I said to Jin Ye, "Jin Ye, aren't you just trying to crush me? If I knew what the characteristics were, would I still need to ask you?"

Jin Ye replied, "Oh, look at my mouth, it’s just a habit. Everything I say sounds like the rhetoric of a tomb raider—putting on airs, acting profound, just to confuse and persuade a buyer."

Fatty interjected from the side, "Exactly! Old Jin, you’re really something. Don't you see the time and place? Right now, none of us should be shooting the breeze. Let's speak plainly, one thing for one thing, and be straight shooters."

Jin Ye repeatedly agreed and continued our previous discussion: "I'm not from the archaeology department, so I wouldn't dare be certain about other things. But the characteristics of the Western Zhou human face are extremely distinct. I once saw an introductory display at the Luoyang Museum, and the impression left on me was incredibly deep, which is why I dare assert that the stone sarcophagus with the human face is from the Western Zhou period."

The greatest characteristic of the Western Zhou human face carvings and decorations lies in the smooth and flowing lines of the face, lacking any sexual features, with only the ears being larger than normal. However, one cannot discern age or gender from the face. Furthermore, throughout Chinese history, only the Western Zhou dynasty revered the Lei Wen (thunder pattern); looking at the bottom of the stone sarcophagus in the Nether Hall, layer upon layer is decorated with Lei Wen. It can be said this is the best proof.

In contrast, artifacts unearthed from the preceding Shang and Yin period include carvings or patterns featuring human faces, but they all possess an ancient and vigorous quality, lacking in smooth flow. Moreover, the gender characteristics are obvious: men have silkworm-like eyebrows, round eyes, a large nose, and a wide mouth—this is derived from the legend of the Four-Faced Yellow Emperor. After the Han Dynasty, the human face ornamentation and carvings featured even more pronounced features, with men’s faces sporting beards.

Listening to Jin Ye, I understood his meaning. Starting from the Shang and Yin period, there was craftsmanship in carving and casting human faces. Only during the Western Zhou period did a bizarre, genderless facial style suddenly emerge, before the aesthetics and techniques reverted to the previous style. I asked Jin Ye, "Why did this change occur specifically during the Western Zhou period?"

Jin Ye expressed that he didn't know; one would have to ask an expert. Although he could identify the face carving on the sarcophagus as a Western Zhou style, he couldn't explain the reason or background behind the creation of such a bizarre stone face.

I asked Jin Ye, "What does the legend of the Four-Faced Yellow Emperor refer to?"

This legend is widely circulated, and most people who study history and early antiques know a little about it. Jin Ye replied, "As the name suggests, it means the Yellow Emperor had four faces, one growing on the front, back, left, and right, each gazing in a different direction. Another theory suggests it means the Yellow Emperor sent out four envoys to inspect the four cardinal directions."

I said, "I see. But this doesn't seem related to the stone sarcophagus in the Nether Hall. That sarcophagus has five human faces carved on it, one on the lid facing upward. Could the style of that particular face be related to the tomb occupant?"

I knew asking was futile. All three of us were utterly lost, unable to distinguish east from west. Based on what Jin Ye said, it wasn't certain that the stone sarcophagus and these strange tomb walls were products of the Western Zhou period.

Seeing my lingering doubt, Jin Ye added a few more points: "If we could find some Ding vessels nearby, or any place inscribed with text, that would further confirm it."

Fatty asked, "Old Jin, you know inscriptions too? I never heard you mention it. I didn't expect you to have such profound knowledge. Looking at your hairstyle, it doesn't match the learning in your belly. Truly, one cannot judge a book by its cover."

Jin Ye wore his hair slicked back, applying a lot of pomade every day, which Fatty often teased him about. Hearing Fatty bring up his hair again, Jin Ye suddenly remembered he hadn't attended to his hair in a while. He quickly spat some saliva into his palm, smoothed his hair back, and grinned with his gold tooth, "I wouldn't dare say I know it, but if we found an inscription, I could probably tell if it was Western Zhou just by taking a glance."

