Gu Gang gave a slight nod of acknowledgment.
He then explained, "Based on my information, a Jin dynasty general is indeed buried here. And Brother Hu, judging by your demeanor, you must be a successor to the Mojin Captains' tradition, right? Your grandfather studied under the master of the Yin-Yang Eye, Sun Guofu, and Sun Guofu was a disciple of Zhang Sanlianzi..."
Hu Bayi was stunned by these revelations.
"It seems you are also familiar with the sixteen-character feng shui secret arts of the Mojin techniques. Please, do not let that knowledge go to waste," Gu Gang said solemnly.
After a moment of reflection, Hu Bayi bowed to Gu Gang and replied, "I, Hu Bayi, am indeed a descendant of the Mojin Captains' lineage."
Gu Gang smiled and said, "I am merely a novice; I do not belong to any of the four major factions."
Hearing these strange terms, Wang Fatty couldn't help but ask, "What are the four factions? Does tomb raiding really have schools and factions?"
For the next while, Hu Bayi handled the safety preparations for the tomb entrance and cleared the surrounding vegetation. As night fell, the group officially began their operation. After they tied a sparrow to a rope and lowered it into the hole, confirming it remained active and thus proving the air inside was safe and free of toxic vapors, they prepared to enter the tomb.
Beside the tomb entrance, everyone had assembled.
"Boss Gu, since we’ve decided to join forces to explore this tomb today, there is one thing we need to clear up beforehand. How will we split the spoils from inside?" Hu Bayi asked, staring directly at Gu Gang with a serious expression.
"Oh?" Gu Gang chuckled. "What do you suggest?"
Hu Bayi frowned, thought for a moment, and said solemnly, "Boss Gu, how about this: Fatty and I don’t need much. Thirty percent will do."
"Old Hu, only thirty percent? That’s..." Wang Fatty panicked upon hearing this. Since it was a partnership, it should at least be a fifty-fifty split; why settle for such a small share right away? But before he could finish, Hu Bayi tugged at his sleeve to signal him to be quiet, and Wang Fatty shut his mouth.
Looking at the earnest expression on Hu Bayi’s face, Gu Gang shook his head and laughed. "Very well, as you wish."
"Then thank you, Boss Gu." Upon hearing Gu Gang’s agreement, a sense of relief washed over Hu Bayi. In truth, he hadn't wanted to set the share as low as thirty percent, but he couldn't forget the sight of Gu Gang crushing the giant bear’s skull with a single punch—a display of raw power that lingered in his mind. Coupled with the fact that Gu Gang and his men had calmly escaped an ambush by multiple gunmen the night before, there was clearly a terrifying strength hidden beneath the surface. Even though Gu Gang had been gentle and friendly so far, caution and strategic retreat were necessary for their safety.
"You are indeed a shrewd man," Gu Gang noted, staring at Hu Bayi with a light laugh.
In reality, he didn't care about the gold and silver trinkets. It was just an ordinary general’s tomb; there wasn't much to look forward to. He was more interested in what rewards he would receive after signing in via his system later. However, the rules had to be followed. Besides, a Red Howler existed here. Thinking of how many artifacts were destroyed by this monster in the original timeline—while many were unremarkable pottery, there were certainly some of extraordinary value mixed in. It was a pity these two rookies knew nothing. With him here, what could a tiny Red Howler do? Even with only a thirty percent cut, the harvest would surely be far greater than in the original timeline.
"Let’s go!" With that call to his companions, Gu San and Gu Si were the first to jump down. Yingzi followed closely, and Gu Gang entered the secret passage right after them. Once everyone was inside, the area outside returned to silence.
Following a few heavy thuds as they landed, the group found themselves in a deep, narrow corridor. The walls were carved with various patterns, and a peculiar atmosphere permeated the air.
"This is... yin energy," Gu Gang murmured, raising his eyebrows as he felt a chill sharper than that of the surface world.
