Tomb raiding: following the plot while tearing up the script

As Lao Yang gazed at the giant bronze tree, his eyes held a mixture of fanatical worship and deep-seated hatred.

His complex emotions distorted his face, giving him a repressed sense of madness.

"Bronze, a bronze tree? How is this possible? This, this..."

Master Liang had actually figured out the material of the tree-shaped behemoth in front of him. He even estimated, based on his years of experience and knowledge, that the bronze tree was probably an artifact from the Shang or Zhou dynasty.

It was precisely because he could see it that he found it incredible—such a huge bronze artifact, with no end in sight!

In an era when clay molds were needed to create shapes, how could such a massive bronze vessel have come about?

The technology of that era simply didn't allow it!

"Nothing is impossible. Even if it's impossible, it's still standing right in front of you, isn't it? So, Lao Liang, you've learned something new this time, haven't you?"

Liang Shiye still looked shocked, but after hearing Wu Xie's words, he nodded in agreement.

"I was being narrow-minded. There were many miracles in ancient times, such as the Great Wall built during the reign of Qin Shi Huang and the pyramids of the Egyptian pharaohs. Weren't they also miracles that were impossible to complete in that era?"

Now that he was no longer concerned about the craftsmanship, Liang Shiye felt much more at ease and curiously approached to take a closer look.

Upon closer inspection, the bronze tree was not covered in tree bark patterns at all, but rather intricate and mysterious cloud and thunder patterns. This confirmed Liang Shiye's suspicion that the bronze tree was a sacrificial vessel used in rituals during a certain period.

As for what was being worshipped that required such a large sacrificial vessel, that remains unknown.

"By the way, Lao Yang, back in that strange fish's cave, didn't you say I'd know when we got there? Now that we've arrived, you..."

"I knew you wouldn't be able to resist."

Lao Yang seemed to think that Wu Xie wouldn't run away now that they were here, so he simply stopped pretending to stutter and answered Wu Xie's questions frankly, a playful smile playing on his lips.

"I told you you'd know when we got there; this isn't the place I was talking about."

Lao Yang, who has let loose, seems to have gone off-track, giving off the vibe of a behind-the-scenes villain jumping out, revealing his true identity, and preparing to cause trouble.

This guy probably put on a villain's skin to try and project a wicked and arrogant image, but he failed miserably. His evil was tinged with the cowardly and timid feeling of his original skin...

At once……

awkward……

That's so damn awkward...

Wu Xie couldn't help but slap Lao Yang on the back of the head again.

"You fucking talk to me properly. Do you think you're some kind of crooked-mouthed dragon king, still laughing? Your laugh is fucking ugly."

Lao Yang was a little stunned by Wu Xie's slap, and he covered the back of his head, which had been hit hard, not knowing what to do.

The cowardly, itchy skin had regained its footing. After being violently suppressed by Wuxie, it stopped causing trouble and dutifully pulled out a few pairs of the same rubber work gloves it had worn that night when it went to dig for copper rods from its backpack, and distributed them to the others.

"Put these on, our real destination is still up there."

"Up there? Climb up?"

The old man, Liang Shiye, took the gloves and was dumbfounded when he heard that the destination was not ahead but above.

Poor old man, he's really suffered these past few days.

"Don't worry, there are so many branches on this tree to use for support, it's easy to climb, almost like climbing stairs," Lao Yang reassured him as he put on his gloves.

"Wear your gloves, you can't just touch this tree."

Liang Shiye reluctantly put on his gloves, and casually chimed in when Lao Yang said that.

"Oh? What's the matter?"

"Listen to what I'm saying, and do as I say if you don't want to die," Lao Yang warned Liang Shiye fiercely.

Wu Xie put on his gloves and looked at Master Liang. "Old Liang, why don't you just stay down here and wait for us?"

Upon hearing this, Master Liang shook his head and rubbed his face with his rough work gloves.

"Well, we've come all this way and endured so much hardship. Now that we've reached the final hurdle, we have to go up and see what it's like."

The old man who should be the biggest drag on here is full of fighting spirit, which is quite like an old man suddenly feeling young again, which makes Lao Yang very satisfied.

Actually, Lao Yang was quite worried that Wu Xie's spoiled little brother would cause trouble when he heard that he was going to climb a tree, but the little guy was quiet and didn't have any intention of causing trouble.

If Su Li knew what Lao Yang was thinking, she would definitely make a scene for him right there.

I'm in a great mood right now. The light of victory at this plot point is about to arrive, and the MVP reward is coming soon. There are still countless points on the tree beckoning to me.

He's so excited he's almost losing his composure, he's itching to make his move!

The group tightened their backpacks and adjusted the tightness of their headlamps, preparing for the upcoming rock climbing challenge.

Just as Lao Yang said, the branches on the bronze tree were evenly distributed, and climbing up from the footholds he had stepped on was really not difficult.

This old itch is really good at messing with people's minds. While climbing, he kept reminding us not to let our skin touch the bronze tree, not even a little bit.

Imagine you're climbing an iron tree with high-voltage electricity, blah blah blah...

Wu Xie and Su Li seemed to know what was going on, and climbed at a leisurely pace.

Poor Liang Shiye, while crawling, he also had to endure Lao Yang's mental attacks. Sweat dripped down his face, and he was so tired that his face turned several shades pale.

When they reached a relatively spacious branching platform, Lao Yang stopped and gestured for everyone to rest there and replenish their energy.

Finally, Liang Shiye, who had managed to climb up, relaxed his tense nerves and leaned against a tree branch, panting heavily, his arms and legs trembling.

Su Li couldn't bear to see him like that, so he pretended to take a bottle of water out of his backpack and handed it to him, which moved the old man to look at him with a loving expression.

Zu Li: Wait a minute? Compassion? Holy crap, old man, are you taking advantage of me? ???

Wu Xie adjusted the brightness of his headlamp to the highest setting and looked down. They were now about six or seven stories above the ground, and the entrance to the secret passage they had come out of was just a small, dark hole.

Lao Yang, equally exhausted and trembling, was even more bewildered as he watched Wu Xie and Su Li act as if nothing had happened—one still had the energy to continue reading, and the other was still energetically offering warmth.

The useless college student in my memory not only had super high combat skills, but also seemed to have amazing physical strength.

How did this delicate, innocent-looking little brother also mutate?

"Aren't you... tired?" Lao Yang couldn't help but ask.

"Not tired at all! This is nothing!" Wu Xie replied naturally.

Lao Yang choked for a moment and looked at Su Li.

Su Li looked at him with a smile, her eyes filled with... affection? ???

"I'm not tired, Lao Yang, are you feeling weak?"