Tomb raiding live stream: Starting as the mute Zhang

It was much darker inside Old Wolf Gully than outside.

The cliffs on both sides were so high that they almost blocked out the sunlight. Only a narrow sliver of gray sky could be seen overhead. Below, the riverbed was a jumble of rocks, eroded over the years, slippery and covered with moss. The air was stagnant, filled with moisture, a musty smell, and a faint, strange, sulfurous odor.

Zhang Qiling and Zhang Qiling walked side by side at the front.

The two stood about an arm's length apart. Their steps were steady, treading on the slippery stones as if walking on flat ground. The scabbard of the black gold ancient sword occasionally touched lightly, making a soft clicking sound.

They didn't speak.

But there's a peculiar unspoken understanding. Without eye contact, they know where the other will step next, where the rocks are loose, where the moss is thick. If one moves even half a step faster, the other will adjust naturally. Like two parallel knives, silent, sharp, pointing towards the same unknown depths.

The group followed a dozen meters behind, making great difficulty. Lin Guoce ordered the soldiers to provide light in front and behind, but in the thick darkness and fog, the flashlight beams could only illuminate the two black figures in front of them, who were almost blending into the darkness.

Kun walked with uneven steps, his eyes fixed on what lay ahead: "My God... two... really two... am I dreaming?"

Chen Man grabbed his arm, her voice trembling, "Sister Yihan, did you see that? The other one... looks different, but feels... so similar. They're both so... scary."

Wang Yihan nodded, her face appearing even paler in the dim light: "They do look alike. But if you look closely, their facial features and builds are different. The previous one was more... rugged. The new one is more aloof. But the feeling they give off, that... unapproachable vibe, is exactly the same."

Jiang Shouyi supported Professor Zhou Xu'an, who was panting but had a bright look in his eyes. He lowered his voice and said, "Unbelievable... utterly unbelievable! The gatekeeper Zhang family... could there be more than one? Or is there some kind of lineage we don't know about?"

Sun Shuanzhu was being dragged along by a soldier, still groaning unconsciously, seemingly not yet fully recovered from the fright of the mandrill and the fall.

Wu Xie and Fatty followed closely behind Xie Yuchen, Hei Xiazi, and Huo Xiuxiu. Fatty leaned close to Wu Xie's ear and whispered, "Tianzhen, do you think those two... know each other? Why haven't they said a word?"

Wu Xie shook his head, his gaze fixed ahead: "I don't know. But look at the rhythm of their walk... they seem to know each other very well."

Black Bear chuckled, his sunglasses pointing forward: "More than familiar. This demeanor is like that of old partners who've been together for centuries. Mute Zhang meets Mute Zhang, interesting."

Xie Yuchen remained silent, calmly observing the cliffs on both sides and the terrain beneath his feet. Occasionally, he would glance at the two figures in front of him, his eyes thoughtful.

The ten "Vulture" members walked at the back of the group, unusually quiet. Their previous arrogance and murderous intent had vanished, replaced by deep apprehension. Zhang Qiling alone was terrifying enough; now another seemingly equally formidable figure had arrived. The success rate of their mission was rapidly approaching zero.

The levitating live-streaming sphere struggled to penetrate the fog and transmit the image back. The camera focused mostly on the two figures in the foreground.

The barrage of comments flooded the screen at an astonishing speed:

[ID Prophet: I knew it! The dual-spirit combination! Locked in!]

[ID that can shut up any so-called experts: This aura... I don't even dare to breathe through the screen]

[ID Guy Fan Club: I declare today is Chinese New Year!]

[Did Fatty Lose Weight Today: Fatty is under so much pressure, there are two big shots ahead of me]

[ID: Innocent and Unfettered: They don't seem to need to watch where they're going...]

[ID Blackie's Sunglasses: Something smells off in this ditch, there's something there.]

[ID Feng Shui Master Online: This place is nestled between two mountains, forming a ravine that resembles a reclining coffin—a very inauspicious omen!]

[ID commenter: This feeling of walking side by side is amazing!]

The group walked in the ditch for about half an hour.

The terrain began to change. The gravel underfoot was gradually replaced by a fine, black soil. The cliffs on both sides narrowed further, and the sliver of sky overhead was almost invisible; the light was so dim that a flashlight was needed to barely see anything. The air grew heavier, the smell of sulfur mixed with another indescribable, metallic odor, like dried, stale blood, growing stronger and stronger.

Zhang Qiling suddenly stopped.

Almost simultaneously, Zhang Qiling also stopped.

The two stopped and looked ahead. There stood the end of the ravine, a near-vertical rock wall covered in slippery moss and vines blocking their path. Below the wall, piles of rocks formed a small, gentle slope.

The group stopped and watched nervously.

Zhang Qiling tilted his head slightly, looking up at the top of the rock face, then turned to observe the direction and shape of the cliffs on both sides. He closed his eyes, as if sensing something. A few seconds later, he opened his eyes, his deep pupils exceptionally clear in the dim light.

His left hand hung naturally at his side, while his right index and middle fingers were joined together, the fingertips trembling slightly, as if sketching something in the air. His lips didn't move, but in his mind, ancient feng shui formulas and mountain and river formations flashed by rapidly.

"The Qian (northwest) position is missing a corner, so the Xun (southeast) wind doesn't rise. The earth's energy is stagnant here... no, it's being diverted."