The three of us discussed it for a long time but couldn't come up with any concrete plan (zi chou yin wu). The passage before us was accessible from both sides, but we didn't know where they led. There was a gap in the ceiling above, which led up to the Nether Hall where the giant sarcophagus with the human face rested.

I told Jin Ye and Fatty, "Our situation is quite awkward; we have no idea where we are. But if this passage is indeed a Western Zhou construction as Jin Ye suggests, I can make a rough judgment about the general layout. Shang and Zhou tombs weren't as extravagant as those from the Tang Dynasty, but they were large in scale, built by stacking massive stones to divide the main halls, and they were layered, not planar structures. The giant stone wall that blocked us right after we entered the tomb shaft was likely the outer wall of a Western Zhou tomb, some distance from the main burial chamber. Still, I can't figure out how it suddenly appeared. Damn it, getting out this time is going to be hard."

Fatty said, "Old Hu, I think you should stop racking your brain. This isn't something we can figure out. I initially thought our trio, with your technical skills, Old Jin's experience, and my sheer strength—I can at least hold my own against you two—could handle any tomb..."

Jin Ye interjected, "We are not lacking in technique, experience, or strength, but I think we are lacking in brains."

Fatty countered, "Jin Ye, haven't you heard that 'three cobblers surpass Zhuge Liang'? Aren't the three of us much better than cobblers?"

I told Fatty and Jin Ye, "I agree we don't lack technique, experience, or stamina, but we are missing a goddess, a Goddess of Fortune. Our luck is too poor. We need to find a way to change our luck when we get back. Let's stop wasting time here; the more we think, the more confused we get. If this is a Western Zhou tomb structure, this bottom-most passage leads to the subsidiary burial pits and won't have an exit. I think we should go back to the upper level, the Nether Hall, and look for the entrance to the tomb shaft again."

Fatty said, "Hold on a minute. Shouldn't there be some treasures in the subsidiary pits? Why don't we quickly grab a couple before heading back to find the shaft? Returning empty-handed isn't our style; otherwise, wouldn't this whole effort be for nothing?"

Jin Ye said, "Let's forget it, Fatty. Your arms are thick, and you don't feel the fatigue, but my legs feel like they're filled with lead. Let's not go looking for trouble. Following Hu Ye's suggestion—going back to find the shaft—is the wiser course. Besides, this place is so strange, who can guarantee there aren't any traps or mechanisms in this passage? By the time we regret it, it'll be too late."

Seeing that Fatty and I insisted on climbing back to the upper level, Fatty reluctantly agreed, leading the two geese with us. He suddenly said, "Hey, I was thinking, shouldn't we pry open that stone coffin and see if the dead person inside has such a strange face? Maybe there’s a mask or something. If it's gold, it would be worth a fortune."

Jin Ye and I ignored him; neither of us was in the mood for that given our situation. I supported Jin Ye and pushed him up into the Nether Hall in the passage. Fatty and I climbed up afterward.

The Nether Hall was unchanged; the large stone sarcophagus carved with the strange human face still rested quietly in the corner. We turned on all three flashlights and searched the ground for the entrance to the tomb shaft.

The entire Nether Hall was empty except for the six stone racks meant to hold the six jade pieces and the stone sarcophagus in the corner. There was nothing else. It was unimaginable that a Western Zhou stone sarcophagus would be placed in a Tang Dynasty Nether Hall.

Fatty pointed to where we had just climbed out and said, "Where is the other exit? Isn't the place we just climbed out of the original tomb shaft?"

I shone my flashlight down and looked at my feet—it was indeed the tomb shaft we had first crawled into. But how could jumping down lead to the passage below? Before I could ponder this, Jin Ye made a discovery: "Hu Ye, look next to the sarcophagus—there's another... step."

