Chapter 1: An Argument?

Seeing Zhang Xuan’s calm expression, the audience in the livestream went wild!

"Holy crap, is this actually negotiable?"
"Wait, are we really doing 'livestream content' at a time like this?"
"Brother Xuan knows how to handle a stream, I’ll give him that—666!"
"I’m a bit confused. Is the streamer serious, or is he joking?"
"Incredible. Is he actually pulling the wool over these grave robbers' eyes?"

In the duty office, Director Chen, staring at the screen, was utterly shocked: "The bronze coffin of King Mu of Zhou, the Son of Heaven from the Western Zhou Dynasty..."
"How does he know that?"

Beside him, Xiao Lü scratched his head: "Maybe he guessed it?"
"Didn't that bell mentioned earlier have the name of King Mu of Zhou on it?"
"Plus, the Queen Mother of the West on the bronze tripod perfectly aligns with the legend of King Mu meeting her during his western expedition!"

Director Chen finally snapped back to reality: "This is trouble!"
"If it were just an ordinary tomb of some noble, it would be fine, but if it truly is the tomb of King Mu of Zhou, that’s a major archaeological discovery!"
"The slightest mistake would be a monumental loss for the nation!"

Fang Youcai’s face also showed a trace of unease: "Should we contact Director Yang?"
Director Chen immediately replied: "Yes, we must!"

Just as Fang Youcai picked up the phone, he suddenly heard Xiao Lü pointing at the screen in horror: "Oh no!"
"Why did Zhang Xuan tell them to take out the detonators?"

The four of them stared intently at the screen. The tall, thin man had a ring of detonators strapped around his waist. Although Zhang Xuan hadn't said it explicitly, everyone knew that if those dozens of detonators were to explode, not only would the grave robbers be wiped out, but the ancient tomb would be reduced to rubble!

Director Chen stood up abruptly: "Captain Fang!"
"Didn't you say this kid, Zhang Xuan, was reliable?"
"What do you have to say now?"
"Has he gone insane?"

Cold sweat poured down Fang Youcai’s face. He had intended to wait until the livestream ended to approach Zhang Xuan privately. But the way things were developing was far beyond his expectations! In the blink of an eye, the situation had spiraled completely out of control!

While the grave robbers were human lives, they had entered a Western Zhou tomb illegally, and even if an accident occurred, their deaths would hardly be a tragedy. But if they blew up the ancient tomb before they died, then...

Although the grave robbers' actions weren't directly the responsibility of the authorities, Zhang Xuan was in Qingzhou, and he was the one who had suggested blowing up the tomb! If an investigation followed, they would be held accountable!

"Wait a little longer!"
"I don't believe he’s that stupid!"
Fang Youcai took a deep breath, his mind regaining some clarity. Although Zhang Xuan was only nineteen, his speech and reactions to events showed a level of maturity far beyond his years! Any fool could see that if those detonators actually went off, he, Zhang Xuan, would be the primary person held responsible! Unless he had lost his mind, he would never do something so foolish!

Director Chen glanced at him: "Do you really believe that nonsense about him being able to talk to whatever is in that coffin?"

Fang Youcai’s face remained stern: "Why shouldn't I believe it?"
Director Chen immediately frowned: "What do you mean?"
Fang Youcai spoke solemnly: "If the thing inside the coffin can come to life, then talking to a corpse doesn't seem entirely impossible!"
Director Chen’s pupils suddenly dilated.

Inside the ancient tomb, seeing Zhou Cheng actually walking toward the bronze coffin with the phone, Teli looked at Zhou Zeyi with a strange expression: "Third Master... is he messing with us?"
The tall, thin man added: "Exactly! I already called out 'Grandpa' just a moment ago! If the thing inside could understand human speech, it would have let us go by now! Why would it just get angrier?"

Zhou Zeyi shook his head: "I don't know. Either way, things are already like this, so we might as well watch."

