Ya She

Chapter 14 The Silent Shop - The Crimson Dragon Robe (Part 2)
The secret passage, which has not been opened for more than two thousand years, has a particularly unbearable smell.

Although the doctor was used to the pungent smell of various chemical medical agents, when he was hit by this rotten and moldy smell that had been around for thousands of years, he really wanted to turn around and leave, just thinking about the cause of this smell.

But he was only thinking about it; having come this far, why would he back down over something so small? However, he was still stunned when the shopkeeper handed him something from the darkness.

"A gas mask will make things a little better." The boss had already put on a gas mask, and his voice was muffled. "This kind of mask is for protecting against mercury vapor, and you'll need it more and more as you go deeper into the area."

The doctor quickly put on the mask, which somewhat reduced the unpleasant smell. He couldn't help but feel ashamed; he had prepared a whole host of modern tools, but none of them were of any use. In the end, he still had to rely on his boss.

Actually, you can't entirely blame the doctor; he was a layman and naturally didn't know what was necessary and what wasn't. And most of the instruments the curator prepared for him were for exploration. Even the curator, who had high expectations of his boss, couldn't have imagined they would actually enter the underground palace of Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum; at most, they would only be able to survey the outside.

Seeing that the doctor's complexion was still not good, the shopkeeper took out a few oxygen bags from his backpack and handed them to him. "You can carry these. The underground palace has not been opened for many years, and the air is very turbid. If you really can't stand it, you can use these."

The doctor then realized why the boss's backpack was so heavy. He quickly put the oxygen bag inside and held a spare one in his hand. He was familiar with these portable oxygen bags, having seen many in the hospital, and knew how to use them. Seeing that the boss showed no signs of needing oxygen, he surmised that this level of air wouldn't pose any problem for him.

He always felt that his boss was like a superman, with physical functions that were different from ordinary people. When he went back this time, he would definitely remember to ask for a hair and a blood sample from his boss for testing.

Distracted by other thoughts, the doctor found crawling through the narrow passage less unbearable. This passage, hastily dug by craftsmen, was naturally crude, allowing only one person to pass at a time, and sloped downwards very steeply. The doctor, following his boss down into the pitch-black darkness, had been struggling for a while, but thankfully, a few breaths of oxygen lifted his spirits, and soon he heard the sound of a mechanism ahead.

Unable to see anything in the darkness, the doctor climbed a few more steps and saw the boss jump down. It turned out there was a deep pit in front of him, so the doctor immediately jumped down after him.

"The secret passage we just passed was dug out by the craftsmen for their own survival and escape, so it naturally had no traps. But the path ahead leads to the underground palace, so you must follow my footsteps closely." The boss's clear voice came from the darkness, and its echoes could still be heard far away, indicating that they had reached the entrance to the underground palace.

Because this place was more spacious than the previous secret passage, the doctor finally had a chance to take out a flashlight from his bag and turn it on.

A beam of strong light from a flashlight illuminated the deep and long tomb passage, giving one the feeling of traveling through a time tunnel.

The boss said with a half-smile, "At least you brought something useful."

The doctor, naturally pleased with the praise, finally felt a sense of reality when light appeared before his eyes and he could see again. He truly was inside the mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang. Overwhelmed with excitement, the doctor carefully followed his boss's steps, advancing one step at a time on the blue bricks.

Although the tomb passage was built more than two thousand years ago, it is smooth and flat, without any wear and tear, showing that the craftsmen of that time put in a great deal of effort to build it. In addition, it has been kept hidden from the sun for more than two thousand years and has not been trampled on, so it still retains its original appearance when it was sealed. If it weren't for the stale air in the tomb passage, the doctor would almost think that this was a newly built film studio.

The tomb passage sloped downwards, but the angle wasn't as steep as the secret passage they had just climbed. The doctor followed his boss intently, initially finding it thrilling and exciting, but after a while, it became utterly boring. Afraid that he might stumble due to drowsiness, he started a conversation, asking about the underground palace.

The shopkeeper told him that Qin Shi Huang's underground palace was enormous. Besides the main tomb passage opened when the emperor was buried, there were several other secondary tomb passages. Because Qin Shi Huang adhered to the ritual of "serving the dead as if they were alive," the Qin Mausoleum was built to be almost as large as his palace, with underground walls and ten underground palace gates. All the buildings within the underground palace were constructed according to the layout of his palace during his lifetime. Besides the central area where his coffin was placed, there were many side halls used to house deceased concubines and other people buried with him. Since the death dates of those eligible for burial were uncertain, the main tomb passage and main hall were closed after Qin Shi Huang's death and burial, but the other tomb passages remained open, which gave Hu Hai the opportunity to covet the Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum.

