I massaged my temples, leaning back against the large stone slab, and spoke, "If nothing unexpected happened, this should be the burial site of the Undead Legion. Once Yushan's team discovered it, they excavated and transported the corpses, using the iron tomb-sealing technique to entomb them. Now, the question arises: If Yushan could find a way around, why would he bother moving the corpses here? Moreover, consider this, if you were the Fox Barbarian King, to prevent others from raiding your lair, wouldn't you bring the Undead Legion closer? Therefore, I speculate that we are not far from the Fox Barbarian King's Spirit Platform. Most likely, this 'Beehive Tomb' surrounds the one housing the Spirit Platform. We just need to find the right entrance, and your Ming Artifact will be within reach. However..."
Big Head looked at me and asked, "Are you worried that we'll meet the same fate as those Qing Dynasty tomb raiders?"
I sighed, "To be honest, even Yushan's professional tomb raiding team encountered an unexpected disaster. With just a few of us, how can we not be worried? And... oh, never mind."
In my heart, I thought even a skilled expert like Cao Hansheng, who led the team, considered it a dangerous place. We novices were just extras.
"I wonder how Hansheng and the others are doing. If they are also here, our chances of entering the Spirit Platform will greatly increase."
Hearing me mention Hansheng, Big Head gave a thumbs up and praised, "That guy from your Dragon Mountain Pavilion, he's impressive. With his skills, he might have taken Old Wan and the others up there already."
I thought, "Exactly, even a greenhorn like me, on my second tomb raid, made it through. Hansheng should be fine."
Next, the two of us explored several clues, but none had substantial evidence. Meanwhile, Zhao Min also grasped the situation. Her face looked a bit pale as she approached and said, "Sorry for dragging you into this."
Big Head laughed heartily, "Our Zhao Miss also has such a gentle side."
Zhao Min pursed her lips and glared at him. I took over, saying, "It's okay. We're worried about you being affected by the gu poison. Once we're out, we'll thoroughly check it."
Everyone fell silent. I felt a bit drowsy, and Zhao Jun was tired too. Big Head suggested, "You guys rest a bit. The next part will require physical effort."
I wanted to stay awake a bit longer, but sleep overcame me quickly. I had some concerns, and this sleep wasn't deep. It felt like I woke up after just an hour. The torches were extinguished, replaced by oil lamps. It was warm, and Big Head, unreliable as ever, was sleeping next to Zhao Jun. Looking the other way, fortunately, Zhao Min hadn't slept. I rubbed my eyes and asked her why she wasn't sleeping, offering to take a shift.
She didn't reply immediately. Curious, I looked over. Almost shocked, I saw Zhao Min squatting in the dim light, tilting her head while tying her hair. On the other side of her head, a small sheep-horn braid had been neatly formed.
In the flickering light, she tied her hair and stared at me expressionlessly.
I sat down abruptly, staring at Zhao Min's eerie expression, and cold sweat broke out on my back. I could even hear the pounding of my heart in my chest.
Feeling a bit stunned, I stared at Zhao Min and, at the same time, patted Big Head. But this guy was still fast asleep, muttering in his dreams, "Waiter, bring me some duck, extra green onions." It annoyed me, and for a moment, I cursed all his ancestors.
However, Zhao Jun woke up before him. He looked at me puzzled, and I gestured towards Zhao Min. He curiously looked over, and then he suddenly woke up. Looking at me, I shook my head, indicating I didn't know either.
He pulled a dagger from his calf and gestured to me. I glanced at Big Head; this idiot was still sleeping. Helpless, I nodded, and Zhao Jun and I cautiously approached.
My palms were sweaty, and as we got closer, my calf trembled. Subconsciously fearing, I deliberately lagged behind Zhao Jun a step, and my mind felt that something was wrong, but I couldn't point out where.
At this moment, Zhao Jun suddenly stopped. He gestured towards the hidden Zhao Min and made a turning motion. I was curious; did he want me to go around and check? I instinctively took a step to the side, and then I saw it. Crouched behind Zhao Min, there was something.
I almost exclaimed. I wanted to tell Zhao Jun not to act recklessly. What if he couldn't handle it, and if something happened to Zhao Min, it wouldn't be worth it. However, I didn't get a chance to speak before he swiftly leaped forward. I thought it was bad; he didn't know what it was, and what if he harmed Zhao Min? However, I couldn't just stand there, so I shouted, "Big Head, found the Ming Artifact!"
Everyone gathered around the oil lamp. I still had a cold sweat on my back; what happened just now was too mysterious. I knew I hadn't seen wrong. Zhao Min's appearance was abnormal. If it weren't for Zhao Jun, I would have doubted myself. Looking at Zhao Min's expression, I couldn't help but feel strange. She seemed to be affected by something, and even now, she was staring at us blankly.
