Tomb raiding live stream: Starting as the mute Zhang

When the stone pillar completed its 7,300th pulse, "Zhang Qiling" opened his eyes.

He slowly stood up from his seated position.

A very faint "click" sound came from my left knee.

I've been sitting here for five years, and my body still needs to maintain the most basic level of activity.

But the joints occasionally give a warning.

Zhang Qiling also stood up.

The two walked to the stone pillar, reached out, and pressed their hands on it.

A pulse came through, steady and deep.

Matsu Mitsunari was no different from the third and fourth years.

But Zhang Qiling's fingers lingered on the surface of the stone pillar for a few more seconds.

He felt that the interval between pulses had shortened by about 0.3 seconds compared to six months ago.

Subtle changes that are almost imperceptible.

"Almost there." He withdrew his hand.

Zhang Qiling nodded and withdrew his hand.

The two exchanged a glance and walked to the back of the stone pillar.

The mushrooms are still growing in the crevices, but their shape has changed.

The dark purple umbrella canopy has dark gold patterns along its edges.

The stems are thicker and feel heavier when picked.

Over five years, these things have adapted to the environment.

Or rather, changed by the environment.

Zhang Qiling picked a dozen or so flowers and walked back to his usual seat.

This time, no fire was lit, and no slices were made.

He took a small stone bowl out of his pocket.

It is made from the shell of a bio-insulated organism, and the edges are polished smooth.

Tear the mushrooms into pieces and put them in, then pour some water into the water bag.

The water seeps from the base of the stone pillar, and we can collect about half a bag of it every day.

It has a sweet taste, with the coolness of stones.

The chopped mushrooms soaked in water for a while and gradually dissolved.

The water turned into a dark purple paste.

He stirred it with a stone shard, scooped up a spoonful, and put it in his mouth.

The paste is smooth and slightly bitter.

A warm sensation rises after it enters the stomach.

This is the way of eating that was discovered in the fourth autumn.

Soaking mushrooms makes them easier to digest and allows for more complete energy absorption.

Following his example, Zhang Qiling also brewed a pot of tea.

The two finished eating quietly, wiped the stone bowl clean, and put it away.

Breakfast is over, time to get down to business.

Zhang Qiling walked to the crack on the side of the stone pillar.

Over five years, the crack expanded from the thickness of a hair to the width of a fingernail.

Its edges are irregular, like an ugly scar.

He hovered his finger an inch above the crack, sensing it.

This time, it wasn't breath that seeped out, but sound.

A very soft sob, like a baby crying.

It's like the sound of wind passing through a narrow cave.

The sound lasted for about ten seconds, then stopped.

Then, something moved deep inside the crack.

Zhang Qiling took a half step back and drew his short sword.

Almost simultaneously, a cloud of dark red mist surged out of the crack.

The fog tumbled and condensed in the air.

Distorted into a humanoid silhouette.

There are no facial features, no details.

It was just a blurry shadow.

The shadow lunged at "Zhang Qiling".

Zhang Qiling did not move.

When the shadow was three steps away from him, he raised his left hand.

Spread your fingers wide, palm facing the shadow.

The Qilin tattoo on his arm shone with a dark gold light.

The shadow crashed against an invisible barrier.

It made a hissing sound, like red-hot iron being immersed in cold water.

The fog churned violently and then dissipated rapidly.

In the end, only a few wisps of dark red tobacco drifted back into the depths of the crack.

"It's stronger now."

Zhang Qiling walked up to him.

"Um."

Five years ago, the cracks only emitted a faint breath.

Three years ago, he started talking in his sleep.

Two years ago, a ghosting effect appeared on the screen.

A year ago, it formed a vague shadow.

Now, the shadow has become aggressive.

Although still fragile, it crumbles at the slightest touch.

But the direction of the change is clear.

What's behind the door is awakening.

Trying.

Studying.

"How much longer can we hold out?"

