Han Sheng briefly explained the situation after the separation. Their bizarre experiences were no less extraordinary than ours. The most unusual discovery was a scroll made of sheepskin, entirely written in classical Chinese. It documented the construction log of Yushan and the instructions of a mysterious "Lord."
Upon hearing this, I was stunned, recalling the military book I had read before from the Cao family, which also mentioned "that person." I speculated that this matter was not simple.
Institutions like Yushan had existed throughout dynasties. In prosperous times, they collected rare treasures for the elites, and in chaotic times, they engaged in treasure hunting for resources. These individuals sustained themselves by utilizing their skills in exploring the mountains and caves, and outsiders rarely interfered.
The reason for outsiders staying away was twofold: it involved shady practices and grave robbing, which even in ancient times, regardless of the sophistication of the methods used, was considered disreputable. Thus, those who could both influence Yushan and offer guidance in such matters were undoubtedly extraordinary. This made me believe that the decision to dig the Fox Huhu King's tomb wasn't Yushan's initiative; there likely hid deeper secrets.
Han Sheng led us through two forks in the road until we finally saw the much-worn Old Wan. Li Xin, wrapped in a coat, dozed off on the side. Upon hearing our voices, she opened her eyes, and her joy was evident, stammering, "You guys, you guys, you almost killed me."
Big Head imitated her, saying, "You, you, what's with the excitement? I can't sleep with you anyway."
Old Wan was obviously shocked. His face, with unshaven stubble, looked much more weathered than before. He sat up and said to me, "Second Young Master, it's good to see you."
He nodded to Zhao Min, glanced around, and asked with a subdued tone, "Zhao Jun?"
Zhao Min whispered, "He's dead."
Old Wan sighed and said, "Consider your father's debt paid off. After going out, you can go back; you owe me nothing."
"Hey, don't say that." Big Head sat down beside him and said, "If today is a bad day, we'll stay here. It's just that Old Zhao left a step ahead."
I kicked him in the butt. "Can't you say something positive?"
"Well then, I wish you a long life like the Southern Mountains." Big Head was indifferent, then asked Li Xin, "Do you still have provisions?"
After filling our stomachs with compressed biscuits, we gathered and began discussing our plans.
Each of us shared the information we had. I presented my previous speculations and talked about the contents of the family book. I didn't mention the fact that I shared the same name with Han Sheng. Li Xin synchronized the translated content of the sheepskin scroll, and after organizing, we pieced together some of the truth.
The story resembled the rubbing provided by Old Wan. A person came from afar, meeting Fox Huhu King, and claimed to teach him the art of longevity. Although Fox Huhu King respected Daoism, he wasn't naive enough to believe blindly. Through some means, likely sorcery from the Bashu region, the soldiers of Fox Huhu King were turned into "living dead," fearless and invincible. Fox Huhu King, pleased with the outcome, followed the person's advice, initiating large-scale construction to build the Zhenling Platform.
This was the first half of the story, essentially aligning with our conjectures. The only difference was that Big Head and the others believed "that person" might be a Taoist hermit.
In his words, "During the Tang Dynasty, Taoism was prevalent, and there were countless alchemists. Just pick anyone who looked like a Daoist, and it's likely that the person couldn't survive in Chang'an, so he went to the border."
Although what he said made sense, I insisted that this person was not simple. The figure resembled closely the one I saw in the "Morning Immortal Tomb." Even though ancient paintings were abstract, the cultural differences between the north and south were significant. If what I saw did not match, it would be challenging to paint such a similar figure.
As for what happened after the completion of Zhenling Platform, we had almost no substantial clues. However, some signs seemed to indicate that there might still be a "person" in the tomb. Of course, this was just speculation, as normal people could not live for so long. Li Xin suggested that Fox Huhu King might have also turned into a "living dead." This was a conclusion we currently all agreed upon.
The last part was about Yushan's recent operation a hundred years later. According to Li Xin's translation of the sheepskin scroll, Yushan was urgently summoned to excavate the Fox Huhu King's tomb. Shortly after starting the work, strange incidents occurred continuously within the camp. Some people would see inexplicable ghostly shadows around the camp at night, while others woke up to find their comrades sleepwalking, squatting in the tent corners, uttering strange words. All these incidents caused panic among the people.
After more than two months, they finally opened the first layer of the tomb. However, on that day, the site suddenly became chaotic. Subsequently, many Yushan soldiers covered in blood were carried out from underground.
Yushan suffered heavy casualties, with many experienced individuals falling below. Every time a layer was excavated, a large number of wounded soldiers were brought back, yet despite this, the "superior" still strictly demanded adherence to the schedule.
