Chapter 92: The One Who Carved the Words

Liu Sanshui was a man shrouded in mystery. He was the youngest among the Five Masters of his generation, the first to die, but also the first Liu family member to rise to prominence. It’s no exaggeration to say that the Liu family’s vast client base today was built largely thanks to him.

Of all the people my grandfather disliked dealing with, Liu Sanshui topped the list. I’d heard bits and pieces about his early years—how he once joined a group of tomb raiders on a sea salvage mission. A storm hit midway, compasses failed, and he casually pointed in a direction. The boat followed it, and against all odds, they actually found the sunken ship.

Rumor has it he brought back a large haul of salvaged porcelain from that wreck and made a fortune, while the rest of the tomb raiders mysteriously vanished. My guess? They probably had a falling out over the loot. Knowing Liu Sanshui’s nature, it wouldn’t be surprising if he set them up and eliminated them all.

When Lu A’yao heard He Yu say this, he frowned for once. “If your guess is right, and the person who entered that Warring States tomb in Gansu was really Liu Sanshui, then things are about to get seriously complicated.”

“Why?” I asked.

He Yu replied in a low voice, “Because Liu Sanshui went missing during a tomb raiding operation back in the 1980s. But the secret script we saw last time—the one carved into the stone—was clearly recent. Based on initial analysis, it couldn’t be more than ten years old.”

I caught his meaning and leaned in slightly, whispering, “You’re saying… Liu Sanshui is still alive?”

“Uh, let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” He Yu said, quickly lighting a cigarette. “We’re just speculating here, nothing more. But if he really is alive, and even went to the same place we did, then this is no small matter.”

The atmosphere turned heavy. From He Yu’s description, the person who carved that secret script into the stone was undoubtedly Liu Sanshui. Unless someone else had stumbled upon another surviving copy of that ancient book, which seemed unlikely.

First off, who else would have the patience and determination to treat an ancient text like a new language and study it cover to cover? And back then, the world was in chaos—people were too busy running for their lives to treat books like treasures, especially one that read like complete gibberish.

So if that’s the case, then Liu Sanshui had explored the Warring States tomb in Gansu long before us. He even left behind the secret script in the corridor—“Look up and see all beings.” That could mean he had already seen the real Nieyao Ghost Market Map before entering the tomb. Or at least a convincing replica.

But why would he carve something describing the Nieyao Ghost Market Map into a tomb that, on the surface, had nothing to do with it? Or maybe, like us, he had already discovered the hidden meaning behind those corridor murals.

But for that to happen, he would’ve had to walk the exact same path we did. Could it be…

The more I thought about it, the colder I felt. The wind in this canyon had nothing to do with summer—it cut straight to the bone. We didn’t know how long we’d been sitting there in silence. None of the four of us spoke. I had a vague feeling they were all deep in thought, though probably not about the same things I was.

When the last sliver of moonlight disappeared behind the clouds, He Yu finally spoke. “No matter what, we need to focus on the problem at hand. This place is seriously messed up. We haven’t even stepped through the door and already so much has happened. It’s a bad sign. Let’s just make it through tonight first.”

He glanced at his watch. “It’s nine o’clock. No idea how long the nights last here, but one person on watch isn’t going to cut it. We need to split the shifts.”

The moment I heard “night watch,” I perked up. After everything that happened tonight, I wasn’t the least bit sleepy. I quickly raised my hand. “Me, me, me! Let me do it. I’m great at staying up!”

But He Yu waved me off. “Not you. Scram. Grown-ups are talking—kids shouldn’t butt in.”

What the hell?! Have I been too nice to this guy lately? We’ve only been in Yunnan a few days and he’s already getting cocky? I’m a solid, dependable guy sitting right here, and he calls me a kid? What kind of kid carries an oxygen tank while rock climbing? A six-foot-tall baby?

I was about to explode. I turned to He Yu and snapped, “What’s your problem? Why do you always look down on me? We’ve known each other for ages, and when it counts, I’m always the one stepping up. Have I ever dragged you down?”

He Yu gave me a look—one of those glances that somehow felt even more insulting than outright ridicule. Then he said, “Xiao Gan, it’s one thing to lie to your buddies, but don’t lie to yourself. With how slow your brain works, you on night watch? Please. Without Old Lu’s Blood Jade, by the time you realize something’s wrong, the rest of us would already be reporting to the King of Hell!”

