Chapter 35: Deliberately Heading into the Tiger's Den

It was already evening when Yue Leiting and the others returned. It was clear that Yue Leiting was in high spirits today; he was reeking of alcohol and slightly intoxicated. As soon as he returned, he walked straight into my room and closed the door behind him.

He slammed his hand heavily onto my shoulder three times in succession, almost making me lose my footing.

"Yanhui, I've tasted every kind of hardship and enjoyed every kind of blessing in this life; looking back, I am truly content. It's been nearly three years since Liu Haocai brought you and Lianshan back. Without you two brothers, Yue Leiting probably wouldn't be alive today. I will always remember this bond."

"Brother Lei, what's got into you today? Why are you suddenly saying things like this out of nowhere?" I was left somewhat at a loss.

"The Ming Fourteenth Mausoleum has finally been found. People on the outside think I, Yue Leiting, am greedy for wealth, but actually I did it for Aunt Lan. Once the Ming Fourteenth Mausoleum is found, I'll announce my retirement from the underworld," Yue Leiting said very sincerely. "I have only one daughter, Qianling. As a father, how could I not know her mind? I understand that she's always had feelings for you, and I can rest easy entrusting Qianling to you. Consider the Ming Fourteenth Mausoleum as my dowry for Qianling. After surviving through all those storms of blood and blades over the years, isn't it all just so her mother and she can have an easier life in the future?"

"Actually, as long as you stay safe and sound, Aunt Lan and Qianling will be more than happy. Having the Ming Fourteenth Mausoleum or not doesn't really matter," I said earnestly.

"Soon. I also know that licking blood off the blade is no good life. Once the matter of the Ming Fourteenth Mausoleum is settled, I'll wash my hands of it and leave whatever comes after to Huo Qian and Liu Haocai." Yue Leiting smiled bitterly as he said this. "Speaking of Huo Qian, his methods are always steady and reliable, but this time, when I had him handle a batch of terracotta warriors in Jingzhao, he actually let Qianling discover them. Yesterday, she insisted and forced me to hand this batch of terracotta warriors over. I couldn't overrule her, so I had no choice but to agree."

I had intentionally let Yue Qianling see the terracotta warriors. Although I solemnly claimed I had bought them back, with Yue Qianling's astuteness, she naturally quickly discovered that the terracotta warriors were real. Then, playing along with the situation and pretending to be helpless, I told Yue Qianling the whole story behind the terracotta warriors.

As for what followed, needless to think, given Yue Qianling's temperament, Yue Leiting wouldn't be able to sell that batch of terracotta warriors. It turned out just as I had anticipated.

"Brother Lei, speaking of this batch of terracotta warriors, Brother Qian took me to see them. I feel they aren't as simple as ordinary cultural relics; they must have some greater purpose. Keeping them might come in handy in the future."

"I've already sent people to transport this batch of terracotta warriors back to Rongcheng."

"My thought is that this batch of terracotta warriors is extraordinary. It's better for you, Brother Lei, to handle it personally. The fewer people who know, the better," I said solemnly.

"Me handling it personally is naturally no problem, but the most urgent priority right now is to open the Ming Fourteenth Mausoleum," Yue Leiting said.

"Brother Lei, you shouldn't go to the Ming Fourteenth Mausoleum. With Lianshan and me there, nothing will go wrong," I said calmly.

"I won't go? How can that be? The Ming Fourteenth Mausoleum is a treasure trove of peerless worth! To be able to witness the opening of the Ming Fourteenth Mausoleum in my lifetime—even if I have to crawl, I'll crawl there," Yue Leiting shook his head stubbornly.

I managed with difficulty to squeeze a trace of a smile onto my face and said helplessly.

"The problem is... even if you crawled, you wouldn't necessarily make it up."

"......Wh... Why?"

"The Ming Fourteenth Mausoleum is at Heavenly Lake on Mount Taibai. Mount Taibai is the main peak of the Qinling Mountains, with an altitude close to four thousand meters. Can a physique like yours make it up there? Even if you reached it, let alone opening the Ming Fourteenth Mausoleum, I'm afraid you wouldn't even be able to walk."

