“Zhegushao” did not understand the latter half of Elder Liao Chen’s words, as he was ignorant of the secrets of Feng Shui, so he asked what a “One-Eyed Dragon” was.

Elder Liao Chen looked up at the moonlight and said, “The underground here is indeed a tributary stemming from the Helan Mountains, truly a subterranean divine dragon. However, its form is extraordinarily small, and it possesses only one aperture at the dragon's head capable of gathering qi and sheltering wind, hence the name ‘One-Eyed Dragon,’ or sometimes called ‘Dragonfly Touching Water.’ Regarding the Three Stars of Purple Qi, if the formation is elegant and fresh, it signifies loyal and righteous literati; if the formation is lofty and imposing, it suggests military authority and respect. A Purple Qi formation resembling a tree, however, strongly avoids branching out haphazardly, jagged or rugged mountain shapes, a bloated facial structure, or shattered mountain peaks—all of these are malignant forms, and burying a corpse here invites those who defy natural order and rebel against their superiors. Because the Black Water River changed its course, the structure of this auspicious spot has long been ruined. The primary aperture on this dragon's head has instead become a venomous tumor. If someone were interred here, it would fulfill the latter prophecy—a truly troublesome situation.” Having spoken, he pointed to the hook-shaped cold moon in the sky, and continued, “Look again at the moonlight. We neglected to check the almanac before setting out today; unexpectedly, tonight is the night of the Great Moon Disruption. When the Moon is in Great Disruption, even the Bodhisattvas close their eyes.”

“Zhegushao,” possessed of superior skill and even greater audacity, and knowing that the Muchen Pearl, sought by his clan for a thousand years, might lie beneath the Tongtian Great Buddha Temple at his feet, could not bear to wait until morning to act. He addressed Elder Liao Chen: “Legend says there is an empty tomb beneath this temple. Since it is an ownerless, vacant grave, this disciple believes we need not adhere to ordinary conventions. If this disciple uses the Whirlwind Shovel to open a grave tunnel, take the item, and return, we will simply proceed with caution; there should be no errors, I reckon.”

Elder Liao Chen considered this and agreed; he had indeed worried unduly. This tomb had been appropriated by the Western Xia people as a treasure cave. Since there was no proprietor (no deceased within the tomb), conventional rules no longer applied. Rules such as ‘lights out, chickens crowing—do not touch the gold,’ or ‘three excavations, three refusals; nine digs, nine abstentions’—none of these needed consideration. Thus, he nodded in agreement.

“Zhegushao” retrieved a hollow bronze rod from his pack. The rod was empty inside, containing mechanisms. The shaft had been polished to a sheen by handling, suggesting an antiquity beyond measure. He then produced nine finely forged steel wave-shaped blades, resembling nine petals, which he inserted into the front end of the bronze rod. The front of the rod featured dedicated slots and a locking spring; once the steel blades were inserted, they were immediately secured firmly by the spring. Finally, “Zhegushao” fitted a crank handle to the rear of the rod, thus assembling the “Whirlwind Shovel,” a lethal tool for tunneling. This device could extend and contract, and the diameter of the opening it created could be adjusted and expanded or reduced at will.

“Zhegushao” rotated the Whirlwind Shovel, boring into the earth, and asked the American priest, Father Thomas, to help move the excavated soil brought out by the shovel. Father Thomas of America grumbled as he worked: “Wasn't it agreed that you would release me as soon as we arrived at the location? I didn’t expect you to arrange so many little performances for me. You must understand, in the West, a priest is a servant of God; clergy members are not required to perform manual labor…”

Neither “Zhegushao” nor Elder Liao Chen understood the American’s rambling complaints, so they paid him no mind, concentrating entirely on operating the Whirlwind Shovel. After the time it takes to smoke a single pouch of tobacco, the shovel struck the roof tiles of the Tongtian Great Buddha Temple’s main hall. They were massive, overlapping blue-glazed tiles, with the eaves tiles carved into figures of Arhats—clearly not ordinary roof tiles, indicating this was the main structure of a large temple complex.

Since Father Thomas of America had once passed this way and fallen through the floor of a certain Buddha hall, the rapid breakthrough was not entirely unexpected by “Zhegushao,” though a surge of joy rose within him.

