Note: Don't Forget to join my Patreon.com/flokixy to get access to +10 Advance Chapters or unlock the full story from the shop support so I can bring more Chapters for you
The man and woman were named Yao Wence and Yao Yumen, respectively.
Sun Laosan explained the situation to them, and Boss Wang also shared his thoughts.
After listening, Yao Yumen nodded and said, "Boss Wang, you're right. Our thoughts align. It's impossible for a living person to vanish into thin air. It's highly likely that he fell somewhere below."
Boss Wang frowned and asked, "Miss Yao, are you suggesting there's space beneath the western side chamber? Why didn't Laosan notice anything when he checked the ground earlier?"
Yao Yumen shook her head and said, "Not necessarily. Boss Wang, look here."
She pulled out a piece of paper and a pen, drawing a cross shape on the white paper.
Pointing at the cross diagram, she explained, "Boss Wang, this is the typical layout of a Western Zhou tomb. You mentioned that apart from the eastern and western side chambers, the path ahead is blocked, and you haven't found the main burial chamber, right? So, this isn't a cross but a T-shape, correct?"
Boss Wang looked at the sketch on the paper, deep in thought. "Are you suggesting that the front end has sunk? But if that's the case, why wouldn't we see it?"
Yao Yumen shook her head, her expression cold. "Boss, have you heard of the 'Soul Burial Under Heaven, Sheep Intestine Arrangement' burial method?"
"Sheep Intestine Arrangement!" I couldn't help but exclaim. "How is that possible? This anti-theft burial method wasn't invented until the Han Dynasty! This is a Western Zhou tomb!"
Yao Yumen turned to look at me, seemingly surprised by my outburst, likely because I looked so young.
Then, she smiled at me and said, "Little friend, you're quite knowledgeable. But let me tell you something today. Your statement isn't entirely accurate. The Sheep Intestine Arrangement became popular during the Han Dynasty, but it wasn't invented then. This method had already taken shape during the late Shang Dynasty and was applied during the early Western Zhou period. Compared to the Western Zhou version, the Han Dynasty's Sheep Intestine Arrangement is child's play."
Her words shattered my knowledge gap. This wasn't mentioned in any books I'd read, and I had no idea. I initially suspected she might be bluffing, but since Boss Wang had brought her in as an expert, I didn't dare underestimate her.
The man wearing sunglasses, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up.
He shook his head and said, "Perhaps your focus is misplaced. You've only checked the sides but neglected the stone wall directly ahead."
Boss Wang nodded and said, "I trust you. In that case, shall we proceed tonight? You might not have brought enough tools, right? What do you need? I'll have someone prepare it."
The man shook his head. "No need for tools. We've come prepared. We don't know what's down there, so it's best to stock up on rations, just in case. We'll head down after dark."
"Alright," Boss Wang turned to me and ordered, "Yunfeng, go prepare some fresh water and compressed biscuits. Make sure you're back before nightfall. Tonight, you and Laosan will follow these two and take their lead. You'll go down to find Laoer."
"Ah, Boss, aren't you coming?" I asked, confused.
He shook his head. "I can't go. I have a feeling someone's been keeping an eye on the inn these past couple of days. For the safety of the team, I need to stay above ground and oversee everything."
"Oh, alright," I nodded, though I didn't fully understand.
Boss Wang was generous. He handed me a thousand yuan to buy rations and supplies. He also told me to get a few high-quality waterproof flashlights and knives. He said this operation might take a while, and if our headlamps failed, we'd need backups. We couldn't work in the dark.
That afternoon, I took the thousand yuan and ran out to buy supplies. Two hundred meters behind Shunde Third Middle School was a large hardware store, the biggest in Shunde.
I went straight to the owner and said, "I need the best waterproof flashlights you have."
The owner, a middle-aged man, looked surprised. "Young man, the best waterproof flashlights are German-made, military-grade. They're not cheap, over two hundred yuan each."
I immediately pulled out a wad of cash. "I need four."
"Four!" The owner's eyes widened. "Kid, you must be loaded. Wait here, I'll get them for you."
"Xiang Yunfeng!"
"What are you doing here?" A familiar voice called out from behind me. I turned around and saw Li Jing and one of her female classmates.
Seeing the thick stack of cash in my hand, Li Jing exclaimed, "Xiang Yunfeng, you're so rich! What does your family do?" After she spoke, her classmate also looked at me curiously.
"I... I..." I stammered, my face turning red. I hadn't expected to run into Li Jing here.
I waved my hand and lied, "It's nothing. My parents are just in the clothing business, that's all."
"Oh, really?"
Li Jing ran out of the hardware store and looked around before waving me over. "Xiang Yunfeng, come here. I need to talk to you."
"What is it, Li Jing?" She pulled me to a corner.
To my surprise, Li Jing suddenly grabbed my hand.
The girl looked up at me with teary eyes and said, "Xiang Yunfeng, I know your family is well-off. Can you... can you lend me fifty thousand yuan?" Her voice grew softer as she spoke.
Before I could respond, Li Jing bit her lip and said, "If you lend me the money, I... I'll be yours..."
"What?!" I felt like I'd been struck by lightning.
She suddenly hugged me and cried, "I'm begging you. Last night, the debt collectors came again. They hit my mom and said if I don't pay up, they'll throw her into the river."
This was the first time I'd ever hugged a girl, but I never imagined it would be under such circumstances.
Li Jing cried harder and harder. She was genuinely scared. After all, she was just a girl under eighteen.
Seeing me casually pull out a thousand yuan, she must have thought my family was loaded.
When I didn't respond immediately, Li Jing gritted her teeth and said, "If you won't help me, then I'll sell myself! I'll become a prostitute! I'll sleep with old men!"
I was horrified and quickly said, "Don't do that! I'll help you."
Hearing that I would help, Li Jing stopped crying. She held my hand and asked, "Then... when can you give me the fifty thousand?"
"Can you wait a week?" I was thinking of going down into the tomb first, finding my second brother, and then borrowing money from Boss Wang.
Li Jing immediately panicked. "No! The debt collectors only gave us three days! Two days have already passed! I need the money tonight."
After saying goodbye to Li Jing, I carried the supplies I'd bought and walked back, my mind heavy with worry. I didn't know how to bring this up with Boss Wang.
I didn't have the money, let alone fifty thousand yuan.
But Li Jing and her mother had saved me.
"Back already, Yunfeng? Did you get everything?" Boss Wang asked when I returned.
"Yeah, I got everything," I nodded and placed the bag on the table.
Boss Wang sat in his chair, sipping tea and blowing on it to cool it down.
I opened my mouth several times, wanting to speak, but the words wouldn't come out.