The underground palace was enormous, a fact the doctor was already mentally prepared for. Numerous burial pits have been excavated around its perimeter, including the renowned Terracotta Army pits and bronze chariot pits, as well as over six hundred other sites such as large stone armor pits, acrobatic figurine pits, civil official figurine pits, rare bird and animal pits, stable pits, and other accompanying tombs. With so many burial sites on the outer perimeter alone, the interior must be even more terrifying. However, after walking for over an hour, the doctor found the tomb passage unchanged from when he first arrived, and he began to grow impatient. If he weren't certain his boss was leading him in one direction, he would almost think he was going in circles.

The innkeeper noticed his impatience, stopped, and said calmly, "I'm taking you through a shortcut to the center of the underground palace. There are many hidden passages leading to various tomb chambers along the way, but they're all pretty much the same and there's nothing interesting to see." As he spoke, he patted a spot on the wall of the tomb passage. With a loud bang, the wall collapsed inward, revealing a dark tomb chamber after a cloud of dust.

The doctor quickly shone his flashlight inside and found only a stone coffin and some burial objects on the ground. The doctor had little interest in antiques, and these objects were at least two thousand years old. Even knowing their considerable value, they seemed like junk to him. This is a difference in interests; if the curator were here, he would have pounced on them eagerly, while the doctor preferred to study the owner's genetic material.

The boss restored the tomb chamber that had been opened to its original state, and the doctor also composed himself. He wasn't there for sightseeing, but to accompany the boss on this trip. Actually, the doctor insisted on coming to the underground palace not only because he wanted to see the magnificent Qin Mausoleum, but also because he feared that the boss had no desire to live and had already joined Fusu in eternal rest underground.

At least if he comes along, the boss needs to bring him back unharmed.

After continuing forward for quite some time, the doctor noticed that the tomb passage gradually widened, the blue bricks underfoot began to be carved with patterns, and murals were inlaid on the walls. At the end of the passage was a heavy stone tomb door, which had been closed for over two thousand years and could no longer be reopened. The owner led the doctor through a circular path through a nearby burial chamber. When they returned to the central axis of the passage, the doctor noticed that the blue bricks underfoot were carved and inlaid with gold and jade, identical to the blue bricks seen in the mist inside the Qin Emperor's Palace. He knew then that they had arrived at the very center of the underground palace.

Just as the doctor was about to take a step forward following in the boss's footsteps, he was startled by a flash of light from the opposite side, as if he were being secretly stared at.

The doctor quickly shone a flashlight over and discovered that there was a tall terracotta warrior standing opposite him.

This terracotta warrior is different from the ones the doctor has seen countless times on television; it has vibrant painted colors. Its attire also differs from the underground legions excavated outside the palace, clearly indicating that this terracotta warrior belongs to the Forbidden City's guards. This guard terracotta warrior is slightly taller than the doctor, wearing a long crown, with a calm and resolute expression. He wears a short-sleeved inner garment and a light, imposing outer armor, exuding a heroic and dignified air. The sword he holds at his waist is not made of clay, but a genuine bronze sword. Because his eyes are inlaid with obsidian, the natural rainbow-colored pupils resemble real eyeballs, faintly reflecting the light of a flashlight, making him appear almost lifelike at first glance.

This lifelike terracotta warrior isn't the only one. Along both sides of the wide tomb passage, large enough for three horse-drawn chariots to travel on, a similar terracotta warrior stands every five steps. For over two thousand years, they have remained motionless, silently guarding the Qin Mausoleum. They wear identical clothing, but their facial features are completely different, as if modeled after real people. If the doctor hadn't known that these, like the terracotta warriors unearthed from the outer perimeter of the mausoleum, were genuine clay figurines, he might have even thought that real people had been transformed into human figures by some evil spell…

The more the doctor thought about it, the more he felt a chill run down his spine. Although he forced himself to stop looking to the sides, he still felt like he was being stared at and was extremely uncomfortable.

Upon entering the actual underground palace and arriving at the plaza of the front hall, the doctor felt a strange sense of familiarity. This underground palace was a perfect replica of the Qin Dynasty palace, down to the smallest detail. Fusu had practically grown up in the Qin palace since birth. During the previous fog, the doctor had quickly reviewed Fusu's life, making him very familiar with the Qin palace. Aside from having to follow his boss closely due to fear of traps, the doctor could clearly recognize the front hall and side halls before them. Black tiles and vermilion pillars, straight roof ridges, majestic gate towers… even the plants and trees in the plaza were painted with terracotta. Palace maids were picking flowers, guards were patrolling, ministers were lining up to enter the study for meetings… it was exactly the same as the Qin imperial palace the doctor had seen before, but here there was no light, no living people—it was a dead underground city.

It's like a vibrant scene that was paused, frozen in time forever...

"Isn't it said that the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum has an ever-burning lamp made of mermaid oil that has lasted for thousands of years?" The doctor could no longer bear the oppressive atmosphere here, and his flashlight had just run out of power. He stopped to change the battery while asking the question.

