Burial Site Mystery Classic

Chapter 25

Amidst these labyrinthine boulders, meandering "rivers" of varying thickness and shapes, and numerous mercury pools resembling lakes, are scattered throughout the "mountains." The narrowest points of these mercury streams and pools are only as thick as an arm, while the widest spans one or two meters. We walked cautiously, one after another, among these boulders and mercury streams, afraid of accidentally slipping into this terrifying liquid. After walking for about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, we finally emerged from this "maze" surrounded by "mountains," and before us appeared a relatively flat space, approximately a hundred square meters. Not far from us, leaning against a giant boulder, stood an artificially constructed brick and stone palace platform, about ten meters high, with upturned eaves, black tiles, and white walls, appearing quite majestic; and in the center was a wide and irregularly shaped mercury pool. On the calm surface of this mercury pool, a large, thick, black wooden coffin floated silently.

Seeing the coffin of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of all time, only three to five meters away, filled us with excitement. After a careful examination, I observed that the coffin was approximately 2.5 meters long and 60 centimeters wide. Because part of it was submerged in mercury, its height couldn't be estimated, but it was clear that about one meter of the coffin was above the mercury. The entire surface was black, with two thick, intertwined dragons painted in bright red lacquer. These dragons were symmetrical, lifelike, and dynamic, appearing almost alive from a distance, completely encircling the outer coffin. Between the dragons, patterns of the sun, moon, stars, wind, rain, thunder, and lightning were also painted in red lacquer. This combination of black and red gave the coffin a majestic, solemn, and dignified appearance, while also exuding a slightly eerie and sinister aura.

Just then, Jenny asked, "The First Emperor's coffin is floating in the middle of the mercury pool. We can't reach it. How do we open it?" Hearing this, I looked at the coffin and saw that it was currently in the middle of the mercury pool, about two or three meters from the shore. Even if we stretched our arms as far as we could, we couldn't touch it. We did have a safety rope, which we could try to use to lasso the coffin and pull it to the shore. But now we had tied the rope to a high platform next to the cave, and we needed to climb up the platform using this rope to leave the tomb the same way we came. So we absolutely couldn't take the rope down. At this point, I really felt like I was at my wit's end, completely helpless.

At this moment, Tang Zhengyang suddenly took out the folded "Diamond Umbrella" from behind his back and said, "You two hold my left hand and try to tilt my body towards the coffin. Then I'll use this umbrella to push the First Emperor's coffin and see if I can move it to the side." I thought it was indeed a good idea, so Jenny and I went to the edge of the mercury pool and grabbed Tang Zhengyang, who was standing by the pool. Seeing that we had grabbed his left hand, Tang Zhengyang tried to shift his center of gravity towards the mercury pool, and his body slowly tilted towards the mercury pool.

76. Opening the Coffin

When Tang Zhengyang's body was at approximately a 45-degree angle to the surface of the mercury, he slowly extended his right hand, thrusting the "Diamond Umbrella" towards the dragon-patterned coffin in the center of the mercury pool. The tip of the "Diamond Umbrella" inching closer and closer to the coffin, just a few centimeters away, when, due to insufficient length, Tang Zhengyang's "Diamond Umbrella" could no longer approach Qin Shi Huang's dragon-patterned coffin. Because of the prolonged exertion, I saw that Jenny's forehead was covered in sweat, and my arms were also aching. So I greeted everyone, and then Jenny and I pulled Tang Zhengyang back forcefully.

“What bad luck, just a little short,” Tang Zhengyang said dejectedly. “It’s okay, watch me,” Jenny replied with a smile. She then took a foldable shovel from her backpack, unfolded it, and tightly bound it to Tang Zhengyang’s “Diamond Umbrella” with bandages. This significantly increased the length of the “Diamond Umbrella.” While she was binding it, we understood her intention, so after she finished, Tang Zhengyang picked up the extended “Diamond Umbrella” again, and with our help, tilted his body and thrust the umbrella towards the dragon-patterned coffin in the middle of the mercury pool. With a “thud,” the top of the umbrella finally struck the side of the coffin. Propelled by this considerable force, the dragon-patterned coffin began to slowly drift towards the opposite bank. When the coffin reached the shore, we were already waiting there, quickly grabbing the corners of the coffin and pushing it ashore with all our might. When we pushed the coffin halfway onto the shore and halfway into the pool, leaving it stranded on the bank, the three of us were exhausted. So we leaned against the coffin and sat down to rest for a while.

After everyone had regained some strength, we each took out our tools and prepared to open the coffin. Jenny and I each carried a German-made military shovel. Tang Zhengyang took out an iron rod-like object and told us that this was their special tool for opening coffins and retrieving treasures. It was called a "duckbill stick" because one end of the stick was flattened and resembled a duck's bill. Then, Tang Zhengyang tried to insert the "duckbill stick" into the gap between the outer coffin and the inner coffin lid. Then we all grabbed the end of the "duckbill stick" with him and pried it open. With our combined effort, a "crackling" sound came from inside the coffin, breaking the silence in the cave.

The coffin had clearly undergone special processing and was sealed very tightly, as if it had always been a single piece. It took us considerable effort to pry open a tiny gap between the lid and the outer coffin. It was at this point that we noticed something unusual about this coffin. Normally, after a long period of decomposition, a toxic stench would form inside the coffin, which would immediately escape from the gaps when the coffin was opened. However, although we had pried open the outer coffin, no gas was escaping, which puzzled us. "Could it be that the First Emperor's body underwent special preservation treatment, preventing it from becoming a corpse?" Jenny asked after a moment's thought. "Perhaps," Tang Zhengyang replied, looking at the finger-thick gap. Then, we continued to pry open the coffin with force. Fearing that they might accidentally damage the outer shell, the three of them were very careful during the prying process, not rushing things, but gradually widening the gap.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the outer coffin was finally fully opened. Inside, besides an inner coffin made of Phoebe zhennan wood, there were many exquisite gold and jade artifacts placed between the inner and outer coffins. Among them was a pair of gilded bronze tiger tallies, lifelike in form and fierce in expression. They were truly rare Qin Dynasty artifacts.

The inner coffin was still black, presumably because the Qin state revered black. On the inner coffin, many dragon patterns were still painted in vibrant vermilion lacquer. However, this time the dragon patterns were much smaller than the double dragon patterns painted on the outer coffin, and the lines were no longer the bold and unrestrained style, but instead had a smooth and agile feel. Looking inside the outer coffin, there was still no sign of the *Mysterious Scripture*. We decided to continue opening the inner coffin. Ignoring the sweat on our brows, the three of us inserted the "duckbill sticks" into the gap between the inner and outer coffin lids and began to pry again. "Crack, crack," the ethereal sounds echoed in the cave for a long time, like mournful cries, making us feel somewhat eerie and uneasy. "Si Nan, do you think the *Mysterious Scripture of Burial Grounds* will be placed in the coffin?" Jenny asked with a hint of doubt as she helped us pry the coffin. So I replied, "The records on the jade box and silk scroll should be correct; the Mysterious Scripture must be inside the underground palace. We've searched everywhere else, and this coffin is the most likely place. I believe we're about 70-80% sure." Hearing this, everyone seemed to regain their confidence, so they increased their effort and worked harder to open the inner coffin. With a "bang," the wooden lid of the inner coffin was completely pried open, revealing an exquisite stone coffin. The coffin was made from a single piece of white jade-like stone, carved with beautiful bird and animal patterns. Between the stone coffin and the inner coffin were still many exquisite pearls and jewels, but after searching, the Mysterious Scripture was still nowhere to be found.

