The times were terribly chaotic then. One day, Old Sheepskin and Yang Erdan were performing with a troupe in the countryside when they unfortunately ran into bandits. When the female troupe leader showed the slightest resistance, the bandits stripped her and mutilated her into a "human stick"; most of the others scattered in terror. Old Sheepskin managed to drag Yang Erdan into a nearby mountain cave. Unexpectedly, this cave housed an ancient tomb, and within the deepest earth palace, the pavilions and terraces resembled an emperor's garden. Of course, Old Sheepskin had never seen the inside of an emperor's residence, but he presumed it must be similar to this cavern, as if they had stepped into a heavenly palace. As they wandered through the earth palace, they accidentally saved the life of a Daoist priest, a young man even a few years younger than Yang Erdan, whose demeanor and speech suggested he was no ordinary person.

What they least expected was that this Daoist priest killed people with even greater ferocity than the bandits. Upon hearing of their troupe leader's fate, he told them to wait a moment in the cave. He returned a short while later, carrying a string of severed heads. The two brothers immediately recognized the bloody trophies as those of the very bandits who had waylaid and murdered their troupe. Though retribution had been served, Old Sheepskin was a man of simple virtue; the sight of the mangled heads made his heart pound in fear. Yet, looking at the young Daoist, it seemed he hadn't given killing a second thought.

Moreover, this young Daoist was remarkably loyal; he was determined to repay a drop of kindness with a gushing spring. Not only had he avenged the two brothers, but he insisted on giving them a sum of money as well. Old Sheepskin worried that this Daoist might also be a ruthless brigand and dared not accept his wealth. Seeing they refused, the young Daoist led them to a wealthy man surnamed Chen, instructing him to look after the brothers from then on, before hastily departing without leaving a name.

This Chen, though young himself, was clearly a man of considerable influence. Despite showing great deference to the young Daoist, Chen himself commanded many subordinates, possessed numerous antiquities, and frequently engaged in clandestine dealings. He was also naturally gifted with eloquence, a silver-tongued orator who could speak endlessly. Initially, Mr. Chen lodged Old Sheepskin and Yang Erdan in his grand estate, but he did not treat them as mere servants. He only assigned them light, easy tasks, ensuring they were well-fed and comfortable with three meals a day, and even gave them monthly stipends so they could buy whatever they wished.

Old Sheepskin, used to a life of hardship, found such treatment overwhelming and felt uneasy, wanting instead to help out with the heavy or tiresome chores around the house. But all such tasks were already assigned to existing servants, leaving no room for them to contribute. As time passed, the brothers finally learned that Mr. Chen was, in fact, a notorious tomb robber and grave plunderer. Yet, Chen felt no shame, arguing with perfect reason: what was the big deal? To achieve a grand purpose, minor scruples must be overlooked—this was called pooling spoils for righteous unity, conspiring toward a greater goal. Never mind digging a few abandoned graves; they had even plundered the tombs of emperors.

Later, Old Sheepskin and Yang Erdan joined the crew. Several years flew by, and they learned countless techniques of grave robbing from Mr. Chen. This group could discern subtle changes in grass and soil, mastering the arts of "Thousand-Rod Hole-Sensing" and "Ridge-Piercing Tomb Finding." They often posed as Feng Shui masters, gathering intelligence, their network of informants being vast. When they moved, it was always with dozens or even hundreds of men. They didn't just raid tombs; they often annexed the wealthy and unjust households they passed along the way, bearing a striking resemblance to the heroes of Liangshan Marsh. However, on one occasion, the leader, Mr. Chen, took a contingent of brothers south for a major operation. Due to the long journey, the group wasn't very large, and it was highly likely they met with disaster in the south; not a single one returned, their whereabouts completely unknown.

After the leader vanished, the group dispersed like scattered monkeys when the tree falls. Some went south to search for their leader, while the rest went their separate ways. Old Sheepskin intended to head south as well, but Yang Erdan had already made arrangements with another tomb robber from the Northeast to travel together to the Three Eastern Provinces. Old Sheepskin tried desperately to persuade Yang Erdan against going to the Northeast, noting that the Japanese had already occupied Manchuria there. How could they find a safe haven there?

But Yang Erdan was adamant about going. Under Old Sheepskin's persistent questioning, he finally revealed that a band of unscrupulous tomb-robbing bandits, known as the Nierhui, were operating around the Greater Khingan Range. They were considered low-tier, disorganized thieves—daring and using esoteric methods, willing to dig anything, but completely ignorant of how to locate unmarked ancient tombs. Yang Erdan was cleverer than Old Sheepskin and had learned more skills. Through an introduction, he developed a dark ambition: to join the Nierhui. At that time, the Nierhui desperately needed someone like Yang Erdan. They offered him unlimited women and wealth; most critically, they could offer him a position of high authority, treating him with utmost flattery. Yang Erdan, accustomed to living subserviently and deferring to others his entire life, perhaps lacked the self-possession to strike out on his own. Once flattered by the Nierhui men, he became utterly lost, gladly accepting this marvelous opportunity to become the "Grand Treasurer" of the Nierhui in the Northeast.