Tomb raiding live stream: Starting as the mute Zhang

The fat man slept soundly for days.

He woke up the next day at noon. Sunlight streamed in through the curtains, casting dappled patterns on the floor. He lay on the sofa, a blanket covering him, the taste of the hot pot from the night before still lingering in his mouth.

He sat up, rubbed his eyes, and found the room eerily quiet.

"Innocent? Flower Master? Xiuxiu?" he shouted.

No one answered.

The fat man's heart skipped a beat. He quickly got up, not even bothering to put on his shoes, and pushed open the door to the inner room.

The bed in the inner room was empty, the quilt neatly folded—though the folding technique was rather clumsy, as if the quilt had been rolled into a tofu block. The window was open, and the morning breeze blew in, causing the curtains to sway.

The person is gone.

The fat man froze for two seconds, then slapped his thigh: "Holy crap! Those two guys ran away?!"

He turned and rushed out of the house into the yard. There was no one there. Only his underwear, washed yesterday but still damp, hung on the clothesline, swaying in the wind.

"Really ran away?" The fat man scratched his head. "No way? Didn't you promise me that yesterday..."

Just as they were muttering to themselves, the courtyard gate creaked open.

Wu Xie walked in carrying two plastic bags and saw Fatty standing in the yard in a daze. He asked, "What are you doing? Sleepwalking?"

"Tianzhen! You're finally back!" The fat man rushed over. "Where are the two young men? Did they run away?"

Wu Xie was puzzled: "Why are they running? They went to buy something."

"Buy something?" The fat man was taken aback.

"Hmm." Wu Xie placed the plastic bag on the table; it contained steamed buns and soy milk. "When I came over this morning and saw they were awake, I said I'd go downstairs to buy some breakfast. Zhang Qiling nodded and went out, and 'Zhang Qiling' followed. I thought you knew."

"I know nothing!" The fat man breathed a sigh of relief, then glared at him. "Do they even have money? They just go out to buy things?"

"I gave it to them," Wu Xie said. "I can't let them work for free and then have to pay out of their own pockets."

Just then, the gate to the courtyard rang again.

Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" walked in one after the other. Each of them carried a plastic bag containing fried dough sticks, sesame cakes, and several boxes of tofu pudding.

Wearing the black T-shirt and pants Wu Xie gave them, they walked through the alleys of the old town without looking out of place. It's just that their aloof demeanor probably scared away quite a few middle-aged women who were out buying groceries early in the morning.

"Hey, you're back!" the fat man quickly went to greet him. "Buying breakfast? Thanks for your hard work!"

Zhang Qiling handed him the plastic bag without saying a word.

He handed it over and then walked to the table and sat down.

The fat man opened the plastic bag and chuckled, "Not bad, you even know to buy fried dough sticks and sesame cakes! That's quite a touch of home cooking!"

Wu Xie also brought out steamed buns and soy milk, setting them out on the table: "Make do with this. Xie Yuchen and Xiuxiu will be here in a bit; Hei Xiazi said they'll be later."

The five people sat down to eat breakfast.

Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" ate quietly, their movements refined yet fast. The fat man, munching on a fried dough stick, muttered, "Hey guys, how did you sleep last night? My bed was alright, wasn't it? The pillows were a bit low, though. I'll get you two taller ones tomorrow..."

Zhang Qiling looked up at him.

Eye contact translation: One should not speak while eating.

The fat man choked for a moment and obediently shut his mouth.

Wu Xie suppressed a laugh and asked, "What are your plans for today? Does your injury need further treatment?"

Zhang Qiling shook his head: "No need."

Zhang Qiling also shook his head.

"Well..." Wu Xie thought for a moment, "How about we go out for a walk? Buy some daily necessities? We can't keep wearing my clothes."

Zhang Qiling paused for a moment, then nodded.

Zhang Qiling nodded as well.

"Alright!" The fat man slammed his hand on the table. "After dinner, I'll lead the way to the mall! We'll get these two guys some new outfits! And some household supplies! It's on me!"

After finishing their meal and tidying up, the fat man drove the four of them straight to the downtown shopping mall.

The fat man kept talking the whole way, from mall discounts to which restaurants were good, and then to the progress of yesterday's jade sale—Black Bear had contacted a buyer, the price was good, and the money would arrive in a couple of days.

Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" sat in the back seat, one looking out the left window and the other out the right, their expressions saying the same thing: "You talk too much."

When we arrived at the mall, it was quite crowded.

As soon as Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" got out of the car, they attracted a lot of attention. The two were both good-looking and had a cold demeanor, so they turned heads when they walked together.

The fat man, oblivious to everything, cheerfully led the way: "Let's buy clothes first! These two young men have figures that look good in anything!"

