Out. At that moment, the Company Commander gasped again, and Zhi Xiong quickly asked what was wrong.

He pointed toward the distant attic and said to the others, "Look, there's something over there too!"

Zhi Xiong turned to look upon hearing this, and saw many figures emerging from beneath the attic. These figures looked like corpses, and now, they too were slowly moving toward them. When Zhi Xiong finally got a clearer look at the opened coffins beneath the attic, he instantly understood where these corpses had come from.

It must be because the four ghosts in the four attics had all made their presence known simultaneously that so many unclean things had suddenly gathered here!

Seeing corpses appearing everywhere and their numbers still increasing, Zhi Xiong urgently asked Fatty, "Senior, where is the door you used to enter this place? We'll leave through there!"

Fatty shook his head and said, "No, there are too many bugs over there!"

Zhi Xiong watched the growing number of corpses appearing nearby, realizing it was too late to wait, and shouted to Fatty again, "Forget about that, let's just get out first!"

Only then did Fatty reluctantly point the way. Zhi Xiong quickly led everyone rushing toward it. When they arrived, they indeed found a massive stone door. The mechanism to open it had already been triggered, so the four of them easily pushed the stone door open.

As soon as the stone door was ajar, Zhi Xiong realized they were in a stone chamber. The chamber was completely empty; there was none of the swarm of bugs Fatty had mentioned. We poured out and quickly sealed the stone door behind us.

Just as everyone was about to catch their breath, they suddenly noticed several more figures emerging from the doorway opposite their position in the stone chamber.

Zhi Xiong was startled, but when the figures entered, everyone present froze.

The newcomers were several men holding guns and wearing the uniforms of "Heaven's Punishment." Upon seeing us, these men immediately let out a collective sigh of relief.

Later, Zhi Xiong learned from Fatty that these men were the backup rescue team from Group Two... Having nearly perished in the Southern Savage Demon Tower, they finally met the reserve members of Group Two, managed to return the way Fatty had come, and thus exited the ancient tomb. Fatty later bid us farewell, returning to the forest, while Zhi Xiong and Lu Zong accompanied the members of "Heaven's Punishment" back to their headquarters. After seeing his grandfather again, Zhi Xiong returned to his residence in Kunming.

Although they were out of the Demon Tower, Zhi Xiong remained deeply troubled by the information they had gleaned there. Previously, Zhi Xiong and Lu Zong had always been constrained by "Heaven's Punishment," constantly reacting passively. Having learned so much this time, if they didn't take some initiative, Zhi Xiong felt that as the King of Tomb Raiding, he was being too cowardly.

Later, after consulting with Lu Zong, they decided to go together to visit Fatty’s master. However, when they went to pay their respects again, Fatty and his master flatly refused to see them. With no other recourse, they had to return to Kunming. Zhi Xiong felt strongly that his involvement in this matter was no accident, and that the main reason "Heaven's Punishment" had taken an interest in him as the King of Tomb Raiding was not the complete story. To find the truth, Zhi Xiong felt he needed to make another trip to Hainan, to the temple in Sanya, to question Elder Kong Du, who had consecrated the jade Buddha statue back then.

The night before leaving for Hainan, Zhi Xiong and Lu Zong were engrossed in playing video games when they suddenly heard a knock on the door.

Lu Zong said, "Zhi Xiong, I'm about to clear this level; you get the door."

Zhi Xiong shrugged and walked to the living room. When he opened the door, he found Liu Quansheng outside. This fellow had recently partnered with Old Man Wu to open an antique shop and had been busy with business; what time did he have to visit them?

Zhi Xiong quickly ushered him in and asked, "Old Liu, what brings you around?"

Liu Quansheng smiled, shook a bottle of Maotai in front of Zhi Xiong, and said, "Didn't I hear you just got out of the Demon Tower? It wasn't easy for you two to come back alive this time. Zhi Xiong and Old Wu had planned to bring something over for a drink earlier, but we were too swamped recently. But since you're heading to Hainan tomorrow, Old Man Wu sent me with some good wine for a toast."

Zhi Xiong laughed, "You didn't have to bring anything; Zhi Xiong isn't short on liquor."

Liu Quansheng chuckled, saying no more. At that moment, Lu Zong also emerged from his room, and upon seeing Liu Quansheng, exclaimed, "Well, Mr. Liu, what wind blows you here today?"

Liu Quansheng said, "I heard our Duanwu brought back a Zongzi bride from the Demon Tower, so I specifically brought some fine wine to celebrate. What, isn't the sister-in-law home?"

Lu Zong replied, "Bringing back a Zongzi bride would be nice, but since you, Mr. Liu, are older than me, shouldn't I take one for you before I take a wife? I specifically scoped out seventy-two for you in the Demon Tower that day, but all seventy-two big Zongzis were as lovely as flowers, making it hard to choose. I was going to bring them all back, but they backed out immediately upon hearing you’re already over forty by traditional count!"

Seeing these two jokers lock horns again, Zhi Xiong thought that if this continued, they wouldn't be drinking tonight. He quickly intervened, "I say, our revolution in tomb raiding hasn't succeeded yet. You two elders shouldn't worry about wives. Zhi Xiong thinks forty is the prime of life for a man; it’s still early to think about that. Besides, being managed by multiple wives is less fun than the three of us drinking together."

Fortunately, the two showed Zhi Xiong some respect. After he spoke, they glared at each other once more before letting it go.

