Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
The Jiao Long had a long, slender body, its four claws stretched upwards, poised as if soaring through the clouds. Its head resembled that of a horse, adorned with antler-like horns atop its skull. The eyes gazed upward, and its mouth was slightly open, revealing sharp teeth, as if it were about to roar. Its tail was long and serpentine, covered in finely arranged scales that shimmered with life. Overall, it presented an incredibly lifelike appearance, as if it could leap from the door at any moment.
Third Granduncle Master recognized it immediately and stepped forward to gently trace the outline of the Jiao Long. “This is the Jiao Long, a totem of the Huaxia people.”
I felt somewhat ashamed; my knowledge of history and culture was quite lacking. The reason I could identify it so quickly wasn’t due to any keen insight but rather because I had encountered a similar creature during a diving mission in a video game back in college—an ultimate boss that was a blue Jiao Long lurking in the depths.
Encountering a Jiao Long in such a place surely held deeper significance, yet I hesitated to ask questions, feeling somewhat embarrassed. After all, I considered myself an educated intellectual.
Fortunately, with Liuzi present, I would never have to make a fool of myself. Liuzi immediately asked what a Jiao Long was.
Old Qiao was more than happy to show off his knowledge. The atmosphere remained lively and engaging as he explained: “The Jiao Long is a branch of the dragon lineage, known for its adaptability. It is the leader among all scaled creatures and one of the Four Spirits—Dragon, Phoenix, Qilin, and Tortoise. However, due to its tendency to stir up storms and destroy crops, it is also seen as a symbol of malevolent forces and is difficult to cultivate into a true dragon.”
“A symbol of malevolent forces? Then why is it here?” A Li asked. “Don’t tomb owners usually hope for divine protection in their resting places? Just like the positive images of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei we see in our New Year paintings.”
“I don’t see it that way,” Liuzi countered. “Those who enter tombs fear tomb raiders, which is why they set up all these chaotic traps. A guardian like this one is far too gentle; haven’t you seen how Zhang Fei is depicted in those paintings? He’s always glaring fiercely! Should he be smiling and saying ‘Welcome’ instead?”
I couldn’t help but interject, “Liuzi, don’t interrupt. A Li’s point is that while the Jiao Long is indeed a type of dragon, it still carries negative connotations. Why would the tomb owner choose this particular dragon species over others to guard their resting place?”
A Li nodded in agreement. “That’s exactly what I meant.”
Liuzi was momentarily at a loss for words, struggling to respond. Lao Qi stroked his chin thoughtfully and added, “Actually, this isn’t hard to understand. In folk beliefs, there are varied interpretations; some consider the Jiao Long to be a beast of auspiciousness that represents favorable weather and bountiful harvests. Since the Tang Xuanzong era when rituals were performed at the Dragon Pool to honor the Rain Master by sacrificing to the Dragon King, emperors throughout our history have almost all set up altars to worship the Water Dragon King—who is also the Jiao Long—praying for good weather and peace for the nation in the coming year. Furthermore, dragons have been recognized as symbols and totems by the Chinese nation for over eight thousand years. It’s not surprising that the Qin people, as part of the Huaxia lineage, would worship dragons.” Old Qiao paused for effect before continuing, “What puzzles me now isn’t so much this dragon totem but rather this tomb door.”
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Old Qiao continued his analysis, "Typically, a Qin Han tomb features a vertical pit structure, with a burial chamber but no passageway. Larger tombs usually have one or two passageways, meaning at most one entrance. However, the structure of Li You's Tomb completely defies logic. The sealing mechanism behind the first entrance seems overly elaborate. Of course, we cannot rule out that Li You intended to drown the craftsmen who participated in building the burial chamber, providing their bodies with a discreet resting place to avoid disturbing the aesthetics and status of the entire site. This indicates that the tomb's master, Li You, must have been a perfectionist with an eye for detail and a deep understanding of geomancy. He skillfully designed an unconventional burial chamber to showcase his exceptional abilities and audacity while rendering those traditionalists—who prided themselves on their knowledge of mechanisms and geomancy—helpless against his ingenuity. Truly, it is a case of killing two birds with one stone!"
