The Informal Tomb Raiding Diary: She is the occupant of the tomb!-Chapter 29: Song in the Ruins

Boss Lu revealed an ’I knew it’ smile.

"You knew how to decode the labyrinthine tomb passage but always stayed behind me, seems like you went to find her. Sigh... No wonder Miss Cheng looks like she could eat someone when she hears her name, turns out it’s a case of rivals meeting, extraordinarily jealous!"

It’s more than just jealousy; she even tried to kill me...

Boss Lu was quick to believe Chen Qinghan’s nonsense, indicating she didn’t know much about the Leng family’s personnel.

At least she was unaware of the previous time the Leng family teamed up to explore the tomb.

Moreover, she’s equally clueless about Chen Qinghan’s past and private life.

"Didn’t think Professor Chen is such a sentimental fool. Don’t worry, as long as you cooperate with me, if the Leng family wants to break you two apart, I’ll speak up for you."

I was utterly puzzled by Boss Lu’s words. Just a moment ago she said it was an ’exception’ for Chen Qinghan to work with the Leng family, and now she says the Leng family would tear us apart. Does Chen Qinghan need to distance himself from the Leng family?

The Leng family is a family of tomb robbers, and those who oppose them are either peers or the ’officials.’

Chen Qinghan is most likely the latter, but my identity is fake, and there’s no identity conflict between us. He has always been protecting me with all his might, knowing I’m a ’cultural relic.’

"Thank you." Chen Qinghan coldly expressed his gratitude.

Facing Boss Lu, his scholarly and gentle image was completely gone, and he adopted a cool and distant demeanor. With his attitude, Boss Lu must have a specific reason to tolerate him so far.

I was very curious about what it was about Chen Qinghan that piqued Boss Lu’s interest.

"Who?" A subordinate of Boss Lu suddenly shouted towards the depths of the sand sea.

"What’s up Lao Wu?" Boss Lu urgently inquired.

"Someone... seems like someone’s humming a song." The bodyguard named Lao Wu replied with a lack of confidence.

I thought Wen Jing and the others were discovered when they came in, but then I figured it’s not right; they wouldn’t run back to the ancient tomb after getting close to the exit!

Surviving tomb robbers had described many traps and dangers within the tombs to me before, but no creature that could sing.

"Lao Wu, are you scared out of your mind, you coward, useless!"

"Exactly, how come we didn’t hear it? Are you hallucinating?"

Boss Lu’s other men were silent for a few seconds, but since they didn’t hear anything, they lashed out at Lao Wu.

"The tomb has collapsed, the bugs are dead, besides us, there’s no one else, stop being so jumpy." Mr. Broken Nose said with determination despite his pain.

Chen Qinghan’s face showed nothing, but he silently held my hand. In this place, at this moment, a man and a woman holding hands most likely doesn’t signify affection, but that they’re preparing to escape together.

Because the sound that the bodyguards couldn’t hear, the one only Lao Wu could hear, I also heard it.

It was indeed a hum reminiscent of singing, with a melancholic, ethereal, and plaintive melody, gradually approaching us as if expressing ’drifting across the sand sea to see you.’

"Professor Chen, is there anything in this tomb that can produce a human voice?" Boss Lu, unlike her men, didn’t have her head in the clouds; she’s survived until now not by luck. Vigilance is key to surviving in tombs.

"No." Chen Qinghan’s expression was solemn. He tightly held my hand; I could even feel his body tensing, ready to run at any moment.

Boss Lu stared at Chen Qinghan, clearly not believing his words.

"This tomb is different from other Heavenly Maiden Tombs, you can’t generalize." Chen Qinghan explained.

"What kind of Heavenly Maiden is this, so impoverished? We couldn’t get a thing, not even a valuable antique. If I had the time to visit the main tomb chamber, I’d drag this pauper’s skeleton right out of the coffin and stomp on it!" A furious bodyguard yelled.

I wanted to defend myself, saying that I do have antiques, but since those things were left by previous tomb robbers, I was too embarrassed to speak.

"Stop bluffing, would you dare? I heard the Heavenly Maiden’s body doesn’t decompose, all mummies, you better watch out she doesn’t jump up and bite you."

"Bah, I’ve seen plenty of mummies, which one can move? After all, they’re just dead bodies, no matter how mysterious the tales, it’s nothing but a peculiar corpse."

"Listen, it’s closer! Closer now—" Lao Wu called out in terror.

His repeated loss of composure made the others hesitant, and they looked in the direction he indicated.

Chen Qinghan seized the opportunity during their distraction, pulling me away as he ran. At the moment he turned and took a step, something unknown knocked the flashlight out of Lao Wu’s hand.

The flashlight soared into the air, and Lao Wu was lifted with it, his scream cutting off halfway.

I didn’t see what happened to him, because Chen Qinghan dragged me into a sprint, and if I didn’t look down and watch my step, I’d fall.

"Don’t run, damn it—shoot, kill it!" Boss Lu’s voice rang out in frustration, soon followed by the sound of gunfire behind us. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

But only Boss Lu’s men cried out in pain and despair; no sound from the attackers, and the eerie singing ceased as well.

We reached the gap at the stone door and saw Wen Jing attempting to squeeze inside.

"Go out!" Chen Qinghan said as he pushed me forward, "You go first."

He said that and drew the large treasure sword from his back, assuming a battle-ready stance.

Wen Jing’s head quickly retracted, and I shouted to him: "Move aside!"

After yelling, I took a few steps to get a running start, then leapt forward in a swimming dive posture through the opening.

My thoughts were simple; even buying Chen Qinghan a second of escape time was good.

Wen Jing and the others saw me ’flying’ through the breach and quickly ran to catch me, supporting me from left and right as they moved forward, clearing the passage.

But Chen Qinghan didn’t follow me out. We heard the sounds of fighting and the heart-wrenching clang of metal clashing from beyond the door.

Wen Jing’s gun had been confiscated by Boss Lu, leaving him empty-handed, unable to help Chen Qinghan if he went back in.

"Hurry, go faster, don’t stand there stupidly, he’s not coming out!" Boss Lu shouted frantically as she squeezed through the door, clearly shaken.

"If you want to leave, you leave, get lost!" Wen Jing picked up a rock from beside the door, weighing it in his hand, obviously intending to use it as a weapon.

"Trying to leave? Dream on, dare bully me, I won’t forgive you!" Miss Scream seized Boss Lu, and the two of them wrestled and screamed in chaos.

"You guys go first, I’ll catch up later." Chen Qinghan called to us through the stone door.

"Let’s go, we can’t help Professor Chen by staying," Shunfeng turned and ran toward the exit first.

Wen Jing gritted his teeth, "Professor Chen, we’ll wait for you."

With that said, he also turned and ran towards the exit. I glanced at the tussling Miss Scream and Boss Lu on the ground, jumped over, knocked Boss Lu unconscious, then grabbed Miss Scream and ran.

This woman is troublesome, but if she dies inexplicably here, it will cause more trouble for Chen Qinghan and the others.