“What did you mean just now?” Uncle Diao, recovering from his earlier emotional state, asked.
“Didn’t you lead the tour expedition to the Golden Ancient City for archaeological work twelve years ago?” Wang Feifei’s face also regained its calmness.
As soon as Wang Feifei said this, Liu Dashao noticed that Uncle Diao slightly trembled all over, his emotions returning to a tense state, with cold sweat pouring down his forehead.
“What are you talking about?” Uncle Diao managed to say with great difficulty.
After hearing this, Wang Feifei frowned, seemingly disbelieving Uncle Diao’s words.
Liu Dashao now felt excluded from the conversation, standing there as if he had nothing to do. He couldn’t help feeling annoyed: “You two keep surprising and accusing each other—who can tell me what’s really going on? Uncle Diao, have you really been to the Golden Ancient City?”
“This little girl is lying. I’ve never even set foot in a desert in my entire life, let alone the Golden Ancient City!” Uncle Diao explained to Liu Dashao.
“Master Diao, don’t bother denying it anymore. I’m a senior member of the tour company, and I know perfectly well whether you’ve entered this desert or not. Moreover, I have solid evidence.” After saying this, Wang Feifei took out a photograph and placed it in front of Liu Dashao and Uncle Diao.
It was a yellowed black-and-white photo, not laminated, with very blurry content. However, judging from the appearance, it seemed to be a group photo of an archaeological team. Since archaeological teams usually took commemorative group photos upon arriving at a site, Liu Dashao recognized it immediately.
The people in the photograph were mostly unrecognizable, except for four in the middle whose facial features could be faintly discerned. The background of the photo vaguely showed some triangular shapes—shapes Liu Dashao had seen just a few days ago and was already familiar with: the “sand pyramids” symbolic of the Taklamakan Desert.
Liu Dashao thought for a moment, then turned on his flashlight and shone it onto the photograph, hoping for a clearer view.
Indeed, as soon as the beam hit the photo, the four figures in the center became slightly clearer.
Liu Dashao stared closely, shocked and involuntarily gasping. The person right in the middle of the photo was none other than Uncle Diao, standing upright. To his left crouched a man and a woman; the man looked quite handsome, while the woman’s face was very unclear. Liu Dashao realized he had misjudged earlier—only three people’s faces were recognizable. Nevertheless, he could still tell that the couple were Chinese, and their relationship appeared rather intimate.
To Uncle Diao’s right crouched a Frenchman who looked somewhat similar to Jackson.
At this point, Liu Dashao felt cold sweat breaking out all over his body. Uncle Diao had clearly been to the Taklamakan Desert—why would he deny it? Yet, judging from his tone when answering Wang Feifei earlier, he didn’t seem to be lying. What was going on here? Liu Dashao’s mind became a chaotic mess, feeling like it was about to explode.
Liu Dashao turned to look at Uncle Diao, whose old pair of reading glasses had fallen to the ground. He was staring at the photo in disbelief, unable to utter a word for a long time.
“Feifei, what exactly is going on here?” Liu Dashao tried to relax himself as he asked Wang Feifei.
Wang Feifei paused, then pointed at the couple in the photo and said, “These are my parents,” and then pointed at the Frenchman, adding, “That’s Jackson’s father.”
Upon hearing this, Liu Dashao’s heart sank even further, his surprise growing stronger. He remembered Feifei telling him before that her parents had gone missing while on an archaeological expedition to the Golden Ancient City, together with a Chinese geomancer. Now it seemed clear that the geomancer she had mentioned was none other than Uncle Diao. If that was the case, then Uncle Diao should have met the same fate as Feifei’s parents—so why was he standing here alive and well?
Thinking this, Liu Dashao glanced at Uncle Diao, who was still in a daze. Liu Dashao was no longer surprised but instead felt a creeping sense of unease, causing him to shiver involuntarily.
“Feifei, can you explain things more clearly?” Liu Dashao asked Wang Feifei.
Wang Feifei nodded and said, “I don’t know much either. This archaeological mission was kept secret by the company until my father’s body was discovered. Then suddenly, the company ordered everyone to return to the Golden Ancient City. Ten years ago, the Tour Expedition Team, together with a Chinese joint venture, went to the Golden Ancient City for archaeological research. The core members at that time were Master Diao, Jackson’s father, and my parents. Something happened during the expedition—we still don’t know what—resulting in my parents and Master Diao going missing, so the archaeological mission was immediately terminated. Jackson’s father had a deep friendship with my father, and after my parents went missing, he was the one who took care of me all along.”
After Wang Feifei finished recounting the story, Liu Dashao nodded thoughtfully. He began to wonder: if the expedition had been sealed by the Tour Company back then, why were they being sent back now? Moreover, Liu Dashao knew Uncle Diao’s character well—he was a man who took responsibility for his actions. If he had indeed come to this desert, he wouldn’t deny it, nor would there be any need to. Could this be related to what he mentioned earlier—”to clarify something”—that had led Uncle Diao to lie?
“Master Diao, please tell us what happened back then!” Wang Feifei pleaded.
At this point, Uncle Diao had finally snapped out of his daze and said, “Miss Wang, this is not the right time to talk.” He then subtly glanced toward the group of people facing them.
Wang Feifei was a very intelligent person and immediately understood the meaning behind Uncle Diao’s gesture. “Then, what’s the plan now?”
“I’ll make arrangements,” Uncle Diao said, then walked toward the crowd. Liu Dashao and Wang Feifei exchanged a glance, silently following Uncle Diao.
Upon reaching the crowd, Uncle Diao commanded, “Everyone has been working hard all night. Now, rest on-site. Resume work after you’ve recovered.”
After Uncle Diao gave the order, Lao Wu immediately began shouting instructions, and everyone started setting up camp.
The equipment of Uncle Diao’s group was nothing short of impressive—not as sophisticated as others’, but incredibly diverse and well-equipped. In no time, the entire tomb chamber was transformed into a bustling night market-style setup.
Fan Debiao and Jackson were extremely excited, singing folk songs as they went to fetch Wang Zhicai, Karama, and Lin Miaoke to join them.
Truthfully speaking, Liu Dashao hadn’t eaten for nearly a day and night. Seeing this “night market,” his appetite was instantly stimulated. He no longer cared about anything else—he needed to fill his stomach first.
Liu Dashao, along with Wang Feifei and Uncle Diao, joined the “night market” and began eating heartily.
Fan Debiao, Jackson, and Lao Wu were the most enthusiastic of all. Though they had just met, they clung to their beer bottles and drank for a long time.
After finishing his meal, Liu Dashao started chatting casually with Wang Feifei. At that moment, he noticed the person who had fought with Fan Debiao earlier—a man wrapped tightly like a rice dumpling. This person appeared to be a quiet type. While others were wildly celebrating, he had been silently staring at the campfire the entire time.
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