"Zhang Qiling" asked.

Five years, or even less.

The two stood in silence for a while.

He returned to the stone pillar, sat down, and began to meditate.

The seal is slowly crumbling.

The thing behind the door is growing slowly.

There may not be enough time, perhaps less than ten years.

Outside.

West of Lin'an City, Wushan Residence.

The calendar on the counter had turned to the autumn of the fifth year.

This is the fourth leather-bound notebook we've used.

Every page was filled with small print.

Wu Xie went through three carving knives and used up half a basket of wood.

What he was holding in his hand at that moment was a nearly completed wood carving.

It is about 20 centimeters tall and consists of two human figures standing side by side.

They were all wearing hoodies, with the hoods pulled down low, covering half of their faces.

One left hand is loosely clenched, as if holding a knife handle.

One right hand is slightly raised, palm facing outward.

Although the facial features were blurred, the figure, posture, and silent aura were enough to identify who it was.

Fatty Wang brought over the tea and leaned closer to take a look.

"Tsk, it looks just like it."

Wu Xie didn't say anything.

Use the finest engraving tool to carve words on the base.

The blade tip moves very slowly and steadily.

After carving, blow away the wood shavings to reveal two lines of small characters:

"Inside the bronze gate, five years. Outside the gate, waiting."

"Wow, that's naive!"

Fatty Wang patted him on the shoulder.

"With this skill, you could make money by setting up a stall outside."

Wu Xie put down the carving knife and placed the wood carving in a prominent position on the counter.

Next to it is the Ghost Seal, a black jade seal that gleams with a warm light in the sunlight.

"What are you selling? I'm not selling."

He picked up his teacup and took a sip.

"Wait for the guys to come out, then see them off."

"That would be great."

Fatty Wang sat down and poured himself a cup of tea.

"Do you think the guys inside... get bored?"

Wu Xie stared at the wood carving for a few seconds.

"They've always been quiet and reserved."

His voice was very flat.

"It's stuffy everywhere. At least inside the door..."

He didn't finish speaking, but Fatty Wang understood.

Inside the door, at least there's something to do.

Guard the gate, watch the seal, and deal with infiltrators.

It might be better than just waiting outside.

The levitating live-streaming ball floats in front of the counter.

The camera is focused on the wood carving, and also on the two people.

There were more comments in the live stream than in previous years.

"It's been five years..."

"The wood carving is really good."

"I hope both of you guys stay safe."

"Waiting for you to come out"

North City, the old Xie family residence.

The study is already overflowing with stuff.

The materials spread to the corridor and even to the guest rooms next door.

Xie Yuchen carved out a narrow path through the pile of books, just wide enough for a person to walk on.

He stood at the top of the ladder, his hand groping at the top shelf of the bookshelf.

I found a metal box, pulled it out, and took it down.

The metal box was heavy, its surface was rusty, and the lock was broken.

Open it, and inside are several scrolls of bamboo slips.

The bamboo slips were black in color and strung together with leather cords, yet they were surprisingly well preserved.

He put on gloves and carefully unfolded the first volume.

The characters on the bamboo slips were engraved, very deeply and clearly.

It is a script older than the silk manuscript.

But he could recognize some of them.

In five years, he became almost a semi-expert in ancient writing.

Huo Xiuxiu brought in a plate of pastries and paused for a moment when she saw the bamboo slips.

"This is……"

"It came from an old tomb in southern Yunnan."

Xie Yuchen's voice was somewhat agitated.

"The tomb owner was an early priest of the Wuxian tribe, and this was among the burial goods. I used nine connections and spent two years to get my hands on it."

"Did you find anything useful?"

"have."

Xie Yuchen pointed to a section in the middle of the bamboo slip.

"Here—'The spirit within the pupil, neither alive nor dead. Awakening the spirit requires a key, the key is man, and man is the key.' This matches the previous clues. The core behind the door, that 'spirit,' needs a 'key' to fully awaken. And this 'key' is man."