"Did the First Emperor hide the Mysterious Scripture on his person? We've opened two layers, and it's still nowhere to be found," Tang Zhengyang said half-jokingly. "This 'Mysterious Scripture of Burial Grounds' is a book that can grant immortality. If I were the First Emperor, I would definitely hide it on my person too," Jenny replied with a smile after hearing Tang Zhengyang's words. Although they were just chatting jokingly, I suddenly noticed a suspicious point in their conversation, and the more I thought about it, the more confused I became. So I couldn't help but mutter to myself, "That's not right, how could this be? Why didn't I think of this before?" Hearing me say this, Jenny and Tang Zhengyang were completely baffled. Jenny asked with a puzzled look, "What's wrong? Is something amiss?" "Yes, think about it," I replied, "Since this 'Burial Mystery Classic' was in Qin Shi Huang's possession, and we can tell from the stone tablet in the cave of Jiulong Mountain that Qin Shi Huang must have already deciphered the 'ghost realm inscriptions' in the classic, it seems he must have grasped the secret of immortality within the 'Burial Mystery Classic.' If that's the case, then how could the First Emperor have suddenly died? If he really did die, then what's the point of this 'Burial Mystery Classic'? Would it still be worth him keeping it so treasured and close to his body in his coffin?"

77. Undead Guard

“Yes, I never thought of that connection,” Tang Zhengyang replied after I finished speaking. “Yes, I didn’t think about it at first either. It was only when Jenny mentioned hiding the scriptures close to her body in the coffin that I suddenly realized this.” “Then do you think the mystery of immortality recorded in this book, the *Burial Scripture*, is true? Could Qin Shi Huang have hidden it in his coffin?” Jenny asked, looking at me. I thought for a moment and replied, “I can’t say for sure right now, but since we’ve already opened the coffin, let’s just open it completely and take a look. Then everything will be clear.”

So, Tang Zhengyang put down the "duckbill stick" he was holding, preparing to help us push open the lid of the stone coffin. Just as he bent down, I suddenly heard him softly exclaim, "Strange!" "What's wrong?" I turned around and asked. Tang Zhengyang pointed to the coffin and replied suspiciously, "Look, this coffin was previously half on the shore and half submerged in the mercury pool, but now it's completely on the shore? Could it be moving by itself?" Hearing him say this, I also felt that something was amiss, so I looked at the lower part of the coffin. I saw that the entire coffin was now lying quietly on the ground on the shore, several centimeters below the surface of the mercury pool, with some traces of mercury remaining at the bottom. This startled me. I thought, how could this be? We've been right next to the coffin the whole time, how come we didn't notice it moving?

Just then, Jenny said, "It's not that the coffin moved, but that the mercury level in the pool dropped." She walked to the edge of the pool and pointed to the bank, saying, "Look closely, there are still traces of mercury left on the ground." Tang Zhengyang and I went to Jenny's side, crouched down, and looked closely. Sure enough, we saw some mercury residue on the ground. Suddenly, I realized this was likely a trap. I shouted, "Oh no! We might have accidentally triggered a trap! We're in danger! We need to open the coffin quickly to see what's going on, and then get out of there if we can still make it!"

Hearing this, everyone's hearts immediately tightened. Without a word, they all worked together to push the lid of the stone coffin aside. Inside was an exquisitely crafted human-shaped crystal coffin, and among the burial objects beside it, there was still no sign of the Xuanjing (Mysterious Scripture). When we continued to push open the lids of the crystal coffins, the scene that unfolded inside left us dumbfounded for a long time. Because when we opened this last crystal coffin, we discovered that it was an empty coffin. Apart from a jade box inside, there was nothing else, let alone the remains of the First Emperor.

Just then, we suddenly felt the ground beneath our feet begin to tremble slightly, accompanied by a muffled rumbling sound from beneath the ground. The tremors gradually intensified, even shaking the previously balanced surface of the mercury pool, and causing a significant amount of mercury to splash onto the shore. "Oh no, we have to get out of here!" I shouted, reaching into the crystal coffin to retrieve the jade box, preparing to turn and leave with Jenny and the others. But before I could even turn around, the mercury in the pool before us suddenly began to swirl around its center, eventually forming a huge vortex. Under the rotation of this vortex, the mercury in the pool rapidly decreased, disappearing completely in no time. Simultaneously, a life-size bronze Qin Dynasty chariot emerged from the pool. The chariot was pulled by two bronze horses, resting quietly at the bottom of the pool. On the chariot were three bronze warrior figurines clad in armor. One sat at the front of the chariot, holding a long whip. One driver stood calmly on the right side of the chariot, pointing forward with imposing presence; another knelt on the left side, holding a long spear, watching the surroundings with alertness and courage. All of this was rendered with such realism that if they hadn't emerged from a pool of mercury, we would have truly believed them to be real.

Then, we saw that the massive, mountain-like rocks in the cave were gradually shattering amidst the violent tremors, revealing terracotta warriors of the Qin army wielding spears, halberds, and iron arrows. In an instant, the entire cave was filled with the sounds of the sky collapsing, rocks flying, and deafening roars. "Don't stand there! We have to get out of here, or it'll be too late!" I shouted, shaking Jenny and Tang Zhengyang violently. They snapped out of their daze, realizing the urgency of the situation, and without a word, turned and ran after me in the direction we had come from. "What kind of army are these terracotta warriors? Why are they here?" Tang Zhengyang asked as we ran. I replied, "Judging from their numbers and attire, these terracotta warriors seem to be modeled after the imperial guards of Qin Shi Huang's inner palace. I estimate they were the last line of defense guarding the contents of Qin Shi Huang's coffin." Just as I finished speaking, the tremors in the cave intensified. The shaking was so intense that we could barely stand, so our evacuation was slow. As more and more terracotta warriors appeared around us, within minutes, when we looked up, we realized that we were surrounded by this "underground army."

"Damn it, before they attack, let's strike first and cut a bloody path!" Tang Zhengyang said, raising his "duckbill stick" and smashing it hard at a terracotta warrior blocking our way. In a flash, I grabbed his arm and shouted, "Don't attack yet! These terracotta warriors are priceless treasures. Don't destroy them unless absolutely necessary. You two, follow me and recite the 'Guardian Heart Mantra' to protect your minds and prevent these Qin Shi Huang's 'ghost soldiers' from seducing your souls." After saying that, I led everyone in reciting the 'Guardian Heart Mantra' from the "Exorcism Technique." Jenny and Tang Zhengyang followed along, reciting the mantra as they ran towards the high platform. When we were about ten meters away from the platform, suddenly, a blue light flashed throughout the cave, and then we were enveloped in a blue glow. At the same time, we saw that all the terracotta warriors in the cave began to emit a blue light, flickering and constantly changing. As these blue lights appeared, we began to hear the sounds of rolling chariots, neighing warhorses, clashing spears and twigs, and beating war drums... These sounds grew stronger and more intense, pressing down on us fiercely, as if they were about to annihilate us in an instant.

