Jia the Madman placed the object in his palm, staring at it fixedly for a full quarter of an hour, when suddenly his pupils contracted: “Huh, Cao Gong’s Merging Gold Talisman!”
Jia finally regained some memory: “Authentic pangolin claw tip—yes, it’s the Merging Gold Talisman!”
“Senior Jia, we’re afraid we’ve been rather impolite barging in like this!” Liu Dashao stepped forward quickly to apologize. Fan Debiao also rushed forward, saying, “Yes, yes, we hope Senior Jia can forgive our rashness!”
“I feel like I’ve had a dream, like I’ve been asleep for a long time. You… you wouldn’t happen to be Merging Gold officers, would you?” Jia the Madman examined the talisman, glancing between the two of them.
Both nodded and said, “Senior Jia is the real Merging Gold officer. Even today, your skills are among the best in the Merging Gold sect!”
“Not at all, not at all. The student truly surpasses the teacher! Who is your master?” Jia Zhuangyuan, no longer acting mad at all, now spoke with unusual clarity and a commanding presence.
“Big Cricket, have you heard of him?” Fan Debiao cautiously asked.
“Hehehe, I’ve done more than just hear of him—I’ve even met him. A few years back, my illness wasn’t so severe, and I discussed some things with him… Are you saying he’s your…?”
Jia Zhuangyuan asked slowly and deliberately.
“Haha, he’s my boss exactly—he’s the one who brought me into the tomb-robbing trade,” Fan Debiao felt the atmosphere of the conversation relax.
“Oh, so that’s how it is. No wonder you have his Merging Gold Talisman. Although Big Cricket is a bit of a schemer, his abilities are truly top-notch. You must have learned quite a bit from him!” Senior Jia mused thoughtfully.
Fan Debiao grinned and shook his head: “Not really, not really. These past years he’s just taken care of me. I haven’t really learned much, but I’ve definitely gained a lot of weight.”
“Hehe, this young brother is just joking around,” Jia Zhuangyuan smiled kindly, but then suddenly his expression darkened: “Wait a second!”
“Our Merging Gold sect has always had its own set of rules: the talisman means life, and losing it means death. How could Big Cricket entrust such an important item to you? Could it be that…?”
Fan Debiao realized Senior Jia was indeed sharp and knew he couldn’t hide the truth, so he came clean: “Senior truly is a senior. Our boss indeed has passed away.”
“Dead? How could he die? Where did he die?” Jia Zhuangyuan’s eyes widened.
Fan Debiao and Liu Dashao thought his madness had returned and hastily stepped back in fear. But noticing his eyes were normal, they continued: “Tibet.”
“Hahaha, you take me for a three-year-old? What’s Tibet? Just a high-altitude region with some altitude sickness and bandits. For an ordinary archaeological team, traversing it on foot might indeed be difficult. But Big Cricket and I were close friends—I know his abilities well. Besides, he led organized tomb raiding operations, well-equipped and well-funded. There’s no way he’d have met his end in such a minor mishap. Tell me, who exactly are you two, daring to impersonate Big Cricket’s men!” Jia Zhuangyuan asked coldly with a sneer.
“Hahaha, Senior Jia, you’re truly a master. But don’t forget, deep in the Tibetan highlands, there’s a forbidden place for the living. Our boss led a large team, but they encountered mechanical traps and couldn’t react in time. Everyone perished except for him and one other member who managed to escape. Both, however, were infected by a strange virus causing severe dehydration and rapid aging. Our boss passed away just a week ago.” Fan Debiao closed his eyes painfully after speaking.
“The Guge ruins, traps—could it have been the stone-sand mechanisms?” Jia Zhuangyuan tilted his head, deep in thought.
Madman Jia placed the object in his palm, staring at it intently for a full half-hour. Suddenly, his pupils contracted: “Huh, the Cao Gong’s Tomb Raiding Talisman!”
Finally, Madman Jia regained his memory: “The genuine claw tip of a pangolin, indeed, it’s the Tomb Raiding Talisman!”