"A person? What person?"

"It wasn't explained in detail here."

Xie Yuchen continued reading, then suddenly stopped.

"Wait... this sentence—'There are two keys, one yin and one yang. The yin key guards the door, the yang key opens the door.'"

Huo Xiuxiu came closer.

"The Yin key guards the gate... the Yang key opens the gate... what does that mean?"

"That means there are two keys to open the door."

Xie Yuchen put down the bamboo slips, his expression solemn.

"One is used to 'guard' and maintain the seal; the other is used to 'open' and break the seal. The young man and his group are currently using the 'guard' one, but the 'open' one…"

"Where?"

"have no idea."

Xie Yuchen rubbed his temples.

Over five years, more and more clues were uncovered.

But the core mystery remains unsolved.

What's behind the door?

What key do I need?

Why do we need two?

"Xiuxiu".

"Um?"

"You said, ten years from now, we'll come to pick them up..."

He paused.

"Could it be that we've inadvertently opened something we shouldn't have?"

Huo Xiuxiu remained silent for a long time.

"We'll talk about that later."

Her voice was soft, but firm.

Anyway, we have to bring them back.

"right."

Xie Yuchen picked up the bamboo slips again.

"The person needs to be brought back."

Donghai Port, wharf.

Captain Chen's fishing boat remains in the same spot.

The hull has been freshly painted in blue and white, making it very eye-catching in the sunlight.

The engine is started once a month, and the equipment is checked once a week.

In five years, the ship was better maintained than many new ships.

He was squatting on the deck, mending a fishing net.

The netting was old, but every hole had been carefully patched up.

The stitches are fine and even.

Old Liu from the fishing boat next to them peeked out again.

"Old Chen, you still have this boat?"

"Um."

"It's been five years, and we haven't gone out to sea. All we've done is maintain the facilities. What's the point?"

"The diagram will be used later."

"When do you need it?"

"Soon."

Old Liu shook his head and shrank back.

This conversation has been repeated many times over the past five years, and he's gotten tired of asking it again.

Captain Chen finished patching the last hole.

Fold the fishing nets neatly and put them back in the hold.

Then he walked to the bow of the ship and looked at the sea.

As the sun sets, the sea turns a golden-red hue.

He watched for a while, then got off the boat and locked the cabin door.

five years.

Five more years.

villa.

The roses in the yard have grown quite large.

The branches spread across half of the wall.

Aning wasn't trimming.

She stood in the middle of the courtyard, holding a tablet computer.

The screen displays a 3D topographic map of the eye-shaped island.

Over five years, she collected data through various channels.

Satellite imagery, hydrological data, and meteorological records.

They even consulted geological experts.

She now knows more about that island than the creatures that originally inhabited it.

There are more than a dozen red dots marked on the map.

This is a possible secure login location.

Each red dot has a detailed note next to it.

Tidal timing, water flow direction, reef distribution, and risk assessment.

She watched for a while, then turned off the tablet.

I went to the tool shed.

There are some new things next to the diving equipment.

Underwater propulsion system, deep-sea lighting system, emergency rescue capsule.

These are all the most advanced models that have been added gradually over the past five years.

She checked it over and confirmed that everything was normal.

Close the door.

Walking into the living room, the photo frame was still there on the coffee table.

The nine people in the photo are all smiling; time seems to have stopped five years ago.

She glanced at it for a few seconds, then went into the kitchen.

Put the rice in the pot, wash the vegetables, and cut the meat.

A soup was simmering on the stove, bubbling away.

Outside the window, the setting sun bathed the courtyard in gold.

On the outskirts of the city, the abandoned factory has been demolished.

A new housing development has been built.

Jiang Xun Gu stood in the alley opposite the construction site.

Looking at the busy construction team.

He was holding a small notebook and flipping through it.

The last name on the last page has just been crossed out.

