Chapter 2:

He simply said:

"Get in." And immediately started the engine.

Just like that, the group quickly arrived at the outskirts of the city.

At night, the entire forest exuded an eerie and terrifying atmosphere. The sound of insects dominated the air. Occasionally, flocks of bats would flutter wildly from the branches, creating a rustling noise that made it seem as if someone was lurking nearby.

Elina and the others got off the vehicle.

As Choco had said, a part of the forest's edge had been sealed off due to the discovery of an ancient tomb. The trampled grass and plants pushed aside indicated that many people had been coming and going in this area.

"Uncle, keep watch here. If anyone comes, call us right away," Choco instructed the man on the bike, then led Elina and the others into the forest along a narrow path.

Elina felt a surge of anxiety and fear. This was her first time stealing, and it wasn't just any theft—it was tomb raiding. If they were caught...

Elina dared not imagine. She would definitely be taken to the police station, and she might even face a heavy fine, but where would she find the money to pay? Not only that, the incident would be all over the news, on TV. How would she ever show her face in public again?

Her landlord would probably kick her out too.

All she could picture were countless accusatory looks surrounding her.

Elina glanced back over her shoulder. Maybe she should turn around and leave before she got too involved in this crime. But just as she was battling her thoughts, Choco called out:

"Elina, come on."

Startled, Elina instinctively took a step forward. Her hands gripped the hem of her shirt tightly as she thought of her shabby room and the tiresome packs of instant noodles. Well, she might as well go all the way now. It was time to take a risk.

After walking for about fifteen minutes, they reached the site where the ancient tomb was found. The ground had been excavated, revealing a hidden chamber built into the mountainside. The group didn't hesitate and proceeded inside.

Under the dim light of their flashlights, Elina spotted a coffin placed in the center of the chamber. Over time, the wood had turned moldy and black, yet the intricate carvings on it still retained a hint of their former beauty. Just then, Elina caught a whiff of a fragrant scent in the air.

She turned to Choco and asked, "Do you smell that?"

Choco answered quickly, "Yeah, but what's the big deal? A tomb like this obviously belonged to royalty back in the day. With so much gold and silver around, it's only natural they'd use some kind of essential oil."

Though reassured by his words, a strange fear still lingered in Elina's heart. She looked back at the coffin, and suddenly, it shook slightly. Elina's face turned pale. She let out a shriek and stepped back, accidentally stomping on someone's foot.

"Are you crazy?" The person turned and glared at her, and the others also cast irritated looks in her direction.

"Such a coward. Why did you even come here to raid a tomb?"

"What's with the screaming? If you can't do anything, at least don't screw it up for the rest of us!"

"You better keep quiet, or I'll bury you right here!"

Elina didn't dare retaliate. Seeing this, Choco hurriedly tried to smooth things over.

"Alright, brothers, let's get to work. If the guards come to check, we're all doomed."

Hearing this, the others finally stopped glaring at Elina.

Choco gave her a light tap on the arm.

"What's wrong with you?"

"I saw the coffin shake."

"Nonsense, just focus on grabbing whatever you can. I knew I shouldn't have brought you along."

Elina, still stunned, looked back at the coffin once more. Had she really just imagined it?

Forget it. Maybe it was just her fear playing tricks on her. Or maybe her imagination was running wild in the dark of the night. Elina bent down and noticed several chests scattered around the chamber. Each chest was made of iron and appeared sturdy. Though time had rusted them, the items inside remained perfectly intact. She glanced around and saw that the other chests, now opened by the group, were filled with jewelry and treasures. Some were packed with old coins, all made of pure silver.

Elina knelt beside a chest. This one, surprisingly, had a lock on it. She was about to move on to another chest when suddenly, the lock fell off on its own.

Elina looked closer and thought that perhaps the lock had become loose over time and simply fell off when someone touched it. That wasn't too surprising. She reached out to open the chest and found only a scroll, a hairpin, and a jade pendant.

A scroll?

Curious, she wondered if it was a treasure map, a letter, or the will of the tomb's owner. Compelled by a sudden urge, Elina picked up the scroll and opened it.

To her surprise, it was a painting of a young woman.

Startled, Elina dropped the scroll. Why did the girl in the painting resemble her so much? The only difference was that the girl had long hair and wore a traditional robe, looking somewhat ancient. Her mind raced with wild thoughts. The painting, preserved for thousands of years without yellowing or molding, seemed almost lifelike. The girl's expression looked vivid, filled with a sense of presence. Elina couldn't help but look at it again, drawn in, as if some mysterious force was pulling her in. Suddenly, she saw the girl in the painting begin to cry.

Elina jolted back to her senses. Panicking, she flipped the scroll facedown, then stumbled backward several steps, as if trying to distance herself from the eerie painting. But suddenly, she bumped into something.

She turned around.

It was the coffin.

"Aaah…" A scream was just about to escape her lips when Choco quickly covered her mouth.

"Don't scream!"

Cold sweat now drenched Elina's forehead. She turned to look at the coffin and saw that the lid had shifted slightly to the side, perhaps due to her bumping into it.

At that moment, Choco shoved something into her hand. She looked down and realized it was the jade pendant from the chest she had opened earlier.

"Take it. You've been fumbling around and haven't grabbed anything useful. Seriously, why did I even bring you?"

Elina looked at the pendant. It seemed to have two words engraved on it, but since they were in ancient script, she couldn't read them. She suddenly remembered—the same two words had been etched on the painting.

Her hands turned icy cold and began to tremble.

But just then, Choco pulled her along.

"Let's get out of here."

The group had already filled a large sack with valuable items, and they hoisted it up to carry out. Elina, holding the jade pendant, wanted to put it back, but Choco was already dragging her away.

Just then, as they reached the entrance, a series of noises echoed from behind them.

They froze, each face reflecting a mix of shock and unease.

Slowly, the group turned around, and their eyes widened in horror, their legs rooted to the spot, forgetting to run.

The coffin lid behind them was shaking, and then it slowly slid off and fell to the ground. The corpse inside abruptly sat up.

Elina could only feel a chilling sensation crawling up her spine.