In the sandy pit, “Zhegushao” pried up more than a dozen of the blue-glazed tiles and tossed them outside. He lowered a stable lantern on a rope. Beneath layers of wooden beams, he could see the magnificent, glorious Mahavira Hall. "Mahavira" is the reverent title Buddhists give to Shakyamuni Buddha, signifying that the Buddha statue is fearless like a warrior, possessing boundless magical power capable of subjugating the Four Demons: the Demon of the Five Aggregates, the Demon of Afflictions, the Demon of Death, and the Demon of the Heavenly Son. “Zhegushao’s” stable lantern could not illuminate distant objects, allowing him to see only the central image directly below: the “Three-Body Buddha.” According to Buddhist doctrine, the Buddha manifests in three bodies: the Dharmakaya, the Sambhogakaya, and the Nirmanakaya (or Incarnation Body). The central figure is the Dharmakaya Vairocana Buddha, the left figure is the Sambhogakaya, and the right figure is the Nirmanakaya Shakyamuni Buddha. In front of the Three-Body Buddha stood iron-cast statues coated in clay, facing each other, representing the welcoming figure. Flanking them were seated statues of Manjusri Bodhisattva and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva.

With the flourishing of Buddhism in Western Xia, the scale of this main hall was surely not small. “Zhegushao” nodded to Elder Liao Chen, signaling that they could descend. “Zhegushao” always preferred to operate alone, intending to go down by himself, but Elder Liao Chen worried about mechanisms, traps, and hidden passages or doors within the treasure cave. Dealing with such obstacles was the specialty of the Mojin Xiaowei officers, so he insisted on descending with “Zhegushao” so they could look out for each other.

The two then each swallowed a pill of the “Heart-Piercing Hundred Herb Pellet” (（++）), washing it down with a flask of “Heaven-Upholding Dew” (). These were secret medicines designed to prevent unconsciousness in poorly ventilated environments. They then hung the Mojin Talisman on their wrists, covered their faces with black cloth, put on their water-and-fire-resistant shoes, packed all necessary tools, and prepared to descend.

Suddenly, “Zhegushao” remembered the American priest still standing by. Although Father Thomas did not appear to be a bad person, it was unwise to leave a foreigner above while he and Elder Liao Chen were working below. If the foreigner harbored ill intentions, it could become troublesome. It would be better to take the man along. If he behaved, fine; otherwise, the foreigner could serve to trigger the mechanisms in the treasure cave.

With his decision made, “Zhegushao” pulled the American priest over, preparing to force him to take the secret medicine to enter the treasure cave with them. Father Thomas vehemently refused, believing “Zhegushao” was trying to force him to ingest a mysterious Eastern poison, hurriedly covering his mouth. “Zhegushao” paid no mind to his thoughts; he jabbed a finger into the priest’s ribs. The American cried out in pain, and “Zhegushao” shoved the pellet into his mouth. He couldn't spit it out, so he could only look up at the sky and say, “Oh, merciful Lord, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

Without another word, “Zhegushao” shoved the American priest, Father Thomas, toward the hole in the Buddha hall roof, taking out the Flying Tiger Claw, intending to lower him first. Father Thomas was greatly alarmed. Not only had these barbaric Easterners forced poison upon him, but now they intended some strange trick? Were they going to bury him alive?

Elder Liao Chen tried to soothe him from the side: “Rest assured, Reverend Foreign Monk. Both I and you are ascetics. My Buddha is greatly compassionate; we ascetics are founded on compassion and hold benevolent thoughts. We sweep the ground without harming an ant’s life, and cherish the moth circling the lamp wick. Naturally, we will not harm you. However, the task we undertake is highly confidential and must not be leaked in the slightest, which is why we ask you to accompany us. After the matter is concluded, we will certainly send you back.”

Hearing Elder Liao Chen speak, Father Thomas felt slightly reassured. He thought that, regardless, a Chinese monk was still a member of the clergy; he had never heard of clergy members committing murder. Thus, he allowed “Zhegushao” to lower him into the Buddha hall via the hole in the roof using the Flying Tiger Claw.

Elder Liao Chen and “Zhegushao” then descended into the Mahavira Hall. Lighting their stable lanterns and surveying the surroundings, they confirmed it was indeed a magnificent and splendid Buddha hall. The main Buddha image enshrined within was covered in gemstones, dazzling in golden splendor, its majestic posture serene upon the lotus pedestal. The hall was supported by thirty-six massive pillars, making it extremely sturdy.

Upon seeing the Buddha’s sacred image, Elder Liao Chen immediately knelt and kowtowed, reciting Buddhist chants. “Zhegushao,” having been a false Daoist monk before, was now dressed in common attire, but he too knelt and bowed, praying for the Buddha to manifest his spirit and save his clan from the boundless sea of suffering; his heart was exceedingly sincere.