The remnants of the Wang and Luo families have been eliminated.

In five years, he traveled to most parts of the country.

I met no fewer than a hundred people.

Some escaped the net, some resurfaced, and some new forces emerged.

He used all sorts of methods, both subtle and overt, open and covert.

Clean it up little by little.

Now, the notebook is empty.

He closed the notebook and tucked it into his pocket.

He turned and left.

At the alley entrance, Black Bear leaned against the wall.

He had a lollipop in his mouth.

"Finished?"

"It's over."

"Is it clean?"

"temporary."

Black Bear took the lollipop out of his mouth and smiled.

Five years, that's fast enough.

"Not fast."

Jiang Xun Gu said.

"It might grow back in five years."

"Then we'll clear it out in five years."

Black Bear stuffed the candy back into his mouth.

"What's next?"

"rest."

"Where should we rest?"

"Back to Lin'an. Fatty's cooking at Wu Xie's place is delicious."

Black Bear laughed and patted him on the shoulder.

"Together. I'm also craving Fatty's braised pork."

The two walked out of the alley side by side.

The setting sun cast long shadows.

They intertwined behind them.

Inside the bronze door.

Zhang Qiling awoke from his meditation.

The stone pillar has just completed one pulsation.

He remained seated cross-legged, calling out in his mind.

【system.】

【Ding. 】

The voice sounded more weathered than it had been five years ago.

[Host, it's been five years. Congratulations.]

"What's the congratulations for?"

Congratulations on remembering how to speak.

The system paused for a moment.

There's new activity coming from those people outside.

"explain."

Wu Xie finished carving the wooden figure; it looks quite realistic. Xie Yuchen obtained the new bamboo slips, which mentioned that the "key" is divided into Yin and Yang. A Ning has accurateized the flight path to the minute. Jiang Xun Gu finished cleaning and returned to Lin'an with Hei Xiazi.

Zhang Qiling remained silent.

Five years have passed, and those outside the door have moved forward in their own lives.

They waited in their respective preparations.

Those inside the door remain in the unchanging darkness, keeping watch.

Waiting amidst slow changes.

"them……"

He paused.

Are you tired?

【tired.】

The system said.

But no one said they were tired.

"..."

[Host, what about you?]

"Not tired."

Aren't you tired?

"No, really."

Zhang Qiling opened his eyes.

He looked at "Zhang Qiling" next to him.

Zhang Qiling is also watching him.

In the darkness, their eyes met.

Very calm, very stable.

Over the course of five years, they spoke less and less.

Sometimes he wouldn't say a word for days.

But there's no need to say it.

A breath, a glance.

You can tell what the other person is thinking and feeling.

"Soon."

"Zhang Qiling" said.

"Um."

Zhang Qiling closed his eyes again.

The stone pillar pulsed, one pulse after another.

Like a heartbeat.

It's like a countdown.

Five years have passed.

Five more years.

A floating live-streaming ball hovers outside the window of Wushan Residence.

The camera is pointed inside.

Wu Xie, Fatty, Hei Xiazi, and Jiang Xun Gu sat around the table.

On the table were braised pork, sweet and sour pork ribs, steamed fish, and several stir-fried dishes.

It's steaming hot, and the aroma seems to waft right through the screen.

The four clinked glasses and took a sip.

No one spoke, but the atmosphere was warm.

The number of comments in the live stream increased.

"Five-Year Reunion"

"The fat man's cooking skills are still as good as ever."

"Waiting for you guys to come out and eat together."

"Five more years"

The camera slowly zooms out.

The photos captured the night view of Lin'an, with thousands of lights shining, creating a warm and peaceful atmosphere.

But in the depths of the East China Sea, thousands of miles away.

The eye-shaped island lay silently in the darkness.

Behind the bronze door, two people stood guard and waited in the darkness.

Outside the door, a group of people waited in the light, preparing.

There is a door in between.

Five more years.