Tomb Raider: I Am Hu Bayi's Cousin

Chapter 65 Searching for Ancient Tombs

Hu Bayi climbed out, panting for a few breaths, and looked excitedly at the crowd waiting for him to speak. "There's a platform about level with the water below. Walk about seven or eight meters in and you'll reach an iron gate covered in animal hides. I don't know if there's an ancient tomb inside?"

There's a platform at the bottom of the well, and an iron gate inside the platform?

Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes lit up. It was definitely true; the ancient tomb was behind that iron gate.

"Comrade Xiao Hu, let's go down and explore behind the iron gate. This might open a new chapter in the archaeology of the Western Regions." Professor Chen's cloudy eyes revealed undisguised excitement.

"Yes, Comrade Hu Bayi, thank you very much. We owe you so much this time," Professor Hao said excitedly.

He instructed Chu Jian and Sa Dipeng to connect the suspended ladder section by section, and then build a sturdy frame on the wellhead, and install a pulley, which was secured with a rope.

The two ends of the rope extend down from the pulleys and are attached to the suspended ladder.

There's also a long rope on the suspended ladder, which is used to attach safety harnesses.

This equipment was quite impressive. The group slowly descended the ladder and soon reached the water's surface. With the help of the rope, they easily leaped onto the stone platform, with the deep well water behind them.

Deep within the well wall of the stone platform, there is a section that is over ten meters wide and seven or eight meters high, with stones laid out.

It was carved by hand, not naturally formed. Walking into the stone platform, there are several stone steps sloping upwards, leading to a stone platform five or six meters wide. A large, black iron gate stands there, covered with faded animal hides that give off a damp smell.

"This is where the ancients brought their livestock here to slaughter. The freshly skinned animal hides are placed against the cracks in the door to prevent moisture from seeping in and to better preserve the items inside."

There must be an ancient tomb here.

This young comrade Hu's feng shui skills are truly terrifying.

Professor Chen's aged face lit up with joy as he looked at the animal hide pasted on the large iron gate.

"Professor, let's hurry inside and not waste any time."

The fat man urged, "What are you dawdling about outside?" However, he was somewhat disappointed that Hu Ming hadn't come down with him.

"Skin the animal hides off gently," Professor Chen said.

Hu Bayi, Fatty, and Chu Jian used the edges of their entrenching tools to gently peel off the animal hide along the welts. Ye Yixin quickly spread out a moisture-proof cloth to cover it.

The animal hide was placed on a moisture-proof cloth. The iron gate was pushed open, and Hu Bayi led the way with a broken gun. The others followed cautiously. In front of them was a stone-walled passageway.

Further ahead, there was another iron gate. This gate wasn't covered with animal hides, so it must lead to an ancient tomb.

Pushing open the iron gate, Hu Bayi was met with a pitch-black space. He first took out a gas mask, then took a candle from his bag, lit it, and stepped forward. Immediately, the entire space burst into life with a series of oil lamps lighting up. This was Western Region Fire Dragon Oil, containing added white phosphorus, which ignites upon contact with air.

Hu Bayi looked at the flame on the candle in his hand and, finding that it hadn't changed color, waved for everyone to come in.

"what!"

Upon entering, Ye Yixin saw seven or eight shriveled corpses tied to stone pillars, their faces contorted in rage. It was clear they had experienced immense terror before death, hence their grotesque expressions. She quickly hid beside Yang Xueli.

Yang Xueli raised an eyebrow, somewhat helplessly. "As an archaeologist, you're actually afraid of corpses?"
"This is a sacrificial altar, similar to the sacrificial activities of some cult, where slaves and livestock are left to die in the sun and then brought into the sacrificial room as offerings to the gods."

Professor Chen looked grave as he gazed at the horrific state of the sacrificial chamber.

Even though he was used to seeing all sorts of terrible things in ancient tombs, he still felt very sad when he saw this sacrificial room.

"That wretched and evil society is terrible; our new era is much better."

The fat man looked at the corpses with pity, some human and some livestock. He looked at the stone wall, where there were murals of birds and animals, depicted lifelike and brightly colored, but he could see that the colors faded quickly when they came into contact with the air.

Sadipeng and Chu Jian quickly grabbed their cameras and took pictures, capturing every moment of the ritual. After doing all this, Sadipeng looked at Professor Chen, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes. After pondering for a while, he asked, "Professor, do you think this has anything to do with aliens?"

Professor Chen had no interest in paying attention to him. After staring at the sacrificial chamber for a long time with his cloudy eyes, he looked slightly disappointed, turned his head, and said to Hu Bayi beside him, "Comrade Hu, it seems we were all wrong. This is just a secret sacrificial chamber, not an ancient tomb."

Yang Xueli narrowed her beautiful eyes slightly. The sacrificial chamber was like this; where would there be a coffin?
It seems that Lao Hu's astronomical feng shui skills are just hype; they're not that powerful.

Ye Yixin, Sa Dipeng, and Chu Jian all looked at Hu Bayi with suspicion, their eyes clearly revealing disappointment.

Without ancient tombs, what's the point of archaeological digging? Who wouldn't be disappointed?
Even the fat man looked disappointed, thinking: No wonder Mingzi didn't come down, it turns out he knew there was no ancient tomb here. It turns out I was just happy for nothing.

He was walking forward when he suddenly tripped, stumbled, and fell forward, hitting his knee and hurting it. He rubbed his knee and muttered, "Which brat is sneaking around and messing with my knee? Who's sneaking around and messing with me? Come out and fight me one-on-one if you dare. I'll call for backup first."

He looked around and saw that everyone was staring at him like he was an idiot, so he gave an embarrassed smile.

"Fatty, this is what tripped you up and made you fall." Ye Yixin, with her sharp eyes, spotted something sticking out from the ground. It was deeply embedded in the ground, and she couldn't tell what it was.
At this moment, Hu Bayi's eyes revealed deep doubt. According to the explanation in the ancestral sixteen-character Yin-Yang Feng Shui secret technique, every such place must contain a large tomb. How could there not be?
Could it be in the water? He felt a bit embarrassed this time, but then he saw the fat man fall, and upon hearing Ye Yixin's words, he immediately looked over. Was that thing a hidden mechanism?
Upon seeing this, Hu Bayi quickly came over, squatted down, and reached out to touch it.

Hmm? It's an iron ring.

Hu Bayi pulled hard, and with a snap, an iron ring was pulled out.

Hu Bayi smiled slightly and said, "Professor Chen, this is a trap. Once it's opened, the ancient tomb won't be able to escape. But everyone should be careful."

(End of this chapter)