“Senior Jia, our visit today is quite presumptuous!” Liu Dashao quickly stepped forward to apologize. Fan Debiao also hurriedly approached, saying, “Yes, yes, we hope Senior Jia can forgive our momentary recklessness…”
“It feels like I had a dream, as if I’ve been asleep for a long time. You… are you tomb raiders?” Madman Jia weighed the talisman in his hand and looked at the two men.
Both nodded and said, “Senior Jia is the true tomb raider. To this day, your skills are unmatched in the tomb raiding sect!”
“Not at all, not at all. The student has surpassed the master. Who is your teacher?” Jia Zhuangyuan was no longer mad; his thoughts were exceptionally clear, and he carried an imposing presence that only a superior could have.
“Big Cricket, have you heard of him?” Fan Debiao tentatively asked.
“Hahaha, not only have I heard of him, I’ve even met him. A few years ago, when my illness wasn’t as severe, I discussed some matters with him… Are you saying he is your…?”
Jia Zhuangyuan asked unhurriedly.
“Haha, he is indeed my boss, the one who brought me into the tomb raiding business.” Fan Debiao felt the atmosphere of the conversation lighten considerably.
“Oh, I see. No wonder you have his Tomb Raiding Talisman. Big Cricket, though cunning, is exceptionally skilled. Following him, you must have learned a lot!” Senior Jia said thoughtfully.
Fan Debiao shook his head with a smile: “Not at all, not at all. Over the years, I’ve been well taken care of by the boss, but I haven’t learned much. I’ve just gained a lot of weight.”
“Haha, this young brother is joking,” Jia Zhuangyuan showed a hint of a kind smile, but then his expression darkened: “Wait!”
“Our tomb raiding sect has always had its own set of rules: the talisman stays with the person, and if the talisman is lost, the person dies. How could Big Cricket entrust such an important thing to you? Unless…”
Seeing that Jia Zhuangyuan was indeed sharp and couldn’t be fooled, Fan Debiao spoke frankly: “Senior, you are indeed perceptive. Our boss has indeed passed away.”
“Dead? How could he die? Where did he die?” Jia Zhuangyuan’s eyes widened.
Fan Debiao and Liu Dashao thought his illness had flared up again and quickly stepped back in fear. Only later did they realize his gaze was normal and continued: “In Tibet.”
“Hahaha, you’re treating me like a three-year-old! Tibet is just a place with altitude sickness and bandits. For an ordinary archaeological team, traversing it on foot would indeed be challenging. But Big Cricket and I were close friends; I know his capabilities well. Moreover, he was part of a large tomb raiding group, well-equipped and experienced. He couldn’t possibly have met his end in such a trivial manner. Tell me, who are you really, daring to impersonate Big Cricket’s men!” Jia Zhuangyuan asked with a cold laugh.
“Hahaha, Senior Jia, you are indeed a master. But don’t forget, in the depths of the Tibetan plateau, there is a forbidden zone for the living. Our boss’s team encountered traps and mechanisms, unprepared, and all perished. Only the boss and one brother escaped, but they were infected with a strange virus, severely dehydrated and aged, and passed away a week ago.” Fan Debiao closed his eyes in pain after speaking.
“The Guge ruins, mechanisms, could it be the quicksand trap?” Jia Zhuangyuan tilted his head, seemingly pondering something.
“It was a ballista!” Fan Debiao slowly uttered three words, “Who would have thought that something thousands of years old could still be functional!”
Jia Zhuangyuan’s expression softened: “It seems we’ve truly crossed paths, friend. Don’t be too sad. Although our tomb raiding sect relies on skill, it doesn’t mean we can control everything. We risk our lives too!”
After a long conversation, they finally got to the main topic: “Tell me, what brings you two to me?”
Jia Zhuangyuan, being a seasoned veteran, naturally guessed their intentions but still asked.
“To be honest, we’ve been searching for a truth for years, and the final piece of the puzzle might be hidden in this place. If Senior Jia is still willing, would you consider venturing into this forbidden zone once more?” Liu Dashao quickly presented his plan.
