Tomb raiding live stream: Starting as the mute Zhang

It took more than an hour to walk up the passage.

The air grew fresher, carrying the scent of grass, trees, and earth. The slope gradually lessened, and a faint light began to pierce the distance ahead.

It is an export.

The atmosphere in the group was noticeably more relaxed. The wounded had regained some color in their faces and their steps were lighter. Even Lin Guoce, whose face had been tense the whole time, relaxed a little.

Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" who were walking ahead stopped almost at the same time.

Their gazes drifted to a shadowy spot to the side of the passage. There, they heard a faint metallic scraping sound and suppressed breathing.

"Come out," Zhang Qiling said. His voice wasn't loud, but it was clear in the quiet passage.

Two people slowly emerged from the shadows. They were two of the ten "Vulture" team members, one tall and one short, carrying miniature submachine guns equipped with silencers, their muzzles pointed at Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling".

"Don't move," the tall man said, his voice hoarse. "Put your hands up."

The line behind immediately stirred.

"What are you doing!" Lin Guoce shouted, his hand on the holster at his waist.

"Captain Lin, calm down." The shorter man turned his gun on Lin Guoce. "We're only looking for those two. Everyone else, step back. This is none of your business."

He was referring to Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling".

The other eight "Vulture" members also flanked the group from behind, pointing their guns at them. Clearly, they had planned this all along.

"Wang Jizong sent you?" Lin Guoce's face turned ashen.

"If you take someone's money, you have to do their bidding." The tall man grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. "The higher-ups want him alive, preferably. If that's not possible, dead is fine too, but you have to bring his head back with you."

He pointed his gun at Zhang Qiling again: "Gentlemen, why don't you come with us? It'll save us from fighting and ruining our relationship."

Zhang Qiling looked at him, his face expressionless.

Zhang Qiling also looked at them, his eyes like those of a dead man.

"Looks like they're going to have to suffer the consequences." The tall man's eyes hardened. "Attack!"

Eight "Vulture" team members pulled the triggers simultaneously! The silenced gunshots rang out, and bullets rained down on Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling"! The other two guns were aimed at Lin Guoce and the others to prevent them from interfering.

But the bullets missed.

The instant the gunshot rang out, Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" moved.

It's not about moving backward, but forward.

Zhang Qiling stepped forward to the left, shifting his body to the side to avoid the first wave of bullets. At the same time, he drew his black gold ancient sword from his back with his right hand and swung it out, sheath still attached. The scabbard slammed into the wrist of a mercenary holding a gun on his left.

"Crack!" The wrist bone shattered. The gun slipped from his hand.

Zhang Qiling caught the falling gun with his left hand, turned the muzzle, pressed it against the mercenary's chin, and pulled the trigger.

"puff."

The mercenary's head snapped back, and he fell to the ground.

Zhang Qiling lunged forward to the right, his speed increasing. Bullets grazed the hem of his clothes. He reached out with his right hand, his five fingers gripping the gun-wielding hand of a mercenary on his right, and bent it downwards.

"Crack!" The forearm snapped. The mercenary screamed.

Zhang Qiling snatched the gun, slamming the butt down on the mercenary's temple. The mercenary collapsed without a sound.

The two men moved without pause, like two black whirlwinds sweeping through the crowd. Sheathed knives, fists, and seized guns were all weapons. Each strike was deadly, clean and swift.

A mercenary aimed at Zhang Qiling's back and fired. As if he had eyes in the back of his head, Zhang Qiling ducked, and the bullet grazed his scalp. He rolled forward, and when he got up, he had a dagger in his hand—which he had somehow taken from one of the mercenaries—and threw it with a backhand.

The dagger was driven into the mercenary's forehead.

Another mercenary opened fire on Zhang Qiling. Instead of retreating, Zhang Qiling charged forward into the hail of bullets, dodging at the last second before a bullet grazed his chest. He grabbed the mercenary's gun barrel with his left hand and lifted it upwards, while his right hand, with the scabbard of his knife, smashed it down on the mercenary's throat.

His Adam's apple shattered. The mercenary collapsed, eyes wide with shock.

The tall mercenary's expression changed drastically, and he frantically pulled the trigger. But Zhang Qiling was already close, his scabbard brushing against the mercenary's elbow.

"Bang!" The elbow snapped backward. The tall man screamed in pain.

Zhang Qiling didn't give him a second chance, plunging the end of the scabbard into his heart.

The short man tried to run, but "Zhang Qiling" kicked him in the back of the knee. The short man knelt down, and "Zhang Qiling" grabbed his hair with one hand and pulled him back, while making a fist with the other hand, his middle finger knuckle sticking out, and smashed it into the back of his neck.

"Crack." The neck bone broke.

The battle lasted less than fifteen seconds from start to finish.

All ten "Vulture" team members lay on the ground. Some were dead, others unconscious.

The passageway was filled with the smell of gunpowder and blood.

