Chapter 7, Earthquake

In a haze, I seemed to have returned to this morning... This morning, I changed into what I considered my most presentable outfit and spent quite some time in front of a palm-sized mirror, feeling good about myself and indulging in a bit of narcissism. The reason for this is that washing dishes is certainly not a long-term solution. Coincidentally, the school where Lu Fei studies, Yancheng College, is looking to hire a temporary librarian, and he recommended that I give it a try. Although it is just a temporary librarian position, it is certainly better than washing dishes.

Luffy remained silent for a moment, without saying a word, so I took it as his agreement. Just as I was about to get up and leave, a sudden tremor unexpectedly resonated all around.

Luffy seemed not to believe my words, his expression tense. He snatched the flashlight from my hand and rushed towards the location of the passage. After futilely rummaging around there for a while, he returned to his original spot, sat down heavily on the ground, and with a bitter smile said, "It's over, it's completely blocked. It seems that this time we are really done for."

In theory, the cold blade is extremely sharp, and ordinary soil and stone cannot withstand it, unless it is made of very hard material. Lu Fei immediately understood that there must be an issue behind this wall. The group became excited and began to dig at the wall, and before long, they uncovered a hard stone wall. The entire rock surface was very flat and neatly arranged, clearly man-made, and there were basically no gaps between the stones. It is unknown how the ancients achieved this. The ancient tomb and this air raid shelter are only separated by a wall; if the builders of the air raid shelter had dug a little deeper, perhaps this ancient tomb would have been uncovered long ago.

Wang Yuqing was originally lost in thought, but upon my remark, she realized that she had been supporting me all along. Her cheeks flushed, and she shyly withdrew the hand that was holding me.

Thinking about how I, Hua Musheng, had just come down from the mountain not long ago, yet encountered such a great disaster—without a career and without a woman—life has been quite a disappointment, hasn't it? I recall the conversation I had with my master before leaving, and my father, who toiled in the fields, facing the earth with his back to the sky, a wave of bitterness rises in my heart. Suddenly, a thought flashes through my mind: since I am destined to die, I might as well confess my feelings to my dream lover before I go. Otherwise, if I die, who knows if I will have the chance to do so in the underworld.

Well, beautiful, you have quite a strong grip

However, the unpredictability of the world is daunting. Before I could finish my words, the floor suddenly shook violently again. Damn, it was an aftershock. Although it was an aftershock, its power seemed undiminished, and bricks from the ceiling kept falling. Just as a brick was about to hit Wang Yuqing on the head, in a moment of desperation, I threw myself over her. Immediately, I felt numerous fragments of stone and brick crashing onto my back, as if a thousand pounds were pressing down on me, making it hard to breathe. Fortunately, the aftershock came quickly and left just as swiftly, passing in no time. I shook off the debris from my back and, with concern, asked Wang Yuqing, who was in my arms, "How are you? Are you alright?"

Believe it or not, I am merely stating the facts. If we are to speak of ghosts, the yin energy should be mobile, yet the yin energy I perceive is fixed and yet powerful, akin to a spring that continuously gushes forth. The yin energy within a tomb is also referred to as earth energy. In ancient times, when selecting a tomb, people would typically choose a site with this earth energy, as such tombs often bring unexpected consequences to the descendants of the deceased, such as promotions, wealth, and good fortune. After I finished speaking, the three of them were momentarily taken aback. Although they did not fully understand, the ethereal nature of what I described was quite captivating to them.

I tugged at Luffy's sleeve and said, "Let's go, bookworm. You wouldn't want to dig it open with your chicken claws, would you? Even if you've practiced that Nine Yin White Bone Claw, it might not work. I think we should go back and take a nap first; we can discuss the rest after we wake up."

My grandiose words have indeed stirred everyone's will to survive, and seeing the desire for survival in everyone's eyes indicates that this story was not told in vain

I arrived early at the entrance of Yan City University, but without Lu Fei's introduction, it is better not to wander around recklessly, after all, I am just a person with four lacks. Some may ask what a person with four lacks is; it is quite easy to understand, it refers to someone who has no money, no education, no experience, and no connections.

The interview was fraught with difficulties. As a person with no qualifications, I exhausted nearly all the vocabulary I could muster, yet the librarian seemed to hold me in low regard. The final outcome was predictable; I was ultimately turned away.

Upon leaving the library, my mood was as gloomy as the prelude to a torrential downpour, my face dark like the overcast clouds blocking out the sun. Lu Fei looked at me with an apologetic expression and said, "Little liar, I am sorry, I couldn't help you!"

I was too lazy to say much to them. To prove that I was not speaking falsely, I immediately drew out my cold blade (once again putting it to the task of digging), and on a seemingly inconspicuous wall that I had identified, I removed a few bricks, revealing the soil inside. I took a deep sniff, then thrust the cold blade forcefully into the wall. With a dull thud, the blade, which was a foot long, penetrated the wall for eight inches but could go no further.

