Chapter 39 Time is of the essence, we need to act fast
wakefulness, Jiang Yan heard his self-reproach, and warmth filled her heart. She understood that her entanglement stemmed from the ordeal she had faced during this Shandong trip and the image of that...Liao Jun walked at the front of the line. As soon as he saw Shí Mén, he raised his torch to signal everyone to stop.
He stepped forward alone, threw a stone at the broken threshold, and everyone held their breath, listening intently for any sound from inside. 。A crisp sound echoed as the stone hit the ground. After a moment, silence fell except for the lingering echo. Liao Jun immediately held up his torch to illuminate the interior before venturing inside first. Chen Qiang and Jiang Yan followed closely behind, while He Jianming brought up the rear. 。This cave is much more spacious than the nearby caves. 。Spacious enough to accommodate a small gymnasium, its shape is roughly square, resembling a sealed box. 。However, there was no one inside, and the floor was so clean it seemed like no one had ever stepped on it. 。
Liao Jun sighed: “It seems we are late.”
It's not necessarily so. 。He JianGuo shook his head and, holding a torch, began to carefully examine the cave walls. Liao Jun, seeing this, immediately spread out on the other side in search of more clues. 。Jiang Yan and Chen Qiang exchanged a glance, tacitly following the suggestion. They split up and moved in different directions. Just as they started, Jiang Yan suddenly stopped, lightly rubbing his shoes and, taking the opportunity to crouch down and tie his laces, carefully scrutinized the world beneath his feet. 。The floor of the cave was not natural soil, but artificially leveled, as if meticulously scraped and coated with a mysterious substance, appearing as hard and smooth as polished stone. 。Jiang Yan's modified snow boots felt unique on the rough terrain thanks to their distinctive tread pattern. 。She struggled internally over whether to reveal this discovery. The existence of Liao Jun made her realize that even with immense wealth, it might be out of reach for her, let alone for the village. 。However, the tomb robber's traces have appeared. She worried not only about the peace of the village and the educated youth point, but also about her hidden identity. 。Jiang Yan's determination was as firm as iron, she decided to take a gamble. 。"Something's not right here" 。Jiang Yan let out a soft sigh, her heart feeling lighter. If the secret she discovered was truly related to those two small orbs, it would also unravel the mystery in her heart. Wealth wasn't something she needed. 。She comforted herself. 。He JianGuo rushed over and protected Jiang Yan behind him. Before he could bend down to check, Liao Jun impatiently crawled to the ground and began to examine him carefully. 。"
It's a mechanism
" 。He tapped the ground, drew out a dagger, and carefully inserted it along the faint outline, prying up a thin stone slab piece by piece. Beneath it lay an iron-ringed beast head sculpture. 。Under the watchful and expectant eyes of the crowd, Liao Jun donned protective gloves and strained to lift the iron ring, but it remained motionless. 。He helplessly turned to He Jianguo for help. The two of them worked together, pulling the iron chain like a carrot from the ground. The chains hung like ropes, but they didn't notice because with a metallic clang, the right side of the cave wall seemed to respond by slowly cracking open, revealing a deep and mysterious opening. 。Faced with this unknown abyss, Jiang Yan felt a sense of destiny rising in her heart. From the first small sphere given by the great immortal, her fate seemed to be woven into a mysterious story. 。And this story has only just begun. 。Let's go 。Chen Qiang's youthful blood was not cooled by the strange atmosphere. He stood close to the newly opened cave entrance, eager to step onto the path ahead. 。One moment 。"Liao Jun raised his voice to stop them, his eyes fixed on the silver ring he was tightly gripping. He loosened his grip slightly, but the stone door emitted a low reverberation and slowly retreated to its original position. The iron ring couldn't be easily unfastened." 。This situation put Jiang Yan in a dilemma. It was impossible to stop Liao Jun from entering, but if she tried to pull the iron ring herself, she probably wouldn't be strong enough. 。