Mo Li

Even if Lin Yuan obtained the treasures from the Imperial Tomb, there was absolutely no need for him to silence the entire village by killing them. After all, these villagers were descendants of loyal ministers who had served the founding emperor of the previous dynasty centuries ago. What was even stranger was that Lin Yuan, as a descendant of the former imperial family, didn’t know the secrets of the founding emperor’s tomb—whereas Doctor Lin, the man who had raised him, did. Of course… one could barely explain it away by saying Lin Yuan had been too young at the time. But… if Doctor Lin hadn’t wanted him to harbor thoughts of restoring their dynasty, he could have simply never revealed Lin Yuan’s true identity. When Lin Yuan first arrived in the village, he had been barely a year old—far too young to remember anything.

Glancing at Doctor Lin, who sat lost in thought nearby, Ye Li raised a delicate eyebrow. Something about this Lin Yuan… just didn’t add up. And as for the so-called treasure of the founding emperor, it clearly wasn’t the usual kind—gold, silver, antiques, or jade. Nor did it seem to be legendary treasures like martial arts manuals, military strategies, or divine weapons. So… what exactly was it?

Ye Li sighed regretfully, her hand resting on her abdomen. If not for the baby making things inconvenient, she wouldn’t have minded exploring the secrets and treasures of this founding emperor’s tomb herself.

Once they had rested enough, the two resumed their journey along the route marked on the map. Whether or not the Imperial Tomb held dangers, the oppressive atmosphere of the enclosed space alone was enough to make anyone uneasy. As they walked, Ye Li instinctively memorized their path—a habit from her days as a former special forces soldier. A keen sense of direction was essential; no matter where she was, she never worried about getting lost.

The deeper they ventured, the more lavish the tomb’s decorations became. Frowning slightly, Ye Li asked casually, "Master, did we take a wrong turn?"

Doctor Lin glanced at the map in his hands and tilted his head. "Oh? What makes you say that?"

Ye Li furrowed her brows. "We seem to be heading toward the center of the tomb—the exact opposite direction of the exit." Even if the path inside the Imperial Tomb couldn’t be a straight line, it shouldn’t be completely backward. The Earth might be round, but this tomb certainly didn’t span the entire planet.

Doctor Lin replied calmly, "Who said the exit was in Hongzhou?"

Ye Li fell silent, staring at him wordlessly. Even if the exit wasn’t in Hongzhou, it couldn’t possibly be at the heart of the tomb, could it? Under her scrutinizing gaze, Doctor Lin shifted uncomfortably. "Fine. I need to retrieve something first before we can leave. If you don’t want to come, you can wait here—or copy this map and find your own way out."

Ye Li exhaled inwardly in relief. At least his words confirmed that this so-called master of hers had no intention of harming her. Otherwise… though she was confident she could subdue him, who knew what dangers lurked in a centuries-old imperial tomb?

After a moment’s hesitation, she asked, "Lin Yuan… is there another way to enter this place?"The doctor clearly didn't want to hand that thing over to Lin Yuan, which was why he was rushing to retrieve it first. Doctor Lin remained silent, but just from his expression, Ye Li already understood. Indeed... those so-called claims about there being only one exit were never reliable. For example, it was said that ancient craftsmen who built imperial tombs would always leave themselves a secret escape tunnel in case the royal family decided to silence them permanently.

Shrugging, Ye Li smiled faintly and said, "I'd better go with you, Master. What if I get lost and can't find my way out?"

"Think carefully. From what I know, this Imperial Tomb isn't particularly dangerous. You can wait for me at the exit. If I don't show up within two days, just activate the mechanism and leave on your own."

Ye Li glanced around and replied, "I don't know how dangerous this place originally was, but now it's hard to say. I'm just a girl—walking alone in a tomb is a bit frightening. It's better to follow Master for courage." Doctor Lin gave her a deep look, sighed softly, and turned to walk ahead. "I don't know why you insist on following me, girl. If you get dragged into trouble, don't blame this old man." Ye Li quickened her steps to catch up and said softly, "Because you're my master. I know you're a good person." Doctor Lin snorted. "I'm not a good person, and you shouldn't play the fool in front of me. In my long life, I've met many people, but very few whose depths I couldn't fathom." Ye Li pretended not to notice his sarcasm and blinked. "Master, are you praising me?"

