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墨書 Inktalez
"Young mermaids, having just been born, have not yet absorbed too many hydrolyzed substances from the seawater. As a result, the fat in their bodies remains relatively intact, with a higher and purer content compared to adult mermaids. This makes them ideal raw materials for extraction. As for why we need to extract their eye pearls, A Li, have you ever heard of the tale of the 'Sharkman Tear Pearl'?"
A Li pondered for a moment and nodded. "Oh, I see! Because the tears of sharkmen can turn into pearls, we extract their eye pearls to create an endless supply of pearls for ourselves?! That's so cruel!"
Old Qiao chuckled lightly, neither confirming nor denying.
I suddenly had a premonition that if this topic were to be explored further, these two would likely engage in a lengthy debate about the differing worldviews, life philosophies, and values of ancient and modern people. It would undoubtedly waste a considerable amount of time without yielding any conclusions.
History is such a thing that even historians struggle to clarify; why should we mortals waste our limited lives on such meaningless pursuits?
Seizing the moment before Old Qiao could speak again, I interjected, "So, the reason A Chen was drawn in earlier is that the Moon Meteorite he carried created a resonance with some kind of magnetized substance within the glass ball on the mermaid's head?"
Old Qiao paused slightly, seemingly surprised by the abrupt shift in conversation. "That's right." He then seemed to remember something and began scanning his surroundings. His gaze suddenly landed on Cold Bench in the middle of the stone bridge, and he let out a sigh of relief—probably confirming that he was not standing near Deng Nu. After all, that Moon Meteorite was currently with him.
I was suddenly curious about how Cold Bench had figured out the connection between the meteorite and the glass ball. How had this half-baked Tu Fuzi thought of something Old Qiao hadn’t? How did this Old School Errand Runner, who seemed so out of place, know that removing the meteorite was necessary to save lives?
Looking back now, his calm demeanor throughout this whole ordeal was astonishing; he didn’t act like a novice facing danger for the first time. Even when unexpected situations arose, he never lost his composure but instead managed to help us at crucial moments. I had felt this way before during our time in Mangshan and Li Mountain—like Cold Bench was always ready to sacrifice himself for us. He seemed indifferent to his own life! If he lived, fine; if not, so be it—he appeared free from desires and attachments.
Then I recalled those eyes in Spider Cave; they must have belonged to Cold Bench! His target was not me but rather the Bronze box I held at that time. That’s why he lay in ambush near the bottom of the cliff cave—because even if I were startled and fell, it wouldn’t cost me my life.
In retrospect, he wasn’t entirely without desires; he was searching for the Bronze box!
So, is the theft of the first box related to the Illusionist?
If it is, then Ming must be a disciple of Shishu; if not, there must be others who attempted to steal the box. Both boxes appeared in the Qin People's Bronze Armory—are these mere coincidences or do they hold deeper significance? Besides these two, could there be other boxes? What purpose do these boxes serve?
No, there must be more than two; otherwise, Cold Bench would have slipped away after his success. Why would he still come here? Conversely, the third Bronze box must be hidden within Li You's Tomb. So what is Third Granduncle Master's objective? Could it also be a Bronze box?
Everything will only become clear when we see Li You in person.
While I was lost in thought, my junior and Old Qiao were already deep in discussion. My junior speculated that Li You's true identity might actually be Ying Zheng's illegitimate son; otherwise, how could he afford such extravagance and grandeur? Before even entering the main tomb, he had already captured twenty-two mermaids! What would happen once he entered the main tomb?
Old Qiao suggested that Ying Zheng was rumored to be the illegitimate son of Chancellor Lu Buwei, so it wasn't impossible for him to have such a complex about illegitimate children. However, this also indicated that there might be even more mermaids in the First Emperor's Tomb, and their quality would be purer—thousands of years old ancestors and immortal beings! Just tasting a bite of mermaid flesh could cure ailments for the sick and strengthen the healthy, dispelling disasters and troubles. Tsk tsk... if only I could have a taste, I would gladly die on the spot.
Upon hearing this, Cold Bench unusually chimed in: "These mermaids have been infused with Mercury. Once they leave Deng Nu's protection, they will immediately perish; their bodies will turn into a massive source of toxic offerings. If you're looking for death, you can give it a try."
No one expected such words to come from Cold Bench; everyone was stunned, as if they had encountered a ghost in broad daylight.
Cold Bench seemed to sense the awkward atmosphere and silently walked to the other end of the stone bridge, as if searching for an exit.
My junior and I exchanged glances, recalling that during our time in the Bagua Underground Palace and Li Mountain Armory, he had made similar jokes with us. Later we realized that for someone like him, this was his way of considering us as his own.
But Old Qiao—he wasn't from Shimen and had only met Cold Bench a few times. How could he joke with him? Could it really be that Old Qiao possessed an extraordinary charm? Did he naturally have a knack for connecting with all sorts of people? Or perhaps… were they old acquaintances?
Suddenly, a thought flashed through my mind, startling me. However, they had never exchanged words about knowing or not knowing each other… I hesitated to think further, fearing it might lead to even more astonishing connections. It felt as though there was a hidden thread that had been buried deep for a long time slowly surfacing. Yet at the same time, it unraveled into more tangled strands—a chaotic mess lacking a crucial guiding thread.
A Chen gradually regained his composure. Third Granduncle Master asked him about what had just happened, and it turned out to be quite similar to what we had speculated.
A Chen had noticed that the light around Deng Nu's neck suddenly went out, which struck him as odd. He pulled out his dagger to take a closer look, but as soon as he got near, his right hand was firmly drawn in and he couldn't pull it away no matter how hard he tried. Moreover, there was a strange sensation coursing through his body, like an electric current—painful and numbing. When he tried to call out for help, he realized that his tongue had gone numb and he couldn't speak.
At first, in order to avoid the influence of the Moon Meteorite, A Chen had been extremely cautious and hardly spoke at all. He didn't even know when he had lost the ability to talk. If it were just the effects of Deng Nu and the mermaid causing his tongue to go numb, it shouldn't have rendered him completely voiceless.
When Third Granduncle Master raised this question, A Chen found himself at a loss for words. He didn't know when this situation had begun. But one thing was certain: it must have started after he put on the Moon Meteorite.
The power of the Moon Meteorite was truly formidable. A tiny particle no bigger than a soybean could have such a significant impact on a mentally sound living person; it seemed we had indeed underestimated its effects before.
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