"Yes, there are, but I didn't believe back then that mermaid oil could really burn for a thousand years, so I turned off all the lights before leaving." The boss's voice came faintly from the darkness.

The doctor was rummaging through his backpack when he accidentally dropped the spare battery. He had a bad feeling, but dared not pick it up. The place was full of traps and mechanisms; one wrong step and he would die. Just as he was considering taking out his phone for light, a dim, yellowish light suddenly appeared from the direction of the shopkeeper.

The doctor looked closely and realized it was a candle covered by a shade. The shopkeeper removed the shade, and the normally dim candlelight now appeared exceptionally bright. After a moment, the doctor recognized the familiar candle with a chipped bottom: "Isn't this the mermaid candle?"

The shopkeeper nodded and said, "Yes, this mermaid candle was made from mermaid oil from the underground palace. It was made for lighting purposes. After I left the tomb for the last time, I blew it out and left it there. Later, it ended up in the hands of other people, melted down into ordinary incense and candles, and eventually ended up in a temple. Listening to the scriptures that have been recited for thousands of years, this mermaid candle gained a spirit. I've already told you the rest of the story."

The doctor recalled that this incense candle, named "Candle," had been involved in a love story between a human and a ghost with a young monk. No, wait, this should be considered a love story between a human and a demon, and there was also Zhu Yuanzhang's flower arrangement. In the end, the shop owner took the mermaid candle into the Silent Shop… But wait, that's not the point! The point is, isn't this candle supposed to be unexploded? How did the shop owner manage to bring this burning thing onto the plane?! He was practically risking being arrested by the police to go out with the shop owner!
The doctor's face was contorted in extreme pain, but he dared not ask a single question, fearing he would receive an answer he could not accept, and could only skip over the question. "I remember, wasn't this mermaid candle's original wish to return to Qin Shi Huang's tomb and destroy this place? How dare you bring her here?"

His words had barely faded, their echoes still reverberating in the empty front hall square, when, in the bright candlelight, the rising smoke slowly formed a semi-transparent woman, exquisitely beautiful. Her magnificent robes and her silky hair seemed to float and swirl around her, as if alive. However, half of her left sleeve appeared to have been bitten off, making it very conspicuous.

The boss said calmly, "What's there to be afraid of bringing her along? What can she do?"

The doctor was stunned, only then noticing that Zhu Sheng had a pair of deep, alluring eyes, but her beautiful face was filled with raging anger. She really couldn't do anything; at most, she could only make the candle flame flicker faster, or use the body formed from the candle smoke to entangle the boss, but she couldn't stop him from walking forward.

Seeing the fiery glare emanating from the mermaid candle, the doctor could only inwardly sympathize. He had experienced his boss's methods firsthand; no one could rival them. Moreover, he had to admit that the mermaid candle's light was far superior to a flashlight. It wasn't a vertical beam that limited visibility; rather, the light radiated outwards from the candle in the boss's hand, illuminating a much wider area.
It's much more than just now.

The doctor followed the boss to the front gate of the main hall, only to find that the boss did not move at all, just standing still in front of the heavy stone gate.

"Is there any need for any more mechanisms here?" the doctor asked curiously. At this moment, the candle couldn't wait any longer. Its slender body floated through the crack in the stone door, leaving only a sliver of its garment visible, and finally, only a wisp of smoke remained, drifting on the candlelight.

The boss was silent for a moment before quietly saying, "No, I've already broken the mechanisms here, and I even removed that black iron lock, just so that when he wakes up, he can get out without any effort..."

The doctor didn't think much of it at first, but when he realized what was going on, he was horrified. Did the boss still harbor the idea that Fusu would be resurrected? As Fusu's reincarnation, he felt immense pressure...

The innkeeper didn't hesitate long. He handed the mermaid candle to the doctor, then gently pushed against the stone doors with both hands. Amidst the rising dust, the two heavy stone doors swung open easily with a loud bang. The doctor knew there might be a stone ball mechanism beneath the doors; it couldn't be due to the innkeeper's supernatural strength. But he had no time to verify, for he saw the vast darkness above, a full moon hanging in the sky, countless stars twinkling, and the Milky Way stretching leisurely across the heavens.

For a moment, the doctor almost thought he had emerged from Qin Shi Huang's tomb, but he couldn't feel the fresh air and became suspicious. Once his eyes adjusted to the light, he realized that the full moon and the stars were actually large and small luminous pearls. These pearls were inlaid to resemble the night sky, and at first glance, they did indeed look like a night sky.

The doctor couldn't help but gasp. The fact that the dome of the underground palace could give people the illusion of a night sky meant that this space was unimaginably vast!
Sensing the boss taking a step forward, the doctor quickly followed. But after only a step or two, a drop of scalding hot wax fell onto his hand, burning him so much that his hand trembled and he lost his grip on the mermaid candle, which fell to the ground.