I was completely speechless. I didn’t even know how to argue back. In the end, I had to back down a little. “At least let me take the first half of the night. I can definitely handle that, I swear!”

Just then, Lu A’yao, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke. “It’s only the first day. We’ve got at least a week ahead of us. You were bitten by a snake today—you need to rest tonight. Once we’ve followed the map and found the location, you can take the first shift. But not tonight.”

He had a point. The spot where I was bitten still throbbed faintly. And since it was Lu A’yao saying it, I couldn’t really argue. He still had some credibility with me. If He Yu had said the same thing, I’d have slapped him already.

Besides, since Lu A’yao had spoken, I couldn’t disrespect him.

“Fine, I’ll listen. You guys figure it out,” I said.

Just as I finished speaking, Chen Canghai raised his phone and showed it to us. He said, “Brother He looks a bit tired. I can take the first half of the night watch. If anything seems off, I’ll wake you both immediately.”

He Yu snapped his fingers, then handed one of the knives from his belt to Chen Canghai. “Alright! If you’re ever unsure about something, wake up Old Lu first. He’s more sensitive than the two of us. There are rocks all over the place—use your dagger to tap the ground or the walls if you need to.”

I looked at He Yu, baffled by how quickly he seemed to trust Chen Canghai. A strange feeling welled up inside me. What the hell was going on? Did I really come off as that unreliable? Just because I was a little slow back in Gansu, both in running and reacting?

“I’ll take the second half of the night,” Lu A’yao said.

As soon as he finished, he and He Yu exchanged a nod, perfectly in sync, like they’d known each other for over twenty years.

He Yu had read a lot of records left by his ancestors and had come up with what he called the “He Family Method.” According to him, strange occurrences usually happened in the second half of the night. That’s why the person taking over the watch after midnight was always the most reliable one in the group—so they could lead an escape at the most critical moment and minimize casualties.

While Chen Canghai and Lu A’yao went to clear out a spot behind the cave for us to rest, I rolled my eyes, patted He Yu on the shoulder, and whispered, “What’s going on with you two today? All these little gestures—did you swear brotherhood behind my back or something?”

He Yu coughed twice. “Brother Gan, what are you implying? Brother Lu and I are bound by life and death. That kind of bond isn’t something you can just—”

I cut him off with a kick. “Cut the crap. Don’t play dumb with me. I don’t know how close you two really are, but what are you trying to pull?”

He Yu clicked his tongue and leaned in close to whisper in my ear. “Look at the four of us: one lunatic, one mute we barely know. Who are you really close with? When it comes down to it, you and I are on the same side. Let’s assume that mute really is here to find someone, but Lu A’yao? Don’t trust a word he says. There’s no way he came here just to look for Lu Xiaosu.”

I asked, “He sounded pretty sincere to me. Why are you so sure?”

He Yu shook me by the shoulders. “Wake up, will you? The Lu family isn’t exactly known for being warm and fuzzy. As for him and Lu Xiaosu, their only connection is that whole ‘rescued and rescuer’ thing. And Lu Xiaosu’s been missing for ages. If he really wanted to find her, he would’ve done it centuries ago. It’s not like he lacks the ability. In terms of connections, status, and power, he’s way ahead of you. So why now, of all times? Doesn’t that strike you as suspicious?”

“But Little Yao… we can’t afford to fall out with him. After everything that’s happened, I’ve realized something—Han Jian and his crew never intended to look out for us. Once we’re down there, the only expert we can count on is that guy named Lu. So while he’s still treating me decently, I need to talk to him more. No matter what he’s really here for, I can’t let him leave me behind.”

As he spoke, he patted my shoulder. “Don’t worry, he’ll definitely help you. Me, though? Not so sure.”

“He won’t,” I said. “If he tries to leave you behind, I’ll be the first to stop him.”

He Yu chuckled. “You really think that? If we didn’t have those copper coins, I’m pretty sure he’d leave both of us behind without a second thought.”

“That’s impossible. At the very least, we’re friends.”

“If he were just a regular guy, I wouldn’t be so certain,” He Yu said. “But he’s a Lu. And that gives me about an eighty percent certainty that he absolutely would.”