Tomb raiding: A mere 20 is nothing!

After leaving the restaurant, Shen Mingchao and Qi Qiu did not rush back to the hotel because it was snowing in Tokyo.

Unlike the overwhelming white snow in Russia, the snow in Tokyo fell very quietly, like cotton wool drifting into the neon lights, carrying a just-right gentleness.

Passing by a warmly lit beverage shop on the street corner, Shen Mingchao pulled Qi Qiu inside and ordered two hot drinks from the clerk. After a short wait, the drinks were ready, and Shen Mingchao, carrying two bags, handed one of the drinks to Qi Qiu.

Perhaps it was because Qi Qiu was too thin that Shen Mingchao subconsciously always wanted to take care of her.

She thought that those torments had left indelible scars on Qi Qiu, and she could always sense a sense of maturity in this young man who had just come of age.

"Xiao Qiu..."

"kindness?"

"If you've just turned 18, you should be taking the college entrance exam right now, right?" Shen Mingchao secretly wanted to find a study buddy.

Unfortunately, her hopes were dashed.

Qi Qiu lowered his eyes, hesitated for a moment, and then told the truth: "No, I stopped going to school a long time ago. As a descendant of the Qi family, the only thing I have to do is to pass on the family's unique skills."

He's always so composed.

Shen Mingchao sighed and said, "Xiao Qiu, you've survived this ordeal. I think you can live a more carefree life now."

"Everyone online says that youthful spirit is something that can't be regenerated, and I feel like you lost it too early."

The girl's voice drifted in the wind, her words carrying an indescribable regret.

Qi Qiu didn't speak, but lowered her head and took a sip of the hot drink. The sweet, milky aroma hit her taste buds, and the heat flowed down her esophagus, spreading a subtle and genuine warmth.

He held the drink cup in his hand, his gaze involuntarily drawn to the sticker on the cup, which contained a passage of Japanese text.

The translation is:

I stood in the middle of the crowd.

Reflecting on this repetitive daily life.

I suddenly thought, what if one day...

Neither old age nor youth can stir a ripple in one's heart.

The dullness of a stagnant pool

Flowers and cakes couldn't sway it.

If people begin to lose their ability to be moved by small things...

Then they probably wouldn't be shocked to hear the devastating news of earthquakes and flash floods.

If living and dying are essentially the same,

Then it would have no reason to exist.

—A painting of mountains and rivers, titled "Humanity and Me"

He had seen this passage more than once.

Qi Qiu turned his head and saw the same words printed on the frosted glass outside the shop entrance.

It was also wrapped with shimmering LED strips, making it particularly eye-catching.

He thought he understood the unspoken meaning in Shen Mingchao's words.

Qi Qiu snapped out of her daze, met Shen Mingchao's bright eyes, smiled gently, and began to recount the secrets of her family background.

"Sister, do you know? Our Qi family has passed down a special lineage for generations. This not only makes us proficient in the Eight Trigrams of Qimen Dunjia, but also allows us to use some special powers to glimpse the secrets of heaven. This is a talent we were born with."

"However, throughout history, those who attempt to divine the secrets of heaven and defy fate will inevitably pay the price in the end. The Qi family is no exception."

"Everyone born into a Qi family has a weakness, or as the old saying goes, a deficiency in one area. For example, my grandfather was deficient in fertility."

"Huh?" Shen Mingchao had been listening quietly, but upon hearing this, he immediately sensed something was wrong. It was as chilling as someone telling you, "My grandfather is a eunuch."

"Don't misunderstand," Qi Qiu continued to explain, "Lacking the ability to have children doesn't mean we have no offspring. My uncle and I were both adopted from collateral branches."

Shen Mingchao asked in surprise, "You have an uncle?"

Qi Qiu nodded.

"Then why didn't he come to save you?"

If the Qi family line is a single-lineage clan, how could an uncle just stand by and watch his only son die?

unless……

"He can't come." Qi Qiu's face showed more worry when he mentioned this: "My uncle lacks self-awareness. He was born as a pawn, unable to see the light of day, and could barely protect himself. He is far more tragic than me, so he can't come."

The topic became rather somber.

Shen Mingchao's tone softened further: "And you, Xiao Qiu, what's the subject you're missing?"

"I originally thought it was about lifespan, since the Qi family members could accurately predict their own end."

"Now..."

Qi Qiu's gaze fell on Shen Mingchao's head, where a thin layer of snow had already covered the pink hat. He reached out and gently wiped away the snow. "Just as you said, I think what I lack is that youthful spirit."

"I possess abilities far beyond my age, which means I have lost the right to live as a normal person."

"So being precocious is my destiny, you don't need to worry about it. More than anything, I'm grateful to have met you."

Qi Qiu's words revealed his true feelings.

Shen Mingchao smiled radiantly.

"I'm so glad I saved you, Xiao Qiu."

This is the truth.

Although everything happened somewhat suddenly, if Shen Mingchao could do it all over again, she would still be willing to go to Russia to rescue Qi Qiu. Even if it wasn't for the chance to see her family, she wouldn't want such a pure and innocent young man to die quietly in the snow.

At this point, Shen Mingchao and Qi Qiu exchanged a smile.

it is more than words.

*

That night.

The heavy darkness of night enveloped the sky, a crescent moon stood alone, and all things were immersed in tranquility. But in this peaceful night, only one person's worldview was shattered, and he could not sleep.

After learning the truth, Hordorf was completely stunned.

Back at the hotel, sitting on the bay window, he looked at the lights of thousands of homes outside, unable to sort out his chaotic thoughts for a long time.

He fled the country after losing a family power struggle, and by chance came into contact with medicine, from which he became completely engrossed.

By now, he has dabbled in both traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine. As a doctor, he should be a staunch materialist. However, Shen Mingchao's abilities are completely inexplicable by modern medicine, or rather, they are a kind of bug.

From a medical perspective, contact with Shen Mingchao can cause one's blood and energy to surge, and it can also cause one's cells to reverse aging, becoming younger and younger, thus achieving the effect of longevity.

longevity.

What an incredible and alluring pair of words! How could they have come to befall him like this?

Hodor put out his cigarette, took a slip of paper from his pocket, and with a flick of his finger, several lines of ink characters were clearly revealed.

[Thirty-third of Ji]

[A withered tree blossoms anew in spring, fragrant flowers bloom anew in the forest; the moon is finally seen through the clouds, for it has been encountered by a noble person.]

Hodorov silently recited these words in his mind. He wasn't a particularly superstitious person, but at this moment, as he held the thin piece of paper in his fingertips, he couldn't help but mutter to himself.

coincidence?

Or is it a prophecy?

The cigarette butt's warmth had long since dissipated, but those few lines of text remained vivid in my mind's eye.

Hordorf finally made up his mind and dialed a number.

He believed that Yu Chen and Hei Xiazi's side of the story was true. The two of them were obviously also hostile to him. They said they were afraid he would ruin things, so they told him everything. No matter what he thought or whether he accepted it, he should not have any ulterior motives towards Shen Mingchao, otherwise they would not show any mercy.

His words were laced with a clear threat.

Ha, how could Hordorff be a coward?

Just then, a hoarse voice came from the phone: "Feed?"

It's been such a long time since I've heard that voice.

Huo Daofu gazed into the distance and silently uttered two words: "Wu Xie..."