After completing their rites, the two stood up and examined the surroundings. They saw that the front hall had collapsed, making passage impossible. The side halls housed countless statues of Arhats; one side was more than half collapsed. All the Arhat statues were exquisitely luxurious, crafted with the finest materials and decoration—each one was worth a fortune, testifying to the immense national strength and flourishing Buddhism of the Western Xia era.

However, these Buddha statues differed somewhat from those “Zhegushao” and the others usually saw in various temples; they couldn't quite articulate the difference, only that the sculpting seemed a little strange.

Elder Liao Chen explained to “Zhegushao”: “The people of Western Xia were primarily of the Dangxiang tribe. The Dangxiang originated from the Tibetan regions and later rendered great meritorious service assisting the Tang King in conquering territories, earning the imperial surname Li. They were, after all, a minority group, and Tibetan Buddhism was influenced by India far more than the Central Plains. These Buddha statues wear Tang-style clothing, and their imagery is closer to the original forms found at Buddhism's source, unlike the statues in the interior temples which are deeply influenced by Han culture, hence the slight divergence in appearance.”

“Zhegushao” and Elder Liao Chen unanimously agreed that the Western Xia treasure cave must be located near the Mahavira Hall, perhaps even within it. Since a tomb was constructed beneath the temple, it naturally had to be built on a favorable feng shui point; the aperture of this vein was very small, so the possible area could be narrowed down to the vicinity of the main hall.

Father Thomas of America trailed behind “Zhegushao” as they wandered through the hall, growing increasingly perplexed. How could they casually excavate a temple in this unremarkable, barren place? Moreover, the exquisite Arhat statues he glimpsed in the side halls seemed vaguely familiar; it was as if the grotto he had fallen into by chance several years ago was one of those places. Having stumbled in unintentionally, he knew he could never find it again if he tried years later. How could this old monk locate it so accurately just by looking at the stars? The mysterious and incredible things of this Eastern world were simply too numerous. Considering this, Father Thomas felt a greater sense of awe towards Elder Liao Chen and “Zhegushao,” daring not to chatter idly anymore.

The three circled the Mahavira Hall of the Tongtian Great Buddha Temple twice, inspecting nearly every brick and tile, yet they found no entrance to the treasure cave.

“Zhegushao” said to Elder Liao Chen: “Nothing unusual was found in the main hall. Perhaps we should search the rear hall.”

Elder Liao Chen nodded: “Since we are already inside, let us not rush. We should search meticulously from front to back. This place is named the Tongtian Great Sleeping Buddha Temple, which suggests the rear hall enshrines a Reclining Buddha. Let us go and see.”

The passage connecting to the rear hall was painted with Buddhist offering scenes from the Song Dynasty, interspersed with lotus motifs. Viewing them induced a sense of purity and peace, inspiring one to transcend the mundane and wash away all worldly thoughts.

“Zhegushao” had spent much time with Elder Liao Chen recently and had absorbed many Buddhist teachings; the aggression in his heart had lessened considerably. Now, situated in this subterranean holy sanctuary, he suddenly felt a profound weariness, an inexplicable distaste for the pursuit of grave robbing. He only hoped this time they could smoothly secure the Muchen Pearl, settle this great matter, and then spend the rest of his life cultivating in peace at an ancient monastery, as would be best.

However, this thought vanished in an instant. “Zhegushao” knew clearly that this was no time for the slightest relaxation of vigilance; he needed to focus all his energy on finding the entrance to the Western Xia treasure cave.

Thus, walking and contemplating, they reached the rear hall. As Elder Liao Chen had predicted, the rear hall was even grander, housing a massive stone Buddha adorned with the Seven Treasures, lying horizontally across the hall.

Most large reclining Buddhas are built into the contours of mountains; some are entire peaks shaped and modified, while others possess a natural Buddha form. They are immense enough to pierce the sky and touch the earth, yet small enough to be contained within a mustard seed—immeasurably large, yet infinitely small, all symbolizing the boundless realm of Buddhist doctrine.

However, this colossal Sleeping Buddha in the rear hall was significantly smaller than those sculpted from mountain ranges, yet it was still vastly larger than the one-meter-tall common man, measuring a full fifty meters in length, with long earlobes, resting peacefully on a lotus pedestal.

On either side of the Sleeping Buddha Hall stood two gigantic celadon vats filled with solidified Yù Měng Lóng Yán Gāo (（yu）（）). This lamp oil could burn continuously for over a hundred years without extinguishing. The eternal glass lamps offered to the Buddha were also fueled by this substance, but now, of course, the oil was long exhausted.

