The year 2015 had come very fast, and February 19, the Lunar New Year, was getting close. Even so, as postgraduate students didnât have much vacation time available, Qin Cheng hasnât returned home in more than a year, so this time he wanted to go back for a while.
As for Li Guoxianâs case, a conclusive resolution hasnât been reached yet, so he was temporarily locked up in a detention center. Qin Cheng thought of going to visit him before returning home.
Qin Cheng was unaware of what Li Guoxian had gone through, but Li Guoxian looked thin to the bone, and he seemed to be distracted. However, as soon as Li Guoxian saw Qin Cheng, his eyes were filled with hatred. This made Qin Cheng, who initially wanted to talk to him, want to leave immediately.
âIf it hadnât been for you, if you hadnât gotten in my way, I wouldnât have been reduced to this!â
Qin Cheng, who was about to leave, frowned and questioned: âProfessor Li, what exactly did I interfere with? Itâs interesting for you to say this, given that Iâve been in a coma for a long time, and Iâve hardly seen you. So, how exactly could I have meddled in your affairs?â
âIn a coma? Qin Cheng, ah Qin Cheng, donât you want to admit it even now? If it hadnât been for you and that ghost in the tomb on the mountain, I would have been able to get the Taowu bones! You have them, donât you? Otherwise, how come you didnât die in the Pingyao tomb, even coming out safe and sound until now?! You want to monopolize the Taowu bones and live forever, donât you!â
â Ghost? Taowu bones? Immortality? â Qin Cheng looked at the practically maniacal Li Guoxian and thought: â He must have serious mental issues, or thereâs something wrong with his brain. Otherwise, how could he spout so much nonsense?! â
âI donât feel like talking to you.â After having those thoughts, Qin Cheng decided to get up and leave, without turning to look at Li Guoxian or even wanting to see him again in the future.
At some point during the day, it snowed again, so when Qin Cheng came out of the detention center, he gazed at the snowflakes falling from the sky. At that moment, Qin Cheng couldnât help, but think of Li Guoxianâs haggard appearance, which only made him sigh deeply.
â Everything has really changed. The people around me have left, one after another, and even my mentor has ended up in a place like this. â For a moment, Qin Cheng didnât know what to do. â Itâs February already, and after realizing that Iâll graduate in June, I really wanted to stay in the archeological team. But now the team has been dissolved due to everything that has happened. â
Qin Cheng had already heard that the murders committed at the tomb in Ninghua Village were the work of Li Guoxian, who, along with a group of people who had an interest in the tombâs treasures, used the lives of some archaeology students as a stepping stone to enter the tomb. Even then, Qin Cheng still had his doubts. After all, he had experienced it firsthand.
â If there wasnât something weird and evil in the tomb in itself, none of this would have happened. â
â ClearlyâŠ..that day, when Lin Hongxing and I went to look for Jiang Bo, there was no one around. Yet, at that moment I felt as if something or someone was strangling meâŠâŠ I also vividly remember that Lin Hongxing had an inexplicable wound on his head, from which blood was oozing out in abundanceâŠ.. â
â The strangest thing of allâŠ.at that time, how did I manage to surviveâŠ.? â
Qin Cheng was unable to remember that particular detail. Even when he tried to remember, an immense headache began to torment him. The only thing he remembered was that after being choked, he seemed to have faintedâŠ..
However, right at that moment, it was as if Qin Cheng had managed to grab the vestige of a memory, in which he remembered grabbing an object from the ground. As soon as he took possession of that object, whatever was dragging him into the tomb had vanished.
â ButâŠ. what was thatâŠ.? â
In an unconscious gesture, the still dazed Qin Cheng reached for the inner pocket of his jacket, as if searching for something. However, the pocket was empty. Suddenly, Qin Cheng tightly clenched his hands as he wondered to himself: â What was I looking for? Itâs quite obvious that I have never kept anything in this pocketâŠ.. â
Even in broad daylight, Qin Cheng inexplicably shivered. It was unknown whether it was because he had thought of that event in the past, if todayâs weather was somewhat cold, or because his heart in itself had suddenly grown cold.
Unwilling to stay even a minute longer in this place, and not really knowing where to go, Qin Cheng aimlessly wandered through the streets.
For the past two months, Qin Cheng had been feeling irrevocably tired, but he also seemed to have no interest in anything or doing anything specific. Even when he was reading, he seemed to be distracted. Apart from staying alone in his apartment, he had nothing else to do except staying in a dazed state all day long. Qin Cheng had no desire to organize his home, and even let his hair grow long without having the slightest intention of cutting it, resulting in a lazy, unkempt appearance.
The reason he even came to visit Li Guoxian today was because he heard other students mention him last night at the University Library. Intrigued, Qin Cheng thought of stopping by to check on him.
Whatever it was, Qin Cheng was also unaware of what was wrong with himself, as well as why he was behaving this way.
