The partition wasn't a solid wall, but rather a screen; once their food arrived, they dismissed the waiter. The three of them then moved to the edge of the screen, leaning in closely, listening intently. Soon, Zhi Xiong made out voices from the next booth.

From the sound of it, Zhi Xiong realized there was an extra person next door. First, he heard the man with the puffed-up cheeks speak in a low voice: “Old Meng, Xiao Tao sliced that melon last night, but he forgot to pull out the Divine Needle attached to it. Alas…”

Then came the voice of the man with the refined features: “It was my first time slicing a melon. I panicked a little and forgot.”

It seemed the man with the refined face, accompanying the puffed-cheek man, must be Xiao Tao. After a moment, Zhi Xiong heard a third person sigh. The puffed-cheek man had called him Old Meng, a detail Zhi Xiong quietly noted. After sighing, Old Meng finally spoke: “Forget it. We’ll just be extra careful when the time comes.”

Xiao Tao exclaimed, “I never thought that melon was an inside man! Damn it! If Shark hadn't spotted it early, we would have been played for fools!”

The puffed-cheek man replied, “I only discovered it by accident. Truly, Monkey God has blessed us!”

Zhi Xiong mused inwardly: So the puffed-cheek man’s nickname is Shark. The Zhenhai Monkey who was shot previously must have been their mole, discovered by Shark, and then dealt with by Xiao Tao. Furthermore, Shark’s words suggested that the three of them were also Zhenhai Monkeys. Shark’s previous mention of “Monkey God has blessed us!”—only the Zhenhai Monkeys in the tomb raiding world worship the Monkey God.

The Monkey God, of course, is Sun Wukong. The Zhenhai Monkeys firmly believe that with the Monkey God’s blessing and the protective talisman of the Dinghai Divine Needle, they can be invincible in water. Tomb raiders often adhere to different patron deities: the Mojin Xiaowei worship Cao Cao, the warlord of the Three Kingdoms; the Yama Luan Kui revere their local Ma Wangye (Eldest Brother Ma); and the Zhenhai Monkeys worship Sun Wukong.

Their own family naturally had beliefs too, but they revered their ancestors. In short, the tomb raiding world was filled with diverse faiths; one could spend three days and three nights detailing them all and still not cover everything. Just then, Zhi Xiong heard Xiao Tao speak again: “Shark, do you think what was written in that Earth Rat’s journal could be true? Can a piece of cloth actually drop out of that snake head?”

Hearing Xiao Tao mention the Earth Rat’s journal, Zhi Xiong instantly understood why they had come to Tianchi for a tomb raid—they must also believe that the ‘Yaochi’ mentioned on that piece of golden cloth referred to Tianchi in the Tianshan Mountains. Zhi Xiong paused for a moment of thought, then continued listening.

When Xiao Tao asked this, Shark immediately declared, “Tianchi is the Yaochi where the Queen Mother of the West is said to have held her Peach Banquet; how could it be wrong? It’s just that the cloth mentions Four Great Forbidden Zones. I worry this ancient tomb isn't simple.”

Xiao Tao inquired further, “Do you think the tomb in Tianchi might actually be one of the Four Great Forbidden Zones?”

Then Old Meng chimed in, “So what if it’s one of the Four Great Forbidden Zones? The three of us have never failed on a water tomb. What’s there to fear! Besides, word has spread through the tomb raiding circles that the King of Tomb Raiders, Zhi Xiong, has successfully breached the Three Lifetimes Corpse Tomb!”

Zhi Xiong was startled upon hearing this. The matter of him entering the Three Lifetimes Corpse Tomb had never been publicly disclosed. How could the tomb raiding world know? Could this news have been leaked by ‘Heaven’s Punishment’? Why would ‘Heaven’s Punishment’ help boost Zhi Xiong’s reputation?

At that point, Xiao Tao sighed, “Alas, the kings of tomb raiding get stronger with each generation. This current one has even managed the Four Great Forbidden Zones!”

Shark countered, “It’s nothing spectacular. No matter how skilled Zhi Xiong is, can he compare to half of what we can do in a water tomb?” Old Meng added, “Exactly! In the water, we are the undisputed experts in the tomb raiding world! Oh, right, I checked some obscure documents within the community. Legend has it that a Serpent Demon is sealed within Tianchi!”

Xiao Tao exclaimed in surprise, “A Serpent Demon? Didn’t that piece of golden cloth mention a Serpent’s Mound? Could it be that there really is a tomb in Tianchi burying a serpent?”

Old Meng stated, “We don’t know if a serpent is buried there, but it’s highly likely there’s a tomb in Tianchi. Let’s hope we haven’t come here in vain this time!”

Shark said, “Tomb raiding like this depends on feng shui. It’s a pity we don’t possess the art of Dragon Vein Location and Acupoint Finding that the Mojin Xiaowei have; it would make things much smoother.”

Xiao Tao sighed, “Mojin Xiaowei usually don’t tackle water tombs. Who can we rely on? Sigh, I’m just hoping we can haul back plenty of treasure this time. There are fewer and fewer tombs in the water these days, and the organization is struggling to make ends meet. If we don’t find a way to get more funds, this group of Zhenhai brothers might have to disband.”

Their discussion was nearing its end. Old Meng said to the other two, “Alright, it’s getting late. Let’s head into the mountains quickly, observe the terrain first, and once the tourists thin out tonight, we’ll make our move!”

The other two agreed, and Zhi Xiong then heard the sound of the adjacent booth door opening. It seemed they were preparing to head into the mountains.

The three of them returned to their seats, exchanged a look, and then settled down to eat. Since they had confirmed this group was heading to Tianchi and wouldn’t act until nightfall, they weren't in a hurry.