Just as we were becoming increasingly unsettled by the cacophony of sounds, I suddenly saw the terracotta warriors blocking our path shatter on their own, turning into piles of broken shards that fell to the ground. In that instant, the blue light that had enveloped the terracotta warriors transformed into hazy "light figures," wielding long spears and charging towards us. Tang Zhengyang and Jenny, witnessing this terrifying sight, involuntarily took a few steps back. Instinctively, we turned to flee in another direction, but the scene before us immediately stunned us. The terracotta army behind us had vanished, replaced by blue "light figures" emerging from the terracotta warriors. These "light figures" resembled Qin soldiers, their bodies glowing with a semi-transparent, soft light, like the spirits of the Qin dynasty, standing motionless, watching our every move.

Faced with such a large "undead army," I was genuinely a little apprehensive. I'd never been a soldier, never fought a war, let alone fought against this "undead army." Thinking about this, my heart raced, and I quickly pulled out my flamethrower, though I didn't know if flames would even work on these "undead." Jenny and Tang Zhengyang also grabbed their entrenching tools and dartboards respectively, and huddled close to me.

The two sides remained locked in a stalemate for about a minute when suddenly a bright light flashed from the center of the cave. Then, the "undead soldiers" who had been scattered throughout the cave quickly moved to their respective positions, forming fan-shaped arrays around us within seconds, creating a circle that completely surrounded us. Next, a path about four or five meters wide slowly branched off from one of the arrays, and a "dead chariot" emitting blue light slowly moved towards us from the distance. It stopped when it was about ten meters away. I saw the undead figure resembling a commander on the chariot extend its right hand, point to the jade box I was holding to my chest, and then beckon it back. "What's it doing?" Tang Zhengyang asked quietly. "It seems to want us to leave the jade box behind," Jenny replied, looking at the "dead commander." "No, we've gone to so much trouble and paid such a high price; we can't give up so easily," Tang Zhengyang replied. I nodded and said, "Yes, at this point, we have no choice but to take a gamble and fight them." As I spoke, I put the jade box into my backpack.

78. A Matter of Life and Death

My actions thoroughly enraged the "Undead Commander." Seeing that I had no intention of returning the jade box, it suddenly became extremely angry, drew its sword, raised it high, and pointed the tip at us. As the sword pointed at us, a chaotic shout erupted throughout the cave. Then, the fan-shaped formations of undead soldiers gradually moved towards us, tightening the encirclement. It looked as if the undead soldiers' long spears and short swords were about to thrust at us. In this critical moment of life and death, I shouted, "Charge! Follow me!" With that, I turned and, activating my flamethrower, ran back towards the platform we had come from. Jenny and the others, hearing my shout, immediately turned and followed.

The "undead soldiers" in front of us were startled by the flames from the flamethrower and took a few steps back, creating a path for us to escape. Seizing the opportunity, we quickly ran towards the high platform. Seeing us trying to flee, the "undead guards" swarmed forward, but fearing the fire-breathing contraption in my hand, they maintained a safe distance, hesitant to approach. Suddenly, a bright light flashed, and a sharp pain shot through my head, my thoughts becoming muddled. Fortunately, I had been silently reciting the "Mind Guard Mantra," and although the bright light made my blood boil, it didn't manage to sway my spirit. After the flash, the "undead guards" around us seemed to receive a command; despite their fear, they still charged at us relentlessly. The flames from the flamethrower caused them some pain, but the pain quickly subsided as soon as the flames disappeared, and they continued to attack us. “These ‘ghost soldiers’ are quite powerful, Si Nan. Can you use a couple of spells from the ‘Exorcism Technique’ to deal with them?” Jenny shouted as she dodged left and right with me.

So, I silently recited the incantation and unleashed the "Heaven and Earth Stabilizing Thunder" spell. While charging forward, I opened my palms to the left and right, striking at the "ghost soldiers" beside me. After a few sharp "crack" sounds, the blue-glowing "ghost soldiers" screamed in agony, being sent flying three to five meters away by the force of the blows. However, there were simply too many of these "Undead Guards." As soon as I knocked away two or three, four or five more immediately surrounded me. Even more worrying, in the chaos, I saw the "Undead Commander" among the "Undead Guards" rapidly moving towards us; it seemed he wanted to take matters into his own hands as well. What should I do? I anxiously asked myself, hoping to find a quick way to escape.

Just as the "Undead General" was about to approach us, I ripped off the gloves from my hazmat suit, revealing my hands, and then forcefully slashed my palms against a nearby pile of broken rocks. The sharp edges of the rocks immediately drew bloody cuts on my palms. Then I pressed my palms together, gathering the blood while silently chanting an incantation. Just as the "ghost soldiers" were about to pierce us, I shouted and flung my hands, instantly spraying hundreds of drops of bright red blood onto all the "ghost soldiers" around me. This was the "Holy Blood Subduing Demon Incantation," which I had just learned, one of the superior techniques in the "Exorcism Arts." These blood drops had now completely dispelled the evil energy emanating from these "ghost soldiers," and those that the blood droplets touched instantly vanished.

This immediately created a relatively open space around us, and I broke through the encirclement of the "Undead Guard." Seizing this opportunity, ignoring the excruciating pain in my palm, I led Jenny and the others to continue running towards the high platform next to the cave hall. We were almost at the edge of the platform. The safety rope was still hanging there silently. Just then, a rapid sound of hooves suddenly came from behind. I couldn't help but turn around and saw the "Undead Chariot" carrying the "Undead Guard's" commander rushing towards us. The chariot was incredibly fast; before I could even prepare, it was already upon us. Then, the spearman next to the commander thrust his spear fiercely towards my chest, about to pierce me. In this life-or-death moment, Jenny shouted "Watch out!" and pushed me aside. Due to the excessive force, she couldn't stop herself, and the "Undead Spear" pierced her shoulder with a "crack." A trail of black blood splattered from the wound, and Jenny cried out "Ah!" before losing consciousness.

Seeing Jenny's accident filled me with immense worry. Looking at the "undead" chariot, I was consumed by rage. I abruptly spread my arms, chanting an incantation, and swiftly sprayed the blood flowing from my palms onto the chariot. The "undead general" had experienced the power of these blood drops when I used them against the "ghost soldiers" earlier, so when it saw them flying towards it, it quickly jumped off the chariot. The two "undead warhorses" were also startled and reared up. When the blood droplets reached the "undead chariot," with the neighing of the "undead warhorses," the entire chariot, along with the "undead warhorses," the "undead spearmen," and the "undead charioteer," vanished into nothingness.

