“Professor Bai, we’ll be entering through this small path shortly. According to the map I obtained, this leads to the burial pit. This is the safest route and the fastest way inside. After we enter, we’ll just need to put on our gas masks.”
Bai Lishen was genuinely curious about how Qiu Yunzheng could so familiarly point out a specific location and even describe what lay inside. However, he wasn’t the type to pry into others’ affairs. Since Yun Zheng didn’t volunteer the information, he wouldn’t ask, merely nodding before continuing his inquiry.
“Do you know whose tomb this is inside?”
“Not entirely clear. I only know it’s the mausoleum of a Spring and Autumn period monarch. I don’t have the internal layout map yet.”
Yun Zheng shook her head. Everything she could disclose had already been shared with Gu Hanfeng before their arrival. Gu Hanfeng was currently carefully checking the weapons and tools they would need for the tomb exploration.
Moreover, Yun Zheng understood that everyone permitted to participate in this ancient tomb excavation – whether researchers or professors – had undergone rigorous background checks and were trustworthy. There was no need to conceal too much about general matters.
Most importantly, Yun Zheng knew Bai Lishen well, extremely well. This was the person whose recognition she had dreamed of obtaining, the very department she had applied to join after graduation for further study.
Unfortunately, Wang Wende had blocked her application. But now, being able to interact with Bai Lishen up close already made Yun Zheng quite happy, even somewhat excited, though she managed to contain her emotions.
Fortunately, having been stared at daily since childhood due to her striking beauty, Yun Zheng had developed excellent control over her facial expressions. As for the embarrassing scene earlier with Gu Hanfeng… she preferred not to dwell on that.
Bai Lishen wasn’t particularly bothered by Yun Zheng’s lack of specific knowledge. If one knew everything in advance, where would the fun be? However, her phrasing “not yet” was intriguing – did that mean she would soon obtain the map?
Currently, Bai Lishen felt quite favorably disposed toward Yun Zheng, so he didn’t probe too deeply into her words. She clearly wasn’t military-trained as he had initially assumed – her slender frame probably couldn’t match even an old man like him in combat. She seemed more like a promising young scholar genuinely passionate about historical studies.
He wondered if she would be willing to learn from an old fogey like himself. Bai Lishen felt that teacher’s delight upon discovering exceptional talent. He couldn’t help but engage Yun Zheng in conversation, occasionally answering questions she raised.
The more they talked, the more satisfied Bai Lishen became with Yun Zheng. He decided he must eventually ask whether she would be willing to study under him.
Yun Zheng truly loved history – otherwise she wouldn’t have completed all history courses within just three years and applied to the national history department, though Wang Wende had obstructed her path. This very passion was why the System had selected her as its host. Don’t assume a high-tech product would be naive – though it sometimes acted foolishly, it had actually conducted thorough evaluations.
If Yun Zheng had known what Bai Lishen was thinking, she probably would have been overjoyed.
Unfortunately, she remained unaware.
Meanwhile, Gu Hanfeng, who had already finished checking the equipment and taking inventory of the gear, began observing the elderly man and young woman chatting animatedly nearby.
The same person who trembled like a quail in his presence now shone with bright, clear eyes as if having met a kindred spirit beside Bai Lishen.
Unbeknownst to Qiu Yunzheng, her focused expression held a certain captivating charm – indeed, anyone becomes unconsciously appealing when fully immersed in something they’re passionate about.
“We need to prepare to enter the tomb now. The area has been cleared and we’re waiting for you to open it at the designated position,” Gu Hanfeng interrupted the increasingly enthusiastic conversation, checking his watch. If he let them continue, they’d likely talk endlessly.
“Hahaha, alright, alright. Xiao Zheng, let’s complete the mission first and continue our conversation later,” Bai Lishen reluctantly stopped talking, chuckling happily. He felt like he had discovered a treasure.
After all, few young people nowadays showed interest in studying history, let alone someone like Qiu Yunzheng who studied it so meticulously.
“Yes, of course, Professor Bai,” Qiu Yunzheng quickly nodded in response.
Though afraid of Gu Hanfeng, she couldn’t help but agree with her idol’s words.
Gu Hanfeng sighed helplessly at Qiu Yunzheng’s behavior – quickly glancing at him while still responding to Bai Lishen. But remembering that Qiu Yunzheng was only twenty, a full decade younger than him, he simply shook his head and remained silent.
“Location locked. Please enter the tomb quickly, Host, and complete the development as soon as possible. Rich rewards await after completion!”
As expected, 288 couldn’t remain serious for more than three seconds.
When workers carefully removed the bricks from the wall, an entrance large enough for two people to walk through side by side soon appeared.
Although this led to the burial pit, they were only removing the outer wall and hadn’t reached the interior yet. Still, caution remained necessary.
No one would recklessly charge forward. Only after soldiers used drones equipped with infrared night vision sensors to thoroughly survey the area and repeatedly confirm safety did they prepare to enter.
Since the detection range only covered about one hundred meters inside, with signals threatening to cut off beyond that point, Gu Hanfeng decisively ordered the equipment withdrawn. Further exploration would be futile – better not waste time and just proceed inside.
“Host, didn’t we say we have a ready-made map? Why are they still using that stupid bird for reconnaissance? It won’t find anything! We’ll succeed immediately once we enter. Why are these people still doing useless work?”
“Shut up! No one will think you’re mute if you don’t speak,” Qiu Yunzheng retorted upon hearing 288’s slightly bewildered and confused remarks. You’re the stupid bird! Your whole family are stupid birds! That’s a drone!
“Host, I don’t have a mouth. Fine, I won’t speak then. You humans are so strange – not even allowing your System to speak the truth.”
“(╬◣д◢)”
Qiu Yunzheng didn’t want to bother with that idiot 288. How could she have thought this thing was gentle in the beginning? Hah, it must have been an illusion.
It could only be said that different heights offer different perspectives. As a product of technology thousands of light-years more advanced than Earth’s, 288 would naturally find Earth’s current technological creations strange, even laughable and unimpressive, considering them futile efforts.
This was also because 288 was still a novice System. Had it experienced more, it would have realized it was unknowingly touching on sensitive subjects.
One could only say 288 was fortunate to be bound to Qiu Yunzheng in China. For such a simple-minded System, there was no threat, precisely because of its harmless nature.
Just imagine if it were bound to someone slightly more cunning and sinister in another place.
The System might end up so thoroughly defeated it would question its very existence within minutes.