A few of us were squeezed together, unable to do anything; self-rescue seemed impossible, and waiting for rescue was even less likely. Who told us to come to the White Building at this late hour to explore its mysteries? Now look at this, who knows that we are trapped down here, more than ten meters underground, with four of us? I did not know what to say, only hearing the sound of the chubby girl's sobs and Wang Yuqing's comforting voice. As for Lu Fei, he was probably just waiting to die.

Luffy adjusted his glasses and explained, "The teachers at the library don't start work that early. I've been waiting at the library, and as soon as I see that teacher, I approach them to chat and say some good things about you. This way, you will have a better chance, right?"

A woman who can make a man indulge in self-pleasure is undoubtedly an exceptional woman. Following Luffy's finger, I suddenly caught sight of a striking shade of pink and green, instantly illuminating my eyes.

Wang Yuqing tousled her messy hair, forced a smile, and said: "I am fine, thank you. Are you okay?"

Wang Yuqing seemed to realize what I was about to say, her face flushed, but she did not want me to continue, quickly interrupting me by saying: "I know that you, like me, are a child without a mother"

Oh, is that so? I thought to myself that my life has only happened once in hundreds of years, it can't be so coincidental to form a pair, right? Being led by Wang Yuqing's words, I completely forgot what I was about to say.

Looking at Luffy's apologetic eyes, I knew he had tried his best and did not hold any resentment. Taking a deep breath, I reassured myself and said: "Forget it, if I can't stay here, there will be a place for me elsewhere. I, Hua Musheng, refuse to believe that I can't make a name for myself!"

"You are quite a friend," I said. I wasn't really angry; naturally, I walked shoulder to shoulder with Lu Fei as we headed towards the library. It was my first time entering a university, but the vast campus made me a bit dizzy. Goodness, this school is several times larger than our village. If it weren't for Lu Fei guiding me, I would probably have gotten lost. I had heard people say that universities are filled with beautiful women, and I was eager to see for myself. However, as I walked, I noticed quite a few girls passing by, but most of them belonged to various 'dinosaur' categories, and the rest were just mediocre. After wandering for quite a while, I still hadn't seen a single attractive one.

After confirming that everyone was fine, I slowly got up, and my first reaction was to check the condition of the passage. The air was filled with dust, and everywhere was in disarray. Unfortunately, the way back had been completely blocked by the collapsed wall. Looking up at the ceiling of the cave, it seemed that the only ventilation hole had also been sealed off. I felt a bit dazed; it was as if good luck had abandoned me while bad luck had come to fruition. This time, I was really going to be buried alive here

Fortunately, the earthquake gradually subsided at this time. I cautiously looked around until I confirmed that the earthquake had indeed stopped, and then I let out a sigh of relief, asking everyone: "Is everyone okay? Please respond!"

"Stop talking nonsense, I've been wandering around your school for half a day, and your school is like a zoo, with all kinds of animals, but there are no beautiful women." I have no interest at all in what Lu Fei said

However, there comes a time when my luck runs out. As soon as I heard Wang Yuqing's sharp scream, "Be careful!", my head felt as if it had been struck by lightning, heavy and painful, with a buzzing sound in my ears. In my daze, I seemed to hear Wang Yuqing calling my name, and the things in front of me gradually faded to gray, soon replaced by a blanket of darkness.

The air raid shelter's defensive capabilities might be acceptable, but it seems incapable of withstanding an earthquake. Cracks are slowly appearing around the walls, and bricks are continuously falling from the ceiling. We are scurrying around like rats crossing the street, with the girls' screams echoing incessantly. I hurriedly hid under a table, curled up with my hands over my head, too afraid to move. I thought to myself that this was the end; it seemed I would be buried alive here. However, my master said I had the life of a ninety-year-old, yet I wondered if he was deceiving me. My mind was in a chaotic state, and I only felt that something had happened. I quickly hid under a table, curled up with my hands over my head, too afraid to move. I thought to myself that this was the end; it seemed I would be buried alive here. However, my master said I had the life of a ninety-year-old, yet I wondered if he was deceiving me. My mind was in a chaotic state, and I only felt that something had happened. Everything was shaking, including myself.

Thinking of this, I gathered my courage and, stammering, said to Wang Yuqing: "Well, Yuqing, please allow me to address you this way. You see, we are both about to die, and you have nothing to say to me."

The symptoms of discomfort vanished in an instant. I shook my head and said, "It's nothing, just a bit dizzy. I sense a heavy presence of negative energy, and it seems to be quite extensive. In my opinion, there is likely an ancient tomb not far from us, and it should have been there for quite some time."

"You really have a knack for nonsense. What ancient tomb with negative energy? Are you sure about that?" Lu Fei listened to my words, half believing and half doubting, yet still displaying great excitement. As a student majoring in archaeology, the mere mention of the words 'ancient tomb' was enough to make him unable to resist, much like a dog seeing a pile of feces.

