The purple-gold box felt very heavy in my hands and looked somewhat like a smaller version of the Eight Treasures Box (the eight boxes that hold the relics), but much smaller. At that time, Buddhism had not yet been introduced to China, so what was inside could not possibly be relics. I shook it, but there was no sound. I thought to myself: Could it be that the box contains the ghost seal that the fat man mentioned?

The key was in the mouth of the female corpse. I steadied my mind, took a deep breath, and inserted my fingers under her tongue to grasp the key, carefully pulling it out. Just as the key was about to come out of her mouth, I noticed a very thin silk thread tied to the key’s handle, leading all the way down into the throat of the corpse. I suddenly realized that something was not right; it seemed that the other end of the thread was tied to something.

My grandfather had told me that during the Shang Dynasty, Chinese artisans had already skillfully managed to install mechanisms inside human corpses, using golden threads to trigger them. As soon as tomb robbers removed the jade plugs or precious pearls from the mouth or anus of the corpse, the mechanism would activate, and crossbow arrows would shoot out. Since the distance between the living and the dead was often very close, there was simply no way to dodge. I didn’t know how many tomb robbers had died under such traps.

I pressed on the abdomen of the female corpse and indeed felt several hard objects. I thought to myself: Thank goodness I was slow; if it had been the fat man or Panzi, they would probably have fallen victim! Considering all of this, it seemed as if it was all designed specifically for tomb robbers, and I couldn’t help but feel a chill.

The silk thread behind the key was golden and could be pulled but not broken. I pinched it with my nail, and it snapped. I took out the key and aligned it with the keyhole on the purple-gold box, and it fit perfectly. However, I had no idea what kind of trickery might be inside the box, and there could be a mechanism. After thinking it over, I decided it was better not to open it for now.

At that moment, I suddenly noticed that the female corpse that had been hanging onto me had become grotesque. I was greatly alarmed as her face sank in like a spoiled orange, making an indescribable sound from her throat. In just a few seconds, she transformed from a living beauty into a dry corpse right before my eyes. I barely shook her, and her withered arm broke off, her desiccated body falling onto the jade platform and continuing to shrink.

I was terrified. It seemed that the gem on the key really had a preservative effect. I dared not think too much and stuffed everything into my bag, thinking that it was not wise to linger here, and then went to carry the fat man.

The fat man was quite heavy, and after several attempts to move him, there was still no response. I thought, surely he couldn’t be dead. At this point, I couldn’t worry too much. I grabbed one of his hands and shouted, “Get up!” Then I straightened my back and hoisted him onto my back. The fat man was very heavy, nearly crushing me to the point of spitting blood. I shook my head secretly, cursing the fat man’s ancestors as I walked.

Fortunately, the stone corridor was not long. I quickly reached the middle section, and as soon as I exited the area entangled with vines, I saw a cliff. My third uncle and Panzi were not up there; it seemed they had gone back to look for an exit. I walked to the end of the stone corridor, where the sacrificial altar was located, and placed the fat man on the altar, intending to take a good rest. Suddenly, I saw my third uncle crawling out from the hole closest to the ground.

He is very familiar with things like Qi Men Dun Jia. With him around, that maze is nothing at all. I was afraid he didn’t see me, so I waved my hand and shouted, “Uncle San, I’m over here!!”

When Uncle San saw me, he initially wanted to laugh, but his expression suddenly changed. He pointed behind me, and when I turned around, I saw that the胖子 had somehow sat up. To my shock, the corpse of the blue-eyed fox was actually lying on his back, coldly staring at me.