Everyone was stunned, including Lin Guoce and his soldiers. They knew these two were strong, but they hadn't expected them to be this strong. Ten well-trained, fully armed international mercenaries were dealt with as easily as cutting vegetables.

The floating live-streaming ball faithfully recorded everything.

The barrage of comments paused briefly, then exploded:

[ID Prophet: I knew something bad was going to happen!]

[ID to shut up arguing experts: Ten seconds! Just ten seconds!]

[ID Guy Fan Club: My husband's gone berserk!]

[ID Official Observer 002: Target's combat strength reassessed... Extremely dangerous!]

Zhang Qiling shook the blood off the scabbard and sheathed the sword. "Zhang Qiling" threw the stolen gun on the ground and dusted off his hands.

The two looked at Lin Guoce.

Lin Guoce's Adam's apple bobbed as he spoke with difficulty, "They...were sent by Wang Jizong. I knew nothing about it."

"I know," Zhang Qiling said.

Zhang Qiling added, "You have some under your command as well."

Lin Guoce's expression changed, and he abruptly turned to look at the ten soldiers he had brought. Three of the soldiers' eyes darted around, and their hands were already stealthily reaching for their waists.

"Take him down!" Lin Guoce roared.

The other seven loyal soldiers immediately pounced on the three men, pinning them to the ground and disarming them. The three men struggled and shouted, "Lin Guoce! You dare touch us! Commander Wang won't let you get away with this!"

Lin Guoce walked over and kicked the one who was yelling the loudest in the face: "Shut up! I've known for a long time that something was off about you guys!"

He was panting heavily, looked at Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling," and said in a low voice, "I'm sorry. I was negligent."

Zhang Qiling didn't speak, turned around and continued walking towards the exit. "Zhang Qiling" followed.

The others silently followed. The three soldiers who had been pinned down were tied up and escorted by the other soldiers.

The exit is getting closer. Light is streaming in from outside; it's the soft, natural light of afternoon.

Finally, they emerged from the passage.

Outside was a dense forest. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, creating dappled patterns on the ground. Birds chirped, insects hummed, and the wind rustled through the leaves. The air was so fresh it almost brought tears to my eyes.

They stood at the entrance of a hidden cave, half-hidden by vines. Looking back, the dark entrance resembled the mouth of a giant beast.

Out.

About twenty hours have passed since we entered Laolanggou. It feels like half a lifetime has gone by.

People collapsed onto the grass outside the cave entrance, panting heavily, enjoying the long-awaited sunshine and fresh air. The wounded were laid flat and their wounds were treated again. Those who were still alive, Wang Lei, Liu Min, and Zhou Ting, hugged each other, weeping with joy. Kun Ge plopped down on the ground, staring at the sky and grinning foolishly. Chen Man and Wang Yihan leaned against each other, tears streaming down their faces.

Professor Zhou Xu'an and Jiang Shouyi sat slumped down, carefully taking the bamboo slips and a few small jade artifacts out of their backpacks to check them. Fortunately, they were undamaged.

The bodies of the ten "Vulture" team members were dragged out and thrown aside. Three traitorous soldiers were tied up tightly and crouched in a corner.

Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" stood at the edge of the cave entrance, their backs to the others, looking into the depths of the dense forest. Sunlight shone on them, making the bloodstains and dirt on their black clothes particularly glaring. But their backs remained straight.

Wu Xie looked at their backs, then at the still-shaken crowd around him, and then at the three bound soldiers and the pile of corpses in the distance. He felt a mix of emotions.

The fat man nudged him and lowered his voice, "Tianzhen, do you think... we'll ever encounter something like this again?"

Wu Xie smiled wryly: "Who knows?"

"I mean," the fat man glanced at Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling," "would these two gentlemen still be able to go tomb raiding with us in the future?"

Wu Xie was taken aback.

The fat man continued muttering, "You see, the authorities are definitely still eyeing those two. They didn't succeed this time, but they'll come back next time. No matter how good they are at fighting, they can't withstand being constantly targeted, right? Why don't they... join us?"

Wu Xie's eyes lit up: "You mean..."

"An invitation, please!" the fat man slapped his thigh. "We may not be as rich or powerful as the government, but we're honest! We won't cheat or harm anyone; we just raid tombs, travel, and do some adventures. How carefree!"

Wu Xie's heart skipped a beat. He looked at Xie Yuchen, Hei Xiazi, and Huo Xiuxiu. Xie Yuchen seemed thoughtful, Hei Xiazi grinned, and Huo Xiuxiu nodded slightly.

"Give it a try," Xie Yuchen said.

"I think it's a good idea." Black Bear pushed up his sunglasses.

Wu Xie took a deep breath, stood up, and walked towards the two people at the cave entrance.

Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling" both turned around to look at him at the same time.

Wu Xie was a little nervous and pushed up his glasses: "Um... Brother, and... this Brother."

Zhang Qiling looked at him.

