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墨書 Inktalez
As I entered the tomb chamber, I felt relieved that the excavation was so easy; there was no need to dig through layers of soil or struggle with heavy tools. I drove in, feeling cheerful, only to be caught off guard when a hand suddenly grabbed my leg!
"Is that enough to scare you? It's just a sacrificial human, a mere corpse!" Zhengyang said with a hint of exasperation. I shone my miner's lamp and indeed found a headless corpse hanging onto my pant leg—what a false alarm.
A sacrificial human, also known as human sacrifice, was common during the pre-Qin period, typically involving war captives or slaves. According to archaeological records, over five thousand individuals were found sacrificed in the numerous large tombs excavated in the Anyang Yinxu area. Some had been decapitated or had their hands and feet severed, and many of the victims bore signs of torture. During the Spring and Autumn period, figurines gradually replaced human sacrifices, but large-scale burials continued even after the Han Dynasty. In the Three Kingdoms period, when Chen Wu of Eastern Wu died in battle, Sun Quan ordered his beloved concubine to be buried with him. For five thousand years, this practice persisted until Ming Yingzong ordered its abolition, officially ending the history of human sacrifice except for sporadic occurrences that resurfaced.
"Hey! Why does this stone coffin seem to have been tampered with?" Zhengyang asked, puzzled.
I quickly looked toward the center of the tomb chamber where a stone coffin was suspended head south and feet north. It was held up by nine thick iron chains. The entire coffin was tightly bound. The nine chains extended from eight directions and were nailed into the Locking Dragon Stone on the tomb wall. The thickest chain hung down from the ceiling, lifting the entire coffin.
"Strange, where did that iron pillar go?" Zhengyang remarked suddenly while gazing at the Locking Dragon Stone atop the coffin.
I had no idea what he was referring to and intended to approach the coffin for a closer look.
The style of the coffin was rather crude, roughly carved from a single block of stone consisting of both body and lid. The nine iron chains were actually secured by nine large locks. The big bronze lock securing the top chain was quite ancient-looking and caught my attention.
This was a typical Han Dynasty "Three-Spring Lock," resembling structures seen in ancient costume dramas. The lock looked like a Bixie Beast with its four hooves raised, and a long rod passed through its hoof holes as the locking mechanism. At the tail end of the Bixie was the keyhole, which contained three spring plates resembling serrated daggers; it could only be opened with a specially crafted key. It couldn't be smashed open either; this type of lock remained in use until around the 1950s.
"Can you see any significance in how this coffin is positioned?" Zhengyang asked after just one glance.
"This coffin is suspended head south and feet north; what significance could there be?"
"Do you know what it means to face north?"
His question suddenly enlightened me. In ancient times, facing south signified respect. Conversely, facing north not only indicated a lack of honor but also represented defeat—much like how our ancestors fled north in defeat. Realization struck me: "Could it be that the owner of this coffin was a war captive?"
"Exactly! Not only is this coffin for a defeated general, but he also underwent corpse transformation!"
"Zhengyang, how did you deduce that he underwent corpse transformation?"
"The iron chain before us is a typical Nine Sons Soul Locking Chain, a technique for corpse suppression recorded in the Taiping Scripture! This method is only used when there is a corpse with immense resentment inside the coffin!"
"Is this what they call an Iron Lock Copper Corpse?" I recalled the Mausoleum Secrets, remembering an article that specifically discussed the Iron Lock Formation. The corpses that require the Iron Lock Formation are of a very high level. The chain itself is not an ordinary item; it is forged from iron ore melted with Peach Wood Charcoal Fire, immediately infused with the blood of a young boy from three points: the tip of his nose, fingers, and tongue. Using the Ma Jun Windmill, the wind intensifies the flames, casting it into a mold and undergoing thousands of hammerings. After each forging, Black Dog Blood is used for quenching, which causes the iron chain to have a hidden purple hue.
The stone coffin is suspended by nine iron locks, preventing it from touching the earth's energy. It is also connected to iron pillars above through hanging chains, subjected to Thunder Tribulation to channel electricity and seal the resentment within the coffin. This ensures that whatever lies inside can never be reborn. One can only imagine how viciously cursed the tomb owner must have been. If this Nine Sons Soul Locking Chain were to break, it would mean death for any ordinary grave keeper!
Back in the day, followers of Taiping Dao were highly esteemed in Eastern Wu. It is said they had slain eleven or twelve Drought Demons and seventy-six Uncorrupted Bones, along with countless Vengeful Spirits and Evil Spirits. To suppress the soul of Xu Gong, the governor of Wu County, they specifically created the Nine Sons Linking Chain. I briefly shared what was recorded in Mausoleum Secrets with Zhengyang.
"That's right! You are a descendant of Old Man Xia!" For some reason, I felt uneasy about Zhengyang's praise.
The closure of the stone coffin was not very tight; there was a noticeable gap. Signs of human tampering were evident. Underneath the stone coffin, we found marks from chopping. Upon closer inspection, three of the iron chains were of inferior quality compared to the other six; they must have been replaced later.
"Given this situation, this tomb has long been robbed! Zhengyang, let's go!"
"Don't rush; there are definitely weapons still here! Take a closer look at those locks."
I focused intently on the stone coffin and indeed spotted three more locks. The first was a Tang Dynasty Silver Lock with Shrimp Tail, and the second was a Song Dynasty Square Lock. These locks had distinct characteristics, so I recognized them immediately. When I saw the last lock, I nearly burst out laughing—it was an Earth Brand Padlock. "Oh my goodness, who put this hick lock here? Hahaha!" I couldn't help but laugh aloud.
