Chapter 4: Tomb Robbing (Part 3)
Dan stared silently at the handsome man, who was glaring at him with cold eyes.
The man’s black eyes, as clear as polished glass, and his sharp nose looked almost unreal under the flickering torchlight. If it weren’t for the sword near his neck, Dan might have thought he was dreaming.
“Who are you?” the man’s voice sent chills down Dan’s spine.
Trying to regain his composure, Dan forced his mouth to open and replied, “I… I’m just a traveler passing by. I thought I’d rest here for the night, but I see you’re already here. I’ll leave right away. Please enjoy your night.”
“Hmph. I hate lies more than anything. If that’s not true, I’ll break your joints, one by one, with every step you take.”
The man’s eyes looked like they knew the truth. Dan’s heart raced like a trapped animal.
Unable to move, Dan swallowed nervously and tried to explain, “Hehe. I wasn’t just trying to rest in this tomb. As a man, I wanted to test my courage… hehe.”
The more he spoke, the more awkward it became.
The man’s guards surrounded Dan quickly, and Dan suddenly remembered the skeleton soldiers under the coffin.
Could these men be involved?
“I… I didn’t mean to rob the tomb. A monk I know told me about a mysterious place, and I came out of curiosity. I don’t know who the tomb owner is, but please, spare me.”
But the man didn’t seem interested in Dan’s words. His face looked like he was deciding what to do, like a cat playing with a mouse.
“Are you from a cult? Or a black magic sect? Are you going to melt me like those soldiers? Please… give me a chance to end it myself. Actually, now that I think about it, I don’t think cults or black magic are that bad. I’ll join you!”
Did Dan touch a nerve?
The man’s lips twisted into a slight sneer, and his piercing gaze made Dan feel a chill all over his body.
“How dare you mention cults and black magic? Ridiculous.”
“Ah, so you’re not from a cult or black magic? Then… are you a martial artist from the martial world? I don’t know what sect you belong to, but I’ll forget this incident. I promise I won’t come near this tomb again. I won’t even pee in this direction. Please, just spare my life.”
The man didn’t seem interested in listening and played with his sword, twisting it. Blood dripped down his neck, and Dan thought about how to escape.
‘That’s right. Noback said someone has been following us. The sword marks on the wall… Maybe these men can’t decode the tomb’s mechanism. Maybe I can survive this.’
“Wait… are you tomb robbers? I didn’t know this was your territory. I’m sorry. Heh. I’m actually good at decoding ancient scripts and handling mechanisms. There’s treasure down here, would you like me to guide you?”
Finally, the man’s face showed curiosity.
Desperately, Dan continued, “Please, just spare my life. I’ll guide you well.”
“Alright. But if you try anything foolish, you’ll die right here. Understood?”
Dan’s mouth went dry at the man’s harsh warning, but he nodded quickly.
“Yes. Understood. Please, follow me.”
Later, Underground
Dan wiped the cold sweat off his sleeve and headed down to the coffin.
The torch barely lit the dark underground, and the air felt thick, like it would extinguish the flame at any moment.
Dan tried to make small talk with the men following him.
“Watch your step, gentlemen. It’s dark, and you might trip.”
But the men were silent, only watching their surroundings carefully.
The underground space was much bigger and deeper than Dan had expected. He had robbed many tombs before, but this was his first time in such a vast underground tomb.
“I’ve been through many tombs and ruins, but this one feels different. It’s like we’re in an ant hole. There’s always another space popping up. So strange, haha.”
The silence around them made everything feel colder.
Could Dan trust the man who promised to spare his life? He wasn’t sure.
‘Please, please, let something happen! I wish I could trap these guys with a good formation.’
Dan kept his eyes peeled for any clues. After searching a bit, he was relieved to find the treasure vault easily.
“What? This is too easy. This can’t be right!”
The man’s eyebrow twitched at Dan’s outburst.
Dan quickly waved his hands in defense, explaining, “No, I thought there’d be more traps or mechanisms, but there’s nothing. It’s just a treasure vault. Hahaha. This is it. But, looking closely, I don’t think there’s any mechanism or trap here.”
“Really? Then you go first.”
“Me? Oh, okay.”
Dan, now forced by the man’s suspicious gaze, stepped into the dark space. As the torchlight spread, the area lit up.
What he saw was beyond imagination.
The space was large enough to fit dozens of estates from the Gwangyang Escort Agency. Gold and jewels were piled high, almost up to his feet.
Dan, who loved money more than anything, was surprised to see the treasure and felt no excitement at all.
“This is…”
The men following him stopped dead in their tracks.
In front of them was a massive glass tank, glowing under mineral lights from the ceiling.
Inside the tank, strange rocks and flowing seaweed filled the space. Small mermaid children and schools of fish were playing among the bubbles.
“Wow, incredible.”
It was as stunning as the man had said, almost magical.
“Wow, we’ve caught a big fish, my lord. It’s a mermaid child. What should we do?”
The mermaid child, playing in the tank, noticed the strangers outside. She quickly hid behind a rock but peeked out, unable to resist her curiosity.
“Perfect. Catch her.”
“Yes, my lord.”
The men’s words made Dan snap back to reality.
Dan quickly stepped in front of them.
“Wait! The mermaid in the tank is clearly a child. There’s treasure everywhere in this room. If you have any decency, shouldn’t you leave her alone?”
The man, with a disgusted look, pressed his sword to Dan’s neck.
“Who do you think you’re talking to? You’re a tomb robber, too, aren’t you? What a joke.”
“Tomb robber? Well, I am a tomb robber, but aren’t you the same? We’re in the same business.”
The man’s face twisted in disdain at Dan’s words.
Dan, undeterred, spoke up again.
“Honestly, if I wasn’t here, how would you have even gotten into this tomb? By common decency, I have some claim to half of this treasure.”
“Heh. You think you have a right to any of this? Should I even bother listening to your nonsense?”
“Yes, you should. Honestly, there are more of you than me, and I’m scared. But I have to say my piece. I’m not asking for half of the treasure, just for my life. If you want it, take it all. But please, leave the mermaid child to me.”
The man’s black eyes flickered with strange curiosity.
The man with the scar on his face stared at Dan and said, “My lord, he knows the mermaid child isn’t just any mermaid. It’s something only a slave trader would recognize. I’m starting to doubt his identity.”
“Hmm. I thought so. He was a good guide, but I guess we’ll have to deal with him. Finish it.”