The doctor hurriedly bent down to save him, managing to catch the mermaid candle before it hit the ground. Just as he was congratulating himself on his quick reflexes, his eyes widened in shock as a tiny spark that had landed on the ground suddenly magnified several times over and burst into flames. It turned out that beneath his feet was a hidden trough filled with an oily substance, which had been instantly ignited by the candle's flame.

The ointment, existing in a state between solid and liquid, did not spread rapidly. Instead, it slowly spread along the hidden channels, gradually revealing the vast underground palace to them as if a switch had been flipped.

With mountains and peaks made of gold and rivers and lakes formed by mercury, this is actually a topographical map of the Central Plains made to life-size!
Upon closer inspection, one can even see that the mercury representing the river is still flowing slowly, with the silver ripples and golden light reflecting off each other, creating a magnificent sight that is almost blinding.

The doctor was so shocked that he was stunned on the spot, only then realizing that the historical records about Qin Shi Huang's tomb were true.

"With mercury as the rivers, lakes, and seas, and the mechanism for its circulation, the heavens above and the earth below are represented. With mermaid oil as candles, it is said that they will never go out..." As the doctor murmured to himself, the fire line burned along the surrounding dark channels, eventually converging in a semi-transparent circular vat above the dome, where a huge fireball suddenly ignited, completely illuminating this golden mountain and silver river.

The doctor knew this must represent the sun, and when the fireball ignited, the light of the full moon and stars made of the luminous pearl was completely obscured, just like the real sky.

With the underground palace fully revealed, the doctor could see clearly that there were no other rare treasures inside.

But the doctor could easily fathom Qin Shi Huang's intentions. With this vast land beneath him, and surrounded by an army of 100,000 terracotta warriors guarding him, what need did he have for other treasures?
This is the most precious treasure.

Then, the doctor saw that in the center of this golden mountain and silver river, there was a man-made building that was faintly visible.

Before the doctor could even examine the body properly, his boss had already set off. Not wanting to be left behind, the doctor hurriedly followed. Each step he took was on a mountain of gold, and the doctor inwardly cried out that he had never experienced such luxury in his life. "Rolling on a mountain of gold"—this was no ordinary phrase!
Just as he reached the top of Jinshan, he discovered that his boss had already arrived at a platform several steps ahead of him, located on the map in the direction of Xianyang, which was exactly where they were on Earth.

From the doctor's perspective, a magnificent coffin could be clearly seen on the platform. The coffin lid was not closed, and a person lay quietly inside.

The man's face was as gentle and refined as if he were still alive, as if he were asleep and could open his eyes at any moment.

The doctor stood there, stunned, unable to move an inch.

He recognized the man's appearance many times in the mist; it was none other than His Highness the Crown Prince of the Qin Empire—Fusu.

Although the doctor had long known that the person lying in the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum was not Qin Shi Huang but Fusu, he never expected that Fusu, who had been dead for more than two thousand years, would not decay at all, and would have a face as handsome as he had seen in the mist.

The doctor understood why the boss still held onto the hope that Fusu might wake up someday. Anyone who saw Fusu like this would think he was just asleep.

The doctor stood there stunned for a moment, then realized that the boss was standing motionless beside the coffin, staring at Fusu. He quickly leaped across the mercury-filled Yellow River and onto the platform. The closer he got, the more puzzled he became. As a doctor, he was used to seeing corpses, but who didn't turn pale and bloodless after death? No one had a complexion as rosy as Fusu's. If it weren't for the fact that Fusu's chest was indeed still rising and falling, the doctor would almost have thought he was still alive.

With doubts in mind, the doctor stood on the male side of the coffin and looked down carefully at Fusu, only to find that the clothes he was wearing were a bit strange, the black fabric seemed familiar.

Looking at the red dragon robe worn by the shopkeeper across from him, the doctor was certain that the two were made of the same fabric. The shopkeeper had also mentioned that this black jade burial suit, woven with gold and jade threads, was an ancient divine artifact used to preserve corpses from decay. If the shopkeeper wanted to live, he had to discard his red dragon robe and replace it with the one worn by Fusu.

The predictable result of doing so was that Fusu would completely disappear from this world.

No wonder the boss was hesitant.

The doctor knew that the boss had an extraordinary obsession with Fusu. He even worried that his original intention in coming to the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum was to accompany Fusu to rest there forever. Now it seems that his worries were not unfounded.

“If you can’t do it, I will.” The doctor said, extending his hand towards Fusu. But just as he reached halfway, cold, lifeless fingers gripped his wrist like an iron ring. The doctor shivered, almost thinking Fusu had turned into a zombie, before realizing a second later that the boss across from him had reached out and grabbed his wrist.

