Tomb raiding live stream: Starting as the mute Zhang

Seven days have passed.

The courtyard of Fatty's house had become more lively. The person sweeping the yard in the morning had changed from Zhang Qiling alone to two. The person watering the flowers had also changed from Zhang Qiling alone to two. The movements were still silent, but occasionally they would exchange a glance—such as when they saw Fatty hanging his socks to dry by the flowerpots again, that synchronized, almost imperceptible frown.

Breakfast is usually made by Fatty, and occasionally Wu Xie takes over. The two Zhang Qilings are responsible for eating, and after they finish eating, they are responsible for putting the bowls and chopsticks in the sink—they don't know how to wash them. Fatty once said, "Leave it to me," and they really did leave it to them.

Xie Yuchen and Huo Xiuxiu visited twice, bringing new tea and pastries. Hei Xiazi also came, leaving behind a few old books, saying he found them on the road and they might be useful.

The book was about the customs and culture of the Western Regions; it was yellowed and had a musty smell. Zhang Qiling flipped through it and placed it on the table. "Zhang Qiling" was also flipped through and placed next to Zhang Qiling's stack.

On the afternoon of the seventh day, the weather turned cloudy.

Fatty was sprawled on the sofa watching TV, while Wu Xie was tidying up the clothes that had dried in the yard. Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" were in the living room, one wiping his sword, the other closing his eyes to rest—actually, they were regulating their breathing and recovering their strength.

The local news was playing on TV, and the fat man kept yawning. Suddenly, he sat up straight.

"Wait!" The fat man turned up the volume.

The television screen switched to the news studio, where the female anchor looked serious: "...Our latest news is that the State Administration of Cultural Heritage and the Office of Special Affairs jointly announced the discovery of what appears to be the ruins of the ancient Western Regions kingdom of Jingjue deep in the Taklamakan Desert. It has been tentatively named 'Jingjue Ghost City.' According to experts, the site is relatively well-preserved and may contain artifacts of significant historical value..."

The scene shifts to an aerial view of the desert, with endless yellow sand and the faint outlines of some dilapidated earthen walls and buildings visible.

"Another ancient tomb?" the fat man exclaimed, his eyes wide. "Has things only been quiet for a few days?"

Wu Xie walked in carrying clothes and also looked at the TV.

The female anchor continued: "Based on the experience of the previous archaeological expedition to the Seven Star Lu Palace, this exploration will continue to adopt the joint team model of 'experts + civilians'. The original team, including well-known artists Kun Ge, Chen Man, and Wang Yihan, history professor Zhou Xu'an, folklorist Jiang Shouyi, and special forces commander Lin Guoce, will once again lead the expedition..."

The registration hotline and official website are displayed at the bottom of the screen.

"Furthermore," the female anchor changed the subject, "this operation has been upgraded in level. It will be personally led by the three heads of the Special Affairs Office—Director Wang Jizong, Deputy Director Li Guoliang, and Deputy Director Zhao Yongnian—and thirty elite special operations team members will be assigned to accompany them to ensure their safety..."

The fat man cursed, "Those three old geezers are going to personally go? And with thirty soldiers? Is this an archaeological expedition or a war?"

Wu Xie's face darkened: "They're not done with what happened last time."

On television, the news anchor continued, "...The exploration mission will commence in ten days. Registration is now open, and we welcome experienced individuals to participate..."

The news broadcast is over, let's switch to GG.

The living room fell silent.

Fatty looked at Wu Xie, then at Zhang Qiling wiping his knife and at "Zhang Qiling" with his eyes closed.

"Should we get involved in this?"

Wu Xie didn't speak, but also looked at the two of them.

Zhang Qiling put down the white cloth he was wiping the knife with; the blade was jet black, reflecting his expressionless face.

Zhang Qiling opened his eyes.

The two exchanged a glance.

"I'll sign up," Zhang Qiling said.

"Go," said Zhang Qiling.

The sounds were almost simultaneous.

The fat man was stunned: "Huh? We volunteered? We almost died last time..."

"This time is different." Wu Xie pushed up his glasses, his eyes turning cold. "Those three are going. They sent people to kill the guys last time; this isn't over."

"Moreover," Wu Xie looked at the television, the screen was already black, but the words "Jingjue Ghost City" were still swirling in his mind, "Jingjue Kingdom... my grandfather mentioned it a few times in his notes. A very eerie place. If it really is there, the level of danger might be even higher than the Lu Palace."

"Then we shouldn't have gone!" the fat man shouted.

"I must go." Zhang Qiling stood up, sheathing his sword. "They must die."

He was referring to Wang Jizong, Li Guoliang, and Zhao Yongnian. His tone was calm, as if he were commenting on the nice weather.

Zhang Qiling also stood up and stretched his wrists: "It's time to pay back what I owed last time."