The master and disciple walked intermittently, moving slowly to accommodate Ye Li's health and Doctor Lin's advanced age. With no daylight in the Imperial Tomb, Ye Li could only roughly estimate the time. After walking on and off for three or four hours since entering, they rested for several more in a stone chamber. They had already spent nearly a full day inside, yet they had only just reached the entrance to the tomb's inner section.

Standing before an imposing palace gate, Doctor Lin turned to Ye Li and said, "Be careful inside. Don't touch anything you shouldn't—if you trigger a trap, don't say I didn't warn you." Ye Li looked at him. "Master, you said this place wasn't dangerous." Doctor Lin snorted, a hint of pride flashing across his brow. "Following me, of course it's not dangerous. With anyone else, that might not be the case. The outer sections of the tomb were just illusions—the traps inside are at least five times more numerous."

Ye Li wiped nonexistent sweat from her forehead. "Master, I feel like I've fallen into a trap. What would have happened if I hadn't come in with you?"

Doctor Lin gave her a humorless smile. "The exit mechanisms are no fewer than those inside. And the diagram for disabling them is stored with the treasure."

"You know so much," Ye Li muttered under her breath. In the tomb's deathly silence, Doctor Lin heard her clearly and chuckled smugly. "This tomb was designed and built by my ancestors. Do you think anyone in the world knows it better than me?" Ye Li raised an eyebrow and quickened her pace to follow him inside.Upon entering the interior of the Imperial Tomb, Ye Li truly understood what it meant to be a royal mausoleum. No one knew what the tomb of Qin Shi Huang looked like inside. In her previous life, most of the imperial tombs Ye Li had seen had been either looted by grave robbers or excavated, leaving them as mere ruins. She remembered the Records of the Grand Historian describing Qin Shi Huang's tomb: "They dug through three springs, laid bronze to form the outer coffin, and filled it with palaces, towers, officials, rare artifacts, and strange treasures. They used mercury to simulate the rivers, lakes, and seas, with mechanisms to circulate it. The ceiling depicted the heavens, the floor the earth, and they used fish oil for lamps, calculated to burn indefinitely." She didn’t know if this imperial tomb could rival the grandeur of Qin Shi Huang’s, but the sight before her eyes was enough to prove that, at the very least, it matched its opulence.

The exquisitely carved marble floors and walls, the streams of mercury, and the dazzling array of treasures scattered across the astonishingly vast burial chamber were endlessly alluring. Looking up, the ceiling was adorned with a star map made of luminous pearls. The burial goods were not bronze artifacts but delicate goldware, jade, gemstones, and more. Eternal lamps lined the chamber, and with the countless treasures—gold artifacts and luminous pearls—the entire tomb was as bright as day. The resplendent mausoleum before her resembled a miniature imperial palace, prompting Ye Li to reflect once more on those brief lines from the Records of the Grand Historian ... Were imperial tombs across different eras and spaces always so similar?

"Would there be terracotta warriors or something similar near the tomb?" Ye Li muttered softly as she followed Doctor Lin cautiously forward, resisting the urge to touch any of the priceless treasures around her.

Doctor Lin glanced back at her. "How did you know about the terracotta warriors?"

Ye Li was stunned. "There really are?" Could the founding emperor of the previous dynasty be a reincarnation of Qin Shi Huang? She shook her head, dismissing the wild thought. Qin Shi Huang had unified the land, and while the previous dynasty’s founding emperor was also a peerless warrior, he fell short. Doctor Lin studied her for a moment before turning back and continuing inward. "According to ancestral records, there were indeed plans for them. But the empire was newly established then, and they couldn’t afford the immense cost of constructing such a tomb. So, two-thirds of the emperor’s original vision was abandoned. The terracotta warriors are only mentioned in a handful of secret histories about the emperor." Ye Li marveled—this was just one-third of the plan? If the full tomb had been built, the previous dynasty might have collapsed a century or two earlier.

