Chapter 22: Want to Hear It? Then Kneel Before Me!

Inside the ancient tomb!

Zhou Cheng dared not approach.

Zhou Zeyi and his two companions, however, already had eyes glowing with greed. Upon seeing that bronze coffin, engraved from end to end with relief dragon patterns and exuding an ancient, weathered aura, their fear of the Western Zhou tomb vanished into thin air. None of the three were amateurs; they had raided many ancient tombs from various dynasties, but this was their first time encountering such an exquisite and imposing bronze coffin. The impact was beyond words.

"Third Master!" Taili said, his voice trembling with excitement. "This must be a prince's tomb at least, right?"

Zhou Zeyi snorted, "So uncultured! The Shang and Zhou dynasties used a feudal system, not the Ming or Qing—where would you find a 'prince'!" He stared at the bronze coffin, the patina shimmering with a dreamlike blue light under the flashlight beam—the mark left by time. He took a deep breath, trying to suppress his agitation, though his lips still quivered, "I heard that Shang and Zhou coffins had two layers: an outer casket and an inner coffin! This bronze piece is actually the innermost part. Where did the wooden outer casket go?"

Taili shook his head. "I didn't touch it!"

Zhou Zeyi seemed uninterested in him and looked at the tall, thin man, who, after glancing around, also muttered in confusion, "Could someone have moved it? But who would want that rotting wood?"

Finding no logic in it, Zhou Zeyi turned his focus back to the bronze coffin. "Taili, pry it open! If someone else has beaten us to it, the grave goods might already be gone."

Taili hurried forward. Two of them stood in front, one behind, rolling up their sleeves to open the coffin. However, the bronze was incredibly sturdy. They exerted all their strength, yet it wouldn't budge.

Zhou Zeyi looked astonished. "Why is it so heavy?" He beckoned to Zhou Cheng. "Come here!"

Zhou Cheng was already frantic with worry, but his uncle wouldn't listen, so he had no choice but to step forward. Zhang Xuan’s words were still echoing in his mind, and he prayed that nothing would go wrong. The four men stood at both ends of the coffin, shouting in rhythm as they pushed. This time, the force was greater. The bronze lid rattled, but it immediately snapped back, as if held by a spring from within.

Taili looked stunned. "This isn't right! Why does it feel like something is pulling it from the inside?"

Zhou Zeyi realized something was wrong, his face darkening. Zhou Cheng felt even more uneasy. "It's too demonic! Let's just give up! We can't even open it with four people!"

But the tall, thin man laughed loudly, making the others feel uneasy. "Not being able to open it is a good thing!" he said. "It proves the lid hasn't been touched, and the burial treasures are still inside! Third Master, these are Western Zhou treasures! Any single piece is worth a fortune!"

Zhou Zeyi understood, his nervous expression turning into a grin. He rubbed his hands together. "Try again!"

Taili shook his head. "Third Master, brute force won't work! There must be a mechanism." He signaled the others to step aside and stood with his back to the head of the coffin. "Looks like I have to use my real skills." He braced his shoulders against the center of the lid, supported the corners with his hands, and pushed upward with his legs and waist.

Zhou Cheng watched, bewildered, while the tall, thin man gave Taili a thumbs-up. "That’s a real eye-opener!"

...

In the livestream, Zhang Xuan’s face was grim. He suddenly raised an eyebrow. "The Overlord Lifting the Cauldron? I didn't expect him to be a master. Brother, it seems your family company has some real talent."

The audience had surged past one hundred thousand. Zhou Cheng’s chest-mounted camera captured everything clearly. While not high-definition, the hazy, realistic footage felt incredibly authentic.

"What kind of technique is that?"
"Four people couldn't open it; the lid must weigh at least a thousand pounds. Can one man really lift it?"
"Brother Xuan, explain! 'Overlord Lifting the Cauldron'?"

In the earpiece, Zhou Cheng’s voice came through faintly, "Overlord Lifting the Cauldron? Will it work?"

Zhang Xuan nodded. "Some coffins use internal locking mechanisms. A latch locks automatically once the lid is shut. Unless you blow the coffin up, no amount of pushing will open it. But such mechanisms are rarely used."

Zhou Cheng was surprised. "Why? Too complex?"

Zhang Xuan shook his head. "Not at all. Think about it: if tomb raiders have already found the coffin, they've already breached the tomb. Making the coffin that secure just forces them to use violence, which destroys not only the treasures but the remains as well. Abandoning such mechanisms is a way for the tomb owner to reach a 'truce' with the robbers."

The viewers were captivated by Zhang Xuan’s professional, well-reasoned explanation.

Zhou Cheng was amazed. "Wow... I’ve learned so much! But can this 'Overlord' technique open this bronze coffin?"

Zhang Xuan shook his head. "It won't."

"Why? Is Taili’s technique bad?"

"No," Zhang Xuan replied. "He clearly knows the technique, but there is no internal lock in this bronze coffin."

The viewers, who were watching Taili strain with all his might—the lid actually shaking under his shoulders—thought it was about to open. They were shocked by Zhang Xuan’s blunt refusal.

Zhou Cheng asked, "Then why won't it open?"

Zhang Xuan took a deep breath. "Because what’s lying inside doesn't want you to open it."

Zhou Cheng: "..."

Inside the tomb, Zhou Cheng gasped, his gaze locked on Taili. The twenty-centimeter-thick bronze lid was lifted slightly by Taili's desperate efforts, only to slam back down with a heavy thud. Taili, exhausted, collapsed to the ground.

