks, regulators, and masks.

She began to inspect, disassembling each part, cleaning, oiling, and reassembling them.

The movements were practiced skillfully, as if they had been done many times before.

I did it many times.

Since she returned, she has repeated this process three times in three days.

This will continue for the next ten years, more than three thousand times.

Until the equipment is worn smooth and shiny, until you can disassemble and reassemble it with your eyes closed.

Until...the day when it's needed.

"Ah Ning!"

Wang Pangzi's voice came from inside the house.

"They're here."

Ah Ning responded, put down her tools, washed her hands, and went inside.

Lunch is ready: three dishes and a soup.

Fatty Wang is in charge of cooking, and Aning is his assistant.

The dishes were simple home-style cooking, but they tasted good.

The two sat at the dining table and ate.

"How's Wu Xie doing?"

Aning asked.

"He's alright, just a little quiet."

Fatty Wang picked up a piece of braised pork.

"But he's not much of a talker anyway. It's just... I always feel like it's eerily quiet around him."

"And you?"

"I?"

Fatty Wang shoveled a mouthful of rice into his mouth.

"I'm doing fine. I look after the shop, cook, and play with Grandpa Li's cat next door. It's just..."

He paused, then lowered his voice.

"Sometimes when I wake up in the middle of the night, I always feel like something's missing."

Ah Ning didn't say anything, but simply put some food on his plate.

The two continued eating.

Outside the window, the sunlight was bright, illuminating the courtyard.

Abandoned factory on the outskirts of the city.

Jiang Xun Gu stood in the center of the workshop, with three people lying at his feet.

They were all dressed in black and holding guns, but they were already dead.

His neck was snapped cleanly, without any blood.

At the workshop entrance, Black Bear leaned against the door frame, a cigarette dangling from his mouth.

"The last one?"

"Um."

Jiang Xun Gu wiped his hands, took out a small notebook from his pocket, opened it, and crossed out a line with a pen.

The notebook had more than a dozen names listed, but now they've all been crossed out.

The Wang and Luo families lost twenty-three high-ranking members on Eye Island, but there are still small fry among them.

Over the next three days, Jiang Xun Gu and Hei Xia Zi worked separately, one in the north and the other in the south, eliminating all the remaining hidden dangers.

"It's clean now."

Jiang Xun Gu closed the book.

"temporary."

"That's what Black Bear said."

"Ten years is enough for them to grow back."

"Then let's clean it again in ten years."

Jiang Xun Gu glanced at him.

What are you planning to do?

"I?"

Black Bear took the cigarette out of his mouth and twirled it in his hand.

"Wander around. Look at the mountains and rivers, occasionally go to Wu Xie's place for a meal, or go to Xie Yuchen's place to read a book. Ten years will pass by quickly."

"and then?"

"Then?"

Black Bear laughed.

"Then when it's time, we'll go pick them up together."

Jiang Xun Gu nodded.

The two left the factory and went their separate ways.

One is heading east, the other west.

The setting sun cast long shadows.

Inside the bronze door.

Zhang Qiling awoke from his meditation.

The stone pillar completed another pulsation.

He calculated that it happened roughly every six hours, which was quite accurate.

Four times a day, forty times in ten days, four hundred times in one hundred days... ten years, fourteen thousand six hundred times.

This is only the third time.

He stood up, walked to the stone pillar, and conducted a routine inspection.

The pulse is steady and unchanged.

Zhang Qiling also came over, and the two of them confirmed it together.

Then, we went to pick mushrooms, made a fire, and roasted them.

Adding salt makes it taste better.

After eating, practice your skills and meditate.

Another day has passed.

Monotonous, repetitive, but necessary.

In the evening—if you could distinguish between morning and evening here—they sat down against the stone pillars.

I don't sleep, I just close my eyes and rest.

There are no beds, no blankets, only cold stone slabs and pillars.

But the two of them could keep warm by leaning against each other.

He called out "Zhang Qiling" in his mind with his eyes closed.

【system.】

[Here I am, host.]

"How was your day?"

The system laughed.

[Host, you actually care about me?]

"Just asking."

I'm fine, just bored. There's not even internet here, so I have to play chess by myself.

"Playing chess?"

[Yeah, using both hands simultaneously is really impressive.]

Zhang Qiling did not respond.

After a while, the system spoke again.

[Host, what are those people outside doing right now?]

"have no idea."

[I'm definitely thinking of you guys.]

"possible."

It's not just possible, it's certain.

The system is certain.

[Wu Xie is writing in his diary, Xie Yuchen is researching, A Ning is maintaining equipment, Fatty is cooking, Jiang Xun Gu is cleaning up miscellaneous fish, and Hei Xiazi is... well, probably smoking.]

"You saw it?"

[Just a guess.]

The system paused for a moment.

But it's probably pretty close.

Zhang Qiling remained silent.

He looked at the darkness before him, at the dark red eyes on the stone pillars, and at the quiet profile of "Zhang Qiling" beside him.

Ten years is a long time.

But it doesn't seem... that hard to get through.

【Host.】

"Um?"

[Ten years from now, when they come to pick you up, should I set off fireworks?]

"casual."

【Then let it go.】

The system laughed.

[Set off the biggest, brightest lights to celebrate your successful completion of quarantine.]

Zhang Qiling closed his eyes.

The stone pillar pulsed, one pulse after another.

Like a heartbeat.

It's like a countdown.

The third day has ended.

There are 3,647 days left.