Exploring the Illusory Tomb Part 1 [Ancient Times Version] - Chapter 3: Intentions

Chapter 3: Intentions

Lady Luo coldly snorted and said, 

“It wasn’t me. I was only following my master’s orders to receive Elder Kunlun. And I didn’t know that you had been brought here.” 

Seemingly unwilling to engage in further conflict, she turned to the maid and asked, 

“Where are Xie Er and Chang Wu? The master wants to see them later.”

The maid replied nervously, 

“I heard that Second Young Master went on a mission last night and was… was injured by this young lady here. Fifth Young Master is taking care of him.” 

As she spoke, she kept glancing at me.

Lady Luo quietly looked me up and down. Her gaze was calm as it moved from top to bottom. And now that she wasn’t wearing a veil, her eyes, hidden beneath a mask, seemed as deep as a still pond—unmoving and profound. It made it difficult to meet her eyes. From the maid’s answer, it seemed that this woman knew nothing about what happened last night. Recalling my earlier rude words, a trace of guilt passed through my heart. But she had personally taken Kunlun away. So I still harbored hostility toward her.

Seeing that I was somewhat guilty for accusing her wrongly, she didn’t say anything further. She turned and walked toward the inner courtyard. Her white brocade robe was fluttering like a wisp of cold smoke. It stood out strikingly against the deep green backdrop.

The maid watched the woman’s figure with a hint of fear and mixed with a bit of envy. She then led me through a long corridor toward the hall. I seized the opportunity to ask her some questions and learned that her name was Shao Jing. She was the head maid here and managed some of the household affairs. Her personality was quite restless, and she was very talkative.

From Shao Jing, I found out that Lady Luo’s name was Luo Shen. And she was a favorite of the Prince, the master of this residence. Ten years ago, I also stayed in the palace for a while. But I had never heard of him. Could he have been made a prince only later?

In the midst of my scattered thoughts, I unknowingly arrived in front of a grand main hall. Judging by the scale, it was the tallest building in the estate. The plaque in front read “Ancient Sound and Flowing Melody” in large, dragon-and-phoenix-scripted characters. Shao Jing smiled and said, 

“Miss Shi, this is the place. I’ll wait for you here.”

I took a deep breath and walked up the steps. Even though this seemed like a den of danger, now that I was here, I had to take the plunge.

However, when I reached the door, the scene inside startled me. I saw four people of different appearances seated on either side of the hall. And to the left of the dragon-carved pillar stood a man in dark clothing. His figure was familiar, his face cold and sinister—he was the short man who had attacked me with the paper manipulation technique last night.

Everyone in the room turned to look at me. It was as if I were a trapped beast stumbling into a cage. A pressure seemed to descend from all sides. In the center of the hall sat a middle-aged man in black and red brocade, his face pale with a beard. He was exuding a scholarly air. But upon closer inspection of his eyebrows and eyes, there was a hint of a chilling coldness. He was undoubtedly the Prince.

The white-clad woman, Luo Shen, stood beside him. Her jade-like mask glowed faintly. It resembled a jade statue.

In the ten years I had lived, I could count the number of people I had interacted with on my fingers. And now I found myself the center of attention in this room full of formidable figures. I couldn’t help but feel uneasy and embarrassed. What could this Prince’s intentions be in calling me here to this place full of so many strong individuals?

I pursed my lips and stood there silently as the guests began to whisper among themselves.

The Prince turned his head and said something softly to Luo Shen. She nodded and walked directly toward me. She led me to sit beside the short man, Chang Wu. She then returned to stand beside the Prince.

I inwardly complained. I was wondering why this Prince had arranged for me to sit beside this menacing short man. Since I had injured his brother, Chang Wu and we were at odds. As soon as I sat down, his eyes were cold as frost. They were locked onto me. It sent a shiver down my spine.

“Heroes, it is an honor to have you here today. If my hospitality is lacking, I hope you will not mind. Let me propose a toast to you all,” 

The Prince said, raising his cup and drinking it in one go. His words were very humble, without the airs of a prince. It caused the guests to stand up nervously and raise their cups in return.