Yue Leiting was momentarily stunned and speechless. His physical condition was no longer what it used to be in his youth. If he really tried to climb to such a high altitude, just as I said, before he even caught a glimpse of the Ming Fourteenth Mausoleum, he would probably be meeting King Yama first.

"Sigh... Very well then. I'll head back to Rongcheng first and wait for your good news. Liu Haocai and the others will stay behind with you and Lianshan; having an extra person will make things more convenient," Yue Leiting said with utter helplessness.

"No need. Lianshan is with me. By your side, you don't have a single reliable person. The closer we get to finding the Ming Fourteenth Mausoleum, the more people there are with ulterior motives. I'll feel more at ease if Liu Haocai stays by your side."

"All right then, I'll head back to Rongcheng tomorrow."

"Leave right now!"

"Ah?!" Yue Leiting was taken aback, failing to understand why I was in such a rush.

I couldn't state it outright either. After holding it in for a long time, I finally smiled and said.

"Leaving that batch of terracotta warriors in Jingzhao dragging on without disposal isn't a solution either. After all, this isn't our territory, and if anything happens, we'll be powerless. It's safer to ship them back to Rongcheng sooner."

Although Yue Leiting was slightly intoxicated, he was very clear-headed in his heart. I wouldn't urge him to leave so hastily for no reason; there had to be other causes. However, his trust in me was absolute. If I didn't say, he wouldn't ask. Without another word, he nodded in agreement.

As Yue Leiting turned and walked out, I secretly breathed a sigh of relief, rubbed my temples, and headed over to Gu Angqi's room.

"Angqi, now that the Ming Fourteenth Mausoleum finally has some headway, I'd like to trouble you to make a trip back to Hong Kong and ask your father if there are any other details concerning the Ming Fourteenth Mausoleum. That way, if we run into any tricky matters once we're inside, we'll have some peace of mind," I leaned against the doorway and smiled as I said.

"How much could my father possibly know? If he really knew, he would have gone to find it long ago."

"He's a senior figure; he should know a thing or two. It won't hurt to ask."

"All right then, Brother Yanhui. When should I leave?"

"Tomorrow!"

Gu Angqi nodded, completely oblivious to anything unusual.

Qiunuo was the most rational among the others, and also the most troublesome. Given her intelligence, if I casually made up some story, she would surely discover the truth. Therefore, I simply placed the Imperial Jade Seal directly on the table in Qiunuo's room.

"Brother Yanhui, what is this for?"

"Courtesy demands reciprocity. Finding the Ming Fourteenth Mausoleum is largely thanks to Aunt Qing and your mother," I smiled and said. "Please help me return this Imperial Jade Seal to them, and incidentally let them know that I have fulfilled my mission and successfully found the Ming Fourteenth Mausoleum."

"Why... why aren't you going yourself?" Qiunuo asked with astonishment.

"We're about to head to Mount Taibai, and there's a lot of preparation needed. I can't spare the time right now. You can just go back and visit Aunt Qing and your mother, and fill them in on how things have progressed along the way."

Qiunuo thought about it and deemed it entirely reasonable, so she nodded and agreed.

I walked to the door of Yue Qianling's room and hesitated for a long time before knocking.

"Yo... what's gotten into you today? You actually know how to knock?" Yue Qianling opened the door, caught sight of me, and immediately fell back into her habitual banter.

"I want to trouble you with something," I said with a smile.

"What is it, spit it out..." Yue Qianling suddenly looked at me in surprise. "Why are you acting so weird today? Even the tone of your voice sounds all wrong."

I was never someone skilled at concealment, and under that questioning, I panicked a little.

"I wanted to trouble you to head back to Rongcheng and check some reference materials regarding the terracotta warriors."

"What are you checking terracotta warrior materials for?"

"I always feel this batch of terracotta warriors is extraordinary, like ritual objects used for sacrifices. Help me check if there are any records related to this aspect."

"Aren't we supposed to be heading to Mount Taibai to find the Ming Fourteenth Mausoleum right now? It won't be too late to check after we find it, will it?" Yue Qianling said dismissively.

I scratched my head and said indifferently.