Taking advantage of the brief moment, I glanced back at Jenny. I saw Tang Zhengyang taking out some white powder of unknown origin and gently applying it to her wound. As soon as the powder touched the black blood in Jenny's wound, a puff of white smoke appeared. Jenny then frowned and woke up. I hadn't expected Tang Zhengyang to possess such a miraculous medicine. Seeing that Jenny had regained consciousness, I felt much relieved and called out to Tang Zhengyang, "Take Jenny upstairs quickly!" "Then you…" "I have a way to escape. You two can go up first without worry," I replied. So Tang Zhengyang did as I instructed, helping Jenny towards the rope hanging from the high platform. Just then, the "Undead General" charged forward, sword in hand. So I used the "Holy Blood Subduing Demon Spell" again, sprinkling the remaining blood from my palm onto the "Undead General." The "Undead General," already aware of the power of these blood drops, quickly retreated upon seeing me spray it. Before he could attack again, I cast the "Holy Blood Subduing Demon Spell" once more, charging towards the "Undead General" while forcefully slapping the blood from my palms forward. At this moment, the remaining "ghost soldiers" had caught up, surrounding the "Undead General," but fearing the power of the "Holy Blood Subduing Demon Spell," they maintained a distance from me, daring not to approach, only hurling various "undead weapons" at me. I dodged while using the "Palm Thunder" technique learned from the "Exorcism Spell," shattering the unavoidable weapons one by one. In this way, I fought them alone for four or five minutes.

Just then, I suddenly heard Tang Zhengyang shout, "Si Nan, quickly find a way to escape! We're already up there!" I turned around and saw that Tang Zhengyang and the others had indeed climbed onto the high platform surrounding the cave. Without lingering, I used my final "Holy Blood Demon-Subduing Spell," splattering the blood from my palms in front of me to stop the "Undead Legion's" pursuit. Then, I turned and ran towards Tang Zhengyang and the others. Reaching the foot of the platform, I gripped the rope tightly and struggled to climb. My palms were already a bloody mess, and the ropes were cutting into them, sending waves of excruciating pain through me. But I couldn't care less about the pain now; to survive, I had only one thought in my mind—climb up as fast as possible!

When I was about a meter from the top of the platform, I suddenly heard a "whoosh" sound behind me. My intuition told me that something was flying towards me, and I was startled. Instinctively, I ducked my head, and saw a blue-glowing "undead longsword" slash with a "crack" as it struck the safety rope in my hand. Wasn't that the weapon of the "Undead General"? I broke out in a cold sweat. A wisp of black smoke immediately rose from where the rope was struck, and then it snapped. In an instant, I lost my balance and plummeted downwards. At that moment, the "undead legion" had already surrounded me below, waiting to finish me off after I fell. In this critical moment, suddenly a strong and powerful hand grabbed my hand firmly, stopping my fall. I snapped out of my despair and looked closely. It was Tang Zhengyang. The instant he saw me plummeting, he disregarded his own safety and swiftly reached out to grab me, saving my life. At the same time, Jenny, who had just regained consciousness, endured the excruciating pain in her shoulder and threw the remaining black donkey hooves from Tang Zhengyang's backpack down. The hooves struck several "ghost soldiers" on the head, instantly obliterating them and causing them to vanish without a trace. Seeing this, the other "ghost soldiers" retreated, giving Tang Zhengyang and me a little time to make our move. When faced with a life-or-death situation, one can unleash their full potential, so in just a few seconds, I struggled to pull Tang Zhengyang up, quickly climbing onto the natural rock platform…

Guge Underground Palace I: The Mysterious Stone Platform

After Tang Zhengyang pulled me onto the high stone platform, I couldn't help but look back at the "undead legion" below. They were all brandishing their weapons, their expressions a mixture of anger and helplessness. The "undead commander" stared at us intently for a moment, then suddenly let out a loud roar, his voice filled with rage and despair. Immediately afterward, a blinding white light appeared before us, and the "undead commander" exploded first within that light. Then, the entire "undead legion" behind him vanished without a trace in the white light.

The explosion of light didn't produce a loud sound, only a strong gust of air that made it hard for us to open our eyes. When we finally managed to open our eyes again, all that remained was darkness and silence; the previous commotion had vanished without a trace. "It's over, finally over!" Tang Zhengyang said thoughtfully. Watching the terrifying "undead army" completely disappear before our eyes, knowing that I was finally out of danger, the tension in my mind completely relaxed. Only then did I realize that I had been poisoned by mercury again; my vision went black, and I passed out.

I don't know how much time passed before I slowly woke up to Jenny and Tang Zhengyang's calls. Jenny's anxious expression eased slightly when she saw that I had opened my eyes. She wiped the cold sweat from my forehead with a handkerchief, asking with concern, "You're finally awake! We were so worried. We gave you some medicine; how are you feeling now? Are you still uncomfortable?" I looked at her, smiled, and shook my head, replying, "Much better. My head isn't so dizzy anymore, but I feel weak all over." "Luckily, the mercury in this cave was diverted elsewhere by the activation of the mechanism, so the mercury concentration here has decreased significantly. Therefore, your poisoning wasn't too severe. The medicine should help; otherwise, you would have been in serious danger," Jenny said. I nodded and asked her, "By the way, how are you feeling now? Are you alright?" "Much better. Zhengyang's medicine is very effective. Now, apart from the slight pain in my shoulder wound, I feel fine," Jenny replied. "Zhengyang used his ancestral medicinal powder to clear the yin poison from my wound. I should be fine now."

Just then, Tang Zhengyang came over with a makeshift cane made from a shovel tied to a "duckbill stick," and said softly, "Although we're relatively safe for now, this isn't a place to linger. If you can still stand, I think we should get out of here as soon as possible." Hearing this, I felt she was right, so I nodded. With their help, I slowly stood up, one hand on the makeshift cane, the other being supported by Tang Zhengyang as we slowly retraced our steps.

Because we were heading back, and had already familiarized ourselves with the route, the journey was much smoother than when we first entered. Before we knew it, we were approaching the underground chamber, also teeming with "ghost soldiers," which was our only concern. Along the way, we had already dismantled all the other mechanisms and traps on our way in, so they wouldn't pose a threat on our return. However, we had deliberately avoided the terracotta "ghost soldiers" in the underground chamber when we first entered, leaving them undestroyed. Therefore, we were now very worried, fearing they might be there to block our path.

We quietly approached the entrance to the underground chamber and peered inside. What we saw astonished us. The entire chamber, which had been filled with life-sized terracotta figures, was now completely empty; not a single figure could be seen. In the beam of our wolf-eye flashlight, we discovered a thick layer of scattered terracotta shards on the floor. "It seems these terracotta 'ghost soldiers' have also 'resurrected,' but I wonder where they've gone now," Jenny remarked, looking at the broken shards. After listening, I thought about it carefully and then said, "I don't know if you saw it just now, but when that 'Undead General' suddenly exploded, the other 'Ghost Soldiers' also exploded and disappeared. So I think these 'Ghost Soldiers' here probably disappeared at that moment as well." Tang Zhengyang seemed a bit confused after hearing what I said, so he asked me, "They were all fine before, why did they suddenly explode and disappear?" "Perhaps these 'Ghost Soldiers' were under some kind of spell, required to protect the contents of this jade box. Once the jade box was taken away from their protection range, they lost their function of protecting the jade box, so they self-destructed and destroyed themselves," I thought for a moment and then said. "If it's really like what you said, that would be great, it would save us from worrying here for nothing," Tang Zhengyang said with a smile. Just then, Jenny beside me said, "Look, what's that?" After saying that, she shone the beam of her wolf-eye flashlight towards a building in the middle of the sleeping quarters that looked like a high platform. It was a golden pagoda-shaped platform, about half a meter high, with an area of about ten square meters. Because it was surrounded by terracotta figures, it hadn't been discovered before. For some reason, my intuition told me that there must be something special about this place. So, I had Tang Zhengyang help me, and we immediately went to the side of the high platform.

