Tomb raiders: You stole my little Qilin?

As you go further down, the seawater gradually changes from a clear light blue to a deep dark blue.

Most of the sunlight was filtered out by the layers of seawater, leaving only a few beams of light that cast swaying spots of light on the dark seabed.

Aning stopped at the very front, hovering between two reefs, and made a gesture behind her.

Wu Weiyou stepped forward and looked in the direction she pointed.

Embedded among the layers of reefs is a small, perfectly round door.

The gate blended almost seamlessly with the surrounding reefs, covered in a thick layer of seaweed and plankton, its edges blurred and indistinct.

Ah Ning reached out and pushed, but the stone didn't budge. She then used her dagger to scrape off a layer of seaweed, and the outline of the door finally became clear.

There were no switches or handles around, and only a shallow groove was faintly visible on the door surface.

Ah Ning stepped back and turned her head to look at Zhang Qiling.

Zhang Qiling swam forward, reached out and touched the door, his fingertips brushing against the cold stone surface.

He paused slightly, feeling a strange sense of familiarity about this place.

Wu Wei and Hei Xiazi exchanged a glance, then swam to his side, one on the left and one on the right, keeping watch on their surroundings.

Zhang Qiling regained his composure and traced a circle around the center of the storefront with his fingertip.

Then, bring two fingers together, exert force suddenly, and precisely point at a seemingly ordinary spot.

A dull thud came from behind the door, and the round door opened with a bang, pulling the surrounding seawater and them in with a powerful suction.

Zhang Qiling was the first to dive in with the current, followed closely by Wu Wei and Hei Xiazi, and the rest of the group followed in turn.

After the last person passed through, Wu Wei looked back.

The door closed again, shutting out the surging seawater.

The tunnel was filled with seawater and was pitch black.

Hei Xiazi could see clearly. He grabbed Wu Wei and Zhang Qiling's arms and swam along the sloping upward passage.

After swimming for a few minutes, my head finally touched the water.

Wu Wei was pushed to the surface by the black bear, took off his mask, and gasped for breath.

He wiped the water off his face, climbed ashore, and turned to help Black Bear.

Zhang Qiling had already reached the shore before him, shaking off the water droplets from his hands and shining his flashlight around.

This is a side room, with walls made of bluish-gray stone bricks. Water droplets seeped from the brick seams, and the air was filled with a damp, musty smell.

The group placed their oxygen tanks and diving gear in the corner of the side room and checked their weapons and tools.

The walls of the side chamber were covered with unidentified reliefs, the lines of which were rough yet neatly arranged, and the light and shadow alternated under the flickering flashlight beam.

Large, thread-like structures hung down from the stone wall overhead, densely packed together.

Wang Cunhai shone his flashlight upwards, and the beam hit a clump of black silk hanging down. He was jolted backwards, and the flashlight almost slipped from his hand.

"What is this?"

The thing looked too much like a woman's long hair, hanging down in strands from the cracks in the rocks, gleaming eerily in the flashlight beam.

Wang Cunxi frowned and stared at the black stockings for a moment:

"Don't touch it carelessly, be careful."

His voice was more composed than Wang Cunhai's, but the fingers gripping the flashlight tightened unconsciously.

Just as everyone was about to pass through the side chamber and enter the tomb passage ahead, A Ning suddenly raised her hand and patted an inconspicuous protrusion on the wall.

In the dim light, almost no one noticed.

But then, a series of rapid mechanical clicking sounds came from above.

Suddenly, several rows of small holes appeared in the stone wall diagonally above the side chamber, and countless bronze arrows poured down with a whooshing sound.

"Ah Ning, what are you doing!" Wang Cunxi shouted sternly.

But he had no time to investigate. He suddenly turned to the side and pressed himself against the edge of the stone wall. An arrow grazed his shoulder and embedded itself in the brickwork behind him.

Wu Wei almost instinctively shifted his feet, and in a few nimble movements amidst the rain of arrows, he dodged to safety.

Hei Xiazi and Zhang Qiling reacted even faster; one dodged to the side, while the other drew his sword to deflect the oncoming arrows, their movements clean and swift.

Wang Cunhai and Wang Cunxi were surprisingly agile. Although they were in a sorry state, they managed to avoid fatal blows, though their clothes were torn in several places by arrows.

Ah Si, who was following behind Ah Ning, wasn't so lucky.

Although he reacted, the distance was too close, and he couldn't dodge in time.

An arrow grazed the side of his arm, leaving a shallow gash.

Such minor injuries are commonplace on the streets. Ah Si glanced down at the wound and felt a slight itch, but didn't pay much attention to it.

He pulled a small packet of anti-inflammatory powder from his pocket, sprinkled it on, smeared it a couple of times, and then picked up the flashlight again.

When he looked up again, Ah Ning was no longer in the side room.

Where did that woman go?

Wang Cunhai's face turned ashen, and he turned his gaze to Ah San and Ah Si, who remained in place.

Ah San and Ah Si looked at each other, and hurriedly said that they didn't know either.

Aning never mentioned to them that she was going to act alone before she set off, otherwise they wouldn't have been left behind.

Wang Cunxi stared silently in the direction where A Ning had disappeared for a moment.

He probably understood that the woman likely had ulterior motives.

But now that we're already in the tomb, internal strife will do no good for anyone.

Wang Cunxi turned to Ah San and Ah Si, his tone calm: "It's her business if she leaves. You two are now our sole employees. All the rules remain the same, and your pay will double after you leave."

Ah San and Ah Si nodded quickly in agreement, their expressions earnest, each vying to express their loyalty.

Black Bear watched this scene expressionlessly, and gave a cold laugh behind his sunglasses.

Whether they can even go abroad is another matter; anyone can make empty promises.

Wu Wei shifted his gaze from Wang Cunxi to A Si.

Ah Si was scratching the wound on his arm.

Wu Wei noticed that his knuckles were trembling slightly.

The skin around the wound has begun to show an abnormal bluish-gray tinge.

Wu Wei probably knew how to detoxify, but he neither did it nor offered any advice.

He came to search the tomb, not to save the world.

Zhang Qiling also saw it. He looked at Wu Wei and, after confirming that he was not injured, breathed a sigh of relief.

Hei Xiazi was even more at ease in the darkness, and he noticed the direction Aning had left in.

He gestured to Zhang Qiling and Wu Wei, pointing in the direction Aning had left.

Wu Wei shook his head, indicating that he would not go yet and would follow these people.

The three exchanged a glance, their eyes sharing the same unspoken understanding.

Wang Cunhai was still indignant about A Ning's sabotage and cursed a few more times.

As he walked, he threatened, "That woman, don't let me run into her again after we get out."

The group left the side chamber and entered the connecting tomb passage.

The tomb passage was quite strange; there were no traces of water, yet the corners were covered with seashells.

Some even have their mouths open, revealing the soft flesh inside, looking completely harmless.