Chapter 01: The Ancient Tomb

Now, Sam asserts emphatically that this underground palace is completely free of dust, not only is the structure of the palace intact, with no signs of collapse or corrosion, but even every burial item placed inside is astonishingly new. If these words did not come from the usually rigid and meticulous Sam, I would truly doubt that I am listening to the Classic of Mountains and Seas.

Whoosh—whoosh

I shivered, and the camera in my hand nearly slipped from my grasp

Who exactly is buried in this ancient tomb? The taste of the tomb's creator is truly remarkable, with a style that integrates the essence of both ancient and modern, as well as diverse cultures from around the world

Sam still shot me a cold glare

Examining the burial items placed in the four corners of the main tomb chamber, it is evident that although there are not many items, each one is a fine piece. The materials are either gold or silver, and the styles are those commonly used by Han people during the Ming Dynasty. However, the craftsmanship is not particularly refined, and they do not resemble items native to the Central Plains of China.

After a long time, no one has responded

He shouted so loudly that the echoes reverberated in the empty tomb, repeatedly resounding those five words: "Buxiyamala—Buxiyamala—Buxiyamala—Mala—La—"

Click click ... ...

A woman squatting by the lake, playing in the water, is dressed in a bright red long robe. Her hair is styled in a dark braid bun adorned with flowers, and numerous beaded strings made of agate and tortoiseshell, favored by Mongolian women, are entwined and hang down by her temples. As a cold breeze blows, the woman in the image appears so vivid as if she is about to step down from the monument, and in the wind, one can faintly hear the clear jingling of the beads colliding as she walks.

Sam pushed him aside, carefully put on white gloves, and gently stroked the surface of the stele: "Although some characters are recognizable, they do not form coherent phrases when strung together, and the meaning is completely disconnected; it should not be Mongolian."

"It is true..." Sam said coldly, "The two burial items excavated from the accompanying burial pit outside the ancient tomb have been appraised by experts and are indeed antiques from the late Ming to early Qing dynasties." He spoke these words with remarkable calmness, truly deserving of being the top-ranked poker-faced guy in the entire company.

It is very cold

Just as my admiration was rapidly expanding, he casually added, "I cannot understand what is written above."

In that fleeting moment, I almost believed I had seen the anthropoid sarcophagus of a mummy inside the pyramids of ancient Egypt

This was not a significant matter to begin with, and moreover, the excavation and investigation of ancient tombs do not seem to overlap with our purpose of visiting the Mongolian steppe to search for and explore historical sites. However, Sam insisted that this recently discovered mysterious ancient tomb is the most well-preserved and luxurious ancient mausoleum in Mongolia to date

In the moment when the flash of the camera in my hand illuminated, I distinctly saw a pair of clear and cold eyes, gazing at me without a hint of emotion

Do you understand Mongolian? I am not mocking him; these past few days, while traveling outside, I have no idea how many jokes have been made due to the inability to understand the local language and script.

The opening descends vertically for about ten meters, and the traces of soil gradually diminish, revealing a stepped surface of blue stone beneath my feet. Following the narrow and steep steps downward for approximately ten minutes, I finally reached level ground

"Buxiyamala ... ... Buxiyamala ... ... Buxiyamala ... ..." The sound echoed again and again, like a lingering sigh, like a profound lament, and even more so, like a series of desperate and sorrowful calls, "Buxiyamala ... ... Buxiyamala ... ..."

Ah! An equally unavoidable exclamation

I paused, feeling a chill rising from the soles of my feet straight to the top of my head

"Hey, this... this tomb is fake, right?" There was a forced smile from Hong.

You... I hesitated for a moment, "Did you just call my name?"

What was written?

As I was reflecting on how this evening had indeed been worthwhile, Hong and the others had already eagerly surrounded the golden coffin, continuously expressing their astonishment with exclamations of wonder. It was evident that Sam also experienced a moment of disbelief and tremor upon seeing the golden coffin.

The underground palace, the meticulously studied tomb chamber, the tortoise-shaped stele, the golden coffin ... what other eye-opening treasures will appear next

At last, everything before me turned completely dark. As I helplessly leaned against the coffin, a wave of ethereal music floated in the wind, and a voice, ambiguous in gender, sang hysterically amidst the melody

There are still ... ... Huh, Arabic numerals? No way?

A feeling of unease surged up again, the strange sensation that I had just barely suppressed moments ago suddenly reemerged

We have arrived. Sam, who was at the front of the line, stopped and lowered his voice to discuss a few words with a shadowy figure that approached from the opposite side in the darkness. Then, that person led us to turn a corner and enter a small tent that had been temporarily set up next to the library.