This was a stone platform constructed from white bricks resembling marble. Intricate and beautiful patterns were carved around it. On the platform sat a finely crafted blue-and-white round tripod, and four bronze dragon pillars, each over a meter tall and as thick as a bowl, stood at the four corners of the square platform. There was nothing else. We walked around the platform but found nothing unusual. "Strange, how can there be only this?" I muttered to myself. Jenny had also come over. Hearing my words, she asked, "What's wrong? Is there something you're wondering about?" I nodded and replied, "From the first moment I saw this platform, I had a feeling that it was something special, perhaps hiding some secret chamber. But now, after examining it for so long, I can't find anything special." "Didn't we already get the jade box from the First Emperor's coffin? How could there be other mysterious things here? You must be overthinking it," Tang Zhengyang said with a smile.

II. See the light of day again

I looked at him and replied, "I also find it strange, but this feeling is just too strong. I don't think it would appear for no reason; there must be some cause. In that case, let's take a closer look. I don't want to regret it after we get out." "I don't want to leave with regrets either," Jenny said. "In that case, let's take a careful look."

So the three of us examined the stone platform again. Aside from the exquisite patterns, there was nothing particularly special about it. Just as I began to doubt my intuition, I suddenly heard a "click-clack" sound coming from the platform. I looked around and saw that Jenny, seeing the beautiful patterns, had unconsciously reached out and touched them, likely accidentally triggering a hidden switch. We immediately climbed to the top of the platform and found that the bronze cauldron that had been there had moved to the side, creating a square passageway about one square meter in size, with a staircase leading slowly into it.

"I didn't expect there to be such a secret here!" Tang Zhengyang said, looking at the dark entrance to the passage. I said to everyone, "Hurry up and go down to check it out." After saying that, I let Tang Zhengyang go into the passage first, then turned around to help me into the passage, while Jenny stayed behind.

Once inside the passage, we discovered that the stone steps were not long, only about ten meters long. We reached the end after a few steps, and with the help of our flashlights and headlamps, we found ourselves in a closed chamber of about ten square meters, with the only entrance and exit being the staircase we had just descended.

The furnishings inside the secret chamber were relatively simple. Against the wall at the front of the chamber was a wooden couch that appeared to be made of fine sandalwood, carved with dragons and phoenixes, its craftsmanship exquisite and grand. In the center was a wooden altar with many sacrificial vessels on it. Along the walls on the left and right sides were several cabinets and wooden shelves of the same size and workmanship, containing various utensils of different sizes and shapes, including those made of pottery, bronze, gold, and jade.

Leaning on my simple cane, I slowly walked to the cabinets and wooden shelves, and randomly picked up a small earthenware jar from among the various containers. It was about the size of a fist, its surface coated with black glaze. Under the light, it reflected a jewel-like brilliance, appearing quite beautiful. Then, I gently opened the lid, and a strong medicinal smell mixed with a hint of decay quickly filled the air. Looking inside, I saw some black powdery substances, interspersed with two or three pills that weren't completely crushed. Next, I picked up several other containers from the cabinet and examined them. I found they all contained various pills, differing in color and shape. The colors included vermilion, dark brown, and yellowish-brown; some were white and transparent, and the shapes included pills, powders, and granules. “They might be some so-called elixirs of immortality.” Jenny, who had somehow appeared beside me, looked at the contents of the pottery jar with me and said, “Didn’t the First Emperor once recruit scholars from various regions to concoct elixirs for him?” “Very likely, but I don’t know if consuming these medicines will truly grant immortality,” I replied with a smile.

Afterwards, we carefully examined the secret room again. We found that although several cabinets didn't contain the various pills, they contained a lot of meat that had rotted down to bones, as well as dried vegetables and fruits. We also collected a few strands of hair from the wooden bed. Just as Jenny and I were carefully putting the hair into a plastic bag, we heard Tang Zhengyang shout, "Come and take a look! There seems to be something painted on this wall." Hearing this, I asked Jenny to help me, and we quickly went over. Tang Zhengyang was standing against one of the side walls of the secret room, looking up, his eyes fixed on the wall. Following his gaze, Jenny and I looked at the wall. On the stone wall, there seemed to be a picture, but because it wasn't painted with special paint and was old, the whole picture had become very faded and blurry, but the general outline was still discernible. Because of the time constraints, we couldn't figure it out right away, so we decided to take a picture of the image first and study it more carefully when we got back.

After searching the room and confirming there were no more suspicious clues, we retraced our steps and returned to the underground chamber. Our hungry stomachs reminded us that we hadn't eaten for almost two days. We hadn't felt it in the tense atmosphere, but now, with the sudden relaxation, the unbearable hunger suddenly surfaced. "Let's go," Tang Zhengyang said half-jokingly, "there's still a cliff to climb. We need to get up there before we collapse from hunger."

Upon reaching the bottom of the ravine, we planned to climb up one by one using the safety ropes that Tang Zhengyang and the others had previously tied. Considering that Jenny and I were both injured, Tang Zhengyang climbed up first, then lowered another section of rope for us to tie on as a safety rope. After that, Jenny and I took turns pulling ourselves up, while Tang Zhengyang helped pull us up from above. Once we reached the top, Jenny and I immediately collapsed to the ground, our limbs trembling uncontrollably, completely exhausted. However, once we were past the ravine, the path ahead was much easier, so after resting for a while, we struggled to our feet and began our journey back.

About two hours later, when we saw the blue sky and white clouds above us again, our hearts were filled with emotion. Recalling the harrowing experience inside the Qin Mausoleum, it felt like a lifetime had passed compared to this. It was around eight or nine in the morning. After taking off our hazmat suits, we felt incredibly relaxed and comfortable. Just as we were squatting on the ground organizing our luggage and equipment, preparing to pack it up, a familiar voice suddenly came from afar, "Miss Jenny, Mr. Si Nan, is that really you?" Hearing that voice, we knew it was Ah Bao, so we quickly stood up and looked in the direction of the voice. Ah Bao was running towards us, now only about fifty meters away. Seeing our long-lost teammates, we were naturally incredibly excited and quickly replied, "It's us, Ah Bao, what brings you here?" In the blink of an eye, the four of us were together. Seeing that we had all returned safely, Ah Bao happily hugged me tightly, not letting go for a long time. After my excitement subsided a bit, I eagerly asked A-Bao, "By the way, how's Dunzi doing? He should be alright, right?" "Oh, at first, things weren't very optimistic because the poisoning was quite deep. But thankfully, he was brought in in time, and after several specialists at the hospital gave him emergency treatment, he's out of danger now and has woken up." A-Bao paused for a moment and continued, "I've been staying by his side these past two days. Today, I saw that his spirits have recovered quite quickly, and he's regained the ability to move around on his own. So, I started thinking about you guys again. After discussing it with Dunzi, we decided to come here to check on things. I didn't expect to see you here as soon as I arrived. That's wonderful." I had been worried about Dunzi's condition, but hearing him say this, my heart finally settled down.