I couldn't help but admire Old Qiao; he was so impressive that I almost wanted to add a "Well done!" to my praise. I quickly reminded him to be mindful of his position. Old Qiao chuckled as he stroked his beard, embodying the saying that knowing both oneself and one's opponent ensures victory in every battle. Acknowledging one's opponent's strengths allows for personal growth!
My junior could not resist interjecting, "So have you improved now? Did your great opponent tell you how to break this door?"
I thought Old Qiao would take some time to ponder this, but surprisingly, he replied directly, "Well, actually it's quite simple; all you need to do is—" With that, his hands moved from the dragon's head to its tail. On the second pass, he suddenly paused at the left and right claws of the Jiao Long, exerting force upward with his fingers. The Copper Door creaked open.
Although Old Qiao's words were often irritating, I had to admit he had some skills. Everyone was momentarily stunned; Sixer couldn't help but reach out and press against one of Jiao Long's claws. His face turned red from the effort, yet there was no response: "Damn, it's so tight?!"
Old Qiao chuckled smugly. Third Granduncle Master shot Sixer a sideways glance: "Can you compare your skills to Qiao Master's? What a disgrace; step back!"
Upon hearing this, Old Qiao's grin nearly stretched from ear to ear. Without waiting for anyone to ask, he explained himself: "Actually, this is similar to solving a serial murder case. Serial killers are usually highly intelligent and self-important individuals who maintain complete consistency in their methods and tools for each crime. In Criminal Psychology, this is referred to as the killer's 'signature.' Li You is akin to this serial killer; by comparing the design of the mechanism at the first entrance, it becomes easy to decipher the second door."
Suddenly enlightened, everyone looked at Old Qiao with newfound respect; it seemed that when it came to matters underground, we still had to rely on Qiao Master!
My junior patted Old Qiao on the shoulder: "Not bad! You even studied Criminal Psychology!"
Old Qiao momentarily lost himself in pride and humbly replied with feigned modesty: "In my youth, I spent two years in the Police Force; I have some understanding—just a little!"
"The Police Force? Just a little?" My junior chuckled as he tightened his grip on Old Qiao's shoulder. The pain made Old Qiao wince as reality set back in; he realized that my junior was merely punishing him for his arrogance. Quickly recovering his composure, he smiled broadly at everyone's varying expressions and turned to my junior: "Oh? Still testing me? Unfortunately, I'm too old for that now."
Indeed, if my junior and I hadn't known his background from the start, we might have been fooled along this journey as well.
I signaled to my junior disciple, urging him to know when to stop and not to overdo it, which might expose our identities. He understood, patted Old Qiao on the shoulder, and reluctantly said, "Ah... the hero in his twilight years, please go ahead, Qiao—Former Officer." With that, he stepped aside to make way.
To our surprise, behind the tomb door was not a burial passage but a rectangular tomb chamber. After Old Qiao checked for traps, everyone filed in one after another.
The tomb chamber measured about nine meters long, five meters wide, and three meters high. The walls were made of grayish-blue stone bricks, adorned with thick lines carved into them. Each line was about the thickness of a finger, winding smoothly without revealing any clear pattern; they resembled lofty mountains or perhaps the roots of great trees. It was evident that these designs served a purpose beyond mere decoration. In the center of each corner of the chamber stood four supporting pillars, intricately painted with a design of double dragons playing with a pearl, giving off an impressive aura.
As I stepped into the chamber, I found myself walking on white jade-paved stone tiles that were devoid of any patterns or textures. Each step felt slippery, and as I moved further in, I noticed a gradual incline rising beneath my feet, making progress increasingly difficult.
A sudden sense of foreboding washed over me. When we had illuminated the entrance earlier, I hadn’t noticed this incline. Was it possible that upon entering, I had inadvertently triggered some mechanism hidden beneath my feet that would lead to unforeseen consequences?
Comment 0 Comment Count