Encountering Danger in the Royal Tomb (1)

White clouds drifted lazily across the sky, which stretched above like woven fabric. Through the dense jungle, golden sunlight filtered down, bright yet accompanied by a chilling wind that made the surroundings feel somber. Especially in this season, the sunlight wasn't particularly strong. The mountains loomed faintly in the distance as Xianyue alighted from the carriage. All she could see before her was an endless sea of dense trees, concealing everything from view.

The royal tomb of the Chu Kingdom lay far from the heart of Ying City, nestled in a remote corner. 

"You may return now," Xianyue said, waving her hand to dismiss the servant holding the horsewhip behind her. She turned and started walking toward the forest. The driver, appointed by Hua Chuxue, had brought her as far as he could. From here on, she would have to proceed alone. 

Unlike the palace with its towering layers, there was no trace of opulence here. The area was desolate, save for the verdant mountains and lush trees. The Chu Kingdom was known for its abundance of trees, and the royal tombs were hidden within the green hills and forests, as Hua Chuxue had told her. Because it was the gateway to the Valley of Death, only the royal family and the Bai clan knew its location. Ordinary people had no idea where the tomb was. Though Xianyue had known the tomb's location beforehand, it was only recently that she learned it was also the entrance to the Valley of Death.

As Xianyue walked, the royal tomb remained elusive. She glanced down at the map in her hand and, following its direction, pressed onward. The forest was eerily quiet, broken only by the sound of birds' wings and a faint trickle of water. 

Suddenly, excitement flared in her heart. Clutching the map, she followed the sound of the water. In Chu, rivers were scarce, especially in the mountains. Hua Chuxue had said that if one heard water, it meant they were close to the royal tomb.

Xianyue quickened her pace. The terrain grew flatter the farther she went, and the low bushes gave way to towering ancient trees. Ahead, through the dense foliage, a tomb came into view. Grass sprouted wildly, and jagged rocks were scattered about, giving it an unremarkable appearance. But Xianyue spread out her map and pointed to the central spot with her fingertip. She was sure this was the place.

The tomb housed the noble and powerful members of the royal family, buried with vast treasures to prevent looting. It was hidden, much like the tombs in Feng Kingdom, and at first glance, there was little to distinguish it from others. 

Xianyue folded the map and tucked it away. She approached a large stone at the center, quickly scanning the surrounding rocks. There had to be a mechanism to open the tomb. She reached out to tap the stones, but nothing seemed unusual. Turning around, she noticed the largest rock had an eight-trigram symbol in the center. A smile tugged at her lips as she stepped back to connect the scattered stones. It formed a Five Elements and Eight Trigrams Array. She laughed softly, grateful to Liuxin You for making her learn such things.

Crouching down, she found a crescent-shaped stone and hurled it at the eight-trigram symbol. In an instant, the once-immobile stones began shifting in intricate patterns, their movements blending with the trees to disorient any observer.

Xianyue moved deftly through the shadows cast by the trees, her steps seemingly random but following a hidden order. She reached the large stone and, standing on tiptoe, turned the eight-trigram symbol three times clockwise, then three times counterclockwise. A dull thud echoed through the air as the stones stopped moving and the sealed stone door creaked open.

Her eyes lit up as her heart raced in time with the opening door. Dusting off her hands, she stepped inside.

An overwhelming sense of dread washed over her as the chilling atmosphere seemed to pierce her bones. Dark stones lined both sides of the corridor, and Xianyue could hear the wind whistling past her ears, mingling with the faint rustle of her white robe.

She took a few steps forward when a sudden crashing sound came from behind her. The stones collided with each other with great force, like a tidal wave shaking the earth. Her heart quivered in response.

The tomb was pitch-black. Instinctively, she turned around and pressed her hands against the sealed door, a bad feeling creeping into her chest. Through the heavy stone, she heard a sharp, sinister laugh from outside, cold and familiar—Hua Chuxue's voice.