After eating for a while, Lu Zong stuffed his mouth and asked, “Yishen Gun, do you think the ancient tomb in Tianchi really contains a snake? Is there such a thing as burying a snake?”

Zhi Xiong replied, “That’s not impossible. Folk customs often include rituals for burying animals. Animal tombs are commonly called Da Xiu Fen (Great Rest Tombs), and these are further divided into many categories: cat tombs, fox tombs, rat tombs, horse tombs, and so on. There are even fish tombs in the Yellow River region. It wouldn't be strange to see a snake tomb now.”

Ge Mei added, “Yes, it’s not strange. I once heard my master mention that some people even bury monkeys!” Having already vaguely guessed Ge Mei’s master’s identity, Zhi Xiong couldn't resist asking, “Ge Mei, is your master… the legendary tomb raiding marvel, Harrier, from back then?”

Ge Mei looked utterly astonished and said, “Brother Zhi Xiong, I never expected you to guess my master’s identity!”

Zhi Xiong said, “I was just guessing. When I saw the hand gesture you made to Zhabacuo earlier, I immediately thought of famous figures in the tomb raiding world associated with birds. Only Harrier fits. Heh, I really didn’t expect Peacock and Crow to be your fellow disciples.”

He recalled what Peacock told them in the Demon Pagoda—that he and Crow had once been disciples of Harrier, and later Harrier left them to live in seclusion alone. He never imagined that Harrier would end up hiding near the Ghost Palace!

Lu Zong was shocked when he heard this and exclaimed, “Little sister Ge Mei, your master is Harrier! Harrier is a famous figure in the tomb raiding community! Heh heh, you certainly come from a prestigious background. If you marry this Divine Stick Zhi Xiong in the future, it would be a match made in heaven.”

Ge Mei’s cheeks immediately flushed crimson, and she pouted demurely, “Big Brother Lu Zong, what are you saying?”

Zhi Xiong was quite exasperated by Lu Zong’s candor. After clearing his throat twice, he shifted the topic: “Alright, enough idle chatter. We’ve nearly finished eating. Let’s go; let’s take a proper trip to Tianchi!”

Leaving the restaurant, they got back into the car and continued their drive toward Tianchi.

Following the route on the map, Zhi Xiong drove toward the eastern part of Fukang City, then began climbing uphill to the south, eventually reaching a winding mountain road characterized by treacherous slopes and narrow valleys. This mountain road was extremely dangerous. Although Zhi Xiong considered himself a decent driver, he couldn't help but slow down considerably and had to concentrate fully, lest one small mistake send them, car and all, tumbling down the mountain to discuss their ideals and ambitions with the Ancestor. After leaving the restaurant, he once again took the wheel, heading towards Tianchi.

Following the route on the map, Zhi Xiong drove toward the eastern part of Fukang City, then began climbing uphill to the south, eventually reaching a winding mountain road characterized by treacherous slopes and narrow valleys. This mountain road was extremely dangerous. Although Zhi Xiong considered himself a decent driver, he couldn't help but slow down considerably and had to concentrate fully, lest one small mistake send them, car and all, tumbling down the mountain to discuss their ideals and ambitions with the Ancestor.

Lu Zong, sloshing around in the car, had already thrown up twice. Wiping his mouth with a tissue handed to him by Ge Mei, he asked Zhi Xiong, “Zhi Xiong, Yishen Gun, how much further is this? If we keep twisting around like this, I’m afraid I’ll kick the bucket!”

Zhi Xiong replied, “It’s precisely because the journey is arduous that you can better appreciate the magnificent landscapes of our motherland when you reach Tianchi, isn’t it? Alas, look at you throwing up again. You poor kid, if you can’t handle it, just sleep for a bit; close your eyes, and when you open them, we’ll be there.”

Lu Zong let out a loud gag into the paper bag before saying, “Damn it, you think I dare sleep? This car is winding around like a roller coaster. Your driving skills, Shen Gun, really need improvement. Zhi Xiong, you need to stay alert; I’ll help you watch the road, otherwise, if you take a wrong turn, I’m afraid when I close my eyes, they won't open again.”

Ge Mei, who had been feeling slightly carsick, broke into a smile at Lu Zong’s words, her pained expression easing.

Zhi Xiong laughed, “You’re criticizing Zhi Xiong’s driving skills, but this car is also at fault!”

Lu Zong cursed, “Go to hell, you stinking Shen Gun, you’re defending the car!”

Finally, everyone managed to endure that stretch of mountain road. After rounding a bend, they saw Tianchi appearing ahead.

Tianchi was truly breathtaking. The lake water lay still, encircled by towering peaks, looking from a distance like a massive mirror. It was the height of summer, and the slopes surrounding Tianchi were dense with lush fir forests, casting the water a shade of blue mixed with green, making it resemble a piece of crystal-clear jade. They parked the car, hurried out, and rushed toward Tianchi, joyfully immersing themselves in the embrace of nature.

They reached a viewing platform, leaned against the railing, and gazed out at the beautiful lake, feeling the gentle breeze caress their faces, their spirits indescribably relaxed. At that moment, Lu Zong suddenly began reciting Qiu Chuji’s Ode to Tianchi from the Yuan Dynasty. Zhi Xiong was surprised to see the fellow reciting poetry; he wondered when he had learned this piece.

Lu Zong recited: “Three peaks rise together, piercing the cold clouds, four walls spread out, encircling the winding gorge. Snow-capped ridges meet the sky where mortals cannot tread, the icy pool gleams under the sun, a sight beyond common view. Deep caves offer refuge from the scourge of war, abundant waters nourish the dry fields…”