After Ah Bao finished speaking, he noticed Jenny's injury and quickly went to inquire about it. He asked, "Miss Jenny, are you injured? Is it serious?" Jenny smiled and replied, "I'm much better now. After all, I've been through so many dangerous moments, and I'm very lucky to have only suffered such a minor injury." Ah Bao was relieved to hear this and then asked, "By the way, did you find the 'Burial Scripture' in the end?" "Because the situation inside the mausoleum was extremely urgent at the last moment, we only found an exquisite jade box inside the First Emperor's coffin. We haven't had time to open it yet, so we can't be sure if it contains the Scripture. However, based on my deduction, it's probably very close." As I spoke, I patted the backpack containing the jade box behind me. Ah Bao seemed excited after hearing this, laughing and saying, "It's a pity I couldn't stay with you until the end. What happened afterward? How did you find the First Emperor's coffin? Tell me all about it!" "Alright, alright, let's talk about it back at the hotel. Our outfits are quite eye-catching; it wouldn't be good if the villagers passing by saw us," Tang Zhengyang said with a laugh. "Besides, we haven't eaten or slept for over two days, and my stomach is still growling." "Right, right, right, let's go back to the hotel first. I was so excited that I forgot everything; I didn't even realize you hadn't eaten for two days, haha," Ah Bao replied, slapping his forehead with a laugh. So, Ah Bao helped us carry some of our luggage on his shoulders, and the four of us left the desolate hillside, chatting and laughing.

III. Gathering

Back at the hotel, Ah Bao quickly bought some milk, bread, and other food from a small supermarket on the street for us to eat. Due to the prolonged exertion, everyone was starving, and we devoured whatever food was available. Although I was also quite hungry, perhaps due to the mercury poisoning, I felt nauseous and couldn't eat anything. Finally, at Jenny's suggestion, I managed to drink a little milk. Although we hadn't slept for two days and were exhausted, everyone wanted a good night's sleep. However, after discussion, we decided to go to the hospital for treatment as soon as possible and also visit our long-lost brother, Dunzi.

Ah Bao drove the car we rented locally and soon took us to a local specialist hospital. Needless to say, Dunzi was also being treated at this hospital. After a careful examination, the doctor said that I had ingested an excessive amount of mercury. The mercury combined with enzymes and proteins containing sulfhydryl groups in my body, causing red, swollen, and painful gums, festering and bleeding, as well as nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. Fortunately, the amount ingested was not too large, so the poisoning was relatively mild. I just needed to have IV drips for a few days and be observed for a few days. As for Jenny's shoulder wound, it was much more complicated. The attending surgeon looked at the wound on Jenny's shoulder, which was about seven or eight centimeters long, and said, "Strange. In all my years as a surgeon, I have never seen a wound like this. It is neither a common knife wound, nor a typical burn, nor a high-voltage electric shock injury. Yet, it has the characteristics of all of these injuries, and there also seems to be mild poisoning. How did she get injured like this?" Ah Bao stammered when the doctor asked him this, unable to say a word for a long time. I knew he didn't know how to explain, so I answered for Ah Bao, "She's a reporter from a newspaper. She was doing an interview in our factory workshop when suddenly the machinery exploded. She was stabbed in the shoulder by a red-hot piece of iron covered in chemicals, so we rushed her to the hospital." "I see. No wonder her injury looks so strange. Okay, I'll clean and disinfect the wound first, then bandage it. When she gets home, she should take some of the anti-inflammatory and detoxifying medicine I prescribed. I think she'll recover quickly." After saying that, she added to Jenny, "By the way, you should also keep the wound dry and clean, and remember to take your medicine on time." Jenny nodded and replied, "Thank you, doctor, I understand."

Now that Jenny and I were both feeling much better, we started thinking about Dunzi, who was receiving treatment at the hospital. Led by Abao, the four of us walked through the hospital's outpatient building and arrived at the inpatient ward behind it. In a private room on the third floor, I finally saw Dunzi, whom I had been thinking about all along.

He was lying in a hospital bed receiving an IV drip. Seeing the four of us suddenly appear before him, he was initially surprised, then laughed excitedly. "Thank goodness, you're all back safe and sound! Ah Bao and I were so worried these past two days!" Dunzi said excitedly. "We were worried about you too. Your face looked terrible, and your breathing was very weak. If Ah Bao hadn't brought you out in time, the consequences would have been unimaginable," I said with a smile as I sat down on the edge of Dunzi's bed. Tang Zhengyang added, "Yes, the situation was really dangerous. Even now, thinking back to those scenes in Qinling, I still feel a bit scared." "Let's not talk about that now. Tell me quickly. Did you finally find the complete 'Burial Ground Mystery Scripture'?" Dunzi asked eagerly. Jenny replied, "We can't be sure yet, but we eventually found a jade box about the size of a laptop inside Qin Shi Huang's coffin. Because of the time constraints, we haven't had a chance to open it yet. However, we all feel that if the other scroll of the Mysterious Scripture is indeed hidden in the Qin Mausoleum's underground palace, then there's a high probability that this jade box contains it, since we've thoroughly examined almost every suspicious area in the underground palace." "Oh, I see," Dunzi nodded, muttering to himself, "I really wish I could have been with you all until the very end."

“And we also discovered a secret,” I said mysteriously. Dunzi and Abao immediately perked up, asking in unison, “What secret?” I smiled, then lowered my voice and whispered to them, “Finally, when the three of us worked together to open Qin Shi Huang’s multiple layers of coffins, guess what we saw?” “What did we see?” “The coffin was empty.” “Empty coffin?” Dunzi’s eyes widened. “You mean, there were no Qin Shi Huang’s remains inside?” I didn’t answer, just nodded. At this moment, Jenny interjected, whispering, "This means that if the Qin Mausoleum we entered is a decoy tomb, then Qin Shi Huang might actually have achieved immortality, which is why we didn't find his remains in his coffin." She paused slightly, then continued, "Moreover, judging from everything we've seen since entering the tomb, this underground palace is definitely not just a decoy tomb." "So, the 'Burial Scripture' might actually record the art of immortality?" Dunzi asked, both surprised and delighted. "Yes, very likely," I replied with a smile.

"So that's what you were investigating?" Tang Zhengyang, after hearing our explanation, finally understood our true purpose for entering the Qin Mausoleum. His words made me realize that previously, because we didn't know Tang Zhengyang very well and the situation wasn't clear, we didn't want to involve him in this complicated matter, so we hadn't told him the whole truth. But now, after this life-or-death ordeal, he had become an indispensable part of our team. We could no longer treat him as a complete outsider, so I explained the whole story to him in detail. Tang Zhengyang listened with great interest, occasionally showing signs of tension. "I really wish I could have been with you guys back then; your experience was truly amazing."