"There's no turning back. Since you're not afraid of death, I'll help you along the way," Hua Chuxue's voice jeered. "If you survive the traps, you'll reach the Valley of Death. If not, you'll die here. A noble princess of Feng Kingdom, dead in the Chu tombs—no one will ever know. By the time they hold the next ceremony, your body will have rotted beyond recognition, even to your brother."

More laughter followed, but Xianyue clenched her fist against the stone door, then slowly relaxed her fingers, ignoring the mocking voice. She withdrew her hand and turned to continue deeper into the tomb.

Perhaps this was for the best—cutting off any chance of retreat. From the moment she made her decision, she knew it wouldn't be easy. She had suspected Hua Chuxue would interfere. In many ways, Hua Chuxue was like Nian Xiaoyu—relentless, even if it meant jumping into the Yellow River. Some things in this world were more important than life itself, and Xianyue was willing to fight for them, even at the cost of her own life.

The surroundings were shrouded in darkness, obscuring all visibility. Xianyue drew forth a jade flute from her bosom, its faint glow illuminating a corner of her confinement. Before she could survey her surroundings, a sudden sound echoed through the gloom—the mechanism's activation, heavy and sonorous, reverberating like a distant rumble, tightening her senses as if a taut string bound her.

A wave of frustration washed over Xianyue; if Hua Chuxue were before her now, she would undoubtedly tear her apart without hesitation. The royal tombs of past dynasties were vast and intricately designed, with mechanisms that were exceptionally sophisticated and intricately interlinked.

All around her were stone coffins, incessantly shifting outward, with dim light filtering through small crevices. Clutching the jade flute, Xianyue found herself cornered by the advancing coffins. As she leaped atop one, arrows flew from all directions towards her, the tomb enveloped in shadows. Yet, to Xianyue, that flicker of light was more than sufficient; her nimble form adeptly dodged the hail of arrows. The stone coffins below ceased their movements, revealing several tunnels leading in different directions behind them.

Furrowing her brow, Xianyue pondered which path to choose. The barrage of arrows showed no sign of abating. She had to remain vigilant, weary from juggling the dangers ahead and the threats from behind, uncertain of what peril awaited her below. She needed to conserve her strength. Without a second thought, she pivoted her body, evading the sharp arrows aimed directly at her, and bolted toward the nearest tunnel.

The darkness deepened, like water spilled from an inkpot, obscuring her vision. Just as her toes touched down, the ground beneath her suddenly cracked open. Xianyue braced herself against the wall, attempting to escape, but the gaping maw resembled a black hole, exerting tremendous force; the walls were smooth, devoid of any foothold. Her dark hair and white garment coalesced into a writhing serpent. Despite her agility, she could not withstand the overwhelming pull. Frowning, she realized she could not evade it, closed her eyes, relaxed her taut nerves, and surrendered to the abyss.

"Ah!"

She found herself on a long, sloping incline, an endless stretch of the vast tomb, where she was alone with the remnants of the deceased. In such a confined space, the uncertainty of what lay ahead was daunting. To claim that she felt no fear would be a lie; the silence enveloped her, save for the echoes of her own breath and the rhythm of her quickening heart.

Ahead, she glimpsed flickering lights, soft and ethereal, yet a heavy chill filled her. Nevertheless, a sense of calm washed over her, for she knew she was nearing her destination.

As her toes touched the ground, a thunderous sound erupted above, stones cascading down with a dull thud. Xianyue looked up to see the trembling stone slab, still steadfast, and she patted her chest, muttering her misfortune. She must have triggered a mechanism; otherwise, such a massive stone wouldn't have opened so easily.

Before her stretched a long corridor, flanked by luminous pearls the size of a fist at regular intervals. What usually exuded a gentle glow now felt icy, casting an unsettling chill along the corridor that sent shivers down her spine and made her palms sweat.

The intricate patterns adorning the walls were exquisite, yet a chilling breeze rustled in her ears. Gritting her teeth, Xianyue pressed onward. The soft patter of her footsteps rang out in the stillness, each echo tightening her heart. The cold air made her long to vanish from this world entirely. She quickened her pace, racing toward the gleaming expanse ahead. In the center loomed a vast pit, dark and undulating. Xianyue stared at it, biting her lip, her face paling in an instant.