Fatty and I looked in the direction Jin Ye indicated. Sure enough, next to the sarcophagus, a stone staircase leading upward had materialized without anyone noticing. The steps were wide, and each riser was constructed from an entire large slab of stone. I walked to the bottom and shone my light upward; the beam was swallowed by the darkness. Over ten meters up, it was just blackness; we couldn't see anything above.

I could no longer remain calm. I said to Fatty and Jin Ye, "Damn it, this tomb is clearly haunted! The tomb shaft turned into a passage, a Western Zhou sarcophagus appeared in a Tang tomb's Nether Hall, and now this stone staircase has popped up. I say we go all in, one way to the bitter end. The tomb shaft is definitely a dead end. If this is a Western Zhou tomb structure, then this staircase next to the sarcophagus should lead to the very top level of the ancient tomb, where it might connect to the Qian Dao (Inlay Passage), and maybe we can get out."

Fatty said, "What are we waiting for? I'll go first; you two follow." Before the words were out, he stepped onto the staircase. After two steps, he suddenly remembered something and turned back to ask me, "Old Hu, what did you call that passage just now? What was it used for?"

Jin Ye and I also started up the stairs. As I walked, I told Fatty, "The Qian Dao—put simply, it's a tunnel. You have to hollow out the mountain to build an ancient tomb, right? All the earth and stone dug out are moved out through the Qian Dao. After the tomb occupant is interred, the tunnel is sealed, and the craftsmen, slaves, and others who built the tomb are all buried alive inside. If we’re lucky, maybe we can find a secret path left by the craftsmen, and then we can get out of this cursed place."

The three of us talked as we walked. After about five minutes, I suddenly realized something was wrong. When I first stepped onto the stone steps, I noticed a crescent-shaped notch on the edge of the second step, possibly chipped off during construction. However, every twenty or thirty steps we ascended, we found the same crescent-shaped notch. I hadn't paid much attention at first, but then I counted carefully: there was one every twenty-three steps.

This couldn't be a coincidence. We might be walking in circles. I quickly called out to Jin Ye and Fatty to stop climbing, warning that we'd exhaust ourselves climbing forever without reaching the top.

The three of us hastily turned around and started descending. But the path downwards also seemed endless. We moved quickly and easily on the steps, but after walking for a long time, the time taken far exceeded the time we spent climbing up, and we absolutely could not get back to the Nether Hall.

All three of us were panting, utterly exhausted. Jin Ye’s physical condition was already poor; at this point, he was breathing raggedly, his lungs wheezing like a broken bellows.

I realized if we kept going, Fatty would have to carry Jin Ye. But descending the stone steps while carrying someone was incredibly difficult, and we had no idea if we could even return to the Nether Hall. Continuing this way was not an option, so I told Jin Ye and Fatty to rest where they were.

Fatty plopped down on the ground, wiping the sweat from his brow, and said to me, "My heavens, Old Hu, if we keep this up, we'll starve to death in this cursed place within a few hours at most."

We had brought plenty of food when we came to the Fish Bone Temple—meat and wine—but to carry out treasures from the tomb, we also needed some basic equipment, so we had left the food at the temple and carried none of it with us, only one waterskin per person.

Although we had eaten a meal before crawling into the tomb shaft, after struggling for so long, our stomachs were starting to rumble. The moment Fatty mentioned hunger, all three of our stomachs growled simultaneously.

The situation was now more perilous. Rashly ascending the steps had trapped us on the staircase like we were caught in a ghost circle (Gui Da Qiang); we couldn't reach either end. It would have been better to devise another plan in the Nether Hall. This perfectly exemplified what Jin Ye had said earlier about Fatty—regret would come too late.

I sighed and inwardly cursed my own rashness. If I hadn't had this habit in the military, I wouldn't be working as a freelancer now. I seriously considered slapping myself a couple of times.

Fatty said to me, "It's useless blaming yourself now, Old Hu. Even if we hadn't climbed these steps, we'd be trapped somewhere else. Save your energy and think if there's any other way out."