The Northern streets in Xiâanâs Weiyang District have already been decorated with glowing red lanterns for some time now. Even five days ago, when there was a heavy snowfall, the streets were still full of pedestrians. Many of them were shopping for goods for the Spring Festival, so many came to experience the scenery of a âsnowy Changâanâ.
After buying a train ticket to go back home the day after tomorrow, Qin Cheng thought that maybe he should bring some things home. Upon wandering around for a while, Qin Cheng randomly bought two packets of souvenirs. Once he was done with that, Qin Cheng realized that he was hungry. He looked around, catching sight of a long queue of people leading towards a meat bun shop that wasnât far away from where he was standing.
Actually, Qin Cheng knew this store. It was very famous in Xiâan, known for its fresh ingredients and delicious products. Even then, despite having lived in Xiâan for so many years, Qin Cheng never came to buy from this store, since it is always crowded and Qin Cheng doesnât consider himself as a person with enough patience to wait in line.
As Qin Cheng glanced at his watch, noticing that it was only 2:20 pm, he thought about it for a while; only to end up choosing to walk to the end of the line and slowly wait for it to be his turn.
âHey, have you seen Jay Chou <sup>1</sup> âs wedding videoâŠ.?!â
âI saw it, I saw it! Aahhh! Iâm so jealous of that girl, ah, my god. Jay Chou is my idol. I love him to death!â
âYessssss! Hey, do you think that girl saved the world in her last life or something? Otherwise, how can she be so lucky to marry Jay Chou?!â
âWhether she saved it or not, I donât know. All I know is that sheâs from the â93, like me! How can there be such a difference between her and meâŠ..? Iâve also loved Jay Chou for more than ten years, siiiigh âŠ.â
The two girls, standing in front of Qin Cheng, were excitedly and loudly talking, not paying attention to their surroundings. It reached the point that one of them ended up accidentally stepping on Qin Chengâs foot, who was lost in thought. Noticing this, Qin Cheng couldnât help, but lower his head to look at them. When the girls noticed Qin Chengâs gaze, they both blushed at the same time as they hurriedly apologized for stepping on him. Without waiting for Qin Cheng to reply, the two girls hurried to turn around and continue to talk about their idols. This time, however, in a hushed voice.
Qin Cheng couldnât help but smile at this, shrugging it off as a small matter. However, before long, a word reached Qin Chengâs ears. As a result, Qin Cheng turned his attention to a group of people chatting nearby.
âFrom now on our X University will gain a lot of fame. But this fame will not bring a good reputation.â
â They seem to be undergraduates from my University. â Qin Cheng thought to himself.
âIndeed, a while ago this topic was hot gossip. My mother is still worried about it, and she called me to ask if I would prefer to retake my third year at another UniversityâŠ.â
âPfftâyour mother is too ruthless. Who would want to retake their senior year?â
âYeahâŠ..but, to be honest, I can understand what my mother is thinking. Professor Li was such a powerful man, and he killed so many people! His own students! No matter what you think about it, this is just crazy. Could your family feel reassured when something like this took place at your University? Would they like for you to stay here?â
âHmm, well to tell you the truth, I heard the Seniors mention a few things about this tomb. He was on that archaeological team for two months, and he said that thereâs something evil about that big Mausoleum!â
âSomething evil? Like what?â
âThe Senior said that when the archaeological team was ready to excavate an exploratory tunnel to the tomb, it was agreed that they shouldnât work past 5 pm. That day, somehow, they stayed an hour longer, and something happened. The Senior said that he was lucky, as he was away from the accident scene, standing closer to the exit. Even then, he saw, with his own eyes, how an archaeologist was thrown to the ground like a pile of wood, and that his face was covered with bloodâŠ..â
ââŠ.Oh my godâŠ.â
âThat member of the archaeological team ended up dead. Ah, what was his name? Something âshuoâ I believe.â
â Zhang QishuoâŠ.. â Qin Cheng frowned. â So far, no one has told me how exactly Zhang Qishuo died, but for some reason, I donât really feel that what these people are talking about is just a rumor. â
Every time Qin Cheng heard these young men talking, for some reason, he couldnât help but think about the appearance of Lin Hongxingon that nightâŠ..
However, right before Qin Cheng could continue pondering, he heard the young men talking again, and what they said left Qin Cheng speechless.
âYeah, I also think thereâs something evil in it. Besides, wasnât it said that Mausoleum Mountain collapsed overnight? Many houses around it also ended up collapsed.â
âDid you just say that the mountain in Ninghua Village collapsed?!â Qin Cheng stepped forward towards the young men and asked urgently: âWhen did it happen? How could it have collapsed?!â
The young man, who spoke just now, obviously didnât expect that someone would suddenly appear like that, and with a certain amount of confusion, he replied: âY-yes, it collapsed.â
âHow can a mountain like that collapse out of nowhere?!â Qin Cheng was feeling uneasy for a reason he didnât understand. After grabbing the young man by his clothes, he said: âQuick, answer me!â
The young man, on the other hand, quickly withdrew when he came back to his senses and angrily said: âAre you, are you crazy?! I, I donât know! I donât know why! You madman!â
At the thought of the tomb collapsing, Qin Cheng felt as if his chest cavity had turned into a pot at that very instant. Like a pressure cooker that, without the valve that allows steam to escape, was maintaining a dangerous pressure, which could potentially explode at any moment.