"Master, they say ancient tombs are filled with traps and dangers. Shall I go ahead and scout?" Gu Si asked, looking up at the long, narrow tunnel.
"No need. It’s not even certain if there are traps in this place. Besides, that grave robber likely checked it for us already," Gu Gang said, waving a hand before walking directly into the corridor.
Gu San and Gu Si exchanged glances and hurriedly followed.
"Brother Gu, wait for me!" Yingzi chased after him, clearly flustered. Even a spirited girl like her couldn't help but feel a chill in such an eerie tomb, and only by staying close to Gu Gang did she feel a sense of security.
Soon, Gu Gang and Yingzi were in the lead, Gu San and Gu Si were in the middle, and Hu Bayi and Wang Fatty brought up the rear. Before long, they passed through the tunnel and entered a vast, grand burial chamber. The chamber covered nearly a hundred square meters, with neatly laid stone floors and walls covered in murals. The paintings depicted a fierce general leading thousands of troops into battle, showcasing his majestic authority.
"Master, this is strange. Why is this tomb so empty?" Gu San asked, full of confusion as he surveyed the large, vacant space.
"Yeah, there should at least be a coffin or something, right? If even the coffin was stolen by those grave robbers back in the day, we’ve put in all this effort for nothing!" Wang Fatty asked impatiently.
Hu Bayi didn't respond; instead, he turned to Gu Gang. "Boss Gu, what do you think we should do?"
Gu Gang smiled faintly and replied, "There appear to be two side chambers on the left and right. Let’s go in and take a look."
"Right!"
The group turned toward a side chamber, which was also quite spacious—about twenty or thirty square meters—with the floor covered in various bottles and jars. After the passage of time, they were thick with dust, and some had even cracked and toppled over.
"Brother Hu, do you want these things?"
"Boss Gu, are these items truly valuable?" Hu Bayi asked, puzzled; he really wasn't well-versed in the value of such antiques.
"You really should learn more about this. Otherwise, you won't even know what to pick when you encounter real treasure. How can you call yourselves Mojin Captains then?" Gu San said with a hint of disdain, pointing out, "Most of these are common pottery with little value. But a few of these porcelain pieces are decent. While not top-tier, they have the potential to sell for anywhere from hundreds of thousands to a million yuan each."
"Hiss... they're worth that much?"
The two "experts" were shocked on the spot. Once they regained their senses, their eyes were fixed greedily on the bottles and jars—a million yuan! It was an unimaginable figure. Even with only a thirty percent cut, it was still an astronomical sum for them.
"Ha! Looks like being a Mojin Captain is a high-paying job after all! Old Hu, we need to put more effort into this!" Wang Fatty said happily as he squatted on the ground.
In contrast, Hu Bayi’s expression was much more complex. He hadn't intended to enter this line of work, and this time was a matter of necessity. If the profits from tomb raiding were substantial, he would be better able to take care of the families of his fallen comrades. This consideration made him less resistant to the trade.
Gu San commanded, "Alright, San-er, pack all of these up."
"Yes, Master!"
Gu San then pushed Wang Fatty aside. "Be careful, kid! Don't break them; they’ll lose value. Once we take them back to the Capital and sell them, we'll give you your share."
"Yes, yes, Brother Qiongqi, don't worry!" Wang Fatty said with a naive smile.
"Hmph, my name is Gu Qiongqi. Don't go calling me just anything. If it weren't for the Master valuing you two, I wouldn't bother with a fat guy like you."
"Qiongqi? So that's your name..." Hu Bayi looked at Gu Gang with a meaningful gaze. "Named after one of the Four Perils—Boss Gu, your men are truly extraordinary."
"My name is Taowu, and my brothers are Taotie and Hundun," Gu Si said, staring coldly at Hu Bayi, his voice carrying a chill. "The four of us brothers are the Four Perils under the Master's command. Whoever dares to oppose the Master has only one fate—death!"