Zhengyang's face remained expressionless as he calmly replied, "That Earth lock was hung up by me!" After hearing this, I froze in disbelief; my instincts screamed "impossible!"
"Zhengyang, when did you become so humorous?"
Zhengyang didn’t respond; instead, he drew his Pure Jun Sword and struck at that lock. A flash of white light passed by as the lock fell into the water; his blade severed the iron chain without making a sound. I was utterly shocked and could only describe this sword as incredible.
With several more flashes of white light, Zhengyang swiftly cut through several more iron chains; where his sword passed, iron broke apart. The coffin crashed down into the water with a loud thud, splashing water everywhere and drenching me completely; the entire tomb shook in response!
"Zhengyang, have you lost your mind? This kind of suspended coffin cannot touch the ground—if it does, someone will die!"
"Child, if you want a suitable weapon, keep your mouth shut!"
A flash of white light passed by as Zhengyang sheathed his sword. He leaped onto the stone coffin lid and kicked it with great force, creating a large crack with a loud bang. The stone lid weighed around three to four hundred pounds, which spoke volumes about the power behind Zhengyang's kick; it was as if he had iron legs!
As the lid opened, a greenish ghostly light floated out, resembling a swarm of fireflies that quickly filled the entire tomb chamber.
Summoning my courage, I leaned toward the coffin. Inside lay a Headless Corpse clad in chainmail, with a precious sword piercing through its heart mirror, creating a deep pit. One could only imagine the immense penetrating force of that sword. The corpse's hands were tightly gripping the sword's hilt, the blade embedded deep into its flesh. I felt a chill run down my spine; this was too brutal!
"Child, that precious sword belongs to its original owner now!"
My eyes were fixated on the sword, my body electrified as if struck by lightning. A current surged from my eyes throughout my entire being, and my breathing grew heavier; my hands trembled. Yes, I was staring intently at that sword! I could barely speak as I uttered each word.
Azure! Dark! Sword!
I gazed greedily at the Azure Dark Sword; its blade shimmered with intricate patterns resembling swirling dragons. The light emanating from the blade was humble yet restrained, glowing with a faint blue hue like a fish gliding through the depths of a dark ocean. I trembled all over, hardly daring to dream that I would possess the Azure Dark Sword!
Years ago, Sun Quan the Great forged six precious swords from refined steel: White Rainbow, Purple Lightning, Willow Wood Can Exorcise Evil, Falling Star, Baili, and Azure Dark.
On the blade of the Azure Dark Sword were engraved inscriptions in ancient script: "Azure Light, Spirits Feast."
I approached the stone coffin and reached out to draw the sword. In an instant, it burst forth with an eerie glow! A voice echoed in my ear: "You have come?" It was a deep male voice.
"Heart!"
Zhengyang's voice jolted me awake. Half of my body was already leaning into the coffin; my hand rested on a copper nail inside, ready to pull it out.
"This thing is sinister; in just thirty years' time, it has learned Soul Enchantment!"
I was still in a daze, wondering, "What is Soul Enchantment?" My voice came out like a robot, devoid of any emotion. Zhengyang frowned and gently patted my shoulder. I suddenly snapped back to reality and looked closely at the stone coffin nearby, which was embedded with several copper nails. These nails were peculiar, seemingly hammered in multiple times. Inside the coffin lay a piece of rain-soaked Porcelain Fragment. I stared at the coffin for a moment before Zhengyang spoke again.
"Don't worry! Your spirit was briefly controlled by it, but I've summoned it back!"
"Really? That thing is so sinister?"
"With me here, what do you have to fear? Go take a look at that plaque embedded in the southern wall!"
I walked over to the base of the southern wall of the tomb chamber. There was a square plaque embedded above, which served as an epitaph. The inscription was written in a style that was neither entirely cursive nor entirely regular script. It roughly stated that Sui Chun of the Dongye People from Kuaiji County had rebelled against Sun Quan. Lü Dai was ordered to march south, recruited Sui Chun, and appointed him as a general to quell Li Huan and Lu He. The epitaph continuously condemned Sui Chun for his fickleness and declared that he deserved his death.
"Is this the tomb of Sui Chun, a person from Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period?"
"Yes!" Zhengyang nodded and pointed to several murals on the eastern wall, indicating that I should take a closer look.
I approached the eastern wall of the tomb, raised my flashlight, and examined the murals carefully.
In the first mural, there was a general under the watchful eye of a man who looked like a eunuch. The general appeared tormented as he commanded his troops to attack an army dressed similarly to him! As I continued to view the mural, it showed the general holding two severed heads, presenting them to a robust general adorned in splendid armor. Following this were several scenes depicting this general's life, all filled with oppression and suffering. In the last mural, it seemed that this general was in court, stripped of his insignia and with his hands bound behind his back, being dragged away. Clearly, this general had been stripped of his position due to some crime. From what I saw in the coffin, he must have been beheaded; otherwise, how could one explain the Headless Corpse?
Just as I finished examining the murals, I noticed something strange about the tomb wall. I widened my eyes and looked closely; besides my shadow and Zhengyang's shadow, there was another indistinct shadow! There were only two of us in the tomb; how could there be a third shadow? I felt like crying and hurriedly asked Zhengyang, "Whose shadow is that?"
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