"It really won't open!" Zhou Cheng was shocked and helped Taili up. "Are you okay?"

Taili shook his head, looking at the bronze coffin as if it were haunted. "It moved, but then it was sucked back down. It’s like there’s a massive force inside fighting me!"

Zhou Zeyi’s face was grim. He had seen it clearly—the pressure was sudden. He had never encountered such a mechanism.

"It’s not a mechanism," a voice whispered.

Zhou Zeyi looked at Zhou Cheng in surprise. "What did you say?"

The tall, thin man examined Zhou Cheng. "Little brother, what do you see? Why is your face so pale? Your lips are blue, too. Hey, what’s this?" The man reached out and snatched the earpiece from Zhou Cheng.

Zhou Cheng, consumed by fear, tried to grab it back, but Zhou Zeyi stepped in front of him. "Third Uncle..."

Zhou Zeyi didn't speak; he took the earpiece from the tall man, his eyes never leaving Zhou Cheng. The tall man laughed, "The nephew likes music!"

Zhou Zeyi ignored him and put the earpiece in his own ear. He saw Zhou Cheng’s pupils dilating. At the same time, a familiar voice came through the earpiece: "Hello!"

...

At the Cyber Security Duty Room, Director Chen looked at Fang Youcai and the others with a strange expression. "Hmph!"

Fang Youcai, watching the stream, jumped. "Director Chen... what’s wrong?"

Director Chen pointed at Zhang Xuan on the screen. "You said this kid is only nineteen and has a clean background. Then tell me, how did he instantly recognize the 'Overlord Lifting the Cauldron' technique—something even those grave robbers didn't know—and analyze it so clearly? This is a 'clean background'?"

Fang Youcai scratched his head. "But the investigation says..." He gave a desperate look to Xiao Lü.

Xiao Lü quickly raised his hand. "Director, I know! He probably read it in a novel!"

Director Chen frowned. "Novels have this kind of thing?"

Xiao Lü: "I guess... don't you think so, Team Leader Fang?"

Fang Youcai stammered, "Maybe... maybe he saw it in a movie?"

Director Chen’s face turned black. Suddenly, Liang Jingyi screamed, pointing at the screen. "What’s that sound? The coffin is moving!"

The three men looked up. The bronze coffin was indeed shaking, emitting a chilling, rhythmic *clack-clack-clack* sound.

...

The livestream of one hundred thousand people was surging.

"What’s happening? Is this a tomb raiding stream? I’m stunned!"
"Brother Xuan said there’s something inside pulling the lid. That must be the tomb owner!"
"I’m terrified!!!"

Inside the tomb, Zhou Zeyi was dumbstruck. The four men were frozen, cold sweat pouring down their backs as they backed away. The massive bronze coffin rattled like a boiling kettle. Even the experienced Zhou Zeyi had gone pale.

"We're done for!" the tall man cried in despair. "We're going to die here!"

Zhou Zeyi turned to Zhou Cheng. "Was it him who told you not to open the coffin?"

Zhou Cheng nodded.

Zhou Zeyi gasped. "He knows everything!"

Taili also looked at Zhou Cheng in shock. Everything suddenly made sense.

Zhou Zeyi handed the earpiece to Zhou Cheng. "Ask the little brother for a way out!"

Instead of taking it, Zhou Cheng unplugged the earpiece, turned the volume to the max, and pointed the camera at the shaking coffin. "Brother Xuan, my Third Uncle is begging you to save us!"

The chat exploded:
"The robbers are scared?"
"Brother Xuan, you still say you're just a streamer?"
"Don't save them, Brother Xuan! They didn't listen to you, they deserve it!"

Zhang Xuan’s face remained cold. He had done his best; they had ignored him and courted death. Now that they had provoked something powerful, they wanted him to clean up their mess? No way.

"Third Uncle, Brother Xuan won't answer me. You have to ask him yourself," Zhou Cheng said.

Tense breathing came through the mic. "Little brother, I don't know who you are, but your skills are far beyond mine. If you can show us a way out, my three teams—over seventy men—will honor you as our leader from now on!"

"We agree too!" two other voices shouted.

Zhou Cheng added, "Brother Xuan, you've helped us so many times. If you can't help us now, it’s our destiny."

Zhang Xuan’s face was cold. "You’re not asking for help; you’re dragging me into the mud! Seventy men? What is this, the era of warlords? You think you're some mountain king?"

Zhou Zeyi: "..."

"I'm just a small streamer with a hundred thousand viewers," Zhang Xuan said. "You're talking this way in front of everyone—I don't know what your intentions are."

The tall man whispered, "It’s over! He has a hundred thousand viewers! Even if we get out, we’ll be arrested! We’re dead!"

Zhang Xuan chuckled. "The tall one is clear-headed. Why don't you run now? The thing inside hasn't come out yet. There’s still time!"

"We can't!" the tall man cried. "The explosives collapsed the tunnel entrance! We're trapped!"

Zhang Xuan paused. "Then you're doomed. You provoked the master inside. I can't help you."

Silence filled the tomb, save for the thumping of the coffin. After a moment, Zhou Zeyi said in a low, heavy voice, "Little brother, I accept it. But before I die, can you tell me... who exactly is the master in this coffin?"

Zhang Xuan’s eyes narrowed. "You want to know? Then kneel."