“What should we do now?” Bai Erlai panicked as soon as he realized they had entered an ancient tomb. According to rural beliefs, disturbing the peace of the dead by intruding upon their resting place would bring retribution.
Tian Guoqiang chuckled and said, “Alright then, you just stand here and don’t move, so as not to disturb the tomb owner’s peace. We’ll go ahead first!”
“No! No! No!” Bai Erlai, terrified, grabbed tightly onto Tian Guoqiang’s clothes.
Liu Dashao sighed and said, “It’s already impossible to turn back now. We can only move forward step by step.”
Zhang Enpu nodded and said, “There might even be an exit inside this ancient tomb.”
“Why do you say that?”
Zhang Enpu explained, “In ancient times, the feudal rulers, in order to keep the tomb’s secrets, would bury all the craftsmen who built the tomb alive once its construction was completed. Some clever craftsmen would secretly dig out a hidden passage while constructing the tomb, so that when they were buried alive, they could quietly escape through that hidden route.”
Liu Dashao asked, “Then can you be sure there’s a hidden passage in this tomb?”
Zhang Enpu replied, “Since even something as rare as a human-skin lantern has appeared, I believe the tomb’s owner must not be an ordinary person. And precisely because of that, this tomb is more likely to have a hidden escape route!”
Zhang Enpu’s words strengthened everyone’s determination to move forward. Liu Dashao waved the musket in his hand and passionately declared, “The revolution is not yet complete; comrades must still strive harder. Charge forward!”
Tian Guoqiang rolled up his sleeves, intending to check the time on his German watch, but surprisingly, the watch had stopped working inside the tomb. No matter how hard he shook or hit it, it remained unresponsive, the time frozen at the moment they had entered the water.
Liu Dashao shone the flashlight downward from the platform. This was no ordinary flashlight—it was a focused spotlight, emitting a concentrated beam of light that didn’t scatter, making it brighter and capable of reaching further distances. It was said that this flashlight had been painstakingly acquired by the village chief from the People’s Liberation Army.
Looking down, they saw that beneath the platform was a stone staircase descending steeply into darkness, like a coiled, slithering serpent with no visible end. Strangely, there were no walls on either side of the steps—only a chaotic, endless darkness. When they reached out their hands, they couldn’t feel any boundaries. It felt as though they were walking on a suspended staircase in midair, a sensation that made their hearts race with fear, terrified of slipping off the edge into that bottomless void.
The four of them carefully stepped onto the staircase. A cold wind howled from the chaotic darkness, like countless ghosts wailing in agony.
Countless white, glowing threads floated out from that darkness, swirling and dancing around them.
Bai Erlai, terrified, his legs trembling, covered his ears and screamed, “Mommy! There are ghosts! Ghosts!”
“So what should we do now?” Bai Er Lai Zi panicked upon realizing they had entered an ancient tomb. According to rural beliefs, disturbing the peace of the deceased in a tomb would bring retribution.
Tian Guoqiang smiled and said, “Alright then, just stand here and don’t move. That way, you won’t disturb the tomb’s owner. We’ll go ahead first!”
“No! No! No!” Bai Er Lai Zi, terrified, grabbed Tian Guoqiang’s clothes.
Liu Dashao sighed, “It’s impossible to turn back now. We’ll just have to take it one step at a time.”
Zhang Enpu nodded, “There might be a way out in the ancient tomb.”
What do you mean?
Zhang Enpu explained, “The ancient feudal ruling class, to keep the tomb’s secrets, would bury all the craftsmen alive inside the tomb upon its completion. Some clever craftsmen would secretly dig a hidden passage while building the tomb, allowing them to escape when they were buried alive.”
Liu Dashao asked, “Can you be sure this tomb has a hidden passage?”
Zhang Enpu replied, “Given that something as rare as a human-skin lantern has appeared, I think the tomb’s owner was no ordinary person. And because of that, it’s more likely that such a tomb would have an escape passage.”
Zhang Enpu’s words strengthened everyone’s resolve to move forward. Liu Dashao, waving his shotgun, declared passionately, “The revolution is not yet complete, comrades must continue to strive, charge!”
Tian Guoqiang rolled up his sleeves, intending to check the time on his German watch, but to his surprise, the watch had stopped working. No matter how he tapped it, it remained stuck at the time they had entered the water.
Liu Dashao shone a flashlight down the platform. This was no ordinary flashlight; it was a spotlight, its beam concentrated and not dispersing, making it brighter and with a longer range than regular flashlights. It was said that Village Chief Tian had gone to great lengths to acquire it from the People’s Liberation Army.
