Tomb raiding live stream: Starting as the mute Zhang

The car drove through the desert for another two days.

That black sandstorm seemed to have washed the heavens and earth clean; afterwards, the sky was a blindingly blue, and the sun was so scorching it could make your skin peel. The wind subsided, but waves of heat still rose from the sand, burning hot to the touch.

No one spoke in the car.

Wu Xie leaned against the car window, looking at the unchanging yellow sand outside. Fatty dozed off beside him, his head nodding. Xie Yuchen closed his eyes to rest, while Huo Xiuxiu flipped through an old book about an ancient kingdom in the Western Regions. Hei Xiazi hummed an off-key song, his fingers tapping lightly on his knee.

Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" sat in the last row, both with their eyes closed as if they were asleep, but their bodies adjusted their center of gravity slightly with the swaying of the car, always maintaining their balance.

The car in front contained Lin Guoce and the remaining soldiers, as well as Kun Ge, Chen Man, Wang Yihan, and the others.

The atmosphere was a bit dull.

It wasn't exhaustion; it was the sandstorm that killed over thirty people, including Wang Jizong and his two high-ranking associates. Although it was described as a natural disaster, everyone knew what had really happened. Lin Guoce issued a gag order, forbidding anyone from mentioning it, as if they had been buried by the sand.

But people's hearts are not like sand; they cannot be buried.

"How much further?" The fat man finally couldn't help but break the silence.

The soldier driving the car glanced at the GPS: "According to the map, we should reach the edge of the ruins in about half a day. But once we get into the Black Desert, the GPS often malfunctions, so we'll have to rely on the guide."

Our guide was a local old man named Old Sadiq, whose face was like a dried walnut. He had been sitting in the passenger seat without saying a word until now, when he finally spoke: "We'll be there soon, we should reach the oasis before sunset. We'll camp there and head into the ghost town tomorrow."

"An oasis?" Wu Xie straightened up. "There are oases in the desert?"

"Yes," old Sadiq said in a hoarse voice, "a very small oasis, a few poplar trees, and a well. It used to be a place where camel caravans rested. Now hardly anyone goes there."

The car continued driving.

Around four o'clock in the afternoon, a small patch of green appeared on the horizon. It was quite striking, like a piece of jade amidst the swirling yellow sand.

"We've arrived," said old Sadiq.

The convoy stopped at the edge of the oasis. It was more of a five or six tall poplar trees with an old stone well in the middle and some low shrubs around it. The water was bitter and salty, but drinkable.

People got off the vehicles and stretched their stiff bodies. The soldiers began setting up tents and starting fires to cook.

Kun collapsed onto the sand as soon as he got out of the car. Chen Man and Wang Yihan were also exhausted, but their eyes were more lively than they had been the day before—after all, they were still alive.

Professor Zhou Xu'an and Jiang Shouyi circled the well, taking photos and making notes. The professor was very excited: "The way this well was built dates back to at least the Tang Dynasty! This means that there was an ancient road leading to Jingjue during the Tang Dynasty!"

Jiang Shouyi adjusted his glasses: "Professor, do you think the Ghost City of Jingjue really exists? Historical records about it are scarce..."

"It exists!" the professor declared decisively. "The Book of Han mentions a country called Jingjue in the Western Regions, a city located in the desert, whose people practiced the ways of ghosts. It suddenly disappeared, and there are no further records of it in historical texts. This newly discovered site is very likely Jingjue!"

Wu Xie went over and listened for a few moments, but his mind was preoccupied with the fragmented records about Jingjue in his grandfather's notes. Ghost Cave, Corpse-Scented Devil's Tongue, Black-Eyed Monster Snake... none of them sounded auspicious.

Lin Guoce was directing the soldiers to set up the perimeter. His face was expressionless, but his eyes would occasionally glance at Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" before pausing for a moment and then quickly looking away.

What he saw and what he didn't see during that sandstorm, only he himself knows.

Dinner consisted of canned food and compressed biscuits, which we heated up. It wasn't very flavorful, but it filled our stomachs.

After dinner, it wasn't completely dark yet. A fiery sunset painted the western sky, turning the desert sands a golden-red hue.

Kun suddenly stood up and patted the sand off his butt.

"Family!" He shouted to the non-existent camera—the live broadcast ball had broken in the sandstorm, and the official team hadn't sent a replacement yet—but he habitually yelled, "We've survived another day! And we're almost at Jingjue Ghost City! Isn't that exciting?"

Nobody paid him any attention. The soldiers were checking their equipment, the scholars were discussing, and Wu Xie and the others were packing their things.

Kun Ge wasn't embarrassed at all, and continued, "This journey has been incredibly difficult! Sandstorms! Dead men! But we made it through! Why? Because we have—" He drawled, then suddenly pointed to Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" who were drawing water from the well, "...two young men! Pillars of strength! Guardians of the field!"

Zhang Qiling carried the bucket of water without turning around.

Zhang Qiling didn't turn around.

