BPIFC -Volume 1 – Chapter 59 Entering the Ancient Tomb

Inside the equipment case was far more than just oxygen masks. There were bottles filled with red and black powder, protective suits resembling hazmat gear, a short-barreled five-shot shotgun modeled after a Remington, and various other tools whose purposes Che Qianzi couldn’t even guess.

“So the equipment’s been upgraded again? There wasn’t a shotgun before…” Sun Desheng took out the weapon and inspected it. Only then did he discover two fully loaded drum magazines hidden inside a compartment in the case.

Deputy Director Xiao Yifeng explained:

“This was added while you were in America, at the request of Department Two. The body is modeled after a Remington, with two fifteen-round drums. Each shell contains sixteen tungsten pellets, every one engraved with inscriptions and filled with highly concentrated cinnabar. Producing ammunition like this is expensive—not something ordinary operations can afford.”

As he spoke, Xiao Yifeng took out a porcelain jar the size of a fist. Opening it revealed a greasy substance resembling lard ointment. He handed the jar to Sun Desheng.

“This is another new addition. Apply a thin layer to any exposed skin. It can protect against poisonous yin energy and similar harmful vapors.”

Sun Desheng clicked his tongue.

“Compared to the old days, we’ve really gone from birdshot to artillery. Brother, put on some of this ‘cold cream,’ too.”

As he spoke, he smeared the ointment all over his face and hands. Only after personally watching Che Qianzi do the same did he relax.

After making sure they were protected, Sun Desheng selected several more items from the case. He and Che Qianzi put on their oxygen masks, while Xiao Yifeng operated the pulley elevator.

Only then did they discover that the ropes were attached to a platform large enough to hold four or five people. Huang Ran had clearly spent considerable effort preparing for this expedition.

The three men slowly descended on the platform.

Looking around, all they could see was thick black mist.

While suspended in midair, Sun Desheng said to Yang Xiao:

“Old Yang, you’ll lead the way once we get down. I’ll cover the rear. If something’s wrong ahead, just give me the word and I’ll blast it apart with the shotgun. Brother, you stay in the back. If we can’t hold on, don’t hesitate—go back up and bring reinforcements. La Zi is almost here. With him and Old Yang, there aren’t many things in this world they can’t handle.”

Che Qianzi snorted.

“We’ll see when we get down. Who knows what’s waiting below? Fatty, you’re the biggest target. You should stay in the back. I’ll take the middle. If you’re safe, then we’re already halfway to being safe ourselves.”

Yang Xiao shook his head.

“Neither of you is very polite about pushing responsibility onto me. Once we’re below, don’t fire unless absolutely necessary. There’s marsh gas everywhere. One shot and we’ll blow ourselves up.”

As he spoke, he produced a rusty old copper coin from his pocket. Holding the square hole to his lips, he gently blew through it.

“Woooo…”

A strange sound echoed through the tomb.

Moments later, another “Woooo…” came back from the distance, as though something were responding.

The eerie call echoed three or four times, moving farther and farther away before fading into silence.

Strangely, hearing the response actually relaxed Yang Xiao.

“There are three spirits ahead. They all died recently. Huang Ran, Zhang Zhiyan, and Meng Qiqi aren’t among them. Great Sage, you can rest easy.”

Sun Desheng trusted Yang Xiao’s abilities completely.

“As expected, Old Yang is reliable. The road ahead depends on you. Once this is over, I’ll get some benefits from Huang Ran on your behalf. He sits on the boards of several foreign universities. He ought to secure a position for your wife.”

Just then, the platform reached the ground.

The surroundings remained shrouded in mist, with visibility limited to only four or five meters.

Yang Xiao opened the gate and stepped out first. Among the three, he was the only one who didn’t need any protective equipment.

After identifying the direction, he produced a dark-brown talisman. Since the tomb was filled with methane gas, he dared not use open flames. Instead, he rubbed the talisman between his palms.

To their astonishment, wisps of white smoke emerged from it.

As the smoke spread, the surrounding black mist gradually began to dissipate.

Within moments, visibility improved enough for them to make out their surroundings. Wherever Yang Xiao walked with the smoking talisman, the black fog retreated. But once they moved on, it slowly gathered again behind them.

Before them was a chamber shaped somewhat like the belly of a gourd.

The walls had been coated with white plaster and were covered with faded murals.

After examining them, Yang Xiao frowned.

“These depict the Western Paradise welcoming the dead… That’s not right. Those are Buddhist images. Why would they appear inside a tomb belonging to the Hehuan Sect?”

Following behind him, Che Qianzi said:

“Impossible. That would mean this Lu fellow betrayed his religion. The Hehuan Sect was a major school. Would he really abandon Daoism and convert to Buddhism?”

Sun Desheng laughed.

“You two are confused. Lu Ruji is buried here—he didn’t build the tomb himself. Wasn’t he exiled to this place? After his death, do you think he had any say over how his tomb was decorated?”

Seeing that Che Qianzi still looked puzzled, Sun Desheng elaborated:

“According to Old Yang’s theory, Emperor Guangzong of Song exiled Lu Ruji and feared he’d become a vengeful ghost after death. So he hired an expert to tamper with the tomb and suppress his spirit.”

Before he could finish, Yang Xiao suddenly stopped.

Pointing ahead, he said:

“The first spirit… Great Sage, come take a look. This man was scared to death before he was blown up.”

Sun Desheng and Che Qianzi walked over.

A charred corpse lay on the ground.

The explosion had severely damaged the body, but remarkably, the face remained intact. Frozen on it was an expression of absolute terror.

Che Qianzi glanced at the corpse. Apart from recognizing it as a Western face, he couldn’t tell anything else.

“I’m not nitpicking, but how can you tell he died of fright instead of being blown up or burned to death?”

Before Yang Xiao could answer, Sun Desheng grinned.

“Think about it. If he died instantly in the explosion, he wouldn’t have had time to react and make such an exaggerated expression. When it comes to corpses and spirits, Yang Xiao is the expert. Just listen to him.”

Ignoring the brothers, Yang Xiao knelt beside the body and placed his hand on the crown of the dead man’s head.

After a while, he turned back.

“The soul was traumatized. I can’t get anything out of it. A frightened soul like this is rare… Even the spirit itself has been scared senseless.”

They continued deeper into the tomb.

Not long afterward, they discovered a second corpse.

Like the first, the victim had been literally frightened to death before the explosion damaged the body. His soul, too, was too terrified to communicate.

After another ten meters or so, they found a third body in a corner.

This one had suffered much greater damage. Half the head had been blown away. There was no way to determine whether the deceased had been Asian or Western.

At that moment, the usually quiet Che Qianzi suddenly spoke:

“Something’s wrong… Didn’t they say several rescue teams had already come down here? So where are they?”