Zhi Xiong sent Lu Zong out to grab some side dishes, and the three settled down to drink. As they chatted, the conversation eventually turned to the Demon Tower. When Zhi Xiong mentioned the Tang Dynasty Nightingale Maiden, Liu Quansheng's eyes nearly popped out of his head. He took a sip of Maotai, smacked his lips, and asked Zhi Xiong, "Brother Ouyang, are you saying that old fellow was lying to you, or was there really a Nightingale Maiden in the Tang Dynasty?"

Zhi Xiong replied, "That old man didn't seem like he was lying; the main issue is how bizarre the whole thing is. Based on all the clues, the Demon Tower is deeply connected to the Four Great Forbidden Zones. Moreover, I asked Old Wu about it on the phone earlier, and the formation in the palace is highly likely the Five Elements Plum Blossom Shifting Array. Tell me, besides Dongfang Shuo and his disciple, the Nightingale Maiden, does anyone else understand this formation?"

Lu Zong chimed in, "I think the Nightingale Maiden is probably a demon. Living from the Han Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty, who knows if she's still alive now."

Liu Quansheng shook his head, "This is too mysterious. I'd rather believe the two Nightingale Maidens weren't the same person."

Zhi Xiong said, "I thought so too initially, but the resemblance between the two Nightingale Maidens is too uncanny; it’s impossible to view them as two different people."

Lu Zong concluded, "None of us can say for sure. I think tomorrow in Hainan, we'll ask that old monk again why he wouldn't sell you any other Buddha statue except for the key to the treasure box. I don't believe there’s no issue involved here."

Zhi Xiong said, "Of course. If Elder Kong Du doesn't give us an explanation tomorrow, we won't let this rest."

This time, the group drank until they were completely sprawled out. We didn't wake up until noon the next day, and then rushed to catch our afternoon flight. About an hour and fifty minutes later, we arrived in Sanya, Hainan. As soon as we stepped off the plane, the uniquely stifling heat of Hainan made Zhi Xiong and Lu Zong strip down to just their tank tops. We ate some Hainanese dishes at a restaurant before taking a car toward the temple of the South Sea Guanyin. In the car, Lu Zong rubbed his distended stomach and said to Zhi Xiong, "The food here in Hainan is too bland. Never mind the lack of chili, they barely put in any salt! Eating that tofu was like chewing on wax for me."

Zhi Xiong laughed, "Oh, come on. Who was wolfing down food just now? Especially that salted duck—I only got the neck; you gobbled up the rest!"

Lu Zong mumbled, "Well... that salted duck was decent."

Zhi Xiong glanced at him, "You ate most of those shrimp too..."

Lu Zong responded, "Uh... the shrimp were good too."

Zhi Xiong shot him a look: "Zhi Xiong only got the tail of the grouper!"

"Hehe, Zhi Xiong, look, the weather in Hainan is great!"

"..."

We finally arrived at the temple. Zhi Xiong, familiar with the layout, headed straight for Elder Kong Du's meditation room, where he usually was at this hour. The young monk guarding the inner sanctum recognized Zhi Xiong and did not stop him. Zhi Xiong asked a young monk to announce their arrival. A moment later, the young monk emerged from the room, saying, "Two benefactors, I am truly sorry, the Elder is feeling unwell today and cannot receive guests."

Lu Zong immediately tapped the young monk’s shaven head and said, "Are you kidding us? We saw this old monk looking perfectly fine last time; how is he suddenly sick now?" The young monk looked slightly aggrieved and lowered his head, "A Buddhist practitioner does not tell lies; this poor monk dares not deceive you, benefactor."

Lu Zong refused to listen, reached out, pushed the young monk aside, and tried to rush into the meditation room. Zhi Xiong quickly stopped him, saying, "Step-son, do not trespass in a place of worship."

Then, Zhi Xiong turned back to the young monk and said, "Little master, we have something very important to discuss with the Elder. Could you please announce us again?"

The young monk replied, "Benefactor, the Elder's health truly cannot be disturbed. I must ask both benefactors to leave."

Seeing the young monk's firm stance, Zhi Xiong wondered if Elder Kong Du was truly that heartless, giving Zhi Xiong the jade Buddha statue only to refuse to see him now? He was instantly displeased and was about to say something to the young monk when he suddenly heard a fit of coughing from inside the meditation room. Then, an aged voice drifted out: "Wuchen, let Benefactor Ouyang and his friend enter."

Lu Zong heard this and burst into laughter, "See? The old monk is afraid of us making a scene. This is what you call, the stubborn fear the fierce."

Zhi Xiong shrugged, and then followed Lu Zong into the room.

Upon entering, Zhi Xiong saw a withered figure kneeling before the character 'Zen.' As we walked in, the figure slowly spoke, "You have come after all."

Lu Zong said, "Old monk, from the sound of it, you really do know something. I'm telling you, neither of us wants to be fooled. You better tell us whatever you know, or I swear I'll tear down this temple, believe it or not!" When Zhi Xiong had seen the Chan Master Kong Du last time, he had still been robust, but now he looked much older, his back hunched over—it seemed his health really had deteriorated. Zhi Xiong stopped Lu Zong, gesturing for him to be less aggressive, then turned to Chan Master Kong Du and said, "Elder, you must know why we have come."

Chan Master Kong Du sighed, not answering Zhi Xiong, but instead uttering a Zen phrase: "All sentient beings can attain salvation, yet only those whose hearts have died have failed to let go of what they must. Now, after thousands of years, the calamity still repeats itself. Alas, Shan Zai (Goodness, goodness)."

He coughed again, and only when his breathing stabilized did Zhi Xiong speak: "Elder, I don't understand why I was dragged into this. Since you had a purpose in giving me the jade Buddha statue back then, please explain it. I beg you."