Translator: Dj22031
Editor: Dj22031
Advance chapters available for patrons on Patreon. And a chapter can be sponsored by buying me a ko-fi.
Outside the vehicle, reporters, carrying equipment, surrounded the archaeologists at the excavation site.
“What caused the archaeological team professor to fall into a coma?”
“What is the condition of the two unconscious individuals initially found at the scene? Why were they there? Nearby villagers speculate that their unconsciousness is due to a curse from an ancient tomb. What is your opinion on this?”
Does the legendary curse of ancient tombs really exist?
Is there a ghost in the tomb?
The archaeological team members were sweating profusely from their mystical questions and were completely unable to answer them. The news of someone inexplicably collapsing at the archaeological site was also leaked online by someone with no time to spare, causing rumors to spread like wildfire and various speculations to emerge. With so many such guesses, even the junior police officers maintaining order at the site became somewhat apprehensive. Archaeology was no easy task, especially excavating tombs, which was inherently mysterious; sometimes, the situations encountered truly defied explanation.
Even the young police officer was starting to waver in his worldview. Fortunately, Mr. Gu quickly walked over and solemnly began to explain to the camera: “Please don’t believe or spread rumors. Professor Lin has just woken up and is not in any danger. He was just overworked at the excavation site, which triggered his high blood pressure. As for the two villagers who were initially discovered, we have confirmed that they were tomb raiders. The reason they fainted was due to suffocation caused by lack of oxygen in the sealed tomb…”
Black Impermanence, acting as his shill, was introduced by Mr. Gu as the accompanying doctor. Handsome and impeccably dressed, his nodding gesture dispelled many people’s doubts. The young policeman, still thinking that this strange young man who had been so eager to meet his superior was actually an intellectual, found his earlier suspicions about the scene amusing— Master Wei’s ability to calculate the kidnappers’ escape route was already incredible; where in the world could ghosts really exist? Anyone who had watched “Believe in Science” wouldn’t believe such unfounded claims.
Master Quan watched as the Black Impermanence embodied socialist core values and shattered all feudal superstitions, feeling utterly dejected, like a leaf in the wind. Unable to bear it any longer, he led his disciples and the archaeological team to excavate the Fang Tianhua Seal.
Fang Tianhua seal was buried in the main position of the tomb. When it was first born, it was completely blood-red and exuded an indescribable ominous aura. However, Director Sima was not lying. After pouring a sip of white wine on it, the blood-red color of the seal slowly faded, and it eventually turned into a white jade with a rather ancient feel.
Master Quan stared blankly at the seal that should have been extremely difficult to deal with. Thinking about the ritual performed by the Taicang Sect, he sighed until he had nothing left to sigh about, feeling no sense of accomplishment whatsoever.
What exactly was this all about?
At this moment, the members of the archaeological team exclaimed one after another. When he looked up, he discovered that in the southwest corner of the main tomb where they had unearthed the Fang Tianhua Seal, the archaeological team had found a whole box of books.
Professor Li, who was already able to walk, insisted on coming along. At this moment, he was so overjoyed that he burst into tears. Ancient books! This was one of the most important discoveries in every archaeological expedition!
So he immediately led the students to take inventory, and every now and then they would let out uncontrollable cheers—”My God! This! This is the Hou Wenshu! The complete Hou Wenshu, which only has half a fragment in the Beijing Museum!”
“This calligraphy copybook, my God! It’s an authentic work by Gao Wuming! It’s actually an authentic work by Gao Wuming!”
“Wen Zhengqing Guangji! There’s actually Wen Zhengqing Guangji here! There’s only one copy of this book, including a rubbing, that exists today!”
With each book Professor Li read, his eyes grew even more fervent than before, and his aged hands trembled involuntarily. He touched the covers of those ancient books with more care than he would a baby.
After carefully putting away the ancient books he had taken out, he continued flipping through the rest. Several of the books were particularly thick and exquisitely bound, but he paused when he saw the titles on the covers: “The Collected Works of Sima Changqing? The Collected Poems of Sima Changqing? Sima Changqing? Who is this poet? I’ve never heard of him before.”
As he spoke, he curiously flipped through these books by the unknown author.
Upon hearing his voice, Master Quan immediately remembered that the head of the local temple was surnamed Sima. Recalling the other party’s request earlier, he immediately understood that this was probably the poem and article that the other party wanted him to publish and recommend for use as supplementary teaching materials for elementary schools.
The Director Sima claimed that his literary talent was no less than that of Li Bai and Du Fu, and his words were filled with resentment at being unappreciated. Master Quan couldn’t help but wonder what kind of talent gave the other party such confidence. He had just promised to do his best to recommend the other party, and after all, they were family. In principle, recommending articles shouldn’t be difficult. With a little maneuvering, he could make the other party famous, and perhaps even forge a good relationship with the local earth god and underworld officials in the future. Why not?
Thinking this, he immediately wanted to recommend the book to Professor Li, the most intellectual present. Although Professor Li specialized in archaeology, he was also quite well-regarded in literary circles: “Professor Li, this book…”
The next second, before he could even finish speaking, Professor Li had already closed the book with a strange expression and put it aside.
He then questioned the students, “How did this kind of book end up here?”
Master Quan: “???”
He instinctively moved closer, put on gloves, and opened the book.
“……………………”
Master Quan was even more dejected and listlessly crawled out— “I was trying to build good karma, and I finally got a signed author, but it’s this kind of person. Why am I so unlucky?”
….
Just as they climbed out of the tomb, a large jeep drove up to the scene, and the police officer’s superior from the branch finally arrived.
The trouble at the scene had been mostly dealt with. The chief shook hands with Mr. Gu and met. The junior policeman remembered that he had promised Black Impermanence before. Now that the other party seemed so reliable, he felt a little embarrassed about his initial guesses about him. He then introduced his chief to the other party.
The police chief in the small police station, surnamed Xin, greeted Black Impermanence very warmly after being introduced by his subordinates.
Hearing his accent, Black Impermanence smiled and asked, “Is the new director from Fujian?”
The new director chuckled upon hearing his hometown dialect: “You’re from Fujian too? Where in Fujian? I’m from Fuzhou, Fujian.”
Black Impermanence: “I’m also from Fuzhou.”
New Director: “Fellow villager!”
Black Impermanence: “Fellow villager!”
Master Quan, who was passing by, was speechless.
He sighed deeply, looked back at the Black Impermanence who was speaking in a Minnan accent and had his arm around the new director, and who had recently been a staunch advocate for science and a champion against feudal superstition. Then he looked ahead at Wei Xi, who was already peeling and eating oranges with his second disciple.
They seemed to enjoy the food; those oranges must have been quite sweet.
A boss, a colleague, and another… Director Sima, who’s desperate for fame but will probably never become famous.
There’s no hope in this industry; I really can’t continue.
Guys, ads are my only source of revenue, so please do not turn on the AdBlock when you are accessing this website…. Thank you, this would be a great help…
You can buy me a ko-fi and sponsor a chapter on: https://ko-fi.com/midnightrambles
Or become a Patron or access advance chapters on: https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=45665005
If you support me, I would be able to provide more chapters….
Previous • Table of Contents• Next