IV. Jade Box and Silver Lock

After listening to my account, he said with a touch of emotion, "Wasn't our trip to the Qin Mausoleum's underground palace thrilling? Weren't the 'ghost child,' 'millennial blood essence,' and 'underground army' in the palace mysterious and eerie? Life is unpredictable; who knows what strange experiences await us in the future?" I replied thoughtfully. At the same time, for some reason, I had a feeling that an even more perilous and mysterious journey was about to unfold before us.

Time flew by, and as we chatted, dusk fell. We prepared to leave the hospital and head back to the hotel. Dunzi was eager to go back with everyone to examine the jade box and unravel the mystery of immortality in the sutra. However, after much persuasion, he finally agreed to stay in the hospital for a few more days until things made greater progress, at which point we would come back to pick him up. The next day, everyone agreed to meet at the hotel to begin studying the jade box and its contents. Afterwards, Jenny, Abao, and I returned to the hotel, while Tang Zhengyang went home first.

Having not slept for a long time, the three of us went back to our rooms to rest after returning to the hotel. I took the medicine the doctor had prescribed and ate a little something, and felt much better, so I lay down on the bed to rest. Perhaps because I hadn't slept for several days and was also exhausted, I drifted off to sleep as soon as I closed my eyes.

The next day, before I could even get a good night's sleep, I was woken by a loud knocking on the door. I knew without a doubt that Ah Bao and the others were eager to see the secret inside the jade box. I opened the door, intending to let the three of them in, but Tang Zhengyang said, "Why did it take you so long to open the door? We're all eager to see what's inside the jade box..." Before he could finish, I gestured for him to be quiet, stopping him in time. I quickly let them into the room, then peeked out into the hallway. Seeing that no one was there, I closed the door with relief.

“Zhengyang, this matter must be kept absolutely secret. Are you trying to let the whole world know by shouting it out in the streets?” I said with a smile. Tang Zhengyang, realizing his carelessness, laughed and replied, “Hehe, I was so focused on knocking on the door, eager to know the secret, that I didn’t think things through. I’ll be more careful next time.” Knowing everyone’s feelings, I said nothing more and quickly took the jade box, wrapped in layers of cotton cloth, from beside my pillow. I slowed my breathing and gently unwrapped the layers of cloth. I was incredibly excited, wondering what would be inside the jade box and whether it would unlock the secrets recorded in the Xuanjing. Although no one spoke, everyone stared wide-eyed at the jade box on the table, but I could sense their excitement, just as intense as mine.

After I lifted the last layer of cotton cloth, the translucent and lustrous jade box was revealed. I gently took it in my hands and examined this mysterious jade box carefully for the first time. There was no body of Qin Shi Huang in his coffin, but instead such a small jade box. What was the purpose of this? As I examined the jade box, many strange thoughts popped into my mind. Just then, Jenny and the others gathered around, and together we examined the exquisite jade box in my hands.

This is an exquisitely crafted white jade box, clearly carved from a single piece of pure, high-quality Hetian white jade. Besides the beautifully carved rock, flower, and bird patterns using various techniques such as openwork, relief, and round carving, the box is also wrapped with silver sheets at its top, bottom, and four corners, inlaid with gemstones. However, what truly draws our attention is a silver lock, about the size of a lighter, its surface oxidized to a dark black. The lock face is roughly rectangular, and through the narrow keyhole, we can vaguely see several thin metal wires running through it. Although the lock isn't very large, its surface is densely covered with many mysterious "ghostly inscriptions." These "ghostly inscriptions" are so distinctive that we can recognize them at a glance.

“It really is related to the ‘Burial Ground Mystery Scripture’.” Jenny said with a smile, touching the small silver lock as she looked at it. “It seems our efforts this time should have yielded results.” “But this silver lock seems to have some history. Without a key, it probably won’t be so easy to open.” I said, looking at the silver lock with a slight apprehension. “Why don’t we just pry it open with tools?” Ah Bao said. “I think such a small lock, after thousands of years of corrosion and oxidation, should be easy to pry open now.” Hearing Ah Bao say this, Tang Zhengyang, who was standing next to him, quickly said, “Don’t pry it open! Don’t pry it open! Have you forgotten about the ‘Mysterious Bird Heart-Connecting Lock’? Since this jade box was found in Qin Lingkong’s treasure coffin, it must be something extraordinary. This thing is so important, and this lock is very likely not an ordinary lock either. If we pry open the silver lock before we have a clear understanding of the truth, I’m worried that if this lock also has a self-destruct mechanism like the ‘Mysterious Bird Heart-Connecting Lock,’ then the contents of the box will be hard to protect. In that case, all our previous efforts would be wasted!” After hearing what Tang Zhengyang said, we immediately realized that what Tang Zhengyang said made a lot of sense. So everyone finally agreed not to rush to pry open the lock, but to first understand the structure and internal situation of this kind of lock.

“Last time, for that ‘Black Bird Heart-Connecting Lock,’ I used various connections to visit many Qin Dynasty historians, lock experts, and private collectors. Through that contact, I’ve developed some relationships with them. I think I should go and consult them about this kind of silver lock in the next couple of days,” Tang Zhengyang said after thinking for a moment. I nodded and replied, “Then let’s do as you say. Thank you for your hard work these next two days.” Afterward, Jenny brought out a camera and took some photos of the jade box and silver lock for Tang Zhengyang. Then, she and Tang Zhengyang went out to develop the photos.

At this point, only Ah Bao and I were left in the hotel. Since there was nothing else to do, I suggested we go to the hospital to see Dunzi, and Ah Bao naturally agreed.

Returning to the hospital ward, I was greatly relieved to see that Dunzi's complexion was much better than the day before. Dunzi was overjoyed to see me and Abao, and immediately asked in a low voice how things had progressed. "Brother, how did it go? Is there a Mystic Scripture in the box?" he asked anxiously. "I'm afraid you'll be disappointed," I smiled, feigning mystery, "We don't know if there's a Mystic Scripture inside." "Impossible! How could you not know?" he said, as if suddenly realizing something, and then asked, "Haven't you opened the jade box yet?" I laughed heartily and said, "You're smart this time. Yes, we haven't opened it yet." "Why haven't you opened it?" Dunzi continued to ask. At this moment, Ah Bao, who was standing beside him, replied, "Because there's a silver lock on the jade box, we dare not easily break it. So we'll have Tang Zhengyang investigate the situation with this silver lock first. Only after we've figured everything out can we open the jade box." "I see! Oh dear, I can't wait to see what's inside. Why don't you process my discharge today? Look, I'm fine now." Saying this, he jumped off the bed and paced back and forth in the ward.