"Actually, this is fine. If future descendants ever face hardship, dismantling this tomb would provide more than enough resources," Ye Li remarked with a light smile. Ahead, Doctor Lin snorted. "No descendant, no matter how unfilial, would ever dismantle their ancestor’s tomb." Ye Li blinked. "Then what’s the point of hoarding all this wealth here?" Of course, she understood the reasoning—perhaps only those who had never been emperors could fail to grasp the significance of building such a tomb. Wouldn’t it be better to leave such wealth for future generations to use in emergencies?The journey continued in silence. Even with Doctor Lin leading the way, the two of them had to carefully navigate past several traps before approaching the palace-like structure at the very heart of the tomb. Ye Li understood—this was where the tomb owner's coffin rested.

The building was entirely carved from white jade, standing imposingly at the center of the burial chamber. Even from a distance, its snow-white grandeur was unmistakable. Up close, the intricate lattice windows, the eaves adorned with crouching dragon sculptures, and the lifelike jade-carved flowers and plants hanging beneath the roof came into view. The palace steps were engraved with majestic dragons and phoenixes, exuding regal dominance. Most striking of all, a colossal white dragon coiled around the white palace, its head resting atop the roof, its massive eyes—crafted from luminous pearls—glaring fiercely at intruders.

For some reason, as Ye Li took in this extravagant, opulent, and domineering structure, she couldn’t help but twitch the corner of her mouth, an inexplicably eerie feeling rising in her chest. However, seeing Doctor Lin’s expression of reverence, excitement, and nostalgia, she decided it was best to keep her thoughts to herself.

"Master, shall we go in?" Seeing Doctor Lin lost in thought, Ye Li couldn’t resist asking.

Snapping out of his daze, Doctor Lin reluctantly tore his gaze away from the white structure and nodded.

The two stood before the palace gates, each lost in their own thoughts. The doors were tightly shut, neither locked nor secured by any visible mechanism. Instead, there was only a black jade plaque inscribed with characters, encircled by coiling dragons. Upon closer inspection, they saw that the characters—simple yet irregularly arranged—were movable, clearly meant to be rearranged. Ye Li arched a delicate brow as she examined the eight characters before her:

Sweep, Close, Six, Monarch, Below, Horizontal, Overlook, Heaven.

A straightforward eight-character puzzle. When correctly arranged, it should form the phrase: "Sweep Across the Land, Monarch Overlooking the World."

As Doctor Lin stepped forward to rearrange the characters, Ye Li frowned slightly, an inexplicable unease creeping over her. Yet, no matter how hard she scrutinized, she couldn’t pinpoint the source of her discomfort. She could only stand aside, watching Doctor Lin carefully.

Then, in a fleeting moment, she thought she saw one of the characters— Heaven —twist unnaturally. Blinking, she tried to determine whether it was a trick of the eye or something real. Staring intently at the character, she finally noticed that the lower stroke of Heaven was slightly askew, and upon closer inspection, something seemed to be wriggling beneath it.

A thought flashed through Ye Li’s mind—too fast to grasp fully. Without hesitation, she reached out and yanked Doctor Lin away from the plaque just as he was adjusting the characters.

"Ah—!" Doctor Lin gasped, stumbling back even before Ye Li pulled him. His face paled as he stared at his fingers in horror. Two of them were coated in a strange black substance that writhed slowly, rapidly corroding his flesh.

Before he could react, Ye Li seized his hand. A silver gleam flashed as her dagger sliced through the air—the skin and part of the rotting flesh on his fingers fell to the ground.

Then, to their shock, they watched as the discarded flesh continued to corrode the white jade foundation beneath it.They turned in unison to look at the large door. The characters on it were gradually blurring as more tiny black things squirmed across its surface, giving the eerie impression they might break free at any moment. Ye Li pulled Doctor Lin back two quick steps, saying, "Master, we're in serious trouble. Let's go."

