Volume One - The Tomb of a Hundred Coffins Chapter Thirteen - Collaboration

I picked up the teacup before me and took a gentle sip. The tea was refined Biluochun, its fragrance spreading as soon as it touched my tongue. Xu Tian watched me, unmoving. I set the cup down and spoke slowly, “Brother Xu, if you have something to say, please do. There’s no need for such formality.”

Seeing my attitude, Xu Tian smiled faintly and said, “Then I’ll speak frankly. That Dragon-Seeking and Acupoint-Finding technique you just performed truly astonished me. Clearly, you’ve studied the arts of feng shui and geomancy. My father and I both have a passion for antiques and funerary artifacts. If you’re interested, perhaps we could collaborate.”

Hearing this, I thought to myself: just as I expected, Xu Tian specializes in dealing with antiques and funerary items. It’s said there are many hidden rules in this trade. Regular, legitimate shops don’t earn much, which was the case with the antique store where I used to work.

But another path is to deal specifically in funerary objects—items once belonging to the dead. These things often have remarkable origins; the older and better preserved, the more valuable they become.

With that in mind, I looked across at Xu Tian and asked, “May I ask, Brother Xu, what exactly do you mean by ‘collaboration’?”

Xu Tian replied, “Brother Liu, you’re a capable man, and skilled as well. I suspect you’ve trained in the military, haven’t you?”

I nodded. Xu Tian continued, “Since you know the arts of feng shui, and I have financial backing, if you find anything worthwhile or any funerary objects below ground, my father would be very interested. Even if he’s not, I have the means to sell your finds for a good price. Rest assured, you won’t be taken advantage of. What do you think?”

After he finished, I rested one hand on the table, tapping lightly with my fingers as I pondered. A few seconds later, I looked at Xu Tian and said, “Brother Xu, forgive me for being blunt, but it seems you’ve overlooked a few things.”

Xu Tian raised an eyebrow. “Oh? What do you mean, Brother Liu?”

“Grave-robbing isn’t easy work—it’s a matter of risking one’s life. The traps and mechanisms alone are enough to keep me busy, but those are minor concerns. The greatest danger is when opening the coffin for gold—if the corpse mutates…” I paused, but the meaning was clear to both of us.

I looked at Xu Tian, then leaned forward slightly and lowered my voice. “You think you can get me to risk my life for you just by moving your lips? If I don’t make it out, I’ll be left in there. If I do make it out, won’t I still have to deal with you?”

Upon hearing this, Xu Tian was taken aback for a moment, then quickly understood. He assured me, “Don’t worry, Brother Liu. I, Xu Tian, have never betrayed a friend. Besides, once we’re in this together, our fortunes are tied. If I get rich, you certainly won’t be left out.”

After he finished, I leaned back in my chair and said, “Robbing graves is fine, provided you can get me something powerful.”

Xu Tian laughed. “Brother Liu, rest assured. I can get you whatever weapon you need.”

I was slightly surprised, looking at Xu Tian’s delicate, almost feminine face. I raised a hand, showed three fingers, and formed the gesture for ‘eight’. “You can get this too?”

Xu Tian smiled. “Of course.”

At that moment, I thought to myself: I hadn’t expected Xu Tian could even procure firearms. Clearly, his family has connections with the military—otherwise, such things would be out of reach.

I picked up the teacup and took a sip. “Let me think it over.”

Xu Tian stood up and handed me a cigarette. After lighting it, he said, “Very well, I’ll await your reply.”

I nodded and got up to leave, but Xu Tian grabbed my arm and hurriedly said, “Brother Liu, wait a moment.”

I looked at him in confusion. Xu Tian quickly ran out, and after a short while, returned, now holding something in his hand.

He handed me a leather case—the very Dragon-Seeking Disk that had been in his car earlier. “Brother Liu, take this.”

Stepping out of Gathering Virtue Pavilion, I held the Dragon-Seeking Disk that Xu Tian had given me. I couldn’t help but marvel at the events of the day; not only had I encountered so much, but I had also obtained the legendary Dragon-Seeking Disk. Why, then, did the “Twenty-Four Mountain Feng Shui Manual” contain a Dragon-Seeking Incantation to activate it?

I pondered for a long time, but the answer eluded me. I had only managed to grasp about half of the manual—mainly the more straightforward sections at the beginning. The latter parts were all illustrations, each page containing only a few words, or sometimes just a single picture with no explanation at all. This was why my grandfather, after studying it for half his life, never fully understood it.

On the way home, I called Gao Feng, telling her that I’d take her to the amusement park another day to make up for the meal we missed. Hearing this, Gao Feng’s mood shifted from dejected to cheerful. Seeing her happiness, I couldn’t help but smile as well—women, after all, need to be coaxed.

After hanging up, I returned home. Inside, Li Kun was still fast asleep on the kang. The old man wasn’t home; he’d likely gone out to buy groceries for a good dinner tonight, since my comrade was visiting. We’d surely drink well.

Our family’s drinking prowess is legendary—generations have been able to drink without ever getting drunk. As for me, downing a bottle of spirits barely counts as a start. The old man’s capacity is bottomless; I’ve never seen him intoxicated, not once in my life.

Though I can hold my liquor, compared to Li Kun, I’m just a novice.

Li Kun is a phenomenon—he drinks as if it were water. I recall once, at a gathering of comrades, Li Kun polished off an entire case of spirits by himself. Even the waiter called him a freak. There were eight of us at the table, but none could keep up with Li Kun.

Yet Li Kun isn’t immune to drunkenness; it just hits him late. The next day, he’ll sleep the whole day to sober up, and during that time, not even a slap would stir him.

But the old man knew nothing of this. When he returned, he was carrying a jar of spirits, already anticipating a good drink tonight. He never imagined that my comrade would turn out to be such a bottomless barrel.