"The cliff on the left resembles a green dragon bowing its head, while the one on the right resembles a white tiger crouching its claws. It seems like a predicament, yet between the dragon and tiger, a glimmer of life lies hidden. Vital energy flows in from the southeast, swirling around the cliff… The burial site is not in the exact center, but three positions off to the southeast (巽位), where the Kan (坎) water secretly flows through."

His gaze returned to the left side of the rock face, near the bottom. There, the vines were exceptionally dense, almost reaching the ground, and the rocks behind them seemed to be a darker color than the surrounding area.

Zhang Qiling stood half a step away from him, not looking at his calculating fingers, but his gaze was fixed on the vines Zhang Qiling was looking at. The tattoo on his shoulder blade was slightly warm, resonating subtly with the area in front of him.

He also knew the Zhang family's feng shui secrets, and had reached an advanced level. He could almost instantly reach the same conclusions as Zhang Qiling's mental calculations. But he didn't move or say anything. He just stood quietly, like a black statue guarding the side.

The live stream camera zoomed in, giving a close-up of Zhang Qiling's calm profile and her slightly moving fingers.

[ID Feng Shui Master Online: He's calculating! He's definitely calculating directions! This technique... I've never seen it before, but it feels incredibly professional!]

[ID Prophet: The entrance to the ancient tomb is about to be found!]

[ID Guy Fan Club: The other guy looks incredibly handsome when he's serious!]

[ID: "The 'Expert' is Defiant: Where's 'Expert Sun'? Come learn what true professionalism is!"]

Zhang Qiling withdrew her finger, looked at Zhang Qiling, and nodded almost imperceptibly.

Zhang Qiling's eyes flickered slightly, which could be considered a response.

The two of them started walking almost simultaneously, heading towards the particularly dense patch of vines on the left side of the rock wall.

A commotion arose in the ranks behind. Lin Guoce made a hand gesture, and everyone held their breath, gripping their weapons or tools tightly.

Zhang Qiling walked up to the vines, but didn't try to pull them off with his hands. Instead, he used his fingers like knives, quickly slicing along the base of several main vines. The movement was very light, but the tough old vines snapped cleanly with a snap.

He pushed aside the broken vines, revealing the damp rock wall behind. Sure enough, there was an irregular crack about half a person's height in the rock wall, completely covered by vines and moss. It was dark inside the crack, and a colder, more stale smell wafted out.

Zhang Qiling squatted down, smeared some soil from the edge of the crack with his fingertip, brought it to his nose to smell, and then carefully examined the color and texture of the soil. Then he stood up, took a half step back, and looked at Zhang Qiling.

"This is it." His voice was cool and calm. "The entrance. It was sealed off by people, and then part of it collapsed naturally. It's very old."

Zhang Qiling walked to the crevice and peered inside. His night vision allowed him to see a small section inside—a narrow, downward-sloping passage with obvious signs of artificial excavation, covered in a thick layer of dust.

"Mm," he replied.

Behind them, Lin Guoce had already led his men up. Seeing the crevice, his spirits lifted. "This is it! Prepare to go in! Light the way, scout ahead!"

Professor Zhou Xu'an was excited and wanted to go forward to check, but was stopped by Jiang Shouyi.

The levitating live-streaming ball aimed at the dark rift, then swept over the two men in black standing side by side in front of it.

Bullet comments:

[ID Prophet: Found it!]

[ID that silences the so-called experts: You even managed to find something so well hidden! Amazing!]

[ID Bro Fan Club: With the combined power of two spirits, we are invincible!]

[ID: Did Fatty Lose Weight Today?: Are we going in? I'm a little nervous.]

[ID Official Observer 001: Target No. 2 has appeared, seemingly possessing special abilities (Feng Shui), with extremely high combat strength, and an unknown connection to Target No. 1. Whether they are both immortal beings remains to be observed. Recommendation: Increase monitoring level and reassess contact strategy.]

Inside the Special Affairs Office.

Wang Jizong, Li Guoliang, and Zhao Yongnian stared at the screen, their expressions shifting.

"Another one..." Li Guoliang's voice was hoarse. "Zhang Qiling? What's your relationship with that Zhang Qiling? Brothers? Or... the same kind of people?"

"Watching the live stream, he knows all those mystical things, so his skills are probably not bad either." Zhao Yongnian tapped his fingers on the table. "If he's also an immortal being... his value is immeasurable. But the danger also doubles."

Wang Jizong's eyes darkened: "Notify 'Vulture' that the plan has been changed. Prioritize collecting biological samples and data from these two individuals. If necessary... we can try to capture the newly appeared one. He might not be as alert as Zhang Qiling."

The command was given silently.

At the bottom of Old Wolf Gully, in front of the crevice.

Zhang Qiling seemed to sense something, turned around, and swept his indifferent gaze over the ten "Vulture" team members at the back of the group who had their heads down.

Zhang Qiling followed his gaze and glanced at him, her eyes showing no change, as if she had already seen through him.

Then, Zhang Qiling bent down first, turned sideways, and stepped into the dark rift without hesitation.

Zhang Qiling didn't follow immediately. He stood at the crevice, slightly turned to the side, and spoke his first words since entering Old Wolf Gully to the restless crowd behind him. His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears:

"Stay close. Don't touch anything."

After saying that, he bent down and disappeared into the darkness of the crevice.