"Wait a little longer..." the boss whispered.

The doctor clearly saw the crimson dragon on the boss's body begin to move, its massive form coiling around the boss's body, seemingly imbued with a three-dimensional quality by the dense spiritual energy of the place, threatening to devour the boss in an instant. The doctor panicked and forcefully broke free from the boss's restraints. "How much longer can we wait? He's been sleeping here for over two thousand years! Are you sure it's the Longevity Lock that's binding his soul? Maybe it's because his physical body is immortal that his soul remains!"

The boss was stunned by what he said and forgot to exert force, while the doctor took the opportunity to break free, causing his hand to touch Fusu's face.

As if some kind of magic had suddenly lost its effect, the two watched helplessly as Fusu's body instantly turned to ashes, and the black jade robe that Fusu had been wearing simply floated to the bottom of the coffin.

For a moment, both the doctor and the boss seemed to lose the ability to speak, standing there blankly, the doctor even still in the position where he had just extended his arm.

"This... I didn't mean to..." After a long while, the doctor straightened up, looking at his hands in disbelief. He had clearly felt the touch of human skin with his fingertips, so how could Fusu have turned to ashes in the next second?
The boss sighed deeply and said, "After all, it's been over two thousand years. The jade burial suit might have preserved his body from decay, and the mercury vapor might have kept his face from incorrupting, but he is still dead..."

The doctor could tell that the boss was in a very bad mood, but he didn't say much. He reached into the coffin and took out the black jade burial suit, walked around the coffin to the boss's side, and gently draped the ancient robe over the boss's shoulders. "Put it on. He's in this garment too."

He was right. Fusu had turned to ashes. Some of his ashes lay quietly in the coffin, while others were incorporated into the jade burial suit, inseparable from it forever.

The boss had to admit the doctor's persuasive skills were formidable. He bowed his head and obediently put on the robe. This black jade burial suit was made in the style of the Qin Dynasty, with a wide, dark black robe, large sleeves, and tapering cuffs, trimmed with crimson gold cloud patterns. The black robe was a sacrificial garment worn only by the most noble people in the Qin Dynasty. It took the Qin Dynasty's sacrificial court decades to make, and it was a thousand times more exquisite than the ordinary version he had stolen from the treasury.

The doctor could sense the boss's overwhelming emotions, but he could also see that the boss's complexion improved instantly the moment he put on the ancient robe. He knew then that the boss was truly saved, and his mood lightened. He couldn't help but joke, "Your hair would look best with this outfit if it were a bit longer."

The doctor was already quite impressed, admiringly observing the sight. He vaguely recalled that in the mist, the boss had been dressed in ancient attire, and now, standing before him, he looked perfectly at ease, as if he were born to wear such clothing. It was just a pity that this garment was originally tailor-made for Qin Shi Huang; compared to the majestic and tall Qin Shi Huang, the boss appeared incredibly thin, and the jade burial suit didn't fit him at all.

The shopkeeper looked at the coffin with a complicated expression and said calmly, "Let's close the lid." The doctor nodded, knowing that the shopkeeper hadn't closed the coffin lid before, probably worried that if Fusu were to come back to life, he wouldn't be able to push the heavy lid open. Now that Fusu's body had turned to ashes, he naturally wouldn't have such thoughts anymore.

The two men struggled to lift the exquisite coffin lid and slowly closed it. At the last moment before closing it, the doctor took two things out of his pocket and solemnly placed them inside.

The shopkeeper saw clearly that the doctor had placed the broken longevity lock in two. He didn't stop him; this was the doctor's way of saying goodbye to Fusu.

They had no relation whatsoever. Although the doctor was the reincarnation of Fusu, they were two completely different people.

Thinking of Fusu, who had just turned to ashes, the boss felt reluctant, but he also knew that Fusu was truly free.

The heavy coffin lid and outer coffin came together with a muffled thud.

The doctor wiped the fine sweat from his brow with a sigh of relief, but when he looked up again, his expression suddenly changed. Pointing at the boss's left shoulder, he said in a panic, "Boss... your clothes..."

The boss followed his gaze and immediately saw a crimson claw that had suddenly appeared on his shoulder. Then, as if in slow motion, the crimson dragon body was slowly revealed, its scales even reflecting a dazzling light.

Damn it! How could he forget? If that red dragon could move around on the original Zhongshan suit, it means it could also be on an ancient-style robe made of the same material.

The doctor rushed over and helped the boss take off his Zhongshan suit. However, after they untied the outer robe, they found that the two garments were completely entangled by fine, dense silk threads.

The boss said with a wry smile, "It was my mistake. It seems I can't get rid of this red dragon."

