Tomb raiding live stream: Starting as the mute Zhang

It was a little after 3 p.m., and the sun was already setting.

The fat man had set up a recliner in the yard and was sprawled on it, an open magazine resting on his belly. Wu Xie sat on a small stool next to him, copying something into a notebook. Hei Xiazi was sharpening his knife under the eaves, the whetstone making a rhythmic sound.

The courtyard gate creaked open.

Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" walked in. Both of them had changed into new clothes. Black hoodies, black cargo pants, and black Doc Martens—all black, which made them look even more sharp. They had taken off their hats, and their hair was short and energetic.

The fat man looked up and chuckled, "Hey, are you two young men getting ready for a fashion show?"

Zhang Qiling glanced at him, didn't reply, and walked into the house carrying the paper bag in his hand. "Zhang Qiling" also glanced at him, his gaze was indifferent, but the fat man inexplicably felt that he had been "swept" over.

The two went inside to put their things down, then quickly came out and sat down on a stone bench in the courtyard. One wiped his knife, while the other closed his eyes.

"I bought it and put it on right away, I was in a hurry," Wu Xie said with a smile.

"Suitable," Zhang Qiling said.

"These are the right clothes to wear into the rainforest." Xie Yuchen came out of the house with a small notebook in his hand. "I just checked the information. The humidity is high and the mosquitoes are fierce in Shepan Mountain. This material is durable and the boots are waterproof, so they are suitable."

Huo Xiuxiu followed her out, carrying a tray with several cups of tea on it: "Have some water."

Zhang Qiling accepted it and nodded, "Thank you."

Zhang Qiling also accepted it and nodded in return.

The group drank tea, and the courtyard fell silent for a moment. Only the sounds of sharpening knives and the rustling of the fat man flipping through magazines could be heard.

"What are you looking at, Fatty?" Wu Xie asked.

"News." The fat man handed over the magazine. "The authorities have issued another announcement, did you see it?"

Wu Xie took it. It was a local political magazine, with a news item inside that had a striking headline: "Fifth Joint Archaeological Project Open for Recruitment, Sincerely Inviting Extraordinary People from All Walks of Life to Participate."

The gist of the recruitment notice is that, based on previous experiences, and to further explore my country's rich underground cultural heritage, the organization is now publicly recruiting individuals with special skills, extensive experience, or unique insights to participate in a new archaeological project. The project location has not been announced, but it emphasizes that it is "extremely dangerous," requiring the signing of a waiver, but promising "generous rewards and national honor upon successful exploration."

The registration method and deadline are attached below.

"Again?" Wu Xie frowned. "I wonder where they're going this time."

"Who cares where they go?" the fat guy scoffed. "We're not playing with them anyway. With these two guys around, we can form our own team and have a good time."

"This time they're talking about recruiting 'extraordinary people'." Xie Yuchen put down his teacup. "It seems the authorities have gotten smarter and know that relying solely on soldiers and experts isn't enough; they need to find truly capable people."

"Can we find it?" Black Bear stopped sharpening his knife. "Who with real skills would want to be tied to the authorities? Too many rules, too much trouble, and you're likely to become cannon fodder."

"A generous reward will surely bring forth brave men," Huo Xiuxiu said softly. "Besides... quite a few people have been cursed this time, and the authorities will definitely use this as leverage. Finding the Muchen Pearl and breaking the curse is too tempting."

The people in the courtyard exchanged glances. Indeed, although the red spots on their necks didn't hurt or itch, they were like time bombs, and no one wanted to wait three years.

"Will they go to Snake Coil Mountain?" Wu Xie asked.

"Possibly," Xie Yuchen said. "The authorities also have information; they definitely have backups of the Jingjue Ancient City. Even if they don't have a complete map, they should know the general direction."

"Aren't we going to crash into each other?" The fat man sat up straight.

"So what if we crash?" Zhang Qiling suddenly said.

Zhang Qiling nodded: "Let's each go our own way."

The meaning is clear: the road belongs to everyone; if you can walk on it, so can I. It's best to keep to ourselves, but if we must, we're not afraid.

"That's right!" the fat man slapped his thigh. "We have two brothers with us, what are we afraid of? If they dare to do anything bad, we'll..."

"So what?" Black Bear laughed.

"Just stay away from them," the fat man said. "If you can't afford to mess with them, can't you at least avoid them?"

Everyone laughed. Zhang Qiling's lips curved almost imperceptibly, a very short, barely noticeable smile. "Zhang Qiling" also slightly raised an eyebrow.

"But this recruitment," Wu Xie looked at the magazine, "'Extraordinary People'... what kind of people will be recruiting?"

"There are itinerant craftsmen, solo traders, those with family traditions, and... some who are hard to categorize," Black Bear said. "There are many talented people in this world, but they usually don't show their skills. With the authorities making this announcement, who knows, it might actually uncover a few big fish."

"That's interesting," Xie Yuchen said. "Next time we go down into a tomb, we might run into some new faces."

"It may be fresh, but let's hope it doesn't drag us down," the fat man said.

"I signed a waiver, so I'm responsible for my own life," Huo Xiuxiu said. "Once I'm in there, who can take care of me?"

As we were chatting, the midday news started on TV. The host was speaking clearly and articulately, and happened to mention the recruitment announcement. The scene cut to the press conference, where a middle-aged man in a suit with his hair neatly combed was speaking.

"It's Chen Jianguo," Wu Xie recognized him.

"The one who delivered the roast chicken yesterday?" the fat man asked.

"Um."