"I heard from Brother Lei that he asked Brother Qian and Liu Haocai to transport the terracotta warriors back to Rongcheng to dispose of them as soon as possible. By the time you finish looking for the Ming Fourteenth Mausoleum, I'm afraid this batch of terracotta warriors will already be gone."

"Impossible. My dad promised me he wouldn't touch this batch of terracotta warriors."

"Brother Lei has already left, seemingly because of this matter. If you don't believe me, go take a look."

Hearing this, Yue Qianling panicked somewhat, pouting as she complained.

"Going back on his word! I'm going back tomorrow to turn this batch of terracotta warriors over!"

I smiled, knowing that Yue Qianling had an impatient temperament and would definitely return to Rongcheng tomorrow. Just as I wanted to close the door and leave, I suddenly turned back, paused for a moment of thought, unclasped the necklace from my neck, and pushed it toward her.

"I've worn this eight-dragon pearl-embracing necklace ever since I can remember. I don't have anything else to give you, so take this necklace."

Yue Qianling looked utterly dumbfounded, staring at me in sheer amazement.

"You're giving me a gift?! Are you out of your mind? Why are you suddenly giving me things out of nowhere?"

"It's not really a gift. I just figured that since we've known each other this long, I've never given you anything. You know I don't have much, just this necklace. You might as well keep it."

Yue Qianling wore a look of apprehension mixed with a trace of joy. As she clutched the necklace in her hand, she still asked anxiously, not quite at ease.

"You're being overly courteous for no reason... You don't have some sort of ulterior motive, do you?"

"If you don't want it, forget it. Give it back to me."

Yue Qianling quickly clutched the necklace tightly to her chest and said jubilantly,

"Don't even think about taking back something you've given me, hahaha."

Early the next morning, I packed my things and prepared to set off for Mount Taibai. The moment I stepped out of the hotel gates, I froze in my tracks.

Qiunuo, Gu Angqi, and Yue Qianling were all standing there smiling triumphantly, waiting for me at the entrance.

Behind them stood Xiao Lianshan, looking sheepish with his head lowered.

Needless to say, based on the circumstances, Xiao Lianshan had committed treason and sold out his comrades.

I looked at Xiao Lianshan with a helpless, bitter smile.

"You don't need to look at Lianshan. Given how you acted yesterday, anyone could tell something was wrong—you sounded just like someone making final arrangements before death," Yue Qianling said swaggeringly as she walked up. "You went through all those devious maneuvers to send us away just so you could go to Mount Taibai alone to find the Ming Fourteenth Mausoleum, right? Let me tell you now, don't give me any nonsense about danger or no danger. This is the biggest discovery in the archaeological world, and I am definitely going."

Gu Angqi walked over with a beaming smile, blinking her eyes as she spoke.

"Brother Yanhui, we know you had our best interests at heart, but just as you worry about our safety, we worry about yours too. If we stick together, we can at least look out for one another. You can stop fretting about it now."

Qiunuo was as quiet as ever, a faint, gentle smile hanging on her lips. She looked at me without saying a word, her smile filled with unyielding determination. I knew this expression carried more weight than any words could. She then handed the wrapped Imperial Jade Seal directly into my hands.

"Brother Yanhui, if you have anything to say, you can tell Aunt Qing and my mother yourself after you come back."

Xiao Lianshan walked over with his head bowed and said very awkwardly,

"Brother, please don't blame me. I haven't blinked an eye through hails of bullets, but last night those three took turns interrogating and cornering me. You know I don't know how to lie, and in the end, I really had no choice... I cracked."

I took a deep breath, smiled thoughtfully, raised my head to look at the sky, and muttered to myself,

"Could this truly be the mandate of heaven, defying it is impossible..."

Yue Qianling had already stuffed the necklace back into my hand, her voice softening in a rare display of gentleness.

"You've worn this necklace all this time; it's bound to bring you safety. You should keep it. If you're safe, then we're safe too."

"Brother, don't be so pessimistic. Man can conquer nature," Xiao Lianshan said, wrapping his arm around my shoulder with a bold and heroic spirit. "This is what they call knowing there are tigers in the mountain, yet heading straight into the tiger mountain!"