Seeing that Liu Dashao had finally spoken up, Fan Debiao no longer hid anything: “Senior, we heard that decades ago, you had a major operation in Tibet…”
At the mention of this, Jia Zhuangyuan immediately recalled the terrifying scene, and tears streamed down his face: “It’s been a long time since I last cried; I almost forgot what it feels like. Five people died, five living souls, five, a total of five!!”
Jia Zhuangyuan painfully extended a hand, which was visibly trembling.
“In the end, only I survived, as if the King of Hell spared me once.” He sighed again.
“It was too gruesome, too tragic. I still remember how they died. Because of that, I have a long scar on my head…” As he spoke, Senior Jia parted his hair to show them.
The scar was long, almost splitting his head in two.
“What caused it?” Yin Silu asked.
“I don’t know, I can’t remember clearly. I only recall that I wasn’t inside; I was on lookout near the entrance. There was a man named Hu Hansan who was supposed to be with me, but he was called down at the last moment. Later, I heard strange noises from the cave and went down to check. Just as I descended, I felt a sharp pain in my head, and then I knew nothing. Hu Hansan never came back up. He had a wife, one child, and another on the way. I couldn’t face her…” Jia Zhuangyuan began to recount that bloody, stormy night…
Thirty years ago, in Shaanxi, China.
Senior Jia wasn’t actually called Senior Jia; his surname was Jia, and his given name was Zhuangyuan. This name, rich in meaning, was given to him by someone, though it’s unclear who. In some villages, when a child was born, parents wouldn’t dare to name them hastily. Instead, they would consult a fortune-teller, providing the child’s birth details for the barefoot fortune-teller to analyze, considering the five elements—what to watch out for if the child’s fate was water, fire, or earth. Ultimately, the naming authority fell to the fortune-teller, who would be well-fed and generously compensated for a lucky name.
That day, a fortune-teller happened to be in the village. While ostensibly offering fortune-telling services, he was also a businessman, going wherever there was business. Hearing that the Jia family had a newborn son, he naturally headed their way.
Fortune-tellers, even if they knew the child wouldn’t amount to much, would still exaggerate to earn more rewards. He claimed the child wouldn’t excel in martial arts but would achieve greatness in scholarly pursuits, hence the name Zhuangyuan, wishing him to become a top scholar!
Jia Zhuangyuan’s mother, a village witch who practiced healing and dabbled in the supernatural, naturally believed the fortune-teller’s words. Despite the turbulent times, Old Lady Jia never lacked food. Villagers, though not wealthy, had a custom of offering their hard-earned grain to those who helped them with healing and exorcisms, like Old Lady Jia. Thus, Jia Zhuangyuan’s life was relatively comfortable.
After Old Lady Jia passed away, Jia Zhuangyuan lost his support. He didn’t inherit her healing and exorcism practices, and his wife and children often went hungry. Women, seeking a stable life, found it impossible to continue. One day, Jia Zhuangyuan’s wife took the children and remarried.
Left with no choice, Jia Zhuangyuan gradually got involved with tomb raiders and entered the profession. Instead of following the “scholarly” path, he ventured into “tomb raiding,” proving that “each person has their own destiny,” and a good name doesn’t determine one’s fate.
Jia Zhuangyuan first tried tomb raiding in the suburbs of Beijing, but either due to bad luck or lack of success, he didn’t make a fortune. However, his only stroke of luck was meeting a skilled tomb raider from the sect, from whom he learned genuine techniques.
One day, while idly chatting with his companions, the topic turned to Tibet. Young and full of vigor, they decided to venture there, believing that treasures in Tibet were as easy to find as picking up items off the ground.
Shortly after entering the desertified regions of Tibet, they encountered a strange phenomenon. Animals in the desert either burrowed underground or were extremely drought-resistant, like camels, which could go days without food or water after a single meal. Humans, however, couldn’t endure such conditions.
Only then did Jia Zhuangyuan’s expression soften. He said, “Looks like it really was a case of the dragon king’s temple being washed away by floods. Friend, don’t be too sad. Although our Merging Gold sect relies on skill, it doesn’t mean we always get our way. We risk our lives too!”
After talking for quite some time, they finally turned to the main topic: “Alright, what is it you two came here for?”
Jia Zhuangyuan, a seasoned old fox, naturally had already guessed their intentions, but still asked.
