"Move carefully, there might be a trap in the coffin! Stand back!" Zhou Huan used the cripple's chisel to gently pry open the lid of the sarcophagus. When the casket opened, there was no unusual reaction, and the three men simultaneously peered inside. Seeing the sight, Zhou Huan was once again astonished. He didn't even know what he was doing here; had Laozi sent him just to witness the whole process?

Long Fanyi saw a female corpse lying in the coffin, her features and expression perfectly preserved. Beside her hand lay a book, clearly a very ancient volume. The bedding inside the coffin was made of fine Persian fabric, adorned with Chinese embroidery. But what truly fixed Long Fanyi’s gaze was the polychrome gemstone ring on the female corpse’s hand—a pure gold setting, gemstones beyond measure, perfect craftsmanship, and intricate patterns carved onto the ring itself.

In truth, he wasn't the only one fixated on the ring. Huang Quezi, standing nearby, had already discarded the gold, jade, pearls, and agate he'd found outside the coffin. Now, the Cripple wanted nothing more than that ring. Unconsciously, his body leaned into the casket, his hand reaching out to lift the female corpse's hand.

"Don't move. You don't know what condition the body is in. Let's see what Master Zhou intends first," Long Fanyi grabbed Huang Quezi’s arm.

Huang Quezi asked Long Fanyi irritably, "What? You want the ring too? What were you dawdling for? I'm telling you, none of you are laying a finger on this ring today—it’s mine. When we get out, I’ll buy each of you a Western-style mansion. I'll raise a division and invite you to be officers. How about that?"

"Unnecessary. To be frank with you, I don't want to take all the treasures here. If I take one or two things, it will be enough to save my family. I’m worried about the body having some issue. Master Zhou is still pondering." As Long Fanyi spoke, he loosened his grip.

Zhou Huan looked at the corpse, recalling the scene exactly as it had been when the excavator unearthed the body at the construction site. Especially this female corpse, although the one now was slightly alluring, whereas the one seen before had already desiccated and withered. Zhou Huan suddenly remembered the previous corpse’s hand—it had been missing. Looking at this female corpse now, anyone could understand: it was all for this ring. Now, which of the three of them could carry this hand on a long journey? Was it up to Zhou Huan to take on this burden? These thoughts ceaselessly churned in Zhou Huan’s mind.

"Master Zhou, what are you thinking about? Does this corpse have a problem? If not, I'm making my move. We’ll go out and eat the finest things!" Huang Quezi was truly getting desperate. Seeing Zhou Huan remain motionless, he reached out himself to grab the female corpse’s wrist, gripping it tightly with one hand while using the other to try and snatch the ring.

"Cripple, are you tired of living!" Zhou Huan felt a chill when he saw Huang Quezi’s action, as he had an inkling about the female corpse’s appearance. This corpse had been treated with a certain preservative, and ancient preservatives often carried a curse. This meant anyone who disturbed the body would face the danger of being cursed, and such curses usually demanded a life.

Upon hearing Zhou Huan’s warning, Huang Quezi tried to withdraw his hand, but it was too late. Both his hands were locked fast, as if glued by some potent adhesive—they wouldn't open, nor could he pull them away. What’s more, the ring, which he thought would be easy to take, remained stubbornly in place, refusing to slip off no matter how hard he tugged.

"Master Zhou, this..." Old Man Huang Quezi’s back was covered in sweat. He looked at Zhou Huan with hopeless eyes, regretting his haste.

"Long Fanyi, get far away," Zhou Huan commanded, backing up a dozen steps. Then, with a sudden rush, he leaped forward, kicking out his leg and sending Huang Quezi flying a considerable distance. Huang Quezi tumbled several meters away, yet he still held fast to his hands. When he looked down, his panic intensified.

The female corpse's hand was still clenched in Huang Quezi’s grasp, inseparable and unbreakable. No matter how hard the Cripple struggled, he could not break free from the hand’s restraint. Even at this moment, Huang Quezi was desperately pulling at the ring on the female corpse’s hand.