Without saying a single word, Qin Cheng turned around and walked slowly to the roadside. After waiting for a while, he stopped a cab and instructed the driver to drive to Ninghua Village in Lintong District.
Qin Cheng didnât understand why he wanted to go to that particular place so desperately, but these days, he had been constantly thinking about the tomb. However, Qin Cheng had never asked what happened that day. In any case, even if Qin Cheng never inquired, Zhang Jun and Wu Hai also refused to tell him. Therefore, Qin Cheng didnât know what had happened to Ninghua Village and the tomb. But now, out of the blue, he heard from others that the mountain had collapsed.
â How is that even possible? â
Qin Cheng, who was sitting inside the cab, repeatedly looked at his watch, feeling worried and anxious.
Qin Cheng couldnât understand why he was getting so irritated. â What does it have to do with me that the tomb has collapsed? Many people have died there, and now Iâm going on my own. Isnât that looking for death? â
Qin Cheng once again thought about the fear he experienced that night. He suddenly wanted to ask the driver to turn around, and not to go to Ninghua Village. With a frown on his face, and his eyes focused on the watch on his wrist, he clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned slightly white. In the end, however, he didnât open his mouth. It was as if his lips had been sealed, where no matter how hard he struggled, he was unable to be able to say those words.
After a 40-minute ride, the driver stopped and waited for Qin Cheng to get out. As soon as he received the payment, the cab turned around and drove away. At that moment, Qin Cheng felt amused. â It seems that the cab driver also knows the rumors surrounding Ninghua Village. It can be seen that no one wants to stay in this place, and to be honest, neither do I know. Why would I want to rush to this place? â
Qin Cheng shook his head, took a deep breath, and walked towards the village.
The mountain in Ninghua Village, also known as Qiong Mountain, was so massive that one was able to see it from afar. Therefore, from a distance, Qin Cheng could already see that the mountain had completely collapsed. The mountain which had once been mighty, was now split in half. At that moment, the only thing Qin Cheng could think of was that the coffin chamber in the tomb should have been completely destroyedâŠâŠ
The old houses in the village were in ruins, with many of them having completely collapsed. There were huge cracks and holes in the mountainside, which made Qin Cheng wonder if there had been a great war in this place. A battle where both sides had lost, leaving nothing but a lonely and destroyed village behind. The snow that still covered the village resembled a rammed earth that was covering corpses in the village.
Qin Cheng felt upset. With every step he took, the nervous feeling inside his heart increased. It was as if he was stepping into a boundless hell, with a blazing fire scorching his feet, body, and mind. By this point, it was hard for Qin Cheng to breathe.
â WhââŠ.whatâs going on? â
Qin Cheng stopped his steps, and covered his aching chest with one hand. At the same time, he began to feel dizzy. Qin Cheng hurried to stabilize his body, lowered his head, and he didnât dare to move forward.
After turning around, Qin Cheng quickly walked towards the old houses of Ninghua Village. There were still some houses that were still standing, and among them, there was one in which he used to live when he worked with the archaeological team.
Qin Cheng ran to that same house, went inside and slammed the door shut. Then, he rested his back against the wooden door and gasped for breath.
Once again, Qin Cheng unconsciously reached his hand towards the inner pocket of his coat. Even then, no matter what, he found nothing there.
Qin Cheng fiercely squeezed the inner pocket of his coat. Although he relentlessly tried to ignore it, he knew from the bottom of his heart that this wasnât the first time he had made this gesture. From the moment he woke up, every time he felt tormented, he had been subconsciously searching for something, as if it were a habit.
â But what was it that Iâve been looking for?! What do I expect to find in my pocket âŠ..? â
As Qin Cheng looked ahead, he saw the electric rice cooker that he had used in his stay in this place, only that it was now lying broken on the table. For some reason, Qin Chengâs heart suddenly felt quite mellow, and he even broke into a smile. But he didnât know what was the reason for such a reactionâŠ.
These chaotic emotions caused Qin Cheng to slide down the wooden door, until he ended up sitting on the floor. The corners of his lips were still slightly curved in a smile, but his eyes were bitter. It was as if an indescribable and inexplicable sadness swept over Qin Cheng, making him want to cry.
â Itâs as if Iâve lost something extremely important to me. Something Iâm unable to remember whatsoever. â
âđđ«âšExtra Chapter from the Ko-fi Goalâšđ«đâ [1/2]