“To be honest, we’ve been searching for the truth all these years, and the final piece of the puzzle likely lies hidden here. If Senior Jia still has the heart for it, would you be willing to venture once more into this forbidden place for the living?” Liu Dashao quickly presented his plan.
Seeing Liu Dashao finally speak out, Fan Debiao no longer held back and said, “Senior, I heard you once robbed a major tomb in Tibet decades ago…”
That might have been okay not to mention, but now that it came up, Jia Zhuangyuan immediately recalled that terrifying scene, tears streaming down his cheeks: “It’s been so long since I cried, I’d almost forgotten what it felt like. Five people died—five living souls, five, five people in total!!”
Jia Zhuangyuan painfully extended his hand, visibly trembling.
“In the end, only I survived, confused and dazed. I guess the King of Hell gave me a second chance,” he sighed again.
“It was heartbreaking, so tragic. I still remember clearly how they looked when they died. Because of that, I carry a long scar on my head…” Saying so, Senior Jia parted his hair for them to see.
The scar was long, almost splitting his entire head in two.
“What hit you on the head?” Yin Silu asked.
“I don’t know, I can’t remember clearly. I only recall I wasn’t inside the tomb at the time—I was supposed to be keeping watch near the entrance. There was a fellow named Hu Hansan who was originally with me for the watch, but he was suddenly called down inside. Later, I heard strange noises from within the tomb and decided to check it out. Just as I descended partway, I suddenly felt a sharp pain on my head, and then I remember nothing. Hu Hansan went down and never came back. He had a wife, already with one child and expecting another. I’ve had no face to show myself to her all these years…” Jia Zhuangyuan began recounting that bloody night from thirty years ago…
Thirty years ago, in Shaanxi Province, China.
Jia the Madman placed the object in his palm, staring at it intently for a full quarter of an hour. Suddenly, his pupils contracted: “Huh, the Gold-Touching Talisman of Lord Cao!”
Finally, Jia the Madman regained his memory: “The genuine claw tip of a pangolin, indeed, it’s the Gold-Touching Talisman!”
“Senior Jia, our visit today is quite presumptuous!” Liu Dashao quickly stepped forward to apologize. Fan Debiao also hurriedly approached and said, “Yes, yes, we hope Senior Jia can forgive our momentary recklessness…”
“It feels like I had a dream, as if I slept for a very long time. You… are you Gold-Touching Commanders?” Jia the Madman weighed the talisman in his hand and looked at the two men.
Both nodded and said, “Senior Jia is the true Gold-Touching Commander. To this day, no one in the Gold-Touching School can match your skills!”
“Not at all, not at all. The student has surpassed the master. Who is your teacher?” Jia Zhuangyuan was no longer mad; his thoughts were exceptionally clear, and he exuded a commanding presence.
“Big Cricket, have you heard of him?” Fan Debiao tentatively asked.
“Hahaha, not just heard of him, I’ve even met him. When he came a few years ago, my illness wasn’t as severe, and we discussed some matters… Are you saying he is your…?”
Jia Zhuangyuan asked unhurriedly.
“Haha, he is indeed my boss, the one who brought me into the tomb-raiding business.” Fan Debiao felt the atmosphere of the conversation lighten considerably.
“Oh, I see. No wonder you have his Gold-Touching Talisman. Although Big Cricket is cunning, his skills are top-notch. You must have learned a lot from him!” Senior Jia said thoughtfully.
Fan Debiao shook his head with a smile, “Not at all, not at all. Over the years, I’ve been well taken care of by the boss, but I haven’t learned much. I’ve just gained a lot of weight.”
“Haha, this young brother is joking,” Jia Zhuangyuan showed a hint of a kind smile, but then his expression darkened: “Wait, that’s not right!”
“Our Gold-Touching School has always had its own set of rules: the talisman stays with the person, and if the talisman is lost, the person dies. How could Big Cricket entrust such an important thing to you? Unless…”
Seeing that Jia Zhuangyuan was indeed sharp and couldn’t be fooled, Fan Debiao came clean: “Senior, you are indeed wise. Our boss is no longer among the living.”