I thought for a moment and said, "This staircase seems to repeat its cycle every twenty-three steps, both up and down. Whether we go up or down now, we can't reach the end..."

Fatty exclaimed, "Then we're done for! This is absolutely a ghost circle (Gui Da Qiang). We can never get out, we'll just starve to death here, waiting for the next group of tomb robbers to find our corpses."

Hearing Fatty, Jin Ye was overcome with grief and couldn't stop two tears of sorrow from falling: "My poor eighty-year-old mother, and my eighteen-year-old sweetheart! I'll never see them again in this life... If there is a next life, I... I swear I won't do this job again..."

Fatty was irritated by his despair and snapped at Jin Ye, "Stop this drama! You regret it now? What were you doing before? Even in death, you should act like a man! If you keep crying and whimpering, I'll yank that gold tooth of yours out."

Jin Ye treasured his gold tooth almost as much as his hairstyle. Hearing Fatty threaten to pull it, he quickly covered his mouth: "Fatty, I’m telling you upfront, we’re all as good as dead people now. You have to leave my body intact, don't wait until I'm too weak to move and then take advantage of me to pull out my gold tooth."

I told the two of them, "Stop talking nonsense! Damn it, no matter what, we aren't going to starve to death in this damned place. Dying like this is too pathetic. If we die, we should find a quick way out."

Fatty replied, "That might be true, but finding a quick death in this place is no easy task." As he spoke, he pulled out his commando knife and said to me, "I see only two paths. One is to roll down these stairs and die from the fall. Since these steps have no end, maybe the outside world has achieved the Four Modernizations, and we still haven't rolled to the bottom. The other way is to cut our wrists. If you can't bring yourself to do it, I'll take a swing at you two—a little bloodletting, and death won't be far off. I think that's the quickest method."

Jin Ye said to Fatty, "Fatty, when did you become so forthright? Didn't you pick up on Hu Ye's implication? If I understood correctly, his subtext is: we haven't reached a dead end yet; we aren't going to die." He turned to me and asked, "Hu Ye, is that what you meant by your words just now?"

I said to Jin Ye, "What I said just now was just an angry outburst, but it seems I’ve suddenly found a clue. Be quiet for a moment, let me think carefully."

Fatty and Jin Ye saw that I had finally grasped a clue and were afraid that any interference would cause me to lose this sliver of hope. They both fell silent, not daring to breathe.

What I said about almost figuring out a solution was just a casual reply to stop them from arguing further. Now that it was quiet, I replayed the entire sequence of events in my mind, from entering the Fish Bone Temple until being trapped on these stone steps, like watching a movie—completely, trying not to miss a single detail.

After thinking for an unknown length of time, I asked Jin Ye, "In this ancient tomb, we are truly encountering something like a ghost circle. No matter which path we take, strange things pop up inexplicably. Jin Ye, have you ever heard of Gui Da Qiang?"

Jin Ye said, "I've heard of it, never seen it. There was an incident on Di'anmen Street back in the day that scared the locals so much they wouldn't pass there after midnight; they'd just wander around until dawn and still couldn't leave that stretch of road. I've also heard some rumors from other places, but what we encountered probably isn't Gui Da Qiang, is it? I heard Gui Da Qiang is just walking in circles. How could it be this powerful? Besides, we're wearing so many protective talismans; how could we run into a ghost circle?"

Fatty also chimed in, "Old Hu, didn't you say that places with good Feng Shui gather energy, making it impossible for lingering spirits or zombies to remain? How come you're thinking of Gui Da Qiang now?"

I shook my head, "I’m not saying we are encountering a ghost circle, just confirming it. If I can confirm our current situation isn't a ghost circle, then my analysis might be correct."

Fatty asked, "One person has limited wisdom, two people have greater wisdom. Tell us what you think, and Old Jin and I will help you analyze it."

I thought for a moment and then said to Fatty and Jin Ye, "I think I finally know what we’ve run into, but... if I tell you, don't be scared."