On television, Chen Jianguo addressed the camera with a serious expression: "We welcome all those with aspirations to apply. However, it must be emphasized that this operation is far more dangerous than any previous one. Participants must fully understand the risks and sign relevant documents. We promise to provide qualified participants with the best equipment and support, to jointly unravel historical mysteries, and to... solve some common challenges we face."

That last sentence was quite meaningful.

"The common problem we face," Xie Yuchen repeated, "is the curse, isn't it?"

"Definitely," Hei Xiazi said. "This is meant for us, or rather, for everyone who has been affected. The authorities want to take the lead and bring everyone together to find the Muchen Pearl."

"Then let's..." Wu Xie looked at Zhang Qiling.

Zhang Qiling watched TV, his expression unchanged. Only after Chen Jianguo finished speaking and the screen cut away did he look away and utter two words: "I'm not going."

Zhang Qiling added three words: "Don't join in the fun."

"Okay, got it," the fat man said. "We'll do it ourselves."

The television news continued broadcasting other programs. The group listened casually, creating a relaxed atmosphere in the courtyard. Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" sat there like two mountains, silent yet exuding a strong presence.

Hei Xiazi sharpened his knife, examined the blade against the light, and put it away with satisfaction. He walked over to Zhang Qiling, squatted down, and lowered his voice: "Mute Zhang, I have a question for you."

Zhang Qiling looked at him.

"Next time we're going to Snake Coil Mountain, I heard it's not just rainforest inside," Black Bear said, "there are also some old villages that locals rarely go into. There are some things inside that might... not be the kind we usually deal with."

"For example?" Wu Xie leaned over to listen.

"For example, trees that 'move'," Black Bear said. "They're not tree spirits, but some kind of symbiotic entity. Also, there are things in the fog that you can't see clearly, but they can be deadly."

"You've seen it?" Xie Yuchen asked.

"I've heard of it," Black Bear said. "Years ago, when I was a smuggler, the older generation mentioned it. There are many eerie places in southern Yunnan. Snake Coil Mountain is one of them. It is said that there is a 'Snake God Temple' there, which doesn't enshrine stone statues, but living creatures."

"A living thing?" Huo Xiuxiu asked softly.

"A giant snake," Black Bear said. "Not an ordinary python, but... one that's somewhat spiritual. The locals worship it as a god and dare not provoke it."

Zhang Qiling listened quietly and nodded, "Understood."

Zhang Qiling nodded as well.

The two reacted calmly, as if they were hearing ordinary news like "it will rain tomorrow".

"Alright, never mind." Black Bear stood up. "You two know what's going on."

Wu Xie was a little worried: "Brother, what if there really is a giant snake..."

"Kill," Zhang Qiling said.

"Extracting gallbladder." Zhang Qiling added two more words.

Wu Xie was taken aback, then immediately understood. Snake gallbladders can be used in medicine, and the gallbladder of a large snake is even more precious; it might even help with detoxification and exorcising evil spirits. These two always have direct and effective thinking.

"That's true." The fat man rubbed his hands together. "If it really existed, taking its gall might alleviate the curse?"

"Possibly," Xie Yuchen said, "but don't get your hopes up too high. The root of the curse is the Jingjue Ghost Cave, and the Muchen Pearl is the real solution."

"It's always good to be prepared," said Black Bear.

They chatted until evening, when the setting sun bathed the courtyard in an orange-red hue. Xie Yuchen and Huo Xiuxiu left first, saying they were going to prepare some special medicines to deliver the next day. Hei Xiazi stayed behind, saying he wanted to freeload a meal that evening.

Fatty went to the kitchen to get busy, while Wu Xie assisted. Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" stood in the courtyard, watching the sunset.

"Hey bro," Wu Xie poked his head out from the kitchen, "what do you want to eat tonight? Fatty bought a fish."

"Either is fine," Zhang Qiling said.

Zhang Qiling nodded.

Dinner was simple: braised fish, stir-fried vegetables, and tomato and egg soup. The group sat around the table, enjoying their meal. Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" ate quietly as usual, but their chopsticks never stopped moving.

After finishing our meal, we cleaned up. Black Bear left too, saying he'd come back tomorrow.

Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" walked to the courtyard gate and stopped.

"Tomorrow," Zhang Qiling said.

"Hmm?" Zhang Qiling looked at him.

"Look at the map and plan the route."

"it is good."

After they finished speaking, they went out, crossed the street, and returned to the hotel across the street. Their shadows stretched long under the streetlights, and they quickly disappeared behind the door.

Wu Xie stood at the door for a while, then turned and went back inside. Fatty was sprawled on the sofa, flipping through channels with the remote.

"What are you looking at?" Wu Xie asked.

"Let's see if there's any follow-up news about the recruitment," the fat man said. "Hey, guess what? The internet is in an uproar."

Wu Xie leaned closer to take a look. On social media, the topic of "the fifth archaeological recruitment" had become a trending topic. Some were excited, some were skeptical, some showed off their "family tradition skills" to ask for team members, and others analyzed the casualty data from previous attempts, urging everyone to remain calm.

The prophet posted a long article analyzing the deeper purpose of this recruitment and the "abnormal dangers" that might be faced, which received a high number of likes and shares.

The fan club flooded the comments section with messages urging everyone to "participate rationally and prioritize safety," subtly implying that "with two top talents involved, the amateur teams are just as good."

"It's quite lively," Wu Xie said.

"The excitement is theirs," the fat man yawned. "For us, sticking close to these two guys is better than anything else."

Wu Xie smiled and didn't refute. He touched the red spot on his neck and thought to himself, "Yeah, with my buddies around, I feel at ease."

As night deepened outside the window, the city lights shone brightly.

The new journey hasn't even started yet, but some people are already on their way.