One of the elderly Taoists appeared to be their leader. He was dressed simply and carrying a long sword on his back. He bent his waist in a bow and said, 

“Your Highness, you flatter us. We, who make a living by digging the earth, are truly grateful to Your Highness for inviting us into your home. Whatever you wish, we will follow your command!”

Digging the earth? I furrowed my brows and carefully examined the four people sitting there.

The sword-carrying Taoist looked like someone who didn’t simply wait for incense offerings in a temple. His face was weathered, and his sharp eyes gleamed with intelligence. It suggested he was no ordinary person. Next to him sat a young man. He was well-dressed and handsome, always smiling. When he noticed me looking his way, he even winked at me. Which made me glare at him in return, causing him to chuckle.

The remaining two looked rather ordinary. But all four of them gave off a strange, cold aura. People who dig tombs for a living usually carry a faint scent of the earth. And those who dig deeply into ancient tombs often have an eerie, tomb-like aura. These four people claimed to “dig for a living,” so it was highly likely they were tomb robbers.

The Prince had gathered these four tomb raiders, taken Kunlun away, and now made me sit here and listen to their fake pleasantries. What was he truly after?

“Today, I have something for you all to see,” 

The Prince said with a smile. He signaled to Luo Shen, who was holding a silk handkerchief in her hand. She presented it to the old Taoist first. The old Taoist studied it for a while. And then his expression suddenly changed. He muttered, “This… this is!” The other three leaned over to take a closer look. Their faces were full of surprise.

I was curious about what it was. Luo Shen then turned toward me. Seeing the anticipation on my face, she walked over and handed me another silk handkerchief. She did not retreat but stood directly in front of me. Beneath the mask, I could not tell what expression she wore. But it felt as if her deep eyes were probing me. It left me feeling uneasy.

I decided to ignore her and instead focused on the mysterious object lying in the handkerchief. It turned out to be a small piece of gold foil. It was quietly exuding a heavy and ancient aura. The small piece was intricately carved with patterns of an ancient beast, with a dragon winding around a phoenix. On the gold foil, a qilin, a golden dragon, and a phoenix with a missing right wing were carved. They were surrounded by clouds. And even the feathers and scales of the divine beasts could be distinguished.

The gold foil was slightly damaged by the moisture and dampness of the tomb. It had some spots faded. But it did not diminish its breathtaking artistic value. The characters engraved on it were incomplete. It seemed to be a fragment from the Warring States period.

“Do any of you see any clues?” 

The Prince asked with a smile. His eyes were drifting toward me. I felt a strange discomfort from his smirk.

The old Taoist bowed and replied,

“Your Highness, from the inscription on the gold foil, and by tracing the dynasty, it appears that this gold foil is from the Warring States period. However, the carving technique, the direction of the patterns, and the style of the design seem to resemble the Han Dynasty, which baffles me.”

I could see it too. If this were a Han Dynasty gold item, it would be impossible for it to bear Warring States-style inscriptions. Usually, when dynasties change, the rulers would carefully design their gold and silver works to reflect their era’s style. However, there was another possibility: perhaps Han Dynasty craftsmen had re-carved these gold artifacts from the Warring States period. But that remained uncertain.

“This fragment was found by one of my subordinates on a mountain in Botian County. He presented it to me, and I’ve been admiring these gold foils every night. I find them fascinating. But they also raise many questions. The inscription is incomplete. And if one day it is found in its entirety, it would be a great discovery. I hope the heroes can go there and investigate further. It would fulfill my hopes.”

The Prince spoke gracefully, without any visible flaws. And the tomb raiders immediately understood. They bowed in agreement.

I sneered inwardly, *What a noble prince!* Since this gold foil was found in Botian County, judging by the Prince’s calm demeanor, I suspected that the tomb on that mountain was extremely wealthy. But the tomb-robbing business was one that harmed one’s morals and was despised by the common people. A prince like him would not dare to send his own soldiers. So he threw this task to the tomb raiders. All he needed to do was wait for them to get the treasure and bring it to him. Given the value of the gold fragment, those tomb raiders would surely be itching to get their hands on it.

But why did he have to involve me and Kunlun in this?