The doctor tried to cut the threads with his Swiss Army knife, but it was as if he were cutting steel wire. As he exerted force, he vaguely heard a dragon's roar. The doctor gritted his teeth and was about to continue cutting when the shopkeeper stopped him: "Don't bother, ordinary swords can't cut them."

At this moment, the red dragon's head was fully revealed on the surface of the robe, its body stretched out with bared teeth and claws, glaring at the doctor with its bell-like eyes in a defiant manner.

Just as the doctor was about to try other methods, the entire underground palace suddenly went dark. The burning sun went out instantly, and the fire in the fire pit turned into smoke, leaving only the mermaid candle in the doctor's hand still burning quietly.

"No way? Wasn't it supposed to burn for a thousand years without going out? Could it be that the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum is using counterfeit and shoddy goods?" the doctor remarked habitually.

The candle, which had been elsewhere, drifted back to their side and snorted softly, "No way! I just saw someone. They touched the fire pit with a knife, and all the flames were sucked into the knife." The candle's voice was as ethereal and light as her appearance, but her words struck the hearts of the shopkeeper and the doctor like a heavy hammer.

"You mean... there's someone else here?" The doctor looked around in disbelief, but could only see darkness. At that moment, the luminous pearl on the dome of the underground palace shone brightly, and the starry sky was incredibly enchanting, but the doctor had no mood to appreciate it.

“There are no living people in the underground palace, but there are still people who can follow us in.” The boss narrowed his eyes and said calmly, “He is familiar with all the mechanisms in the underground palace and has the Minghong Blade that can absorb flames. Apart from Hu Hai, there is no one else.”

"The Minghong Blade?" The doctor seemed to see a flash of light not far away, but he wasn't quite sure.

"Legend has it that when the Yellow Emperor was forging the Xuanyuan Sword, there were still some raw materials left. Because the high temperature inside the furnace hadn't dissipated, the still-liquid casting material flowed to the bottom of the furnace and, after cooling, naturally formed into the shape of a blade. It rang out without wind and was named the Minghong Blade. The Yellow Emperor believed that the Minghong Blade's blade intent was too strong, enough to backfire on the wielder. Fearing that this blade would fall into the hands of the mortals, he wanted to destroy it with the Xuanyuan Sword. Unexpectedly, the blade transformed into a red lark in his hand and escaped." Before the shopkeeper finished speaking, a loud lark's cry came from afar and rapidly approached the platform where they were.

Holding the mermaid candle, the doctor could clearly see a lark the size of a falcon swooping down. A figure grabbed the lark by the claws, and as it reached the platform, the lark instantly transformed into a three-foot-long broadsword. The figure gripped the hilt and slashed at them mercilessly.

The blade reflected the light of the mermaid candle, illuminating the other person's face and revealing a ghastly, terrifying countenance. The doctor had indeed seen this face in the mist; it was none other than Qin Er Shi, Hu Hai.

His appearance remained unchanged from over two thousand years ago. Only his hair had inexplicably turned silver-white, a color typically associated with those over sixty, which, surprisingly, harmonized with his handsome features. His narrow, phoenix-shaped eyes held faint red pupils, and his ashen complexion and dark red lips exuded a decadent beauty.

In that split second, the doctor figured out why Hu Hai had come with them.

It must be because of the clothes the boss was wearing!
He didn't know how Hu Hai had survived for over two thousand years without a jade burial suit, but he absolutely couldn't let Hu Hai succeed!
Seeing that the boss was still in a daze, the doctor quickly grabbed him and pulled him back.

But the opponent's blade was even faster. The boss's robe wasn't properly worn to begin with, and with this pull and tug, the elaborate robe flew up, meeting the horizontal slash of the Minghong Blade.

“Sizzle—_,”

The Minghong Blade was no ordinary weapon; it sliced ​​the long robe in two with a single strike.

The doctor, carrying the boss, jumped off the platform. The boss's face, illuminated by the mermaid candlelight, looked extremely grim. As the doctor hesitated, wondering whether he should still rush forward to fight Hu Hai, the boss said in a deep voice, "Let's go first."

The doctor followed his boss over mountains and valleys, unaware of the pursuit behind them. As they neared the entrance to the underground palace, the doctor couldn't help but look back. In the darkness, Hu Hai stood on the platform, staring blankly at the coffin before him. The crimson lark, now the size of a palm, perched on his shoulder, preening its feathers with its sharp beak.

It seems... things aren't as he imagined... Has Hu Hai not yet given up his wish to be laid to rest here?
The doctor was full of questions, but he couldn't possibly rush back to ask that scoundrel. As he followed the boss through the long tomb passage and back to the secret passage dug by the craftsman, the boss, who had been silent the whole way, suddenly said, "Go up by yourself. There are no more traps on the rest of the way, so you should be safe."

The doctor was shocked upon hearing this and reflexively tried to grab the boss's sleeve, but the wide hem of the robe slipped through his fingers, and the crimson dragon flashed for a moment before completely disappearing into the darkness.

