The doctor from An Ning’s team examined our wounds, administered anti-inflammatory injections and animal disease vaccines, and cleaned and stitched up the long, torn wounds. The injury on the fat guy’s backside was the most severe, making it difficult for him to eat anything other than while lying down.

We were extremely hungry; although there wasn’t much food, their guide assured us that there was a breeze here, indicating that there must be a way out, so we didn’t need to be too anxious. We consumed a lot of sugary food, and gradually, the sensations in our bodies returned—places that hurt felt even more painful, and places that itched felt even itchier, which was quite uncomfortable.

Uncle San was still in a daze, but his high fever had subsided. Panzi wrapped him in a sleeping bag and kept giving him water. The hot spring water was abundant, and we all used it to wash our bodies. The environment here was hardly pleasant, but I felt that washing myself with this water was almost divine.

During this time, I shared everything I had seen without reservation, but the others remained silent, not offering any comments. These foreigners had now witnessed the strange and evil side of ancient Chinese mysteries, and it was probably difficult for them to have any further thoughts on the matter.

One of the animal experts suggested that the monkey-like creatures living in the mouths of strange birds might represent an ancient parasitic relationship, similar to the way a creature might cling to a wolf’s back. The strange bird might be unable to digest food, while the “monkey in the mouth” helps it digest, with the bird relying on the monkey’s feces for sustenance—something quite common in the ocean.

I didn’t express my opinion; everything that had happened upon entering the Cloud Top Heavenly Palace had unfolded too quickly for us to catch our breath. I felt as if I had been dreaming and didn’t want to think about these things any further. However, I privately made an agreement with these experts: if we could survive and there were any developments regarding this matter, we could share resources via email, hoping that in the future, we wouldn’t be in a competitive relationship.

We rested for half a day, and then Panzi led a few people deeper into the crevice to explore. We set off again, continuing our journey into the depths of the mountain’s fissure. The cave expert suggested that this fissure should have an exit to the surface; otherwise, there wouldn’t be any airflow, and the exit would definitely be a wind tunnel.

At that time, I didn’t trust him, but after walking for nearly a day, I suddenly started to feel a sense of familiarity with my surroundings. When the fat guy opened his mouth and pointed to a double-layer mural that had peeled off the side of the crevice, I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

The exit of this fissure turned out to be the same rock crevice we had hidden in while avoiding the snowstorm on our way up the mountain, which had been sealed off by stones. I saw our leftover supplies inside, and Panzi also chuckled wryly.

When we first came here, we were a large and impressive group, but now we felt like defeated soldiers. The excitement and mystery we had felt while gazing at the double-layer mural and speculating about the secrets of the Cloud Top Heavenly Palace had transformed into an unavoidable bitterness and irony. Moreover, at that time, we could never have imagined that just a few kilometers further into this fissure lay the location of the Nine Dragons’ Coffin. We had made such a huge detour.

This is truly a great irony. I don’t know whether this irony is the last surprise that Wang Canghai left for us or just a tremendous coincidence that even he was unaware of.

After that, we quickly made our way out of the crevice, and for the first time in a week, everyone saw the sun, which was so bright that we could hardly open our eyes.

We had basically run out of food, but we weren’t short on water and still had enough energy, so going a day on an empty stomach should not be a problem. We set a route, and An Ning contacted Dr. Zi and the rescue team via satellite phone, saying someone would be there to meet us on the way.

Following their team, we slowly descended below the snow line, and by the time we encountered the mountain rescue team, we were already outside Ying Shan village.

All the injured were transported by jeep to the nearest hospital for basic treatment before being sent to the Third Hospital of Jilin University. After examination, my uncle was diagnosed with severe concussion and complications from a wound infection, requiring long-term recovery. As for me and Fatty, we only had external injuries, which made me stop envying Panzi’s robust body covered in scars, as I realized I wasn’t much different from him.

Moreover, although I still had no idea about my uncle’s purpose and motives, I felt a sense of pride in having brought him back.

My uncle needed to stay in the hospital for treatment until his condition stabilized. After about half a month of indulging in carefree fun in Jilin, Panzi, Fatty, and a few foreigners each said their goodbyes.

Panzi returned to Changsha, needing a lot of energy to clean up the aftermath, and we lost contact afterward. Fatty went back to Beijing’s Panjiayuan, saying he wanted to rest for a few months, while the foreigners returned to their respective countries. I was left alone, taking care of my uncle and sorting out my thoughts, trying to use the clues I already had to piece things together. However, without my uncle’s part of the information, it was impossible to fully understand the entire situation.

In fact, the mysteries surrounding Wang Canghai had already become quite clear:

First, the Yunding Tiangong (Cloud Top Heavenly Palace) was not built by Wang Canghai but rather remodeled by him. (But who built this enormous site from the Yin and Shang dynasties and for what purpose?)

Second, Wang Canghai did not participate in this remodeling project voluntarily; most of the Han artisans involved in the renovation were coerced from Dongxia. During the renovation, Commander Wang Canghai began designing a nearly cross-mountain escape route between the Little Saint and the Three Saints mountains to avoid being trapped with the alien Wannu King when the tomb was sealed.

Third, during the tomb renovation process, Wang Canghai gradually concealed many secrets deep within the Changbai Mountain, beneath the Dongxia royal tomb. (What did he see inside the bronze giant gate?)

Fourth, Wang Canghai recorded these secrets in the Longyu script, hoping that one day they would be seen by the world.

Fifth, because Dongxia was a small border country with a depleted treasury, many of the rare treasures in the Yunding Tiangong were looted from other tombs. While guiding the Dongxia army in turning over coffins, Wang Canghai secretly hid Longyu scripts within these ancient tombs, hoping someone would discover them. He placed two in total, and the last one was hidden in his own grave before he died.

Sixth, why did he build the ancient tombs underwater? Was he afraid that the descendants of Dongxia would sever this secret?

Seventh, the people who disappeared from the underwater tomb appeared in a secret chamber of the Yunding Tiangong. (Except for two individuals, everyone else has died, but who are these two people? Where did they go? Did they also enter the Giant Gate like the Mute Oil Bottle? Why did they want to go in? What is the purpose of the Third Uncle going to Yunding Tiangong?)

Eighth, the enormous bronze ancient tree, the massive bronze dark door, and the hexagonal bells that appear in several locations—are there any connections among these bronze objects? Do they represent a kind of mysterious power, and what exactly is it?

I gradually realize that everything that happened twenty years ago in the underwater tomb is the key.

The end of the Yunding Tiangong chapter of “The Grave Robbers’ Chronicles.”