It was truly a case of men dying for wealth, just as birds perish for food. As the Cripple tugged at the ring, the female corpse’s hand plunged deep into Huang Quezi’s chest, gushing forth torrents of blood like a fountain.

Zhou Huan was helpless, forced to watch Huang Quezi gasp his last breath, his eyes filled with terror mingled with the lingering spark of his ambitions.

"Zhou... Master Zhou, is he dead? Can we save him?" Long Fanyi asked Zhou Huan.

Zhou Huan shook his head. "It's too late to save him. He’s suffered the curse. Even if we got him out today, he would still die of heart failure tomorrow."

From within the coffin, a series of Persian chants began to emanate, sounding like the Quran, yet the recitation evoked a sense of peace, of release.

Long Fanyi could understand some of the scripture. He wiped the sweat from his brow, clasped his hands together, and began chanting the verses along with it. Then, Huang Quezi’s body was pushed by that hand, retreating into the narrow passage they had used to enter.

Zhou Huan witnessed this tragic sequence of tomb raiding unfold, and his heart was heavy. He glanced back at the female corpse in the sarcophagus. She was missing a hand, and stranger still, the body, which had initially appeared quite full and moist, had, in that short time, transformed into a desiccated mummy.

"Long Fanyi, take the jewels and gold left behind by Quezi and go fulfill his wish. Don't worry, the Japanese will soon be driven out of China." Zhou Huan said with firm resolve. He then proceeded methodically to close the lid of the female corpse’s coffin and led Long Fanyi to search for an exit in the tomb chamber. Indeed, the exit proved surprisingly easy to locate.

Behind the coffin, following a crevice-like area resembling a gorge, they soon emerged onto a brightly lit main road. At the exit was a stone gate, designed only to open from the inside, making entry from the outside impossible.

By now, the sky had brightened completely. Long Fanyi and Zhou Huan proceeded along the main road. Not far ahead, they saw a signpost written in Japanese.

"Long Fanyi, what does it say?"

"Munitions Depot!" Long Fanyi said, his mind quickly turning. "Don't worry, I have a way to get them to take us out."

Zhou Huan considered this. "That might work. Guard your things carefully, and remember, you must fulfill Old Man Quezi's wishes, or this loot will have been taken in vain."

"Who goes there?" someone shouted from not far ahead. A squad of Japanese soldiers immediately chambered rounds and charged toward the two men.

Long Fanyi instantly replied, "I am an interpreter from the Advance Unit Headquarters. My surname is Long." Long Fanyi’s Japanese was remarkably fluent and carried a specific regional flavor, making him instantly believable.

Zhou Huan and Long Fanyi slowly approached the Japanese soldiers. Long Fanyi then produced his identification papers and showed them to the soldiers. Upon seeing the documents, the squad snapped to attention and saluted. "Sir, this is a restricted military zone. Please return immediately."

"We were just planning to return. Could you please help us find a vehicle? We can't walk any further; we were running all night." Long Fanyi then spun a tale about what happened in the tomb the previous night, claiming everyone had been killed except the two of them, and requested transport to the county town.

To his credit, Long Fanyi’s ruse worked perfectly. The Japanese soldiers escorted them back to the guard post and actually called for a military vehicle, which then took the two men into the county town. By the time they arrived, dusk was settling.

"Long Fanyi, hurry up and take care of your business; I have other matters to attend to," Zhou Huan stated.

"Well, where are you headed? Let them take you there!" Long Fanyi said to the Japanese driver. The driver seemed reluctant, but Long Fanyi slipped him some military script, which delighted him. He then drove Zhou Huan toward the country road leading to Huang Quezi's village.

However, the vehicle Zhou Huan was riding in was clearly old and worn. Just as the car pulled away and picked up speed, the brakes felt strangely unresponsive. At that precise moment, the setting sun coincided with the newly risen moon, and the crimson orb of the moon cast a deeply unsettling gloom.