Below the platform were stone steps that sloped downward, extending like a long, crawling snake, with no end in sight. Strangely, there were no stone walls on either side of the steps, just a chaotic darkness. Reaching out, one couldn’t feel any boundaries. It felt like walking on a suspended ladder, each step filled with fear of falling into the abyss.
The four of them carefully walked down the steps, with cold winds howling at the edges of the chaos, as if countless ghosts were screaming in agony.
Countless white, glowing threads floated out from the chaotic darkness, swirling around them.
Bai Er Lai Zi, terrified, his legs giving way, covered his ears and screamed, “Mom, there are ghosts, ghosts!”
These white threads were ethereal, impossible to grasp or drive away. His scream seemed to attract more of them, and Bai Er Lai Zi, pale and trembling, collapsed to the ground, shouting, “Don’t come near, don’t come near!”
Liu Dashao said to Tian Guoqiang, “Go help him!”
Tian Guoqiang muttered, “This guy is really a handful,” as he walked over, brushed aside the threads, and helped Bai Er Lai Zi up. “You’re usually so brave, but at critical moments, you fall apart. Come on, follow us!”
Meanwhile, Liu Dashao opened up a conversation, asking Zhang Enpu what these things were.
Zhang Enpu also shook his head, saying he didn’t know, perhaps they were ghosts.
Upon hearing that the threads were ghosts, Bai Er Lai Zi let out a cry and collapsed again.
Tian Guoqiang struggled to pull the coward back to his feet.
The group slowly descended the steps, walking about ten meters until they reached a bend. Suddenly, they saw a figure standing at the turn. Liu Dashao and the others immediately stopped, carefully observing the figure.
The figure was only half a person’s height, standing motionless with arms raised, as if holding something.
Liu Dashao decisively raised his shotgun, boldly shouting, “Hey, who are you? Identify yourself! Hey, I’m talking to you! If you don’t speak, I’ll blow your head off!”
Zhang Enpu stepped forward, “May I ask your name, and why are you standing here?”
Liu Dashao said, “Master, don’t waste words on him. These demons and ghosts are no good. Let me just shoot him and be done with it!”
“Wait, you guys!” Tian Guoqiang, summoning his courage, walked over. Gradually, the figure came into the range of the flashlight’s beam. At first glance, it startled him so much he nearly dropped the flashlight.
Liu Dashao asked nervously, “Qiangzi, what’s wrong?”
Tian Guoqiang waved at him, “It’s nothing, it’s a child!”
A child?! How could there be a child standing here for no reason? Whose child is this, wandering around in this ancient tomb?
Curious, the group approached. Liu Dashao shone the flashlight on the child, “Look!”
The child was about half a person’s height, kneeling on the ground with arms raised, holding a bronze disc with half a candle on it. The child’s features were delicate, dressed neatly, with limbs intact, and wide, innocent eyes that seemed not yet to have fully seen the colorful world. His face looked lifelike, as if he were still alive.
Liu Dashao poked the child with his gun barrel, which made a crisp, hollow sound, as if the child’s body was empty.
He was filled with confusion. Why was this child here? Could he be a burial offering for the tomb’s owner? Damn it, if that’s the case, the tomb’s owner is truly heartless!
Zhang Enpu stepped forward and examined the child carefully, “You’re right, this child is indeed a burial offering for the tomb’s owner. The ‘Zhengyi Fuzuan’ records that such child corpses are called mercury child corpses.”
Mercury child corpses? Just hearing the name made Liu Dashao’s hair stand on end.
Zhang Enpu explained, “Mercury child corpses were a common burial offering for ancient feudal rulers or high-ranking officials. Because children’s souls are pure, untainted by the world, they were considered the most pristine offerings. Typically, children chosen for this were selected for their beauty and intelligence. The feudal rulers would gather these children in one place, treating them to good food and care. At first, the children were happy, enjoying the feast, unaware they were nearing their end.
After three days of feasting, the rulers would give the children a drug that would make them vomit everything in their stomachs. Once their stomachs were completely empty, the rulers would slowly feed them mercury. Over about seven days, the mercury would accumulate, corroding their internal organs and seeping into their bones, until their veins were filled with mercury. By then, the children were dead. The rulers would then place these mercury-filled children in a kiln, steaming them for three days and nights, turning the poor children into lifelike, preserved corpses. These were the mercury child corpses, looking as if they were still alive.”
As Zhang Enpu spoke, Liu Dashao felt his stomach churn, and he vomited the bread he had eaten earlier. Seeing him vomit, Tian Guoqiang and Bai Er Lai Zi also vomited. The thought of those children being forced to ingest toxic mercury made Liu Dashao’s stomach cramp with pain.
Bai Er Lai Zi wiped his mouth, “Damn it, are these rulers even human? How could they think of something so twisted? They’re truly monsters!”