The two looked at Zhou Cheng. He had reached the bronze coffin, trembling, and spoke to Zhang Xuan with chattering teeth: "Brother Xuan... is this close enough?"
Zhang Xuan’s voice rang out: "Closer! Don't be afraid!"
Zhou Cheng took a few more steps forward: "How about this?"
Zhang Xuan: "Come, place the phone at the gap in the coffin. Hold it steady, don't drop it."

Zhou Cheng's expression changed drastically, but he bit the bullet and extended his hand, the phone pointing directly into the opening of the coffin as it rhythmically creaked! His fear made his hand shake uncontrollably!

"Yes! That's it! Let me talk to it! If we can't reach an agreement, you guys blow up the tomb!"
Upon hearing that the tomb might be blown up, Zhou Cheng’s hand trembled, and the phone slipped right into the coffin!

For a moment, Zhou Cheng was stunned. Even Zhou Zeyi and the others were dumbfounded, as if they had never expected such an accident.
"It's over..." The tall, thin man's eyes lost their luster.
Teli slammed his fist into the ground with regret, sighing in frustration: "Damn it!"

But at that moment, Zhang Xuan’s voice suddenly came from within the opening and closing coffin: "Hey, why is it dark? Brother, where is this?"

In the livestream, Zhang Xuan stared at the pitch-black screen, completely confused!
"Brother, where are you?"
He called out again, but there was still no movement. The chat was equally baffled! Just as things were getting intense, the screen suddenly went black!

Zhang Xuan pondered for a moment, then looked shocked: "Holy crap, did the phone fall into the coffin?"
No sooner had he said that than he faintly heard Zhou Cheng’s voice from afar: "Brother Xuan, the phone fell inside..."
Zhang Xuan’s eyes widened: "Oh my god! It really fell in?"

The chat exploded instantly!
"Holy cow, is this a joke?"
"Are we video-calling a zombie?"
"The first streamer in history to have a video chat with a zombie! 6666~!"
"This is too funny!"
"Didn't the streamer say he wanted to 'talk' to it? This seems even more convenient!"
"Talking under the covers?"

Zhang Xuan took a deep breath, his expression slowly turning solemn: "I'm starting now."
He pursed his lips tightly, his throat bobbing slightly, and a bizarre sound squeezed out from his throat!

The livestream was instantly flooded with question marks!
"Gugu!"
"Gugu-gugu!"

The four men, looking as pale as death, seemed to see the scene of the coffin lid flying open and the zombie jumping out! But just then, a sound came from the bronze coffin that made their hair stand on end! It sounded somewhat familiar, yet not like anything a human could produce!

"What is that sound?" Teli’s eyes widened, the sound making the hairs on his arms stand up!
The tall, thin man shook his head, his eyes filled with terror: "Could it be the monster inside?"
As he said this, he shuddered in fear himself.

Zhou Cheng, who was closest to the coffin, suddenly widened his eyes, retreated a few steps, and pointed at the coffin: "It sounds like Brother Xuan's voice! He's talking to the thing inside!"

As soon as he said this, the three of them stared fixedly at the bronze coffin!
"Gugu!"
"Gugu-gugu~!"
"Gugu-gugu!"

It was clear that while the sound was eerie, the timbre was indeed very similar to Zhang Xuan’s!
"Can he really talk to a 'Zongzi' (zombie)?"
"My god!"
Zhou Zeyi’s eyes were wide, his face full of shock!
Teli snapped out of it and asked Zhou Zeyi, shocked: "Third Master... what is he saying? It sounds like they're arguing! Do you think... they might start fighting in there?"
Zhou Zeyi looked bewildered: "Arguing with a zombie?"
"That shouldn't be possible, right?"

The four of them fell silent again. They could only hear Zhang Xuan’s strange sounds from inside becoming more rapid and louder! Their heartstrings grew taut, stretched to the breaking point along with Zhang Xuan’s voice.