I entered a men's clothing store. The salesperson greeted me warmly: "What are you looking at? We've got some new styles in stock..."

The fat man waved his hand dismissively: "Let them choose! Black ones, they're dirt-resistant, comfortable, and easy to move in!"

The shop assistant's eyes lit up as she looked at Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling": "You two gentlemen have such great figures! We have new tracksuits, as well as casual wear..."

Zhang Qiling casually pointed to a few black sportswear and T-shirts. "Zhang Qiling" also picked out a few similar items.

While trying on clothes, the shop assistant waited outside the fitting room with clothes of the right size. Zhang Qiling came out first, dressed in a black tracksuit that accentuated his broad shoulders and long legs, but his expression was too cold, as if he had come to cause trouble.

Salesperson: "Sir, this outfit suits you perfectly! It makes you look especially energetic!"

Zhang Qiling glanced at her.

The shop assistant shut up.

Zhang Qiling then came out, also dressed in black sportswear, slender and upright, standing there with an air of unapproachability.

Shop assistant: "This gentleman is also very handsome..."

Zhang Qiling glanced at her.

The shop assistant shut up again.

The fat man paid and carried the bags. Then he went to buy toiletries, towels, toothbrushes, slippers, and the like. Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" didn't say a word the whole time, just pointed and took whatever was asked for, extremely efficient.

After finishing our shopping, Fatty said, "Let's go to the supermarket and buy some groceries! Tonight, I'll show off my cooking skills and let you taste authentic Northern cuisine!"

There were even more people in the supermarket.

Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" pushed the shopping cart, following behind Fatty and Wu Xie. The two were tall and had long legs, making them very conspicuous in the crowd, but their strong aura caused people around them to automatically make way for them.

The chubby man picked through the fresh produce: "These ribs are good! This fish is fresh! These vegetables are so crisp! Tianzhen, buy more chili peppers! Can you two handle spicy food?"

Zhang Qiling: "Okay."

Zhang Qiling: "Hmm."

"Alright!" The fat man threw several bags of chili peppers into the car.

Passing by the snack aisle, Wu Xie grabbed some chocolate cookies. Fatty scoffed, "How old are you, still eating snacks!"

Wu Xie: "Mind your own business."

Zhang Qiling's gaze swept across the shelves, stopped at one spot, reached out and grabbed two bags, and put them in the car.

Wu Xie took a look and saw that it was beef jerky.

The fat man chuckled: "Young man, you like snacks too?"

Zhang Qiling ignored him.

"Zhang Qiling" also reached out and took two bags... potato chips. Original flavor.

Wu Xie and Fatty exchanged a glance, trying not to laugh.

Check out and go home.

In the afternoon, Xie Yuchen and Huo Xiuxiu arrived. Xie Yuchen brought a tea set, saying that Fatty's family didn't even have a decent cup. Huo Xiuxiu brought some fruit.

Black Bear arrived late, carrying two bottles of wine: "To celebrate our first successful collaboration, even though we almost died in it."

Fatty was the head chef for dinner, with Wu Xie assisting. Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" were made to sit in the living room and not allowed to enter the kitchen—mainly because Fatty was afraid they would tear the kitchen down.

In the living room, Xie Yuchen brewed tea with elegant movements. Huo Xiuxiu peeled an apple, cut it into small pieces, and placed them on a plate. Hei Xiazi watched TV with his legs crossed; the news was reporting on the archaeological discoveries at the Qixing Lu Palace, but the report was vague, only saying "significant progress has been made."

Zhang Qiling sat at one end of the sofa, resting with his eyes closed. Zhang Qiling sat at the other end, watching TV, his eyes unfocused.

Huo Xiuxiu handed over the apple: "Have some fruit."

Zhang Qiling accepted it, thanked him, and said in a low voice.

Zhang Qiling accepted it and nodded.

Dinner was plentiful. There was braised pork ribs, steamed fish, spicy chicken, stir-fried vegetables, and a large pot of soup. Fatty's cooking was indeed excellent; the food looked, smelled, and tasted delicious.

Seven people sat down around the table. The fat man opened a bottle of wine and poured a glass for everyone: "Come on! Let's celebrate our survival! And let's celebrate the official establishment of our Iron...Iron Seven Corners!"

Everyone raised their glasses.

Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" looked at the wine glasses in front of them but didn't touch them.

"Can't you drink it?" Black Bear asked.

Zhang Qiling: "Very few."

Zhang Qiling: "Not used to it."

"Then it's up to you," Xie Yuchen said. "As long as the meaning is there, that's fine."

Zhang Qiling picked up the cup and took a small sip. His brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Zhang Qiling also took a sip, his expression didn't change much, but the tips of his ears turned slightly red.

The fat man chuckled: "These two young men can't hold their liquor! They need to work on it!"

