Chapter 271: The General’s Tomb
After resting for a while, Fang Xiaocao felt her strength returning. She stood up, stretched her limbs, and, confirming that she was ready to continue, said, “I’m good now. Let’s keep moving.”
Hearing this, Tom and the other two immediately stood up. They had long since recovered—truthfully, they hadn’t needed to rest at all. They had only been waiting for Fang Xiaocao.
“Tom, lead the way,” she instructed.
Tom nodded and took the lead.
Hummingbird and Taotie flanked Fang Xiaocao, serving as her guards.
Tom guided the group through the winding limestone cave, covering nearly three kilometers. Though the path was rugged, they encountered no danger along the way.
“According to the map, we’re about to enter the treasure area. I suspect this so-called treasure site is actually the burial chamber of an ancient tomb,” Tom said gravely, putting away his terminal device.
“This treasure map was probably drawn based on an ancient tomb. The real treasure is either the burial goods inside or someone decided to use the tomb’s main chamber as their hiding place for valuables,” he continued.
Hearing this, Taotie raised an eyebrow and chuckled. “If that’s the case, I’m starting to think this treasure map was drawn by a grave robber.”
Fang Xiaocao rolled her eyes at him. Taotie was always fooling around, but she had to admit—this time, he had a point.
After hearing Tom’s analysis, she also felt that the treasure map must have been left behind by a tomb raider. Perhaps the grave robber had looted the tomb but, due to unforeseen circumstances, failed to take the treasure with them. They might have only managed to escape, leaving the map behind for a later return.
Alternatively, the robber might have stolen the treasure but ran into trouble outside and, fearing they wouldn’t be able to retrieve it later, decided to stash their wealth inside the tomb, considering it safe and hidden.
Regardless of the reason, Fang Xiaocao suspected that the treasure was no longer there. Most likely, it had already fallen into the hands of the mysterious pawnshop. After all, as Tom pointed out, the presence of so many corpses suggested that the pawnshop had been operating here for a long time. If they had repurposed the burial pit as a dumping ground for bodies, there was no way they would have ignored the ancient tomb itself.
No one in the underworld would leave a treasure behind if they knew about it.
“Tom, let’s enter the tomb,” Fang Xiaocao commanded.
“Whether there’s treasure or not, we’ve come this far. We have to take a look,” she said with a smile.
Tom nodded. “You’re absolutely right, Princess. We’d regret not taking a peek.”
“Follow me!” he said, leading them toward the correct path marked on the map.
Fang Xiaocao and the others hurried after him, their emotions a mix of excitement and unease.
Everyone was wondering—was the treasure still there?
Fang Xiaocao couldn’t help but fantasize. If the treasure was still inside, they would strike it rich.
After another thousand meters, the scenery changed. The natural cave tunnel began showing signs of human excavation and modification.
On both sides of the stone walls, faded murals, eroded by time, started to appear.
Although the murals were worn, they still faintly depicted the life of the tomb’s owner. Judging by the figures carved into the stone, Fang Xiaocao guessed that the tomb belonged to an ancient general.
He had been a valiant warrior. Nearly every mural illustrated scenes of him charging into battle, leading his troops, and personally beheading enemy commanders to present their heads as trophies to his rulers.
As Fang Xiaocao followed the corridor to its end, the murals also reached their conclusion.
The last two murals depicted the general’s final moments—dying in battle, wrapped in his war cloak, and being honored posthumously by the reigning ruler.
“Which dynasty’s general was he?” Fang Xiaocao murmured. “Fought for his country his whole life, even in death.”
Tom glanced at Taotie. “Taotie, do you know who this is?”
Taotie chuckled. “Oh, Tom, you’ve asked the right person. When it comes to history, I have ten senses open—except nine of them are blocked.”
Tom blinked in confusion, not quite grasping his meaning.
Hummingbird, unable to stand it any longer, explained, “He means he knows nothing.”
Tom sighed in exasperation and shot Taotie an irritated glare, resisting the urge to punch him.
“Princess, do you know who the tomb owner is?” Tom turned to Fang Xiaocao, curious.
She shook her head. “I’m not sure. But judging from the armor and clothing in the murals, this should be a general from the Tang or Song Dynasty.”
“Beyond that, I can’t tell.”
Tom looked a little disappointed. He was quite interested in Chinese history.
Fang Xiaocao, meanwhile, gazed at the massive stone doors in front of them.
“This must be the entrance to the burial chamber,” she thought.
“Taotie, Tom, try pushing open the tomb door,” she ordered.
Fang Xiaocao could tell that these stone doors hadn’t been opened for a very long time.
Perhaps the treasure was still inside.
“Understood!”
Taotie and Tom responded in unison, stepping forward and pressing their hands against the dust-covered doors.
They pushed with all their strength.
The stone doors groaned, producing a deep, grating sound, shifting slightly—but not even a crack opened.
“Princess, it’s no use. We can’t push it open,” Tom exhaled in frustration.
“Try pushing only one door. Hummingbird, help them!” Fang Xiaocao suggested after observing the marks left on the ground.
Judging by the sheer weight of the doors, each must have weighed over a thousand kilograms. Trying to move both at once was impractical. Focusing on just one might be easier.
“Got it!”
The three of them gathered on one side, coordinated their efforts, and began pushing again.
“One, two, three—push!”
With a loud rumble, the stone door slowly inched inward.
Seeing this, Fang Xiaocao’s heart leaped with excitement.
It’s working!
As long as they could move it, even just a little at a time, they would eventually open a gap wide enough to squeeze through.