The camp was in distress, and many wanted to quit. However, they were suppressed ruthlessly by the "Lord" through bloody means.
In desperation, the Yushan commander personally took action, leading a dozen personal guards to the deepest part. Some tricky issues were resolved, and the excavation speed gradually increased. Finally, half a year later, news came from the front that they had dug up what the "Lord" wanted.
At that time, many people went down, including the "Lord." However, more horrifying things awaited them. The opened grand tomb was extremely dangerous, with ten people going and nine returning. Forced by circumstances, the heavily wounded Yushan hurriedly filled up the tomb and left in a panic, never returning.
This was the information gathered by both our parties. In fact, many aspects couldn't withstand careful scrutiny, but with limited clues, we could only piece together this "truth."
Big Head's spirit was high, and I asked him why he was so happy when even professional groups like Yushan suffered heavy casualties. It was clear there was danger ahead.
He dismissed it, saying, "If those Qing soldiers are so determined to go down, think about it. Can the treasures in the tomb be ordinary Ming artifacts? In my opinion, even the national jade seal might not compare."
His words reminded me. The "Lord" mentioned in the sheepskin scroll was so persistent in digging the Fox Huhu King's tomb. From the perspective of excavation value alone, this remote small kingdom's royal tomb was not worth such an effort
. With the talents and experts in Yushan, unearthing a few rare treasures wouldn't be difficult. Therefore, it seemed straightforward that the initial purpose of this excavation wasn't aimed at the treasures inside!
Suddenly, I froze. Blaming myself for being foolish, why hadn't I thought earlier? To go to such lengths to dig the Fox Huhu King's tomb, there was undoubtedly a strong purpose. This "Lord" likely knew the person from Bashu, or rather, they had planned this trip to Fox Huhu together.
Thinking of this, I became puzzled again. What was the purpose of coming from Bashu to Fox Huhu, a remote small kingdom thousands of miles away? And why, nearly a thousand years later, were there still people desperately trying to get something from inside? These were two points I couldn't comprehend.
Seeing me sighing at length, Han Sheng came over and asked what was wrong. I said it was nothing; I just couldn't understand many things. He patted my shoulder, whispered that I seemed more like the Second Young Master, and told me not to overthink it.
"Life will inevitably leave you scarred, but in the end, those wounded places will undoubtedly become your strongest." He chuckled, sharing something the Second Young Master had once told him.
I scoffed, "Too much chicken soup." Then, I remembered, "By the way, have you seen any signs along the way?"
He shook his head, frowning, "I'm afraid the journey ahead in Fox Huhu King's Zhenling Platform won't be smooth. This tomb is too eerie and has exceeded my expectations. Moreover, there are some issues in the tomb; it seems someone has tampered with it."
Surprised, I asked, "You mean... someone is playing tricks?"
Suddenly, I remembered something and told him, "I found out that the old soldier is not simple. Not only does he know a lot about this tomb, but he also seems to know about the Cao family and the Second Young Master."
Han Sheng muttered something, and when I asked what was wrong, he shook his head without speaking. It was evident he knew something.
He didn't want to talk, and I didn't press further. I always felt that Han Sheng carried some secrets or burdens.
We each rested for a while, organized our equipment, and Old Wan distributed spare flashlights to me and Big Head. Big Head also replaced his dagger with a short knife. Led by Han Sheng, we began moving towards the Zhenling Platform of Fox Huhu King.
The tunnel was long, and we walked for at least five or six minutes. Big Head, curious, asked, "Han Sheng, how did you find such a long way?"
Leading the way, Han Sheng replied, "Smelled it."
Big Head exclaimed, "I heard that the northern sects have a strange art specializing in cultivating the sense of smell. It's a child's skill. When they grow up, their sense of smell becomes keen and different from ordinary people. Usually, before going underground, they take a pinch of soil, put it under their noses, and can determine information about the underground tomb. They can even smell which dynasty it belongs to. Could it be that you are such a person?"
Han Sheng laughed, "It's somewhat similar. I did learn it from a young age. It's a skill from the Yong'an Camp. Your description is too mystical; it's not just about smelling; you also need to taste some soil."
Saying that, he paused and whispered, "Everyone, we've arrived."
Everyone shone their flashlights forward, revealing a magnificent sight. At the end of our line of sight stood an ancient and tranquil colossal structure, resembling a fierce beast lying dormant in the abyss, mysterious and inscrutable.
A massive stone monument stood in front. Li Xin carefully swept it with the flashlight and slowly read, "Returning to the Hidden Abode."