Han Xiao Liu felt like Liu Laolao entering the Grand View Garden in the underground palace, but he still walked in front of everyone. He was more concerned about his life than admiring the scenery, so at this moment, Han Xiao Liu was more focused on observing his surroundings than being amazed.
On the other hand, the archaeological team, even Shirley, was immersed in Professor Chen's explanation.
“She's still a newbie.”
Han Xiao Liu didn't remind Shirley that personal growth primarily relies on oneself.
When Han Xiao Liu reached the top of the steps, he discovered a platform built with giant stones. It was higher than the surrounding area, with a circular platform in the middle, about a meter in diameter. On top of the platform was a milky white, orb-shaped jade with reddish patterns.
The orb-shaped jade, with its patterns, looked like an eyeball, staring directly at the steps.
“Come on up, there's something here!”
Han Xiao Liu didn't want to wait any longer. Those stone pillars had been dawdling for ages. Even if they guessed what was happening, so what?
Wang Fatty, seeing the platform, was instantly captivated by the jade eyeball. Greed filled his eyes, and he immediately ran towards it, reaching out to touch it.
“It’s jade, right? This big piece of jade must be worth a fortune.”
Han Xiao Liu drew his short blade and blocked Wang Fatty, the blade nearly cutting his hand.
Wang Fatty retracted his hand, his heart still pounding.
“Han Xiao Liu, what are you doing? I just wanted to take a closer look.”
“Not happy about it? How do you know this isn't a trap? When we're exploring tombs, keep your hands to yourself. If you do it again, I’ll chop your hand off.”
The four of them could tell Han Xiao Liu wasn't joking. Wang Fatty knew he had been reckless, but he still grumbled, his eyes fixed on the jade eyeball.
“Fatty, Han Lao Ban is right, we need to be cautious when exploring tombs. This looks like an eye, and there’s a hollow in the middle… Fatty, hand over the jade around your neck.”
Hu Ba Yi took the jade and tried to fit it in, but Han Xiao Liu stopped him again.
“Wait!”
“What now? It’s clearly a match.”
Wang Fatty was so anxious that his features were contorted. If the pendant around his neck was truly part of this jade, then he believed it should belong to him.
So he was desperate to confirm if they fit together.
Shirley frowned, watching Hu Ba Yi and Wang Fatty, also wanting to know why Han Xiao Liu was stopping them.
“Are you two idiots? Haven't you noticed it's really dark here? Find any potential dangers nearby first. It’s no wonder so many people died in your team!”
Han Xiao Liu's final statement hit Hu Ba Yi hard.
He was the leader, and he couldn’t escape the blame for the deaths in the team.
“Fatty, listen to Han Lao Ban, he's the professional.”
Professor Chen also agreed with Han Xiao Liu and started observing the surroundings.
As for Shirley, she was even more impressed with Han Xiao Liu. A cautious and responsible team leader was more important than anything else. Her desire to join his team grew stronger.
“There’s nothing around.”
Even while checking the surroundings, Wang Fatty's eyes never left the jade eyeball.
Han Xiao Liu stepped on the giant stones, trying to listen for anything, but the stones were too massive. While his hearing was far superior to ordinary humans, it was far from reaching the level of Shen Shen Man (slow sounds).
“Hu Ba Yi, try fitting the pendant in.”
Hu Ba Yi took the jade from Fatty, turned it, and fit it in. It was a perfect fit!
“See? It’s really a set.”
“Rumble rumble rumble~~~”
The underground palace shook, and there was a grinding sound.
Han Xiao Liu looked up towards the top and saw a giant eye-shaped pattern, emitting an orange-red light.
‘Damn it, I forgot about this. There should be black snakes up there. No wonder we couldn’t find anything around.’
“Click~”
The jade eyeball separated from the platform.
Wang Fatty had been watching closely. Seeing this, he immediately ran over and hugged it.
“Little Wang, this is a priceless treasure, an artifact.”