Doctor Lin stared at his still-bleeding right hand, his expression grim. "The ancestral records didn't mention this."

Ye Li replied, "Clearly, that founding emperor from the previous dynasty tricked your ancestors."

"What are those things?" The two hurried down the temple steps, but it was obvious the tomb's occupant had no intention of letting those who violated his resting place escape so easily. The bridge piers spanning the mercury river suddenly sank beneath the surface. Ye Li could even hear clicking sounds from multiple directions—clearly the activation of hidden mechanisms. Even if they could somehow cross the mercury river, the hidden weapons and traps awaiting them would be unbearable. The tomb's designer had undoubtedly accounted for the possibility of martial arts masters breaking in.

Looking back at the doorway, they saw the black mass had grown larger, completely obscuring the original inscriptions. Parts of it were breaking free like tiny insects flying outward. Both had witnessed the creatures' terrifying power—Doctor Lin's two fingers had been corroded from mere contact, and the white jade foundation bore a wine-cup-sized hole where they'd landed. If these things touched their bodies, death would come in a most gruesome fashion.

"What in the world..." Doctor Lin frowned. Though his family had long abandoned tomb-related work, their records were extensive. Yet he was certain he'd never encountered anything like this.

As Ye Li guided Doctor Lin while searching for retreat, she kept wary eyes on the black mist nearby. "Master, you know about cordyceps, right?"

"Cordyceps? What does that have to do with anything?" Doctor Lin asked, confused.

Ye Li explained, "Worms in winter, grass in summer. These are similar—insects when warm, jade-like when cold. When you moved the character blocks earlier, your fingers' warmth awakened these creatures. Any ideas, Master?"

Doctor Lin sighed helplessly, "I've never even seen these damned things before. What solution could I have?"

Ye Li said, "Then we're in real trouble. If these things spread everywhere, not only will we suffer, but all the treasures in this tomb will likely be destroyed too."

"You're still worrying about that now?" Doctor Lin shot her an exasperated look.

With a faint smile, Ye Li replied, "Just because I'm not concerned doesn't mean others won't be."Doctor Lin froze, "What others?" As soon as the words left his mouth, a black shadow darted up from the opposite side. The sound of arrows whistling through the air was heard as several sharp projectiles shot rapidly toward the figure in midair. The black-clad man twisted dangerously in the air to narrowly avoid the arrows, only for a row of giant spiked boards to descend upon him from above. Unable to land yet, he had to flip again with difficulty to evade the deadly trap, the tearing sound clearly indicating his clothes had been torn. Finally, the disheveled figure landed on this side, staggering slightly before steadying himself.

Ye Li moved like lightning, her dagger flashing coldly. Before the black-clad man could fully regain his footing, the icy blade tip was already pressed against his spine. "Don't move. If my hand slips, it might not kill you, but it could certainly leave you bedridden for life."

The man tilted his head slightly. "Princess Ding? So you're still alive?"

Ye Li smiled charmingly. "An acquaintance, it seems? Though... I don't recall anyone like you among my acquaintances?"

The man raised his hands and dropped his weapon to the ground. "Your Highness, there's no need for alarm. I won't harm you, and I absolutely won't let you die. At least... definitely not here."

Ye Li beamed. "How touching. But before we continue, why don't you introduce yourself? Otherwise... I can't guarantee you won't die here." As she spoke, she pivoted the man around with one hand holding the dagger and the other gripping him, facing him toward Doctor Lin. With a smile, she asked, "Master, do you recognize him?"

Doctor Lin looked at the black-clad man with complex emotions, finally releasing a long sigh after a prolonged silence. "You came after all."

The man replied matter-of-factly, "I'm only here to reclaim what rightfully belongs to me. What's wrong with that?"

Tilting her head as she observed them both, Ye Li chuckled. "I'm growing increasingly curious about who you really are."

The man smiled. "Why doesn't Your Highness come around front to see for yourself?"