This trip to Qianzhong ended with my exploration of a mysterious tomb.
I’m not even sure if it could be called a tomb, but I’m certain that we were the very first people to ever set foot in that place.
It’s impossible for anyone to go there again, as Fu Honglang and Mao Guizhi accidentally triggered the underground palace’s self-destruct mechanism when they exited.
In other words, that place no longer exists.
As for what that place was actually for, I still haven’t figured it out.
Another thing I haven’t figured out is what happened after I fainted.
When I asked Fu Honglang, he was very vague. He said I had inexplicably fainted, and sensing something was wrong, they took me out of there.
They had intended to leave through the original passageway, but they accidentally discovered a secret passage that connected various parts of the underground palace.
He carried me out through this secret passage.
As for what he and Mao Guizhi went back to find after they exited, he didn’t say. He just commented, “My wife said she’d tell you some things when the time is right.”
Oh, and one more thing I forgot to mention. When we returned to the provincial capital of Qianzhong, Mao Guizhi wasn't with us. She had gone somewhere, and Fu Honglang refused to say where.
Due to Wang Yang’s serious injuries, we stayed at a hotel, planning to make decisions after he was discharged from the hospital.
One day, Fu Honglang came to my room, wanting to talk.
After he entered, he closed the door, sat in a chair by the window, lit a cigarette, took a drag, and said, “Little brother, your friend…”
He seemed hesitant to continue, and I knew he was referring to Wang Yang.
He had already asked me several times about Wang Yang in the past few days, and I had told him everything I knew.
“Little brother, Guizhi told me she told you everything… so you should also know that the amulets on our bodies are not tattoos,” Fu Honglang stated.
I nodded.
“Then you should also know that the amulet on your friend’s body is likely fake…”
“Brother Fu, what exactly are you trying to say?” I asked.
“I think there’s something wrong with your friend,” Fu Honglang said. “Why would he get a fake amulet tattooed on him? Don’t you find it strange?”
This was a question I had indeed pondered, and from what I could deduce, there were only two possible answers.
First, Wang Yang got the fake amulet tattooed on himself to find Sister Ying. I wasn’t sure what his purpose was in doing so.
Second, there were many types of these so-called “amulets,” and the one on Wang Yang was different from the ones Fu Honglang and the others had.
Actually, I hadn’t really thought much about it, because no matter the reason, wouldn’t it all become clear once I asked Wang Yang himself?
However, Wang Yang had been in the hospital for the past few days, and I planned to ask him after he was discharged.
“Brother Fu, don’t overthink it. Once Wang Yang is discharged, I’ll definitely give you a satisfactory answer,” I said.
Fu Honglang smiled and said, “I’m just curious, nothing else… I’ll be leaving tomorrow. If you come to Shangdu again, we’ll have a few more drinks together.”
“You’re leaving tomorrow?” I was a bit surprised.
“Yes, your sister-in-law is a hands-off manager, but I’m not. I have a pile of things waiting for me at home, so many people waiting for me to feed them…” Fu Honglang said with a wry smile. “And we also need to arrange Shi Tou’s funeral…”
Hearing him say that, I sighed and didn’t insist he stay.
Fu Honglang took out a letter and handed it to me. “This is from Guizhi for you.”
I took the letter, feeling a bit strange. Why wouldn't Mao Guizhi just ask Fu Honglang to relay her message to me directly? Why write a letter?
Although I was puzzled, I didn’t ask any further questions.
After Fu Honglang left my room, I opened the letter and started reading.
“Little Xiang, by the time you read this letter, I may have already left Qianzhong. I have now confirmed the speculations I discussed with you in the underground palace…”
Reading this, I couldn’t help but recall what Mao Guizhi had said earlier – that finding an ancient corpse could prove Sister Ying’s immortality.
It seemed she had found it, but she hadn’t mentioned in the letter how she confirmed it.
“I hope you can forget what I told you, because you are different from us. You are not a Suozhe, and you can have your own life. But we are different…”
Different? I was a bit perplexed and continued reading.
“The amulets on our bodies are not just symbols of identity but also a curse, a curse that leaves us no choice…”
A curse?
“My husband doesn’t know much about these things. He’s a simple man, after all. So he’s unaware of the curse. I hope you’ll keep this a secret for me… Lastly, I want to tell you to stay away from this matter, don’t delve any deeper. Just treat it all as a legend…”
After finishing the letter, I felt a complex mix of emotions.
She had told me not to investigate this matter further and to stay away from it.
It was clear she was saying this for my own good, and I understood that. But could I really do it?
I felt I couldn’t.
Sister Ying was now deeply etched in my heart. It was impossible to stop thinking about her or to ignore it.
Moreover, after these events, I had a feeling that perhaps my father was also investigating this matter back in the day.
I wasn’t sure, but anything that could make a person give up everything to pursue it couldn't be simple.
Where did my father go during those years he was away? What did he do?
Why was he looking for the Su Hou Zhu?
All of this, I felt, was interconnected in subtle ways.
Of course, it was also possible that I was overthinking things, and my father had nothing to do with Sister Ying’s situation.
However, I felt I couldn’t stop investigating Sister Ying’s affairs.
The next day, Fatty and I sent Fu Honglang and Jianghu Rat to the train station. After we waved goodbye, Fatty asked me, “Master Xiang, when are we leaving?”
“Within these few days,” I replied. “Let’s go see Wang Yang first.”
Upon arriving at the hospital, I confidently navigated to the inpatient department. Entering the ward, I found a stranger lying in Wang Yang’s usual hospital bed.
I was a little confused and asked a nurse. The nurse said Wang Yang had already completed his discharge procedures and left.
This stunned me. The kid had disappeared again without a word!
“Master Xiang, that guy is too unethical! Leaving without saying anything, and making us wait here!” Fatty exclaimed angrily.
What was Wang Yang up to?
I was also a bit displeased. Did that kid consider me a friend at all?
That evening, Fatty and I rested at the hotel. The next day, I booked a flight to Guangling.
Originally, I had booked a flight to Yanjing for Fatty, but he insisted on returning to Guangling with me, saying he wanted to be my full-time assistant from now on.