Wang Fatty suddenly revealed his true nature. He didn’t care what Professor Chen said.
“What artifact? This jade has been around my neck since I was a kid. Ask Lao Hu, the pendant and this thing fit together. By the rules, it's mine!”
“Fatty!!!”
Hu Ba Yi shouted. He was also dissatisfied with his childhood friend, who had grown up wearing diapers together.
Taking it was fine, but there was no need to do it like that.
“Something’s coming from the ceiling.”
After Han Xiao Liu’s reminder, he looked at the two of them coldly. He wanted to see how Fatty and Hu Ba Yi would handle this.
This time everyone looked up and saw the eye-like pattern moving, the orange-red light getting brighter.
A large, dark mass fell from the ceiling and scattered on the ground.
Everyone could now see clearly that the mass was entirely made of Jing Jian A Han (a type of venomous black snake).
“Get behind me.”
Hu Ba Yi, after being stimulated by Han Xiao Liu, wanted to act like a leader and protect everyone. He also lacked experience in tomb exploration and was not calm enough to handle situations like this.
As for Wang Fatty, he was even worse. When a black snake flew towards him, he originally wanted to hold it under his arm and then shoot it.
But! The jade! Fell!!!
Wang Fatty’s eyes were bloodshot, his blood pressure skyrocketed, and he felt like his heart was about to explode.
At this moment, an arm flew from the ground, accurately grabbing the jade eyeball.
Wang Fatty was overjoyed.
“Good job, Han Lao Ban.”
Han Xiao Liu directly put the jade eyeball into his bag and then said coldly, “According to your logic, by the rules, this thing is mine now! Run.”
Wang Fatty saw Han Xiao Liu pull out a grenade, the safety pin already removed. So he didn’t bother arguing about the ownership of the jade and jumped back.
Han Xiao Liu threw two flashbangs.
“Close your eyes, cover your eyes!”
A blinding flash erupted, and the black snakes on the ground seemed to turn to stone, suddenly becoming motionless. The red glow on their bodies also dimmed.
Jing Jian A Han were afraid of strong light. The two flashbangs wiped out the entire group of black snakes.
At this moment, the platform in the middle rose a bit, revealing an octagonal shape beneath, which appeared to be rotatable.
Han Xiao Liu finally encountered something he was completely unfamiliar with.
He had no idea how to crack this thing. He couldn’t even remember how it was done in the drama. Anyone who claims they can remember everything after time travel is simply talking nonsense.
“This should be a mechanism.”
Hu Ba Yi walked over panting, and started studying it.
He had been thoroughly defeated by Han Xiao Liu along the way, and he was eager to regain his ground in front of him.
So, before Han Xiao Liu could speak, he said, “Professor Chen, I’ve noticed that the arrangement of the sixteen stone pillars is the same as the layout of the “Through-the-Earth Sixteen Dragons,” which corresponds to the number of the Giant Gate. Some Han Dynasty tombs use this kind of mechanism setup.”
Hu Ba Yi acted like a master, continuing to examine it and not allowing anyone to approach.
Han Xiao Liu happily cooperated, as this was an area he was unfamiliar with.
Shirley seemed to have figured it out, after all, her lineage also included the art of tomb raiding.
“Fatty, take Professor Chen and hide behind the pillars. Run immediately if something happens.”
Hu Ba Yi squatted down and prepared to rotate the platform with both hands.
“Five steps in the yang, yin follows from one. Han Lao Ban, do you agree with what I said?”
Han Xiao Liu nodded for him to continue.
Hu Ba Yi turned the platform five times clockwise and then once counterclockwise.
“Click click click click~~~”
An area behind the platform slowly descended, revealing the entrance to the underground palace.
Han Xiao Liu had to admit that Hu Ba Yi was indeed skilled. This kind of knowledge related to yin and yang, five elements, and the eight trigrams required years of accumulation and a high level of talent to master.