"You're still alive?"
Huo Qi's smile vanished as he saw the figure of the Metaphysics Professor appear, replaced by a look of disdain.
"If you, this scoundrel, are still alive, what's wrong with me?"
The Metaphysics Professor looked at Huo Qi with equal contempt.
Hmph, I knew this old man wouldn't say anything nice. Just a few more words and he'd be dead from anger.
"Uh... Professor Huo, hello."
Zhou Lin proactively interrupted their bickering.
"Professor Zhou Lin, are you hungry? I just made some food, let's eat together."
Huo Qi ignored the Metaphysics Professor and pulled Zhou Lin into the tent, completely disregarding the professor standing beside them.
Zhou Lin saw a table set up inside the tent with food laid out. There were three sets of bowls and chopsticks.
Zhou Lin's eyebrows rose slightly. He then watched as the Metaphysics Professor casually sat down and began to eat with his chopsticks.
This time, Huo Qi didn't say anything. He guided Zhou Lin to his seat and they began to eat.
"You're still as stingy as ever. Why only noodles? Can't you make some meat?"
The Metaphysics Professor said while eating.
"Eat it or get lost."
Huo Qi replied and then calmly continued eating.
"Professor Huo, when did you arrive? What's the situation now?"
Zhou Lin mainly wanted to know what the Sakura country had said.
"We arrived yesterday. As for the situation, it's not optimistic. I took my men to the entrance of the tomb, but as soon as we took a step, those ants appeared. They could attack at any moment."
"And the Sakura country, with the hope of the Eagle Country and some special clothing, showed off in front of me. In the end, they were eaten by these ants until not even a speck was left?"
"Here are the photos."
Huo Qi remembered how the Sakura country had mocked them after their deaths. He had even taken this opportunity to get clear pictures of the ants.
Zhou Lin and the Metaphysics Professor glanced at the photos in their hands and then calmly spoke.
"Zhou Lin, do you recognize them?"
The Metaphysics Professor looked at Zhou Lin beside him.
"They are ants called army ants. These ants have strong attack capabilities, and their ant acid is potent. These are creatures found in underground rivers."
"But these ants also have another function: they are guardians of tombs. They can only appear within a certain range. Does that mean they won't appear even if you are just one step away?"
Zhou Lin said calmly.
Huo Qi looked at Zhou Lin's face, his eyes filled with shock. When he had watched Zhou Lin's live streams before, he had been impressed by Zhou Lin's knowledge.
Seeing him now, it was truly remarkable.
"That's exactly right. The Sakura country people are now taking these ants back to study them. It will probably take at least a year before they figure something out?"
Huo Qi felt a surge of anger just thinking about the Sakura country people.
Then he looked at Zhou Lin.
"Professor Zhou Lin, do you have a solution?"
Huo Qi placed all his hopes on him.
"Yes, I am the best solution. Whenever you want to leave, we can go anytime."
Zhou Lin wasn't bragging; he meant it. His bloodline was enough to make these ants fearful.
"Alright, we'll go this afternoon. I'll make arrangements now."
Huo Qi was overjoyed upon hearing this. He stopped eating his noodles and got up to leave immediately.
"Let's go, let's go, hurry up, don't delay."
The Metaphysics Professor finished his noodles and started shoveling Huo Qi's bowl of noodles into his own mouth.
Zhou Lin looked at the Metaphysics Professor and felt that this professor seemed to have changed, unlike before.
"Hmph."
Huo Qi snorted coldly, pushed aside the tent flap, and left.
Afternoon—
Zhou Lin, accompanied by Huo Qi, the Metaphysics Professor, several other professors, archaeology students, and some mercenaries.
These mercenaries were experienced local professionals. The Da Xia archaeological team and others numbered around a hundred people in total.
The viewers in the live stream were all waiting.
"Oh my god, I've finally waited for the big shot! The official news has been released, and I've been waiting for so long, it feels like years."
"Oh, I think my big shot is still so handsome and charming."
"It's so good, I can finally see the big shot again, and our Da Xia's history and culture."
"Haha, I heard the Sakura country people are coming this time too, and they've even opened an international live stream. I'll go watch the fun later."
"No problem, I'll definitely go. If these Sakura country bastards say anything nasty, we can retort, so we don't have to start with 'shameless'."
"I'm going too, right now."
...
As they approached the entrance of the tomb, the mercenaries and professors from the Sakura country were already there.
"You people from Da Xia, how dare you come here? Are you looking to die? We have already taken these ants back for research. When the time comes, you can join us."
Professor Jingxia from the Sakura country looked at Huo Qi with extreme mockery.
"Are you researching for yourselves, or for the Eagle Country? Don't you know your own country's technological capabilities?"
"What are you so proud of? Everyone knows what kind of people you are."
Huo Qi couldn't help but interrupt when he saw Professor Jingxia, then looked at the Sakura country people triumphantly.
The faces of the Sakura country people turned grim upon hearing Huo Qi's words, but they did not retort.
Seeing that these people had fallen silent, Huo Qi continued.
"See this? This is Zhou Lin, our Da Xia's novelist, who has shocked the world. You lackeys wouldn't understand."
Huo Qi said, introducing Zhou Lin.
Zhou Lin looked at the unfriendly gazes directed at him. This...
It was truly annoying.
The Sakura country...
Are they perhaps very rich?
"Hmph, I've seen videos of this guy. He is indeed very capable, but you might not have a solution for these ants, so there's nothing for you to be proud of."
Professor Jingxia was the most prestigious professor in the Sakura country. He had advanced their country's history and culture by centuries, thus his status continued to rise.
He was also one of the most influential figures in the Sakura country.
"You..."
The Metaphysics Professor was about to speak when Zhou Lin stopped him, then looked at Zhou Lin in confusion.
"What are you doing?"
"I want money..."
Zhou Lin spoke the truth directly, communicating quietly with the Metaphysics Professor and whispering in his ear.
The Metaphysics Professor's eyes lit up as he observed the scene.
Damn, this is a business opportunity!
"Ask for more, I want some too."