Besides, the truth is right in front of her eyes, how could she not be allowed to see it with her own eyes This doesn't seem logical at all. 。He Jian Guo looked at the silent Jiang Yan and Chen Qiang, he couldn't help but laugh out loud. He instructed Jiang Yan to take down the double-barreled hunting rifle on his back, the barrel passed through an iron ring and was wrapped in a chain, then motioned for Liao Jun and him to slowly release their hands together. 。Time is tight, we need to act quickly. 。He Jian Guo waved his hand, urging them on. He pointed to the narrow opening in the stone gate, barely big enough for one person to pass through, urging them to act quickly. 。Li Jun didn't hesitate. Ignoring the extinguished torches beneath his feet, he grabbed Chen Qiang's hand and rushed in. Chen Qiang and Jiang Yan followed closely behind, while He Jianguo brought up the rear. 。When Jiang Yan struggled through the narrow opening, two dumbfounded guards came into view. She gently pushed them aside, squeezing between them and, using the faint light of a torch, explored ahead. In an instant, she was just as shocked as Liao Jun and Chen Qiang. 。Entering the cave over ten feet high, twelve thick stone pillars supported the vaulted ceiling. On the circular ground, there was a one-meter wide edge, below which lay a sunken circular pit about six feet deep. In the center grew a magnificent money tree, its golden branches gleaming in the firelight, and its leaves were thin white jade coins that emitted an eerie white light, astonishing to behold. 。The pond resembled the Dragon Pond during the Shang Zhou period, with countless snakes of all sizes intertwined into a mass. Although they were still in hibernation, they moved half-awake, half-asleep, which was frightening to behold. 。Behind the beautiful scenery lies a deadly crisis, Jiang Yan deeply felt the truth of ancient proverbs, they could only helplessly gaze at the readily available treasure before them. 。Although they had rat poison, they hadn't expected so many snakes. There were too many reptiles in the pond, even in hibernation, making it difficult for them to move around. 。
To anger a snake, even unintentionally, can be fatal. And those with colorful scales and potent venom are even more dangerous.
There seems to be a figure over there. 。Chen Qiang looked around and found that the stone pillar was carved with a hand-shaped sculpture. He tried to insert the torch, and it fit perfectly. 。He lit another torch, moved it to the other pillar, and when he turned back, he saw the blurred figures under the snakes in the pool. He signaled his companions to pay attention, and he himself walked behind the money tree. 。
Liao meticulously scrutinized the direction Chen Qiang pointed to, feeling a headache as he circled like a phantom. He imitated Chen Qiang's actions, inserting the torch into the stone pillar behind him, then facing away from the pond and squatting near the figure, focusing intently on how to approach or rescue it.
Jiang Yan stood side by side with He Jian Guo, a conflict swirling within her. She yearned to know how deep the roots of the money tree went and if it could be contained within space. 。This money tree is not only wealth to her, but also like an art treasure. If it could be planted in the garden of her space, it would be the scene she yearns for every day. 。When Jiang Yan was lost in her fantasy, her right hand was suddenly grasped. She was startled and almost turned to ask He Jianguo, but when she saw the mark left by that hand on her palm, she abruptly stopped: "Don't move, be careful of Liao Jun" 。Jiang Yan's heart skipped a beat. This mysterious team must be Liao's squad, without a doubt. She lowered her eyelids, glancing over Liao who was deep in thought. The confusion she felt along the way finally dissipated. 。Since they were not a group seeking to steal from tombs, then why did Team Liao only bring a handful of people Why did he easily release Zhang Long and Zhao Hu And why was he so wary of them Consider this, if he was here to look for ancient relics, his actions would make sense. He needed to eliminate interference from his companions, conceal his true intentions and identity, and use their knowledge of the terrain and meticulous approach to search for ancient relics!e surrounding murals were still clear, and the scattered footprints on the ground were still visible. Only this corner of the stone platform seemed to abruptly appear.This scene triggered Jiang Yan's...