The doctor was filled with regret. He should have realized sooner that the boss would never allow Hu Hai to stay alone in this underground tomb. But Hu Hai possessed the Minghong Blade, which could transform into a lark, while the boss was unarmed and completely vulnerable.
The doctor gritted his teeth, listening to the boss's footsteps fade into the distance. He knew that if he let the boss go, they might never see him again. He took a deep breath and, gritting his teeth, took a hasty step forward. The blue bricks beneath his feet felt unstable, and with a click of a mechanism, the doctor quickly dodged an arrow that shot out from a crack in the wall. He watched as the sharp arrowhead pierced the crack, its fletching still vibrating—a testament to its immense power. If that arrow had struck him, it would have pierced his body.

"What are you doing?" The boss's angry voice came from the darkness. The doctor knew he had returned and was overjoyed.

"You should see me out." Seeing the boss approaching, the doctor grabbed his wrist tightly and refused to let go.

The boss, seeing his gaze, immediately understood his intention, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

The doctor licked his dry lips and tried to persuade Gou with difficulty, "Although he cut half of this garment, the upper body is still intact, so you can still live. Forget about the past; it's been over two thousand years."

The boss's eyes flickered, but he did not answer the doctor's question.

Can he really forget his past and start living again?
He was actually just a ghost who had been wandering the world for over two thousand years, and no one cared whether he lived or died...

The mermaid candle flickered, its dim yellow light enveloping the two of them. Candle smoke billowed, and the candle floated in the air, gazing at the scene with a dazed look, as if transported back hundreds of years to the time when she and the young monk were together.

How long is a person's life, really...?

Life...is right here between you and me...

The boss felt the doctor's burning heat in his palm; that warmth spread up his arm and soothed his heart.

The boss moved his lips, about to say something, when he felt the ground shake violently. The two men almost lost their footing and leaned against the tomb passage. After the shaking subsided, the doctor exclaimed in horror, "Was it an earthquake?"

"I'm afraid Hu Hai has triggered some kind of mechanism." The boss's face was solemn, then he said with a wry smile, "Now, none of us can get out."

The doctor followed his gaze and found that the tomb passage they were in was well-constructed and could withstand the shaking, but the secret passage that the craftsmen had secretly dug could not be stopped. The soft sand and gravel fell and completely blocked the secret passage.

"Luckily you were worried about him and didn't leave immediately, otherwise he would have been buried alive in there." The candle floated in mid-air, speaking calmly, "As the Buddha said, 'As you sow, so shall you reap; all is created by the mind.' How true that is..."

The doctor knew that Zhu had probably spent too much time with the young monk and would occasionally utter a few Buddhist verses, but what she said was indeed true. If he had just climbed into the secret passage... The doctor looked at the sealed secret passage, horrified, and felt a chill run down his spine.

"How do we get out?" the doctor asked the boss for help.

The shopkeeper smiled wryly and said, "The underground palace of Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum is surrounded by a very thick layer of sand, which is the legendary sea of ​​sand. This sea of ​​sand is the first line of defense for the underground palace of Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum, preventing tomb raiders from entering the burial chamber by digging a hole. This secret passage was built by craftsmen using secret methods, but this earthquake has destroyed this secret passage and it has been filled with sand again."

Does that mean they can't get out?
Before the doctor could even grasp the reality of being trapped, a series of booming footsteps echoed from the depths of the tomb passage. "What's that?"

“They must be terracotta warriors that have been activated.” The shopkeeper couldn’t even manage a wry smile. “The terracotta warriors on both sides of the tomb passage we just passed were actually terracotta figures controlled by mechanisms. As soon as they detect an intruder, they will automatically swing their swords and attack.”

The doctor was speechless. No wonder the swords on the terracotta warriors he saw were all real swords...

The deafening footsteps drew ever closer, like death knells. For the first time, the doctor saw panic and apology in his boss's eyes. His extreme tension had somehow subsided, and he chuckled nonchalantly, "No need to feel sorry. I guess I'm destined to die young. How many people in this world die as spectacularly as me? Hey, boss, what if, years from now, someone excavates Qin Shi Huang's tomb and finds our remains? Wow, should I burn the ID card in my wallet...?"

The boss was speechless.

The doctor kept grumbling and complaining, not at all like someone in danger, but when the first terracotta warrior came into view, the doctor couldn't help but gasp and pull the boss back a step.

They had reached the very end of the tomb passage, where the sealed stone behind them was so thick that even explosives couldn't break through it.

The doctor didn't seem too desperate. Instead, he stood in front of the boss and gave a slight smile, saying, "You stood in front of me last time, this time it's my turn to protect you."