The fat man swallowed hard. He looked at Zhang Qiling, then at "Zhang Qiling." Neither of them showed any murderous intent, but the coldness in their eyes sent chills down his spine.

"Alright," the fat man slapped his thigh, "I'll risk my life for this! Let's go! Let's get them!"

Wu Xie nodded: "I contacted Xie Yuchen and Xiuxiu, they should have received the news as well."

The moment the words were spoken, the courtyard gate was pushed open.

Xie Yuchen and Huo Xiuxiu walked in, both looking rather grim. Hei Xiazi followed behind, his lips pursed behind his sunglasses.

"Did you see the news?" Xie Yuchen asked directly.

"I just saw it," Wu Xie said.

"The authorities have really gone all out this time," Huo Xiuxiu said softly. "Three high-ranking officials are personally leading a team of thirty special forces members. Ostensibly, it's for security, but in reality..."

"They're after us," Black Bear chimed in, leaning back on the sofa. "To be precise, they're after those two mute Zhangs. They failed last time, so this time they're going to get involved themselves."

Xie Yuchen looked at Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling": "What do you mean?"

"Go." Zhang Qiling.

"Kill." "Zhang Qiling."

Xie Yuchen nodded: "Xiuxiu and I will go with you. We'll take care of the equipment, intelligence, and logistics."

Black Bear grinned: "How could I miss out on such a lively event?"

The fat man chuckled: "Great! Our Iron... Iron Seven Horns is going on another expedition!"

Wu Xie frowned: "But this time it's an official organization, the registration and verification process will definitely be stricter than last time. How are we going to get in?"

"Simple." Xie Yuchen took out a stack of documents from his pocket and placed them on the table. "Appointment letters for special advisors to the Folk Archaeology Association. I just got them, one for each of you. Including the two Mr. Zhangs."

The fat man picked up a list, flipped it open, and read: "Xie Yuchen, Huo Xiuxiu, Wu Xie, Wang Pangzi... Oh, and Zhang Qiling too. Wow, Master Hua, you managed to get all of this?"

"Money makes the world go round," Xie Yuchen said calmly. "Besides, the authorities need 'experienced' people now. Our survival last time is the best resume we can get."

Huo Xiuxiu added, "Moreover, the Ghost City of Jingjue is located deep in the desert, in a harsh environment with unknown mechanisms. Even if they want to take action, they'll have to rely on us to scout the way first."

"It's settled then," Wu Xie decided. "Register. Meet in ten days."

"What about the gear?" the fat man asked. "The desert! Water, food, sunscreen, and sand protection gear..."

"I'll prepare it," Xie Yuchen said. "The goods will be delivered in three days at the latest."

"What about weapons?" Black Bear asked. "We can't go empty-handed, can we?"

"Zhang Qiling" looked at Zhang Qiling.

Zhang Qiling: "The knife is enough."

Zhang Qiling nodded: "Same."

Black Bear laughed: "Alright, you two are pretty tough. What about us?"

Xie Yuchen: "I had specially made daggers and tools prepared. As for firearms... we'll deal with them when we get there; there's always a chance to 'find' them in the desert."

That was the end of it.

Over the next few days, Fatty's house became a temporary command post. Xie Yuchen's men delivered equipment one after another: sand-proof goggles, special water bags, high-calorie compressed food, sand-proof jackets, ropes, entrenching tools... piling up in half the living room.

Hei Xiazi was in charge of inspecting weapons, sharpening daggers, and adjusting tools. Huo Xiuxiu organized intelligence, searching for fragments of information about the Jingjue Kingdom in ancient books and folk tales.

Wu Xie flipped through his grandfather's notes and actually found a few pages about Jingjue. The handwriting was messy and the descriptions were vague, but it mentioned words like "ghost cave," "corpse-fragrant devil's tongue," and "black-eyed monster snake," which looked creepy.

Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" spent most of their time meditating, occasionally looking at the equipment that had been delivered and picking out a few that suited their needs. The two remained taciturn, but they would wipe their knives together and check the buckles and ropes of their equipment.

On the third night, all the equipment was in place.

Seven people sat around the living room to make a final confirmation.

Xie Yuchen unfolded a desert map and pointed to an area marked with a red circle: "The meeting point is here, in a small town on the edge of the desert. The official team will depart from there to enter the desert. We'll arrive two days early to familiarize ourselves with the environment."

"Thirty special forces soldiers," Hei Xiazi stroked his chin, "They won't be easy to deal with. They're all elite, well-equipped."

"Divide and conquer," Huo Xiuxiu said softly. "The desert environment is complex; there's an opportunity."

"Wang Jizong, Li Guoliang, Zhao Yongnian," Wu Xie murmured the three names, "they must die. But not openly, they have to be made to look like an accident."