"No need to exert yourself, look here!" A macro suddenly exclaimed in excitement, the beam of the searchlight in his hand shining on the left side of the stone tablet, "There are characters! It's Chinese! Traditional Chinese characters!"

Just as I was about to roll up my sleeves and rush over to drive someone away, I heard Hong excitedly shouting at the top of his lungs: "Bu, Xi... Bu Xi Ya Ma La, it says Bu Xi Ya Ma La! Bu Xi Ya Ma Laーー"

Bang! Hong Yi accidentally bumped his forehead against the stone tablet

Then, it was chilling

However, when a faint sigh suddenly reached my ears, I immediately felt a chill run down my spine, as if the blood in my body had reversed its flow, my hands and feet turned icy, and I was nearly scared into a silent scream

What is illuminated by the light is not a true wall, but an enormous stone tablet. The sides of the tablet are intricately carved with complex patterns, and at the base lies a fierce-looking Bixi. The Bixi is entirely black, while the surface of the tablet is carved from white marble, creating a striking contrast between black and white that appears remarkably eerie. Upon closer inspection, the snow-white surface of the tablet is filled with familiar, distorted characters.

A faint scent, reminiscent of sandalwood, permeates the air, not quite like that of mold. However, for someone like me, with an empty stomach, this smell is utterly unbearable—ever since I stepped down from the last stone step, I have been retching incessantly

I nodded weakly

"What happened?" I looked up, suddenly stunned, and instinctively jumped back a step.

Ah—" I let out a high-decibel scream, retreating three or four steps until my back collided with the golden coffin.

Abo, hurry up

Suddenly, Sam stopped in front of me, turned his head, and glared at me

Anyway, I was dozing off during his commentary and didn't really understand much; only a little bit got through, which is that there are very few discoveries of underground palaces like this on the grasslands. Firstly, the ethnic minorities living in this area practice either sky burial or cremation, with very few opting for earth burial; secondly, even if there are ancient earth burial tombs left, they have either been completely looted by tomb raiders or have long been eroded by the local climate. Firstly, the ethnic minorities living in this area practice either sky burial or cremation, with very few opting for earth burial; secondly, even if there are ancient earth burial tombs left, they have either been completely looted by tomb raiders or have long been eroded by the local climate

From Shanghai to the vast grasslands of Outer Mongolia in three days, I hardly closed my eyes. It was not only due to the time difference but also the rudimentary accommodation conditions of the hotel and the discomfort of the climate. I was in such a state that whatever I ate came back up. Even the milk that I usually love to drink now smells so gamey that just the scent makes me want to vomit. With my normally robust physique, as solid as iron, after being subjected to this for three days, I surprisingly lost seven to eight pounds. It is indeed more effective than any weight loss medication.

... ... can bring prosperity to the world, can also bring about its downfall ... ...

What happened? At this moment, the macros had already circled behind the tombstone, and only Sam was still standing by, waiting for me

What a group of heartless and unfeeling men

Sam raised an eyebrow, displaying a very impatient expression

Another reminder? These barbarians, have they all activated some sort of cheat? How can they stay up for so many consecutive nights without feeling tired? Can't they show a bit of gentlemanly demeanor? Even if I am not a universally adored beauty, I am still the only woman in the production team sent out by the station. Is it too much to ask to occasionally take care of a female colleague?

I scrunched my nose, deliberately ignoring the strange shadow in my heart, and pressed the shutter repeatedly without a care for the consequences

The tent blocked the wildly howling wind, and a slightly swaying kerosene lamp hung from the top. In the dim light, a slab covered in moss was revealed on the excavated grassy muddy ground.

Ha, ha... I do not know why, perhaps to alleviate this oppressive atmosphere, I jokingly nudged Youhong, "Come on, during the late 16th century and early 17th century, who would use Arabic numerals to calculate the Gregorian calendar? Four hundred years ago, it was still the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty..."

It is not Mongolian! Sam exclaimed, "If the language is not astonishing, I will not rest until I die."

Where is it? Where is it? Four big men rushed over in a swarm, pushing me out to the periphery. No matter how I held up the camera, I could never get a good angle; the lens was always filled with those four dark heads.

I kept pressing the shutter, and the flash kept going off with a crackling sound

Behind is a larger burial chamber, measuring approximately 20 to 30 square meters, and slightly rectangular in shape. In the center of the chamber lies a golden coffin inlaid with dazzling gemstones.

Bang! My heart feels as if it has been suddenly struck hard by someone.

Hello, I said you all...

"Abo, are you very tired?" I do not know when, but Hong has been walking alongside me.