However, our purpose today is not to admire beautiful women; the key factor is whether the interview can be successful

Damn, I've been waiting for ages, and you only just show up now?" I complained as I walked towards Lu Fei.

There is truly no other way but to report the situation here to the school as it is. Moreover, no one can clearly state what the conditions inside the ancient tomb are, and it would not be wise for us to enter recklessly. Although we cannot be the first to enter the ancient tomb, we are nonetheless the discoverers of it, and we should at least receive some credit for that. Wang Yuqing, unable to open the stone wall to investigate further, decided to take a more pragmatic approach, which is also a good idea.

At this moment, I finally felt a dull pain in my back. I moved my body a bit, and all the parts of me seemed to be functioning adequately, apparently without any major issues. "It's nothing, my body is great, it can't crush me!"

When I saw Wang Yuqing broach the subject, I felt there was nothing to hide, so I embellished my legendary background and spoke at length, making it quite vivid. They, of course, listened with great interest. After finishing a story, I suddenly felt that I should not be dead, so I encouraged everyone by saying: "In the past, I was buried in a grave and still did not die, so today we are equally fortunate and destined to live. Trust me, there will definitely be a turning point in this matter"

When I informed the three of them about the blocked passage, the chubby girl, whose nerves were rather fragile, began to cry uncontrollably without any attempt to hide it. Although Wang Yuqing was also very frightened, she remained considerably stronger than the chubby girl and continuously comforted her. However, emotions are contagious; listening to the chubby girl's cries, Wang Yuqing couldn't help but wipe away her own tears.

I originally came here because of a bet with Wang Yuqing, and as for what ancient tomb or relic lies behind this stone wall, I never really thought about it. A wave of drowsiness hit me, and I yawned, saying: "The beauty is right; after a night of toil, it can be considered a gain. I'm so tired that my back aches; why not just go back, wash up, and sleep?"

Wang Yuqing and the chubby girl leaned against the corner, tightly embracing each other, with nothing around to provide any cover. I gritted my teeth, thinking I absolutely could not let the beautiful girl get hurt. I propped up the table and, crouching low, wobbled my way towards them. The shaking was so intense that what seemed like just a few steps took a long time to crawl. After much effort, I finally reached them and quickly urged them to squeeze in. Wang Yuqing managed to fit in, but when the chubby girl squeezed in with her weight, I was ruthlessly pushed out.

"No, no," Wang Yuqing explained, "I wasn't born in a grave. What I mean is that my mother passed away when I was very young. In a certain sense, we can be considered to share a common sorrow!"

This is granite, no wonder your sword cannot pierce it. Behind this stone wall, even if it is not an ancient tomb, it is certainly an ancient relic. But with such large stones, how can we open it without any tools? Lu Fei felt both happy and frustrated

"You say you were born in a grave, that is truly unheard of. Are you sure you are not deceiving us?" Wang Yuqing's curiosity surged, prompting her to ask. In fact, the atmosphere just now was quite pessimistic, and as they spoke, it inadvertently allowed everyone to temporarily forget the perilous situation they were in.

Who says there isn't? It's just that you haven't encountered it. Look over there, that one is the campus belle of our school. I wonder how many boys from our school have used up their tissues because of her

Lu Fei is indeed an archaeology enthusiast, deeply passionate about his field of study. It is said that on one occasion, he accompanied an archaeological team to excavate an ancient tomb, and he astonishingly went without sleep for three days and nights, just to witness the excavation process firsthand. Now, with such a significant temptation before him, he is certainly reluctant to return at this moment. He has been fixated on that stone wall, his eyes revealing a sense of longing. With such a significant temptation before him, he is certainly reluctant to return at this moment. He has been fixated on that stone wall, his eyes revealing a sense of longing.

A strong premonition struck my mind, causing me to feel a sudden wave of dizziness. Wang Yuqing noticed that I was a bit unsteady on my feet and reached out to support me, saying, "Little liar, are you alright?"

Hmm? Although I was interrupted by Wang Yuqing, I was not angry; on the contrary, her words piqued my interest, "So you are also..."

It's good if you can let it go; next time there is an opportunity, I will introduce it to you! Suddenly, Lu Fei pretended to be mysterious and said to me: "Little liar, do you want to see beautiful women?"

Wang Yuqing was originally holding my hand, but upon hearing the words "ancient tomb," she suddenly tightened her grip, making me feel a bit uncomfortable. It seems she is quite interested in ancient tombs as well

Little trickster, over here! From a distance, Lu Fei waved at me.

When Wang Yuqing heard this, she was taken aback for a moment, and the chubby girl also stopped crying. Seeing her silent, I scratched my head and continued, "The first time I saw you, I was... I, you..."

What is happening? My heart tightened, won't we be caught in an earthquake? The entire air raid shelter shook more violently, showing no signs of stopping despite my question. The four of us felt as if we were in a small boat on the ocean, swaying back and forth, and it took us a while to realize that we might really be experiencing an earthquake