The boss knew he was referring to the incident with the White Snake Umbrella, but at this point, it wouldn't matter who was in front of whom; it would just be a matter of dying a second earlier or a moment later. The boss knew the doctor was stubbornly standing in front, and looking at his still trembling shoulders, he smiled, suddenly feeling that his two thousand years of life had truly not been in vain.

The candle floated in mid-air in the tomb passage, its face expressionless. To her, it didn't matter; who lived and who died, it truly didn't matter…

Neither the doctor nor the shopkeeper spoke, as the terracotta army slowly approached, and they seemed destined to perish. Suddenly, a halo emitting white light appeared on the wall of the tomb passage to their right. From within that halo, a beautiful bird call rang out.

"Isn't that the call of the Three-Blue Bird? Ah, no wonder it's mine; it sings much better than that lark." The doctor shook his head proudly, only realizing something was a moment later, "Huh? How can I hear the Three-Blue Bird's call here?" The Three-Blue Bird is the Three-Blue Bird from the Classic of Mountains and Seas whose seal has been broken. The doctor has always kept it in his mute house; how could he possibly hear it here?
The doctor looked towards the bright white halo, and saw it spread outwards, revealing the scene inside the Silent Shop in its center. Even the takeout container he hadn't packed up before leaving was still on the counter. A three-legged bluebird was flying around the shop, chirping incessantly. The doctor knew it was trying to say something, but he couldn't understand bird language!
"You guys better hurry up and come over. Xiaobai's ability to tear apart space won't last that long." A powerful husky poked its head out from the recliner in the Silent House and yawned lazily. "Sanqing is so noisy, otherwise we wouldn't have come over."

"Meow! Don't call me Little White!" A tiny white cat, no bigger than a palm, jumped onto the counter in a fit of rage, its fur standing on end.

The doctor finally understood. Without waiting for the boss's approval, he hurriedly dragged him through the halo. Only when his feet touched the solid wood floor of the Silent Shop did the doctor feel a sense of reality. Just as he relaxed for a moment, a cold wind swept over him from behind, and he was then pushed away with great force.

Feeling dizzy and disoriented, the doctor sat on the ground, almost dropping the mermaid candle in his hand. He quickly put the candle back down and looked up, just in time to see the scene in the tomb passage on the wall gradually disappearing. Behind the boss stood a terracotta warrior holding a bronze sword, the tip of which was firmly held in the boss's hand. It seemed that this terracotta warrior had come to the Silent Shop with them.

"Looks like we'll have to make room for this distinguished guest." The boss frowned, poked a spot on the chest of the terracotta warrior with his finger, and the warrior, which was trying to break free, froze, turning back into a guarding terracotta figure.

"Hehe, actually you could put it by the door for security..." The doctor, having narrowly escaped death, relaxed and no longer had the strength to stand up. He simply lay down on the floor and laughed heartily. The three bluebirds landed on his side and affectionately stroked his cheek.

On the other side, the ring dog and Qiongqi were fighting as usual. The boss's brows gradually relaxed, and the corners of his tightly pursed mouth uncontrollably turned up.

This way, it's actually not so bad...

Later, the master cut the boss's half of the black jade burial suit into a shirt. The red dragon was still conspicuously perched on the shirt, but this time it moved much slower, as if it had fallen into hibernation.

The Three Bluebirds were still being well-fed and cared for at the Silent House, while Qiongqi and Huan Gou went back to Fang Qiu's house as usual. In Fang Qiu's eyes, who was completely unaware of the situation, they were not ancient mythical beasts, but just cute cats and handsome huskies.

The doctor went back to Xi'an, packed up the equipment from the hotel, and mailed it back to the curator. When pressed by the curator, he naturally refused to mention that they had actually entered the Qin Mausoleum's underground palace. The tremors that occurred outside Xi'an that night had been the subject of much speculation online; some said it was an earthquake, but the earthquake bureau hadn't issued an official report; others claimed that tomb raiders had triggered a mechanism in the underground palace, but there was no evidence for that. The curator, the only one who found the situation strange, had to dismiss his suspicions after seeing that the doctor and the owner were unharmed.

The doctor didn't tell the boss that he later went to the entrance of the secret passage where they went down to the underground palace that day, but he didn't see any trace of anyone coming out.

Was Hu Hai really trapped inside the underground palace? The doctor recalled those pale red eyes and thought it was unlikely.

But that's about all he can get involved in.

After his annual leave, he returned to the hospital to treat patients and save lives.

His life went on, and the Silent Shop remained open.

As soon as he walks in, there's always someone who's brewed the finest Longjing tea, waiting to listen to his endless ramblings and complaints.
A welcoming smile appears amidst the ethereal aroma of tea.

The doctor often thought that perhaps the owner was also an antique in this silent shop. Each antique in the silent shop had its own story, bearing the weight of many years, unheard by anyone.

Because they can't speak...

(End of this chapter)