Zhang Qiling was also looking at him.

"Thank you so much this time," Wu Xie said. "Without you, we definitely wouldn't have made it out."

Zhang Qiling nodded. "Zhang Qiling" also nodded slightly.

"What are your plans for the future?" Wu Xie mustered his courage. "The authorities... probably won't let this go easily."

Zhang Qiling remained silent. He truly hadn't made up his mind. The system mission wasn't finished, the amnesia issue wasn't resolved, the Bronze Gate hadn't been found, and then there was this suddenly appearing "Zhang Qiling"... too many mysteries.

Zhang Qiling remained silent. His arrival in this world was an accident; his strength had not recovered, his memories were hazy, and his future was unknown.

The fat man chimed in, chuckling, "Hey guys, if you ask me, following the authorities is pointless. Too many rules, and there's always someone trying to get you. Why not join us? I'm a tomb raider, my skills are top-notch! Tianzhen, the third young master of the Wu family, a living encyclopedia of history! And then there's Flower Master, Black Master, and Xiuxiu Girl—they're all top-notch experts! Let's form a team, travel the world, go wherever there's a tomb, live a carefree life, make money together, and face hardships together! What do you say?"

Black Bear strolled over and put his arm around Fatty's shoulder: "Fatty's words may be rough, but the reasoning is sound. You two, how about you consider it?"

Xie Yuchen and Huo Xiuxiu also came over. They didn't say anything, but their eyes conveyed the same meaning.

Zhang Qiling looked at the faces before him. Wu Xie's trepidation and sincerity, Fatty's enthusiasm and shrewdness, Hei Xiazi's carefree attitude and hidden depths, Xie Yuchen's composure and aloofness, and Huo Xiuxiu's intelligence and resilience.

Something stirred within me.

It's blurry, yet familiar. It feels like a long time ago, there was a group of people around me, noisy and boisterous, yet reassuring.

He looked at "Zhang Qiling".

Zhang Qiling was also looking at these people. His cold face was expressionless, but deep in his eyes, there was a very faint fluctuation. He came to this world, walking alone, and for the first time met Zhang Qiling, who might be "one of his kind," and then met this group of people... who were not quite the same, but seemed trustworthy.

The two exchanged a glance.

Zhang Qiling spoke first, his voice still calm: "Okay."

Zhang Qiling nodded almost imperceptibly: "Mm."

Wu Xie and Fatty's eyes lit up instantly.

"All set!" the fat man clapped his hands. "From now on, we're... Iron Six! No, Iron Seven! We're all in this together!"

Black Bear laughed: "Welcome to the team."

Xie Yuchen smiled slightly: "Please take care of me in the future."

Huo Xiuxiu smiled and said, "Please give me your guidance."

Lin Guoce watched from a distance, his feelings a mix of emotions. He knew that these two "divine" figures had likely parted ways with the government forever. But he couldn't bring himself to say anything to persuade them to stay. The actions of Wang Jizong and his ilk had chilled the hearts of the people.

He walked over and saluted Zhang Qiling and "Zhang Qiling": "Gentlemen, I am deeply grateful. If you ever need my help in the future, please don't hesitate to ask. As for Wang Jizong... I will report the truth to him. They can't touch you."

Zhang Qiling glanced at him and nodded.

Zhang Qiling didn't speak, but his gaze softened slightly.

sunset.

In the dense forest, a group of people helped each other as they walked down the mountain. Behind them lay the unfathomable Seven Star Lu Palace, a place that buried countless secrets and remains.

Ahead lies the unknown, but also new companions.

The floating live-streaming ball followed the team, filming this scene.

Bullet comments:

[ID Prophet: A new combination has been born!]

[ID That Can Cure Disagreements with Experts: The Officials Are Speechless, Aren't They?]

[ID Guy Fan Club: Our husbands have a partner now!]

[The ID Iron Triangle Will Never Disintegrate: Although there are a few more members, they are still the core of the Iron Triangle!]

[ID Next Stop: Looking forward to a new adventure!]

Zhang Qiling walked in the middle of the group, listening to Fatty planning where to raid tombs in the future. Wu Xie seriously objected, saying that it was too dangerous. Hei Xiazi joked around, and Xie Yuchen occasionally made a sarcastic remark, while Huo Xiuxiu smiled and smoothed things over.

Noisy and vibrant.

The tattoo on his shoulder blade was slightly warm.

In his mind, the system's notification sounded calmly:

【Ding】

[New interpersonal bond detected]

Team members: Wu Xie, Wang Pangzi, Xie Yuchen, Hei Xiazi, Huo Xiuxiu, Zhang Qiling

[Bond Level: Initial Approval]

[Slightly improved role-playing level]

[Current role-playing level: 37%]

Zhang Qiling did not stop walking, his gaze fixed on the distant, layered mountains.

The gatekeeper's road is still long.

But this time, it seems I'm not alone anymore.