Deep into the night, everyone had fallen asleep. Han Xiao Liu, however, lay on the sand, staring up at the sky. His strong physique easily withstood the vast temperature difference of the desert.
Shirley walked out and sat beside Han Xiao Liu, hugging her legs.
“Why aren’t you sleeping?”
“I just can’t sleep. Why aren’t you sleeping? We’re going down to the underground palace tomorrow. You don’t want to go with dark circles under your eyes. By the way, straighten your legs. Let me lie down for a bit.”
Shirley was stunned, but she subconsciously stretched out her legs.
Han Xiao Liu shifted his body and unceremoniously placed his head on her thigh, a place he had been eyeing for a while.
“Comfortable.”
Shirley looked down. Their eyes met, and her face instantly flushed red, all the way to her neck. This was the first time she had been so close to a man.
“Shirley, what if we don’t find the Kunchenzhu in the ancient city of Jingjue?”
“We’ll keep looking. Our Zaglama clan has been searching for a thousand years. I’ve prepared myself mentally. The ancient city of Jingjue is the root of the curse. I have to go. Besides, I’ve dreamed of a similar scene more than once.”
Han Xiao Liu was intrigued.
“What scene?”
“A huge abyss, a winding path leading up to the side, and a cliff overhang at the top of the cliff. A coffin sits on the very edge. But I can’t see the figure inside the coffin.”
“The Queen of Jingjue?”
“Maybe. But the same dream has appeared multiple times. I don’t think it’s a coincidence.”
Because sitting with her legs stretched out for a long time was tiring, Shirley unconsciously bent forward as she spoke.
This delighted Han Xiao Liu.
This was the closest Han Xiao Liu had ever been to Shirley’s exquisite headlights. His nose was less than 3 centimeters away, and his keen sense of smell could even detect a faint scent of perfume.
“If you don’t find what you’re looking for, do you have any other goals?”
Shirley shook her head. After all, she was only twenty years old. No matter how much she learned, it was limited.
The notes and burial information left behind by Partridge Whistle from decades of experience were far from fully researched.
During his time in the desert, Han Xiao Liu realized his weakness in going solo. So, he had the idea of forming an elite team. He didn’t need many people, but anyone joining had to accept his rules.
“Shirley, I’d like to invite you to join my team. You managed to bring this group here. That means you have exceptional abilities. It’s too tiring for me to fight alone.”
Shirley was tempted. She had seen Han Xiao Liu’s strength with her own eyes. Most importantly, she had a good feeling about this man.
Handsome, capable, and although a bit of a jerk sometimes, his tomb raiding skills were real.
Shirley, inheriting the legacy of the Panshan lineage, knew the importance of companions. So, she was very interested in Han Xiao Liu’s invitation.
“Let me think about it.”
“Okay, no rush. All your belongings are on the other side of the world. I hope you’ll bring the equipment and lifelong research left behind by your grandfather, Partridge Whistle, and join us. I need you.”
As they chatted more and more, they learned more about each other.
Han Xiao Liu’s invitation was carefully considered.
While Hu Ba Yi and Fatty Wang were the main characters, Han Xiao Liu didn’t care about them. Their values were too different.
Although Hu Ba Yi was a good person, he was easily swayed, lacked decisiveness, and had a bit of a savior complex. This often led him and his companions into danger.
Fatty Wang was even worse. He was talkative, impulsive, careless, hasty, and greedy. He embodied every taboo of tomb raiding. So, even though he had impressive skills, Han Xiao Liu wouldn’t consider him.
Most importantly, Han Xiao Liu felt that the main characters in the tomb-robbing world didn’t have good fortune!
If tomb raiding couldn’t make money, what was the point?
While Han Xiao Liu wasn’t overly ambitious about money, his system unlocked his hobbies through tasks. But he also wanted to live a comfortable life.
“Shirley, what do you think about tomb raiding?”
“What do you mean?”
“What if I told you that I am an archaeologist, but I’m also a tomb raider? Would you accept it?”
This question from Han Xiao Liu was also a test. After all, if they couldn’t reach an agreement on this issue, even if it was regrettable, he wouldn’t let Shirley become his companion. He wouldn’t even covet her body.
“Even though my ancestors were Panshan Daoists, belonging to the Northern Four Sects, if I were to raid tombs purely for the sake of wealth, I wouldn’t be able to accept it. But when raiding a tomb, I am very supportive of obtaining some good artifacts as spoils of war.”
“Your words are enough, haha. I, Han Xiao Liu, don’t have high demands for wealth, but I still want to collect some exquisite artifacts when I encounter them. Besides, look at Professor Chen. He’s been researching for a lifetime, and even when raiding a tomb, he needs a ‘sponsor.’ So, in this wretched society, having no money is absolutely unacceptable.”
Shirley was also relieved. If Han Xiao Liu was a professional tomb raider using archaeology as a front, she wouldn’t have joined.
Han Xiao Liu’s answer satisfied her, and being raised in a capitalist society, she agreed with his views. However, if she discovered that Han Xiao Liu’s actions in the future didn’t align with his words, she would definitely choose to leave.
...
Although Han Xiao Liu and Shirley didn’t do anything, they both had a pleasant night.
Especially Han Xiao Liu. Not only did he enjoy Shirley’s leg pillow, but his nose also brushed against the top of her headlights several times. Even though they were separated by clothing, there was no real touch. But he, who hadn’t touched a woman since being reborn, almost had a nosebleed.
It was only after Shirley felt uncomfortable that she found an excuse to go back to her tent to rest.
......
As the sun rose, the group quickly found the collapsed entrance to the underground palace.
“An Li Man and Ye Yi Xin will wait outside.”
As soon as they descended into the underground palace, they were stunned by the interior scene.
Han Xiao Liu was no exception. It was the first time he had seen such a magnificent structure.
Inside the underground palace, there were three-step platforms every certain distance, with stone statues carved on both sides.
“Wow, it’s all built from giant stones. The wisdom of the ancients is truly amazing. Thousands of years have passed, and the carvings on these pillars are still so vivid. It shows how skilled the craftsmen were back then.”
Professor Chen’s eyes sparkled. Every new discovery was a win for him.
Han Xiao Liu walked ahead, throwing dozens of glow sticks around. One reason was to illuminate, the other was to prevent snakes to a certain extent. But even with all those lights, the entire underground palace couldn’t be fully lit, which shows how vast it was.
As the glow sticks lit up, everyone was surprised to see a row of skeletons hanging in mid-air behind the pillars.
Han Xiao Liu wasn’t interested in listening to Professor Chen’s explanations about the statues. He wasn’t even interested in archaeology.
Experiencing the excitement of adventure and completing missions to earn rewards were his goals.