Wu Xie kicked him: "Say less."

The atmosphere at the dinner table was pleasant. Fatty told jokes, Black Glasses cracked banter, Xie Yuchen occasionally made a sarcastic remark, and Huo Xiuxiu would laugh and smooth things over. Wu Xie took care of the two silent guests, serving them food.

Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" didn't eat much, but they tried everything. The spicy chicken was indeed spicy, and they both ate a few extra bites of rice.

After finishing our meal, we cleared the table, made tea, and chatted.

When Xie Yuchen talked about the sale of the jade and bronze plaques, the buyer was very agreeable, the money had been received, and they would split it according to the previously agreed ratio. Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" would get the largest share, but both of them said they didn't need it and asked Wu Xie to keep it for them.

Hei Xiazi mentioned some news from the underworld, saying that the authorities suffered heavy losses this time, and Wang Jizong was under a lot of pressure, so things might calm down for a while.

Huo Xiuxiu mentioned that Professor Zhou Xu'an had called, saying that there had been a breakthrough in the research on bamboo slips, which might involve earlier secrets of the Western Zhou Dynasty, and invited Wu Xie to the research institute in a few days to discuss it in detail.

Wu Xie wrote them down one by one.

As night deepened, Xie Yuchen and Huo Xiuxiu took their leave. Hei Xiazi also sauntered off, saying he would come again tomorrow.

After washing up, Fatty sprawled on the sofa playing on his phone. Wu Xie was tidying up in the guest room.

Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" stood in the courtyard. The moonlight was beautiful, shining on the two of them.

"Where to next?" Zhang Qiling asked.

Zhang Qiling paused for a moment: "I need to recover. My strength is less than 40%."

Zhang Qiling nodded: "Me too."

"Do you have any leads?"

"Not yet." Zhang Qiling looked up at the night sky. "But in this world, there is the aura of a 'door.' It's faint, but it exists."

Zhang Qiling also looked up: "I felt it too. Not just in one place."

The two fell silent again.

After a while, Zhang Qiling said, "Stay here for now. Stay with them."

"Um."

It was settled in just a few words.

The fat man's snoring came from inside the room, deafeningly loud.

Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" turned their heads at the same time to look into the room, their faces showing the same extremely subtle expression of disgust.

Then, they each went back to their rooms.

The night is still long.

At the same time, on the other side of the city, in the Special Affairs Office.

The lights were on. Wang Jizong, Li Guoliang, and Zhao Yongnian sat around the conference table, their faces grim.

The terminal screen of the floating live broadcast ball had gone black. The last image was of Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" standing at the edge of the forest, turning away.

"Have the statistics been compiled yet?" Wang Jizong asked in a hoarse voice.

Li Guoliang handed over a report: "Sixty-seven people went in. Fifty-one came out. Sixteen died."

He paused, then read out the list: "Zhou Gousheng, Ma Tiedan, and Guo Lengzi—these three civilians died in the corpse beetle swarm. Sun Shuanzhu was killed by 'Zhang Qiling.' Five soldiers were killed, by iron corpses, blood corpses, golden beetles, and monster attacks respectively. Seven others are seriously injured and are being treated; their condition is not optimistic. The 'Vulture' squad of ten was wiped out. The three people we arranged were taken into custody by Lin Guoce."

Zhao Yongnian added: "Wang Lei, Liu Min, and Zhou Ting, who were there to treat their family members' illnesses, sustained minor injuries and have been arranged for treatment. Their families have also received official subsidies and medical assistance and are safe."

Wang Jizong slammed his fist on the table: "Sixteen! And we lost an entire 'Vulture' squad! We got nothing! Zhou Xu'an took the bamboo slips, those guys divided the jade, two of our targets escaped, and we even got 'Zhang Qiling'!"

Li Guoliang sighed, "We underestimated their fighting strength. We also underestimated the danger of the ancient tomb."

"What do we do now?" Zhao Yongnian asked. "Continue the pursuit? Or...?"

Wang Jizong stared at the black screen, his eyes shifting: "Pursue? With what means? Send another 'Vulture'? Or mobilize troops? Too much noise, the higher-ups won't approve."

He remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, "Keep an eye on things. As for Lin Guoce, have him write a report, shifting the blame to the ancient tomb's mechanisms and the accident. Deal with those three traitors. Cover up the 'Vulture' affair completely. As for Zhang Qiling and that Zhang Qiling…"

He paused, his eyes turning sinister. "They won't stop. As long as they're still active and still contacting the ancient tombs, there's still a chance. Next time... be better prepared."

Li Guoliang and Zhao Yongnian exchanged a glance and nodded.

The office was filled with smoke.

Outside the window, the city lights were blazing.

Some people are asleep, while others are still awake.

Some things are just beginning.