Exploring the Illusory Tomb Part 1 [Ancient Times Version] - Chapter 10: The Silk of the Imperial Maiden

Chapter 10: The Silk of the Imperial Maiden

This was a massive water pool. Originally, several waterfalls must have converged here. It was a rare place where dragon energy gathered. But now all the waterfalls had dried up. The remaining water in the pool faintly glowed green, like transparent jade. With the body floating on the water, it was impossible to see what lay beneath.

The pool water was colder and more bone-chilling than I had imagined. The cold pierced my back. And I couldn’t help but shiver. Goosebumps were rising all over. I opened my eyes to see that I was still tightly clutching Luo Shen’s wrist. Her hand was even colder than the pool water. Her body seemed like it had never held any warmth.

“Th… thank you,” 

I said awkwardly to Luo Shen. I was still shaken from what had just happened. She may have worked for the Prince and had taken Kunlun away. But after spending these past days with her, she wasn’t actually unpleasant. Of course, apart from her cold demeanor.

“Mm.” 

Luo Shen simply nodded and swam off into the distance. It made me wonder whether the gentle and seductive voice I’d just heard by my ear had been a hallucination.

“Ah… ah-choo!” 

Xiao Jian sneezed. He was holding his nose and complaining ahead of us, 

“What kind of awful place is this? Taoist, can’t we just do what we used to and dig a tunnel through? This water’s freezing! And there’s not even a place to get ashore.”

Qing Songzi scolded beside him, 

“Brother Xiao, I’ve always told you to study more. But you never listen. This pool is an excellent spot where dragon energy gathers. There used to be a dragon vein drawing water here. If there’s a tomb nearby, its owner must be extremely noble. That gold foil most likely came from here. By examining this pool, we can definitely discover something.”

“Taoist, it’s true there’s a dragon vein here. But the dragon energy has already been broken. And now it’s turned into a vicious vein. I fear this won’t be an easy trip,”

I added.

Qing Songzi returned to his usual solemn demeanor and nodded. 

“Miss Shi speaks rightly. We must all be cautious.”

The pool was at the lowest point. It was surrounded by steep cliffs. Looking around, there was no place to come ashore or even a cave—let alone tunneling nearby to get in or out. I swam through the water. From high above, the cries of birds of prey pierced the air. It was clear and sharp. It was making the eerie stillness of the pool feel even more sinister.

All we heard was the splashing of water. Luo Shen and the others ahead left long trailing wakes behind them. They slowly advanced through the secluded pool.

I was lagging a bit behind. Suddenly, I noticed that the wake behind Xiao Jian was much wider and higher than the others. If I hadn’t been following behind, I would never have noticed the difference. A shadow of that giant snake from the underground tunnels flashed through my mind—could it be… another one?

“Xiao Jian…” 

I stopped, my voice barely above a whisper. I was afraid whatever it was might hear me.

Maybe my voice was too soft. Because Xiao Jian didn’t hear and continued swimming energetically. The thick wake behind him was rapidly approaching. I could no longer hold back and shouted, 

“Xiao Jian, watch out behind you!”

Startled by my shout, Xiao Jian immediately executed a diving leap. He jumped out of the water. At the same time, the thick wake vanished. And the surface calmed as if nothing had ever happened.

“Wh-what happened?” 

Xiao Jian landed back in the water. His face was pale and stammering.

“There was a snake behind you!” 

I shouted.

“Snake?” 

Everyone froze. They were instantly on high alert.

“There was something behind Xiao Jian. I think it might be the same kind of snake from the tunnels,” 

I said, floating alone in the distance. Remembering that terrifying snake, I couldn’t help but shudder.

Luo Shen looked at me. Her eyes were filled with surprise. 

“Miss Shi, are you sure it was a snake?”

Everyone had gone quiet. They were all staring at me as if I were some kind of monster.

“What’s wrong, everyone?” 

I felt awkward under their strange gazes. I was flustered and embarrassed. Why were they looking at me like that? Had they all been scared stiff?

Then I saw Luo Shen’s gaze fix on me. Cold killing intent was flashing in her eyes. The ancient sword on her back was already drawn. Xiao Jian nervously said, 

“Shi… Shi… don’t move.”

Just as he spoke, Luo Shen suddenly rushed toward me. At that moment, my body was pulled violently downward. A massive force yanked me underwater. My organs felt like they were being churned up. Water was flooding into my mouth. In the midst of the spinning chaos, the force dragged me swiftly away.

My mind was dazed. My waist was tightly bound by something thick like ropes. It was painfully tight. Instinctively, I reached for my waistband. Luckily, the carved short sword was still there. I quickly drew it and slashed at my waist. A sharp shriek rang out. And the binding instantly snapped, freeing me from the brute force that had seized me.