"There are many unexpected things in the desert," Zhang Qiling said.

"Sandstorms, quicksand, poisonous insects, water shortage," Zhang Qiling added.

The two spoke in a calm tone, as if they were discussing what to have for dinner.

The fat man rubbed his hands together: "So our plan is... to go in with the main group, find an opportunity to strike, and then... explore the ancient tomb?"

"Mm." Zhang Qiling.

"Okay." "Zhang Qiling."

"Alright," the fat man slapped his thigh, "I love this kind of simple and straightforward plan!"

Xie Yuchen put away the map: "Prepare yourselves. We'll depart in five days."

After the meeting, Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" did not go back to the house, but stood in the courtyard.

The night breeze was a bit chilly.

"How much of your strength has recovered?" Zhang Qiling asked.

"Forty-five percent," Zhang Qiling replied.

"Same."

silence.

"The desert is different," said Zhang Qiling.

"I know." Zhang Qiling looked up at the night sky. "Be careful."

"Um."

Silence again. But there was an unspoken understanding.

The fat man's snoring could be heard from inside the room.

The two of them turned their heads at the same time to look at the window, their faces showing the same subtle look of disgust.

Then they each went back to their rooms.

On the morning of the fifth day, two SUVs parked in front of Fatty's house.

The car was arranged by Xie Yuchen. It's understated, but performs well, has been modified, and is suitable for long-distance off-road driving.

Seven people, divided into two cars. Xie Yuchen, Huo Xiuxiu, and Wu Xie were in one car. Zhang Qiling, "Zhang Qiling", Fatty, and Hei Xiazi were in the other car.

The trunk was packed with equipment.

Before setting off, the fat man checked the doors and windows one last time and locked them. Looking back at his small yard, he sighed, "I don't know when I'll be back."

"Enough talk, get in the car." Black Bear opened the car door.

The fat man climbed into the passenger seat. Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" sat in the back.

The car started, drove out of the alley, and merged into the city traffic.

Target: Northwest, Taklamakan Desert.

On the way, the fat man couldn't stay still and started rambling again: "Hey guys, do you have any experience in the desert? I've heard it's so hot during the day and so cold at night, and there are sandstorms, quicksand, poisonous scorpions..."

Zhang Qiling closed his eyes to rest.

Zhang Qiling looked out the window.

Fatty: "Fine, never mind."

After driving for half a day, we took a break at a service area at noon. While we were eating, the TV was broadcasting news about the Jingjue Ghost City again, this time with some "expert interpretations," saying it might be an important node on the Silk Road and has significant archaeological value, and so on.

The fat man, munching on his bread, mumbled, "That sounds nice. Anyone who didn't know better would think we were going on a vacation."

Black Bear laughed: "It's just a tour, a one-day trip to hell."

Wu Xie's car caught up, and the group gathered for a meal. Xie Yuchen handed over a few sheets of paper: "Latest intelligence. Wang Jizong and his team arrived at the assembly town yesterday, taking fifteen special forces members to set up defenses first. The other fifteen will join the main force."

"It's easier to strike separately," Black Bear said.

"Don't be careless," Xie Yuchen warned. "Those three are cunning and shrewd; they must have a master with them."

Zhang Qiling suddenly spoke: "Kill as many as there are."

The tone was calm, but the content was bloody.

Everyone looked over.

Zhang Qiling lowered his head and ate, as if he hadn't been the one who had just spoken.

Zhang Qiling also lowered his head and ate.

After finishing our meal, we continued our journey. The further northwest we drove, the more desolate the scenery became. Greenery decreased, while yellow hues increased. The sky grew high and clear, with thin clouds.

We spent the night in a small county town. The hotel was basic, but clean.

The seven people booked four rooms. Xie Yuchen and Huo Xiuxiu shared one room, Wu Xie and Fatty shared one room, Hei Xiazi shared one room by himself, and Zhang Qiling shared one room with "Zhang Qiling".

Before going to sleep, the fat man muttered to himself, "If these two guys are sharing a room, won't they start fighting in the middle of the night?"

Wu Xie kicked him: "Stop talking nonsense."

Late at night.

In Zhang Qiling's and "Zhang Qiling's" room, there were two beds, and the two of them were sitting on one, not sleeping.

"What do you feel?" Zhang Qiling asked.

Zhang Qiling looked northwest: "There, something is waking up."

"Hmm." Zhang Qiling also looked in that direction. "It's very faint, but it can't be wrong."

"The scent of the door?"

"similar."

silence.

"Be careful this time," Zhang Qiling said.

"You too," Zhang Qiling replied.

The two stopped talking and each began to regulate their breathing.

Outside the window, the wind of the Gobi Desert howled past.

It's another day's journey to the gathering town.

There are still unknown dangers ahead of Jingjue Ghost City.

The day those three people die is drawing ever closer.