Big Head woke up, looking left and right, "Where is it, my Ming Artifact?"
We sat around the oil lamp. I hadn't dried the cold sweat on my back. What happened just now was too mysterious. I knew I hadn't seen wrong. Zhao Min's appearance was abnormal. If it weren't for Zhao Jun, I would have doubted myself. Looking at Zhao Min's expression, I couldn't help but feel strange. She seemed to be affected by something, and even now, she was staring at us blankly.
Zhao Jun asked Zhao Min, "How do you feel?"
Zhao Min shook her head, "Just very confused, feeling hazy."
"Exactly!" Big Head exclaimed, "Me too. Isn't it strange? I just fell asleep."
I snorted, "Still thinking about duck."
Big Head blushed, changing the subject, "By the way, do you think it's that little ghost again, following us?"
I thought for a moment, "Possibly."
Big Head suddenly laughed, "I got it!"
Seeing us looking at him, he mysteriously said, "You two must have been that little kid's parents in your previous lives. This time, she's encountered you, so she's been following you. Once we're out, let's buy her something for Children's Day, and I bet she'll leave us alone."
I knew Big Head was just talking nonsense, but what he said reminded me. In fact, that child didn't follow us; she always hovered around Zhao Min. Remembering the sheep-horn braid I saw in the cave,
at that time, it was looking at Zhao Min. It hadn't appeared since we separated, only emerging when Zhao Min reappeared.
I asked her, "Zhao Min, did you encounter anything in the tomb?"
After recalling for a while, Zhao Min shook her head. But I could sense she was hesitating. I said, "We're all in this together. If there's anything, just tell us."
After a moment of hesitation, she sighed and took out a pendant the size of a fingertip from her pocket, saying, "The boss found this in the mine and asked me to keep it for him."
Big Head was dissatisfied, "Hey, Old Wan is not fair. If he found a Ming Artifact, he should share it."
I took the white porcelain pendant from Zhao Min, "Ice-like and snow-like, elegant and pure, Tang Dynasty craftsmanship undoubtedly, smooth and translucent like jade. It's a good item. This small porcelain pendant is worth at least six figures."
Big Head, hearing this, became spirited. He reached out to take it, but I knew him too well. If I let him have it, he'd keep it for himself. I dodged, intending to return the bottle to Zhao Min. However, this guy was agile, stepping forward, and with a jump, he reached my hand. The bottle fell to the ground and jumped twice, shattering.
Big Head, looking at the broken bottle, tears almost streaming down his face, said, "I said, Second Master, I know your Dragon Mountain Pavilion has a vast business, but you should leave a way out for us small folks. What's the use of smashing such a good thing? It's so broken now, not even worth a cent."
I kicked it over, annoyed, "If you hadn't come over to grab it, would it have broken? When we're out, you compensate Old Wan for this bottle. Deduct it from your one percent."
Big Head suddenly exclaimed, squatting down to pick up the fragments. I said even if he glued it back together, it wouldn't be worth much. However, he pulled out a strand of hair from inside, "Look."
I was stunned. Inside the broken bottle, there was indeed a strand of hair, tied with a red string. We all looked at each other, and Big Head asked, "What's the story behind this?"
Taking a deep breath, I asked Zhao Min, "Where did Old Wan find this?"
Zhao Min recalled, "It was in the mine we entered at the beginning."
I pinched my forehead and analyzed, "Firstly, this is a Tang Dynasty bottle, definitely not something from Yushan. Secondly, it appeared in the mine, which originally wasn't part of the burial area, so we can be certain it belongs to an outsider. Moreover, this 'hair-binding' resembles an ancient ritual from Ba and Shu. However, in ancient times, transportation was inconvenient, making it difficult for this culture to spread to the Fox Barbarian Kingdom. I believe someone intentionally brought it here."
Suddenly, Zhao Min spoke, "Could it be the 'old corpse' you mentioned?"
I slapped my thigh, "Highly likely. Old Wan's rubbings mentioned that this mysterious person summoned an Undead Legion for the Fox Barbarian King and taught him various secret techniques. All signs indicate that this mysterious person probably came from Ba and Shu."
I couldn't help but feel excited, finally discovering traces of this person. From the Chaoxian Tomb to the Spirit Platform, both in the northwest and the Dian Nan, there were traces left by this person. He seemed like a puppeteer hidden behind the truth of history, manipulating his puppets. Even after a thousand years, we were still being played by him. Now, his true identity was finally revealed.