“Dead? How could he die? Where did he die?” Jia Zhuangyuan’s eyes widened.
Fan Debiao and Liu Dashao thought his illness had flared up again and quickly stepped back in fear. Only when they saw his eyes were normal did they continue: “In Tibet.”
“Hahaha, are you treating me like a three-year-old? Tibet is just a place with high altitude sickness and bandits. For an ordinary archaeological team, traversing it on foot would indeed be challenging. But Big Cricket and I were close friends. I know his capabilities well. Besides, he was part of a large tomb-raiding group with vast resources and excellent equipment. There’s no way he could have met his end in a ditch. Tell me, who are you really, daring to impersonate Big Cricket’s men?” Jia Zhuangyuan asked with a cold laugh.
“Hahaha, Senior Jia, you are indeed a master. But don’t forget, in the heart of the Tibetan plateau, there is a forbidden zone for the living. Our boss’s team encountered traps and mechanisms, and they were caught off guard. Everyone perished except for the boss and one brother who escaped, but they were infected with a strange virus, severely dehydrated, and aged rapidly. They passed away a week ago.” Fan Debiao closed his eyes in pain after speaking.
“The Guge ruins, mechanisms, could it be the quicksand trap?” Jia Zhuangyuan tilted his head, seemingly deep in thought.
“It was a ballista!” Fan Debiao slowly uttered three words, “Who would have thought that something thousands of years old could still be functional?”
Jia Zhuangyuan’s expression softened, “It seems we’ve truly crossed paths. Friend, don’t be too sad. Although our Gold-Touching School relies on skills, it doesn’t mean we can control everything. We risk our lives too!”
After a long conversation, they finally got to the point: “So, what brings you two to me?”
Jia Zhuangyuan, being a seasoned veteran, naturally guessed their intentions but still asked.
“To be honest, we’ve been searching for the truth for years, and the final piece of the puzzle might be hidden in this place. If Senior Jia is still willing, would you consider venturing into this forbidden zone once more?” Liu Dashao quickly presented his plan.
Seeing that Liu Dashao had finally brought it up, Fan Debiao no longer hid anything: “Senior, we heard that decades ago, you had a major expedition in Tibet…”
Mentioning this, Jia Zhuangyuan immediately recalled the horrifying scene, and tears streamed down his face: “It’s been a long time since I last cried; I almost forgot what it feels like. Five people died, five living beings, five, a total of five!!”
Jia Zhuangyuan painfully extended a hand, which was visibly trembling.
“In the end, only I survived, as if the King of Hell had spared me once.” He sighed again.
“It was too gruesome, too tragic. I still remember how they died. Because of that, I have a long scar on my head…” As he spoke, Senior Jia parted his hair to show them.
The scar was long, almost splitting his head in two.
“What caused it?” Yin Silu asked.
“I don’t know, I can’t remember clearly. I only recall that I wasn’t inside; I was keeping watch near the entrance. There was a man named Hu Hansan who was supposed to be with me, but he was called down at the last minute. Later, I heard strange noises from the cave and was about to go down when I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my head, and then I blacked out. Hu Hansan went down and never came back. He had a wife, already with one child and pregnant with another. I couldn’t face her…” Jia Zhuangyuan began to recount that bloody and stormy night from the past…
Thirty years ago, in Shaanxi, China.
Senior Jia wasn’t originally called Senior Jia. His surname was Jia, and his given name was Zhuangyuan, a name with profound meaning. It’s unclear who gave him this name, but in some villages, when a child was born, parents wouldn’t dare to name the child hastily. Instead, they would consult a fortune-teller, providing the child’s birth details for the barefoot fortune-teller to analyze, considering the five elements—what to watch out for if the child’s fate was tied to water, fire, or earth. Ultimately, the fortune-teller would decide the name, and the parents would not only treat the fortune-teller to good food and drink but also pay extra for good luck.
On that day, a fortune-teller happened to be in the village. While he ostensibly told fortunes, he was also a businessman, going wherever there was business to be done. Hearing that the Jia family had a newborn son, he naturally headed their way.