I hurried to the surface, gasping for air. The pool water stank of bl00d and rot. In just that brief moment, I felt as though I had wandered through the gates of hell and returned. My heart pounded like a drum as I stared at the water in fear.

Luo Shen surfaced beside me. She scanned around and shouted, 

“Everyone, gather here!”

Soon, the group assembled. Each of them watched a different direction. Qing Songzi frowned. 

“What was that thing? It didn’t seem like a snake.”

“That was the *Imperial Maiden Silk*,” 

Luo Shen said calmly.

“Imperial Maiden Silk!” 

I exclaimed, while the others looked puzzled.

“It’s said in strange records that the Imperial Maiden Silk is a terrifying spider—huge in size and capable of swimming in water. Its silk is as thick as hemp rope and is a deadly hunting weapon. Legend says this kind of spider guards tombs. The tomb owners raise them in the moat around their tombs. Anyone trying to cross into the main tomb path via the moat would become its meal.”

“You’re saying this pool is a moat?” 

Cheng Yun said in surprise. 

“Miss Shi, you have such sharp insight! But does that mean the tomb’s main path is nearby? Isn’t that too quick?”

Luo Shen shook her head. 

“No, it’s not a moat. But there’s likely a water tunnel leading inside. Wherever Imperial Maiden Silk emerged from—that must be our entrance.”

Qing Songzi said worriedly, 

“If Imperial Maiden Silk is this dangerous, and it failed to capture Miss Shi, it may still be lurking nearby. Everyone, be extra cautious.”

Right after he spoke, I suddenly heard a faint, strange noise in my ear. Looking up, I saw ripples spreading from a jagged rocky corner not far away. I quickly turned and gave Luo Shen a look. She understood and took out a small bottle. She sprinkled powder in the water near her and gestured for us to stay back.

Not long after the powder was scattered, the water began violently churning. The green surface turned murky, and we could no longer stay steady. We were bobbing with the waves.

Suddenly, with a sharp screech, several bl00d-red, rope-thick spider silks shot from the water. A massive back emerged nearby—Imperial Maiden Silk. Its back was jet black. It was covered in colorful patterns and irregular bumps. It didn’t even look like a spider. It was more like a giant mutated… creature.

Imperial Maiden Silk seemed extremely agitated for some reason. It was shooting all its silks toward Luo Shen. She dodged left and right. She sliced through several of the threads with her sword. The beast had already been wounded by my sword earlier. And since its silk was linked to its body, it grew even more furious. It was desperate to strangle Luo Shen to death.

But Luo Shen stayed calm. After cutting down several flailing silks, she suddenly dove beneath the surface and disappeared.

“Where is Lady Luo?” 

Xiao Jian asked in alarm. Seeing she hadn’t come back up after a while, he looked around in surprise.

I was also puzzled. The spider had vanished too. Though the water was still churning, the surroundings began to return to stillness.

I looked around anxiously. But I still couldn’t find Luo Shen.

I had seen her skills before. As far as I knew, only Kunlun before her legs were crippled could match her. Though the spider was fierce, Luo Shen might not lose in a real fight.

Just then, I heard splashing nearby and saw a woman surface. Her hair was soaked, and she scanned the area with cold eyes. Wiping the water from her face, she pointed to a spot and then sank again.

Qing Songzi understood and said, 

“Follow Lady Luo.” 

Luo Shen then dove underwater and vanished. I quickly held my breath and followed. It was hard to see clearly underwater. But I vaguely spotted the tall figure of a woman up ahead. After a few flashes, she disappeared at a spot.

I swam to the place where she vanished and discovered a huge underwater cave. It was pitch black inside. Luo Shen must have entered it just now—that must be where Imperial Maiden Silk came from. I surfaced briefly for air, then dove again. Xiao Jian gestured at me to follow him. Xie Long and Cheng Yun stayed at the rear. One by one, we entered the water cave.

Inside the cave, it was endless darkness. Even with my sharp eyes, I couldn’t make out anything. I had to rely on the sound of Xiao Jian swimming ahead to orient myself.

I felt my inner energy running dangerously low. If we didn’t get out soon, I’d suffocate.

Luckily, the tunnel wasn’t long. After a while, I saw light up ahead. In a daze, someone grabbed my hand—it felt soft and smooth. In the dim light, I couldn’t see who it was.

I instinctively struggled. But the hand gripped tightly. With a tug, I broke the surface. Under the faint light, I saw Luo Shen quietly floating before me. Her wet hair clung to her forehead. And her eyes beneath the mask glinted coldly like a ghost’s.