“Mr. Andre,” Xie Yuting’s voice was low, yet distinct, “your leader, Mr. Peter, once promised us that the Ayak people would cease interfering in matters within China from the Tang Dynasty onwards. Yet here you are, in China, in contact with that person, a complete violation of the original agreement. That is why we were forced to apprehend you.”

Andre is a descendant of the Ayak people, I thought to myself, then who is this person they speak of? Could they possibly mean me?

And what exactly was this agreement between the Ayak people and the Tang Dynasty? Countless questions filled my mind.

After Xie Yuting finished speaking, Andre responded in slightly furious Russian, which I could not comprehend. However, a familiar voice cut through the silence at that moment. I recognized Guo Jing’s voice, but unlike her usual self, it lacked her customary confidence and assertiveness; instead, it sounded somewhat frightened, trembling slightly as she said, “Mr. Andre says that the only reason Mr. Peter agreed to cease interference in Chinese affairs back then was because you promised not to harm our people. Now, you have gravely interfered with the Nie family’s life, which is why we sent people here.”

Hearing this, I became certain that it was Xie Yuting’s men who had been monitoring me all along.

Xie Yuting scoffed upon hearing this. “Mr. Andre, you cannot blame us for violating the covenant. We did this because that old man, Nie Haiyun, is restless and has started stirring things up again.”

Then Andre spoke again, angrily, and Guo Jing translated: “Mr. Andre says that clause was definitely not in the original contract, and moreover, you haven’t even fully investigated what exactly Nie Haiyun is doing, so you have no right to break the agreement.”

Xie Yuting gave another cold laugh. “Is all of this still not clear enough, Mr. Andre? With your abilities, it’s impossible you haven’t noticed that the giant tree of Huo Sheng Mu has begun to steal time. And I imagine you understand better than us what that stolen time is being used for.”

He paused, then continued, “To leave you speechless, I specifically brought you to this place—the final resting place of one of your Ayak ancestors. Peter once told our Han Emperor that they harbored absolutely no designs on Han territory. But unfortunately, while your ancestor served well as an official in Bashu during his lifetime, his ambition was revealed after his death; he painted everything he desired on the murals within this tomb.”

“You can look up at these murals now. I believe, if I am not mistaken, that the theft of time is merely the second step in your plan to control the entire Han people, isn't it?” Xie Yuting stated coldly.

After these words, Andre fell silent.

I frowned, trying desperately to decipher the meaning of their exchange, but I couldn’t grasp it at all. Unless I could see those murals for myself.

At this point, Andre was silent for a long while before finally speaking in Russian, though his tone was considerably milder than before. It was clear that everything Xie Yuting had said was true, which was why Andre’s demeanor had shifted. Could it be that Grandpa’s goal really was to control the entire Han race? That was terrifying.

Then Guo Jing translated again: “Mr. Andre says, whatever you plan to do with me, you don’t have the power to kill me, nor do you dare to.”

Xie Yuting then spoke in a low voice, “I won’t do anything drastic to you, at most, I’ll make you suffer a bit, and then send you back to Russia. It wouldn’t be too great a loss for you. But that kid might never learn the results of the data analysis. I think it’s better to keep him ignorant.”

His words confirmed my suspicion that the person they referred to earlier was indeed me.

Andre remained silent for a moment, his tone growing even deeper, laced with a plea as he spoke a string of Russian words.

Guo Jing translated: “Mr. Andre says he doesn’t care what you do to him, but please release my translator. She is just an ordinary person and has nothing to do with this matter.”

I could hear the hint of supplication in Guo Jing’s voice as she said this.

A few seconds of silence followed. Xie Yuting was clearly considering it, then he said, “I’m sorry, unless you have a way to make her lose her memory, I cannot keep her…”

My heart plummeted. I had held a sliver of hope for the Xie Yuting I knew, but now I realized this man was utterly different; I finally understood just how ruthless he truly was. Surprisingly, I expected Andre to shout in anger or rebuke, but upon hearing Xie Yuting’s words, he remained silent instead.

After a moment, he spoke a single sentence in English: “SORRY, MISS GUO.”

Two seconds later, Xie Yuting said, “Xiao Hei, you handle this woman.”

When I heard that, I knew I couldn't let them kill Guo Jing! So I drew the handgun at my waist and stood up, ready to rush in. But Xiao Feiyang grabbed me from behind and whispered, “Are you crazy? They must have many people here. Even if you have some special abilities, you’ll just be walking into a death trap.”

“Then what do we do? You expect me to just watch them commit murder?” I retorted.

Xiao Feiyang, though timid, was loyal. He pointed to a gap where the earth had collapsed by the wall and said, “I’ll shout loudly in a moment and run out. Then, you hide here. Once everyone chases after me, you go in and save them.”

I wanted to say that the plan was too dangerous, that he might die. But Xiao Feiyang had already shouted loudly: “Liu Zhi Lu Jinfai! I am from the Hong Kong Royal Police! You are under arrest now. You have the right to remain silent, but anything you say will be used as evidence in court. Come and get me!” His slightly fearful shout echoed long in the hollow tomb, vibrating painfully in my eardrums. I didn’t have time to say anything else before he bolted toward the entrance of the excavation tunnel. I had no choice but to do as he asked and hide in that gap. Sure enough, within three seconds, several sets of footsteps echoed from deep within the tunnel, rushing past me. I judged that, given their speed, they wouldn’t catch the fleeing Xiao Feiyang easily. After making sure no one else was coming out, I emerged from the gap and sprinted into the depths of the tunnel.

This tunnel wasn't as deep as I had imagined. After running barely ten meters, I saw a blasted-open stone door ahead of me. A faint light shone from a round hole in the door. I pulled out the handgun at my waist and charged straight through. Upon entering, I saw that it was a main burial chamber, roughly forty to fifty square meters. In the center of the chamber floor sat a bright mining lamp, illuminating the interior completely. The four walls and the ceiling of the chamber were entirely covered in murals painted with red pigment. But I had no time to look at them right now. By the mining lamp, Professor Andre and Guo Jing sat on the ground, tightly bound, looking at me in astonishment. Further inside was a large wooden coffin decorated with gold inlay and vibrant colors. Xie Yuting sat alone on the coffin, his gun pointed directly at me.

“It’s you?” Xie Yuting looked at me with disbelief. “How did you find this place?”

I frowned, pointing my gun at him too, and said, “That’s not important. Release those two now, or don’t blame this gun in my hand for not having eyes.”

Xie Yuting scoffed, moving the muzzle of his gun away from me and pointing it at Guo Jing on the ground. “Put your gun down, or I’ll kill her first.”

I hesitated, silently telling myself not to compromise now, or all of us might die. So I also laughed coldly, “Don’t be naive. If you kill her, I’ll kill you.”

Xie Yuting shook his head. “You wouldn’t dare…”

Just as I finished speaking, Guo Jing shouted toward somewhere behind me, “Watch out!”

But before I could even turn around, everything suddenly went black. A young man wearing black sunglasses seemed to materialize from nowhere, appearing before me and snatching the gun out of my hand. Anxiety surged through me, and I swung my right fist toward his head. But just then, Xie Yuting roared, “Don’t move!”

Remembering Guo Jing and Andre were in his power, I had no choice but to yield, clenching my teeth and slowly raising my hands.