Liu Dashao nodded, “These children are so pitiful. Master, why didn’t their parents hide them? How could they let the rulers take their children away?”
Liu Dashao turned to Tian Guoqiang and said, “Quick, help him out!”
Tian Guoqiang muttered, “This guy really is a pain!” Grumbling, he walked over, brushed away the glowing threads, and pulled Bai Erlai up, saying, “You always act so brave normally, but when it really matters, you fall apart. Just keep following us!”
Meanwhile, Liu Dashao turned to Zhang Enpu and asked what those things were.
Zhang Enpu shook his head and said he didn’t know either—it might just be ghosts.
Upon hearing that those glowing threads might be ghosts, Bai Erlai screamed again and collapsed once more.
It took Tian Guoqiang quite a bit of effort to pull the coward back up.
The group slowly descended the staircase. After walking about ten meters, they reached a bend. Suddenly, they saw a figure standing at the turn. Liu Dashao and the others immediately stopped and stared closely at the figure.
The figure was only half a person tall, standing motionless with its arms raised, as if holding something.
Liu Dashao immediately raised his musket bravely and shouted, “Hey! Who or what are you ahead? State your name! I’m warning you—if you don’t speak up, I’ll blow your head off with one shot!”
Zhang Enpu stepped forward and politely asked, “May we know your honorable name and why you are standing here?”
Liu Dashao said, “Master, don’t waste words with it. These evil spirits and monsters are not to be trifled with. Let me just shoot it!”
“Wait a second!” Gathering his courage, Tian Guoqiang walked forward. Gradually, the figure came into the flashlight’s beam. At first sight, he was so frightened that he nearly dropped the flashlight.
Liu Dashao, nervous, asked, “What’s wrong, Qiangzi?”
Tian Guoqiang waved at him and said, “Nothing—it’s just a child!”
A child?! How could there be a child standing here out of nowhere? Whose child was this, wandering around in an ancient tomb for no reason?
Curious, the others approached. Liu Dashao shone the flashlight on the child and said, “Look!”
The child was about half a person tall, kneeling on the ground with arms raised, palms holding a bronze circular plate with half a candle on it. The child had fine features, neat clothing, and a complete, unharmed body. His innocent eyes were wide open, as if he had not yet had the chance to fully see the colorful world. His face looked vivid and lifelike, as if he were still alive.
Liu Dashao poked the child with the musket barrel. The musket made a crisp, hollow sound when it touched the child, as if his belly were empty.
Filled with confusion, Liu Dashao wondered why this child was here. Could it be a sacrificial offering left by the tomb’s owner? Damn it, if that were the case, then the tomb’s owner must have been truly heartless!
Zhang Enpu stepped forward for a closer look and said, “You’re right. This child is indeed a sacrificial offering left by the tomb’s owner. It’s recorded in ‘Zhengyi Fu Zuan’—this kind of child corpse is called a ‘Mercury Child.'”
“Mercury Child?” Just hearing the name made Liu Dashao’s hairs stand on end.
Zhang Enpu explained, “The ‘Mercury Child’ was a commonly used sacrificial offering by ancient feudal rulers or noble officials. Because a child’s soul is pure and unspoiled by the world, it was considered the most sacred offering. Usually, these children were selected for their handsome appearance and cleverness. After being chosen, the children were locked in a place and well-fed with fine food. At first, they were happy, enjoying the rich meals, unaware that they were approaching death.
After three days of feasting, the feudal rulers would feed them a special medicine that would cause them to vomit out everything in their stomachs. Once their stomachs were completely emptied, the rulers would begin feeding them mercury gradually. The mercury would accumulate in their stomachs over about seven days. During this time, the mercury would slowly corrode the children’s internal organs, seep into their bones, and eventually fill their blood vessels. By that time, the children would have died. The rulers would then place these mercury-filled children into a steaming kiln for three full days, turning these poor children into artistic artifacts. After three days, the children’s corpses would become the true ‘Mercury Children,’ appearing lifelike and exactly like living humans.”
As Zhang Enpu finished speaking, Liu Dashao felt his stomach churn, and he couldn’t help but vomit out all the steamed buns he had eaten earlier. As he vomited, Tian Guoqiang and Bai Erlai followed suit. The idea of the ‘Mercury Child’ was simply too horrifying. Thinking about those children being forced to swallow toxic mercury made Liu Dashao’s stomach spasm with pain.
Bai Erlai wiped his mouth and cursed, “Damn it! Were those rulers even human? How could they come up with something so twisted? They’re not even decent beings!”
Liu Dashao nodded solemnly, “Those children were truly pitiful. Master, do you think the children’s parents didn’t try to hide their kids? Did they just let the rulers take them away?”
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