Fortune-tellers, even if they knew the child wouldn’t amount to much, would still spout nonsense to earn more rewards. They might say the child wouldn’t excel in martial arts but would achieve greatness in scholarly pursuits, hence the name Zhuangyuan, wishing him to become a top scholar!
Jia Zhuangyuan’s mother happened to be a village witch, who usually treated people’s illnesses and believed in all sorts of supernatural practices. When the fortune-teller said this, she naturally believed it wholeheartedly. Even though it was a turbulent era, Old Lady Jia never lacked food. Although the villagers didn’t have much money, there was a custom where they would offer their hard-earned grain to Old Lady Jia for her healing and exorcism services. Thus, Jia Zhuangyuan’s life was relatively comfortable.
Later, when Old Lady Jia passed away, Jia Zhuangyuan lost his support. He didn’t inherit her healing and exorcism skills, and his wife and children often went hungry. Women, after all, just want a peaceful life, but when that became impossible, one day, Jia Zhuangyuan’s wife took the children and remarried.
With no other options, Jia Zhuangyuan gradually got involved with tomb raiders and entered this line of work. Instead of following the “scholarly” path, he ended up in the “tomb-raiding” business, proving that “each person has their own fate,” and a good name doesn’t determine one’s destiny.
Jia Zhuangyuan first tried tomb raiding in the outskirts of Beijing a few times, but either his luck was bad, or he didn’t succeed, and he didn’t make any significant fortune. The only stroke of luck was that he met a master of the Gold-Touching School and learned some genuine skills.
One day, while idly chatting with his brothers, the topic turned to Tibet. Being young and full of vigor, they decided to make a trip, believing that treasures in Tibet were as easy to find as picking them up off the ground.
Shortly after entering the desertified regions of Tibet, they encountered a strange phenomenon. Living creatures in the desert either burrowed underground or were extremely drought-resistant, with camels being the most common. After a single meal and drink, they could go for days without sustenance. But humans couldn’t do the same.
On that day, a fortune teller happened to come to the village. Though outwardly a fortune teller, secretly he was also a businessman, going wherever business could be found. Upon hearing that the Jia family had a son, naturally he went to visit.
Even if the fortune teller knew the child wouldn’t amount to much, he still flattered the parents with exaggerated praise, saying the child would never be suited for the martial path but would instead excel in literary pursuits. He suggested the name Zhuangyuan, meaning “top scholar,” wishing him to achieve the highest rank in imperial exams.
Jia Zhuangyuan’s mother happened to be a village shamaness, who usually treated people’s illnesses, believing deeply in spirits and ghosts. Naturally, she believed the fortune teller’s words without doubt. Although it was a turbulent era, Old Lady Jia never lacked food. Though villagers had little money, they had a custom of offering the grains they painstakingly saved to Old Lady Jia, who helped them with illnesses and exorcism. Thus, Jia Zhuangyuan’s life became relatively easier.
Later, when Old Lady Jia passed away, Jia Zhuangyuan lost his support. He hadn’t inherited his mother’s skills of healing and exorcism, and his wife and children often went hungry. Women usually just want a stable life, but their life became unbearable. One day, Jia Zhuangyuan’s wife took their child and remarried.
With no other choice, Jia Zhuangyuan gradually came into contact with some tomb robbers and entered this trade. He didn’t follow the “literary” path but instead entered the “tomb-robbing” trade. It could be said that “everyone has their own destiny,” and a pleasant-sounding name alone couldn’t determine one’s fate.
Jia Zhuangyuan first robbed a few tombs in the suburbs of Beijing. Though he didn’t have good luck and was not particularly successful or rich, he did have one stroke of fortune—he met a master of the Merging Gold sect and learned some real skills.
One day, a few brothers were idly chatting and brought up the topic of Tibet. At that time, they were young, full of vigor and ambition, and decided to go there. In their eyes, treasures in Tibet were as easy to obtain as picking them up from the ground.
Not long after entering Tibet’s desert regions, the group encountered a strange occurrence. Animals living in the desert either burrowed underground or were extremely drought-resistant. The most common was the camel—once full-fed and watered, it could go many days without eating or drinking. But humans couldn’t endure like that.
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