"Are you going to follow them in? Have you lost your mind?
Up there, you almost buried them alive. If they catch you, they'll surely finish you off!" Lu Gouzi grabbed my arm and tried to persuade me.
"There are things I need to investigate and verify.
This has nothing to do with you.
You heard them just now—even if they catch me, they won't kill me until the coffin is opened." I smiled at Lu Gouzi, putting on a nonchalant front.
Though we hadn't known each other long, I felt pretty good about the two of them.
They were worth making friends with.
At the very least, when Lu Gouzi pulled me back just now, it was because he genuinely didn't want me to die.
"Since he wants to go, let him go!
He's right, his coffin-opening skills are his protective amulet.
Once we find the exit, we'll come back for you, and use the sound of the flute as our signal!" Old Pizi said to me.
The sound of the Bone Flute was distinct, resembling the chirping of insects.
Ordinary people wouldn't notice anything unusual about it, making it a fine way to keep in touch.
"Alright, then we part ways here!" I cupped my hands in a salute to Old Pizi and Lu Gouzi.
Before leaving, Old Pizi gave me a meaningful look, then led Lu Gouzi south along the passage.
I knew in my heart that Old Pizi must have suspected my relationship with Old Bachelor Grandpa.
He had probed multiple times and kept staring straight into my eyes.
The eyes are the windows to the soul; some things simply cannot be hidden.
Old Pizi had probably guessed my identity pretty accurately by now.
Yet he was a smart man, and I trusted he wouldn't go spreading it around.
After all, blabbing about it wouldn't do him any good anyway.
According to the structure of the Ancient Tomb that Old Pizi had analyzed earlier, there were at least two passages, one running north and the other south.
Heading south led to the way out, while heading north should lead straight to the Main Tomb Chamber.
Huo Yinyang and his crew had headed north.
If I went north, I would find them.
As long as I hid well and kept them from spotting me, I was bound to overhear plenty of secrets.
The moment I found out who the real killer was behind Old Bachelor Grandpa's death, I would tear them apart even if it cost me my life.
Along the way, I picked up some clothes dropped by Huo Yinyang's men, plucked two of the wax-sealed human heads off the wall, wrapped them up in the garments, and slung the bundle over my back.
Though these things weren't actual human heads, they were still terrifying and utterly repulsive.
I carried them with me in case of danger, figuring I could toss them out to lure the bats over.
Besides, my clothes were already smeared with bat blood and saliva, so the creatures shouldn't attack me.
This could be considered my ultimate lethal weapon.
To avoid being discovered, I didn't turn on my flashlight at all, feeling my way forward through the pitch-black northern passage.
Inside the Ancient Tomb, absolute darkness prevailed, and all sorts of decaying, bizarre odors rushed into my nostrils as if they had finally found an outlet.
My brain was bombarded with a terrifying reel of horrific images flashing past like a slide show.
I even kept feeling as though something was tailing me from behind.
Time and again I glanced back instinctively, but the darkness behind me was absolute, revealing nothing at all.
My heart pounded furiously, hammering away like a high-powered motor.
In an environment of utter silence and darkness, the sound of my own heartbeat seemed magnified countless times over.
It felt as though a drum was being beaten right beside my ear.
I knew well enough that all those horrific visions were purely imaginary.
Fear was merely a sensation born from within.
To uncover the cause of Old Bachelor Grandpa's death and find the murderer, I had to endure it.
Though terrified inside, my mind remained clear.
I pressed my body flat against the wall, knowing that as long as I kept following the wall, I would be heading straight north.
I had no idea how much time had passed when a faint glow finally appeared ahead.
It had to be Huo Yinyang's gang.
Hiding in the shadows, I crept forward step by step, treading as softly as a cat.
Drawing closer, I realized they were inside a burial chamber branching off to the left of the passage. Many candles had been lit inside, making the light somewhat softer.
Instead of sticking my head in to look, I judged from their shadows that there were about seven or eight people inside.
"Master Huo, that punk's whereabouts are unknown; we couldn't find him anywhere!" someone said to Huo Yinyang.
"Don't bother looking for him anymore. His brother is in our hands, so he'll come looking for us!
Just keep an eye on that kid!" Huo Yinyang's revolting voice rang out as well.
The punk they were referring to was undoubtedly me.
My brother had been captured by them?
I instinctively poked my head in to look.
When I clearly saw the figure tied up hand and foot, regret hit me like a physical blow.
It was Anzi!
I remembered that upon entering the Ancient Tomb, I had specifically sent Anzi a location pin using my phone.
I never imagined this guy would actually show up.
And that he'd fallen right into Huo Yinyang's clutches.
Had I known, I never would have let my fingers itch and sent him that message.
If Anzi hadn't been here, I could have smashed open those two wax-sealed heads and tossed them right inside to attract those man-eating bats.
I could have wiped out Huo Yinyang's entire crew in one fell swoop.
But I couldn't do that now.
My clothes were smeared with bat blood and saliva, but Anzi's weren't.
If I brought the bats down upon them, he would die too!
After turning it over and over in my mind, I decided the only way to save Anzi was to show myself openly and trade places with him.
After all, my coffin-opening skills were a get-out-of-jail-free card.
They wouldn't dare kill me.
At worst, I'd just take a severe beating.
Having made up my mind, I carefully placed the two wax-sealed heads I'd been carrying on my back into a nearby corner.
Those things were heavy artillery; if real danger arose, I'd use them to fight for my life!
Steeling myself mentally, I strode boldly into the burial chamber.
The moment he laid eyes on me, Anzi looked as though he'd just seen a close relative, his mouth quivering as if he were about to burst into tears.
Yet a single glare from Huo Yinyang frightened him into swallowing it back, and he lowered his head like a bullied punching bag, not daring to make a peep.
As for Huo Yinyang, the instant he recognized me, his eyes bulged round as saucers, radiating murderous intent from head to toe.
"Damn it, punk, do you have any idea how many of my brothers you got killed?
I've been looking for you for a long time!
Beat him, give him a thorough beating, just leave him a single breath!" Huo Yinyang glared at me like a starved wolf, grinding his teeth as he ordered his subordinates.
His henchmen rushed at me like a pack of rabid dogs, looking ferocious.
Yet I stood my ground without moving, having already prepared myself mentally for a beating.
So what if I took a thrashing?
They didn't dare kill me anyway!
As long as they didn't beat me to death, the moment I caught an opening, I'd finish them off one by one.
"Stop!"
Just as those rabid dogs raised their fists to swarm me, a crisp woman's shout rang out.
The pack of hounds froze instantly, pulling up short and obediently standing with heads bowed.
Each of them behaved as meekly as a scolded elementary schooler.
I looked toward the entrance. The newcomer was a woman.
She wore tight leather clothes, had short hair and large eyes, and her pretty face exuded a sharp, spirited aura.
She must have been the legendary Caishen.
She walked toward me from the doorway, her large eyes fixing on me with a piercing gaze, as if she meant to see right through me.
I stared straight back at her without blinking.
"Just agree to help me open the coffin, and you can name your terms!" she came straight to the point, addressing me directly.