Due to a lack of oxygen in my brain, I began to feel waves of dizziness

"Get out of the way!" I called out in dissatisfaction, but unfortunately, no one paid me any attention

No one ever expected that the back of that stone tablet would hold another world—behind the tablet, there was actually a life-sized colored portrait painted.

I know that he understands Mongolian, although he is not very fluent. However, just by observing how he looks at the menu and places his order, one can tell his level of proficiency. Compared to someone like us who is completely clueless, he is the absolute authority among our group.

"We can go back this afternoon, just hang in there..." Hong approached me and whispered, "Don't think that Sam seems indifferent to you; in fact, he has already booked a first-class flight back to Shanghai for tomorrow."

1582 - 1616? Buxiyamala (1582 - 1616)? ... ... '' A booming voice suddenly halted, and a strange current of air flowed among the five of us

With a face full of admiration, Hong could not help but press it against the surface of the monument, marveling as he watched.

Such a cold gaze! Even in the dim light of the night, I can still feel that murderous look, sharp as a blade.

I suddenly turned around

Three or four fully charged searchlights swept up and down in the open grave pit, finally converging their beams on a wall.

I pointed at the opposite side, trembling and unable to utter a word

Finally, they noticed something was off with me, and they all looked in the direction of my finger.

They had a ghostly expression of fear on their faces

Squinting my eyes and looking through the camera lens, I suddenly felt a bit dizzy. At first, I didn't pay much attention, thinking it was just due to hunger making me faint. This feeling of dizziness, weakness in my limbs, and a rapid heartbeat was not the first time I had experienced it in these three days.

As I crouched down to one side, I suddenly heard the gasping sounds emitted simultaneously by the four of them

The person lifted the stone slab, revealing a pit on the ground that could barely accommodate one person: "Go down this way... Be careful, as the air may cause corrosion. The bottom has not been ventilated yet, so it is best to take a candle with you... If anything seems off, come back up quickly..."

Last night, I was selecting photos while holding my laptop, and I stayed up until after 1 AM. After finally finishing my work, I climbed into bed and had just closed my eyes when I was violently pulled out from under the covers by them, claiming to have received the latest insider information that an ancient tomb had been discovered underground somewhere in the Kalkha grassland.

Why ... ... does not come back ... ... why ... ... must leave ... ... Buxiyamala ... ... Buxiyamala ... ... come back ... ... come back ... ... Buxiyamala ... ...

The delicate eyebrows are lightly brushed into the hairline, the eyes bright as autumn waters, and the red lips slightly pouted ... In a moment of daze, I seem to hear the melancholic sigh escaping from her lips.

The air in the tomb chamber was flowing rapidly, and a wave of cool air filled with the scent of sandalwood blew directly from behind my neck

Yet that mournful voice and those cold, piercing eyes felt like countless ropes tightly binding me, constricting me with an unyielding grip

Moreover, I am also carrying three different models of "heavyweight" cameras on me, so it is certainly impossible for me to run as fast as their dogs.

I let out a sigh of relief, a broad smile spreading across my face, and hurried to keep pace with his steps, circling around the tombstone.

As a result, the light in the position where I stood suddenly dimmed. Although I am an atheist, being in a tomb that houses the dead, gradually enveloped by the cold, dark atmosphere, I couldn't help but feel a chill run down my spine, and goosebumps began to rise on my skin.

It felt as though an invisible hand had tightly grasped my neck, leaving me breathless; the beating of my heart was even more frantic than I had imagined, and the echoes of those sigh-like calls continued to ravage my ears relentlessly

What is going on ... ... '' Sam said angrily

I increasingly feel curious about what kind of person the owner of this tomb was during their lifetime. It is truly incredible! If this ancient tomb were to be fully excavated, it would surely shock the world. No wonder Sam is so nervous; his professional instincts are indeed more acute than anyone else's.

Look here... here! Although it is much smaller than those twisting characters from earlier, it is still engraved very clearly—"You Hong" leaned down to take a look, and in order for him to see more clearly, everyone directed all the lights to the corner he was pointing at

It is precisely because of these numerous impossibilities that have nonetheless come to exist as "miracles" that we feel compelled to investigate them. In order to obtain firsthand information, Sam and his team spared no expense to secure connections, preparing to stealthily infiltrate the ancient tomb under the cover of night—yet it sounds more like we are going tomb raiding rather than gathering information.

However, I couldn't help but yawn. My steps had begun to feel unsteady, and running felt as if I were treading on a field of cotton, my whole body swaying as if it were about to fall apart

I smiled weakly at him. Perhaps my complexion was too pale, as the night wind on the grassland blew my hair over my face like thatch. The beam of the searchlight swept by, and Hong's gaze at me was so startled, as if he had seen a ghost.