I patted him on the shoulder and said, "When did you become so impatient? Even if you go out now, it won't make a difference. We still have to wait for Tang Zhengyang to figure out the situation with that silver lock before we can start unlocking it. You'd better stay in the hospital for a couple more days. I promise you, once there's new progress on Tang Zhengyang's side, A Bao and I will come and pick you up." "Si Nan is right, don't worry, our team can't do without you," A Bao chimed in. "Ugh, you guys don't know how boring it is to stay in the ward all day," Dunzi continued to complain. "Since that's the case, I'll just have to endure it for a few more days. You guys have to keep your word, okay?" A Bao and I nodded with a smile.

When Ah Bao and I returned to the hotel, Jenny was already in her room. She was sitting alone at her desk, staring intently at several photographs scattered across the surface. She was so absorbed that she didn't notice us approaching. We didn't interrupt her reverie, but quietly stood beside her and looked at the photos with her. As soon as I saw them, I understood. These were the photos we had taken in that mysterious secret chamber within the underground palace after escaping the "ghost army" in the Qin Mausoleum. And Jenny was currently staring intently at those photographs of the faded pattern we had found on one of the walls of that chamber. If I hadn't seen these photos beforehand, I would have almost forgotten about it. Just a few seconds later, Jenny finally noticed me and Ah Bao beside her, turned around and said to me, "I went to print photos with Tang Zhengyang just now, and that's when I found these photos that we took in the secret room inside the Qin Mausoleum last time." She paused slightly and continued, "At the time, we were in a hurry and didn't study the content of these pictures carefully, so we couldn't figure them out in the end. But now, looking at them carefully, I suddenly found a feeling."

V. Dragon Suspension Thread Lock

Hearing Jenny's words, I was quite pleased and pressed her for details, "Oh, so what clues did you find?" She smiled and pieced together the photos into a single image, then used an oil pen to thicken and darken the already somewhat unclear patterns. With each stroke, a clear landscape painting gradually emerged from the photos. Rolling sand dunes, winding riverbeds, and a dilapidated ancient city slowly appeared before us. "So it's just a landscape painting," A-Bao said after looking at the image. "It seems this painting doesn't have much research value, and it probably doesn't have much connection to the mystery of immortality we're looking for, right?" "I thought about it for a long time, and I really can't think of any connection between them," Jenny replied. I carefully examined the image in the photos and indeed couldn't immediately see any connection between it and the secrets of the Xuanjing. So, I ultimately accepted A-Bao's opinion, believing it was just an ordinary mural on the wall of the secret chamber. Nevertheless, for some reason I always feel that there is something hidden in this painting.

For the next few days, things didn't progress much, and we waited every day for news from Tang Zhengyang. Besides that, we visited Dunzi at the hospital daily, and also took the opportunity to explore many historical sites and scenic spots in the ancient capital of Xi'an. This period was probably the most leisurely and peaceful time we'd had since we began investigating the mystery of immortality in the Xuanjing. However, although every day was easy, I knew that everyone, like me, was constantly worried about the silver lock on the jade box, and hoped every day that Tang Zhengyang would bring us good news as soon as possible.

After much anticipation, we finally got results. A week later, we received a call from Tang Zhengyang in Beijing. He sounded very excited on the other end of the line, so I guessed things had made progress. "How's the investigation going?" I asked him. Tang Zhengyang chuckled and replied, "Oh dear, it's been exhausting. I've traveled to several cities these past few days, interviewing several Qin Dynasty history experts, but none of them have ever seen a silver lock with such strange inscriptions, let alone a lock with metal wires inside the keyhole." "And then what happened?" I pressed, eager to know the final result. "Later, I heard that there was a national lock industry association conference in Beijing recently, and many lock manufacturers and research institutions across the country would be attending. More importantly, some of the country's leading lock experts and scholars would also be there. So I quickly bought a plane ticket and rushed to Beijing." He paused for a moment. He continued, "Finally, I met with several experts and scholars in the field of locks. After seeing the photos I brought, they all showed great interest in the lock. When I described the characteristics of the silver lock, especially the structure of the metal wires inside the keyhole, one of the older experts deduced that it was likely a type of traction lock that had been lost in ancient times. Because the internal structure of such locks is complex and varied, they were already very rare, and now they are nowhere to be found. However, since I only had photos at the time, I couldn't see it very clearly. So he couldn't be sure that the silver lock was the kind of lock he was talking about. They just hoped to see the actual object as soon as possible, at which point they might be able to reach a definitive conclusion."

“Now that we have a glimmer of hope, we certainly can’t give up. Let’s book the tickets right away.” After hanging up the phone, I immediately told Jenny and A-Bao about it. They were just as excited as I was when they heard the news. I thought that Dunzi in the hospital must also be eagerly awaiting news from Tang Zhengyang day and night, so Jenny and I drove to the hospital to tell Dunzi this relatively good news. Just as everyone was immersed in joy, we happened to run into Dunzi’s attending physician who came to check on the ward. So Dunzi asked, “Dr. Liu, I see that everything is normal now, can I be discharged?” Dr. Liu carefully examined Dunzi’s body and looked at the nursing and medication records written by the nurses in the past few days, and then replied with a smile, “Everything looks normal to me, you can indeed be discharged. I’ll talk to the inpatient department later and ask them to process your discharge as soon as possible.” “Thank you, Dr. Liu,” Dunzi said excitedly.

After helping Dunzi with his discharge procedures, it was already past 6 PM when we got back to the hotel. I asked the hotel receptionist to book our flights to Beijing for the next day, and then we all went to a restaurant to celebrate the slight improvement in things and Dunzi's recovery. We didn't leave the restaurant until everyone was quite tipsy and went back to our rooms to rest.

The next morning at nine o'clock, we checked out of the hotel, rushed to the airport, and boarded a boat to Beijing. Perhaps because we believed we could soon unlock the silver lock, everyone was in a good mood. Ah Bao and Jenny were leisurely flipping through magazines while drinking beverages. Dunzi took the opportunity to strike up a conversation with a flight attendant and was having a great time chatting with her. But for some reason, I had a strange feeling in my heart. I didn't know if it was because I was too happy or too worried. I was very excited and couldn't calm down for a long time, so I kept getting up to go to the restroom and then coming back. "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Jenny asked with concern when she saw me going to the restroom repeatedly. "No, nothing, I just feel really nervous, I don't know why," I replied with a smile, "It's like when I was a kid waiting for the teacher to announce the exam results." "Hehe, I didn't expect you to be so timid," Dunzi said quickly, finding another topic to tease me. I know that's just his personality; he's only happy when he makes others look inferior to him. So I didn't argue with him anymore. I just took out a magazine and started reading it casually, just like Ah Bao and the others.

After a flight of nearly three hours, the plane finally landed at Beijing Airport. As soon as we reached the exit, Tang Zhengyang saw us and waved and called out to us. The five of us were overjoyed to be reunited. Tang Zhengyang then took us to a hotel he had booked near Wangfujing and settled us in. Only then did he tell us that he had arranged a time with the old expert on locks, and that we would take the jade box there for the experts to examine in person. Since we had some time before meeting the experts, we took the opportunity to visit the Forbidden City and the Great Wall. Seeing the magnificent Forbidden City and the Great Wall, a testament to the immense scale of engineering, I gained a deeper appreciation for the extraordinary and great achievements of the working people.