Kun chuckled and stretched his limbs: "To celebrate our miraculous survival and to wish you a successful exploration tomorrow, I, Kun, will put on a show for everyone! Let's reminisce about our heroic departure!"

As he spoke, he actually jumped up on the sand.

It was the same catchy dance routine he used to incorporate basketball moves. He twisted his hips, turned around, pretended to dribble, and accompanied it with "thump thump" sound effects. The sand was soft, so he jumped a little too deep and his feet were uneven, but the form was still there.

After jumping for about ten seconds, he connected with that signature Iron Mountain Lean. His shoulder slammed to the left, his body spun, and a small cloud of dust rose from the sand.

Chen Man burst out laughing, covering her mouth, her shoulders shaking. Wang Yihan couldn't help but chuckle as well. Several young soldiers, seeing this, also joined in the laughter.

The atmosphere seemed to have relaxed a bit.

Lin Guoce frowned, wanting to say something, but swallowed his words back. Oh well, it's good to let these people relax a bit. Who knows what will happen when we enter the ghost town tomorrow?

The fat man slapped his thigh with delight: "Brother Kun is awesome! He can even jump on sand!"

Wu Xie smiled and shook his head.

After Zhang Qiling finished fetching water, he carried the bucket back. When he passed by Kun Ge, he didn't stop, but he glanced at him.

His gaze was indifferent, but Kun felt a chill run down his spine for no apparent reason, and his movements froze for a moment.

Zhang Qiling followed behind and also glanced at it.

Kun chuckled twice, then stopped, saying, "I've made a fool of myself! Hope you all have a good laugh!"

He sat back down on the sand, panting. Deep down, he was scared and panicked, but as an entertainer, he was used to masking his fear in this way. Jumping around and making a fuss made death seem less imminent.

Night fell completely.

The desert night was bitterly cold. A campfire was lit, and people sat around it to keep warm.

By the firelight, Professor Zhou Xu'an spread out a yellowed map and pointed it out to Wu Xie and the others: "Based on previous aerial photography and geological scans, the Jingjue Ruins should be located about 30 kilometers northwest of the oasis. However, that area is the core of the Black Desert, with lots of shifting sands and a chaotic magnetic field, making navigation equipment basically useless."

Jiang Shouyi added, "Moreover, it is said that there are strange landforms that make it easy to get lost. Ancient camel caravans called it 'ghost wall'."

"We're not afraid of being lost in a maze," the fat man said, munching on a compressed biscuit. "We have Xiao Ge!"

Zhang Qiling sat a little distance from the fire, wiping his knife. The firelight cast flickering shadows on his face.

"Zhang Qiling" was also wiping his knife, the movements almost synchronized.

Neither of them looked up, but they were clearly listening.

"Mr. Zhang, you two," Professor Zhou Xu'an said, looking at them, "we'll need your help to get into the Black Desert tomorrow."

Zhang Qiling nodded.

Zhang Qiling nodded as well.

The professor breathed a sigh of relief. With these two around, he felt much more at ease.

Lin Guoce walked over and squatted down beside the fire: "We'll set off at five o'clock tomorrow morning. Travel light, only bring the necessary equipment and water. We'll stop the car at the edge of the desert, and walk the rest of the way."

"Walking?" Kun's face fell. "Thirty kilometers? In the desert?"

"The car can't get in," Lin Guoce said. "The sand is too soft, it'll sink in. And..." He paused, "It's said that there's a strange magnetic field near the ruins, which can cause cars to malfunction."

"Then how do we get back?" Chen Man asked softly.

"Leave half the people here to provide backup," Lin Guoce said. "Set up a communication time. If they don't return by the agreed time, the people left behind will report for help."

They said they were asking for help, but everyone knew that once they entered the Black Desert, if something really happened, the reinforcements would be too late.

The atmosphere became heavy again.

"What's there to be afraid of?" the fat man broke the silence. "We have a delivery guy! Double the portions!"

Wu Xie kicked him: "Say less."

Night fell, and it was time to take turns keeping watch. Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" were on the first shift. The two sat back to back on the sand dunes outside the camp, looking into the darkness in different directions.

The starry sky over the desert is exceptionally clear, with the Milky Way stretching across the horizon.

"Tomorrow," Zhang Qiling suddenly said.

"Hmm," Zhang Qiling replied.

"careful."

"The same to you."

A brief conversation, followed by silence.

But a silent understanding was flowing between them.

The second shift consisted of Hei Xiazi and a soldier. When the two came to relieve him, Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" got up and went back to their tent.

Inside the tent, Wu Xie and Fatty were already asleep, Fatty snoring. Xie Yuchen and Huo Xiuxiu were in another tent.

Zhang Qiling lay down and closed his eyes.

Zhang Qiling lay down next to him and closed his eyes as well.

The two were about a fist's distance apart, their breathing steady.

In the distance came the rustling of poplar branches being blown by the wind, and the chirping of unknown insects.

Late at night.

In the oasis, the campfire gradually died down.

The Ghost City of Jingjue waits silently in the darkness thirty kilometers away.