The Sleeping Buddha Hall also contained numerous stone steles, all inscribed with incredibly complex Western Xia script, likely detailing various Buddhist stories. “Zhegushao” turned around the area several times, finally fixing his gaze on the Great Sleeping Buddha and saying to Elder Liao Chen: “The posture of this Sleeping Buddha is incorrect; this disciple believes there must be something strange about it.”

Elder Liao Chen studied it for a long time and also felt that the Sleeping Buddha was problematic, saying: “Hmm… You noticed it too; you are worthy of being a master of the Bānshān Fenjiā school. This Buddha’s head is a mechanism. It seems the secret passage to the treasure cave lies right here in the Buddha’s head. The structure of this mechanism is not immediately clear; be careful when manipulating it, as there might be danger.”

“Zhegushao” acknowledged this with a slight bow, placing his hands together in anjali mudra and paying respects to the Sleeping Buddha twice. Then, he leaped onto the Buddha’s dais. He noticed a faint seam on the Sleeping Buddha’s lips, suggesting they could open and close. Only a master of Mojin or Bānshān would notice such a subtle detail.

The Buddha’s mouth was likely the entrance to the passage, and triggering it might set off harmful mechanisms like hidden blades or arrows. “Zhegushao” examined it closely and immediately understood the nature of this mechanism: there probably wouldn't be any hidden weapons at the entrance, just a sleeve-like connecting interface for the passage. He then called for Father Thomas of America to assist, and together they pulled on the petals of the layer in the middle of the lotus platform.

With a series of muffled kacha-chā sounds, the giant mouth of the Sleeping Buddha slowly opened. The Buddha faced the main door, and a vertical shaft was revealed straight down inside the mouth. A rope ladder was affixed to the shaft walls, allowing descent by climbing.

Father Thomas watched, utterly bewildered, repeatedly exclaiming how miraculous it was. This time, without “Zhegushao” having to act, he voluntarily wanted to climb into the shaft to see what lay inside.

“Zhegushao” knew the treasure cave was originally the tomb of a high-ranking Western Xia official, later used to conceal the extraordinary treasures of the Western Xia court. If it were merely a burial site, it would be one thing, but placing such significant treasures inside an occupied tomb meant there must be extremely potent mechanisms. Letting the American priest go in first was tantamount to sending him to his death. The priest had been decent, and “Zhegushao” could not bear to see him perish in the tomb passage. He stopped the priest behind him, insisting the priest follow closely, with Elder Liao Chen bringing up the rear, descending in that order.

The characteristics of Western Xia tombs were unique; few grave robbers had encountered them, and their interior conditions were unknown, save for the deep influence of Han culture. They could only proceed cautiously, relying on experience once inside. Elder Liao Chen knew “Zhegushao” was an expert in Fēnqiū Pòjiǎ (grave breakdown), and with him clearing the path step by step, there should be no errors.

To test the airflow below, “Zhegushao” handed his stable lantern to Elder Liao Chen and mounted a phosphorus tube onto his Diamond Umbrella. The Diamond Umbrella was a shield used by Mojin officers to defend against tomb projectiles, constructed with steel bones and iron plating so strong that even powerful crossbow bolts could not penetrate it. The phosphorus tube was a combined device for testing air quality and illumination, which, explained by modern science, could be considered a form of bioluminescence, like fireflies or certain luminous deep-sea creatures. The tube contained powder made from ground human bones mixed with crushed Huǒ Róng () Cǎo (fire-blossom grass). When ignited, it emitted a cold, faint blue light and could last for half an hour when fully packed.

Illuminated by the phosphorus tube, with the Diamond Umbrella suspended below by the Flying Tiger Claw for protection, “Zhegushao” slowly descended the ladder. Soon, he felt a tightness in his chest, realizing this was a sealed space below. Without the secret medicine, he would surely have suffocated, fallen unconscious, and plummeted to his death.

“Zhegushao” looked up and asked Elder Liao Chen and the American priest above how they were, whether they needed to wait above for the air to replenish before continuing down. The two signaled they were fine; the current conditions were tolerable, and they were more than halfway down, so they would continue to the bottom.

After climbing down the shaft for the time it takes to steep a pot of tea (one cigarette taking three to five minutes, a pot of tea ten to fifteen minutes, a meal twenty to thirty minutes), “Zhegushao” and the others reached the bottom.

The bottom of the shaft was surrounded by chillingly cold, very dry stone walls. “Zhegushao” turned the phosphorus tube around to survey the surroundings, when suddenly, a warrior clad in golden armor and a golden helmet silently emerged from the opposite side. With fierce brows and staring eyes, he spoke no word, but brought his sharp mountain-splitting great axe down in a sweeping arc aimed right at “Zhegushao’s” head.

For more novels, visit storyread.net.