Immortality begins in Goose City

Chapter 25 The Living Consort Dong

Hu Laosan dusted off his hands, stepped forward and examined the scattered tools—several rusty Luoyang shovels and probes, and a tattered leather bag.

"Judging by his attire and tools, he's a tomb raider, and judging by his methods and tool types, he's probably from the Southern school. But..."

Old Hu curled his lip, his tone tinged with disdain: "Looks like he's a half-baked amateur, he hasn't grasped the essence of the Southern School's subtleties."

"Most of the women in the Southern School are effeminate rabbits, so it's fitting that they died at Consort Dong's Tomb."

He kicked the pile of bones and continued, "As for why I suddenly sat up just now, it wasn't some kind of zombie resurrection."

"It's because there were wild cats in the tomb, which disturbed the corpse's aura."

"The corpse was trapped in the sealed coffin, accumulating a lot of damp, corpse odor."

"When the coffin was opened just now, the corpse's aura suddenly leaked out, and it was stimulated by the aura of the living people outside, so naturally there was movement."

"If this were in a dark, gloomy tomb, it would be enough to terrify any coward!"

He turned to Huang Shujian, his tone carrying a hint of flattery:

"However, Young Master Huang, you are truly wise. Like the Unloading Ridge Warriors, you directly open the mountain, emphasizing swift and decisive action, and acting with integrity!"

"Blow up this tomb, and the torches will illuminate it as bright as day, full of yang energy."

"These kinds of silly tricks are just laughable in front of the young master, aren't they?"

After hearing Hu Laosan's reasonable explanation, everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief, and their tense nerves relaxed.

However, what Hu Laosan said next made everyone's hearts jump again.

"However..." Old Hu's expression turned serious again. He squatted down and pointed to the chest area of ​​the scattered corpse. "Please look, gentlemen, at the state of this tomb raider's death."

Everyone looked in the direction he was pointing.

The skeleton's ribs had several irregular fractures and were curled outwards.

There are also some deep, unnatural scratches on the pelvis and spine.

"He was disemboweled and died," Hu Laosan said in a low voice.

"Moreover, judging from these wounds, they weren't caused by swords or other sharp weapons; they're more like... being torn open by the claws of some kind of wild beast."

"This means there's something even more powerful inside this tomb."

He stood up and slowly shifted his gaze to the very center of the tomb chamber, inside which lay the enormous, unopened sandalwood main coffin.

"Moreover, that thing is very likely... inside this main coffin!"

The air seemed to freeze instantly.

The fear that had just dissipated surged back into everyone's hearts like a tidal wave, even stronger than before!

If even tomb raiders died such a gruesome death, then what must be inside the main coffin...?

Wu Zhichong spat fiercely and roared, "Everyone, perk up!"

"Who cares if it's a monster or something inside? We outnumber them, we have guns and cannons, what are we afraid of!"

Huang Shujian's gaze fell on the serene main coffin.

The coffin exuded a faint fragrance, its intricate patterns gleaming with a dark luster under the firelight, resembling a sleeping behemoth.

He nodded: "Open!"

"Understood!" Wu Zhichong clasped his hands in a fist salute, turned around, and ordered, "Mount the hook! Open the main coffin!"

Several servants stepped forward again, this time more cautiously.

They hooked specially made iron hooks onto the lid of the main coffin and pulled it backward by dragging the rope.

"One, two, three—Pull!"

At Wu Zhichong's command, several servants roared in unison, their arm muscles bulging, and they pulled backward with all their might!

however……

The iron hook was taut and the rope creaked, but the heavy sandalwood coffin lid did not budge!

"Hmm?" Wu Zhichong frowned. "Add six more! Give it your all!"

Six more strong men went up and exerted their strength together, their faces turning red, but the coffin lid remained as if it had been welded shut, unmoving.

A strange light flashed in Huang Shujian's eyes.

This proves that the main coffin may never have been opened!

That unfortunate tomb raider probably only had time to open the outer coffin before he met with misfortune and died inside.

So, what exactly is sleeping in the main coffin?

"Use a crowbar!"

Wu Zhichong refused to believe in superstition, so he personally picked up a thick iron shovel, inserted it into the gap in the coffin lid, and called on several of his strongest servants to help him.

"Hey-yo!"

With everyone working together, the iron shovel bent and deformed under the immense force.

"Click..."

A soft yet distinct cracking sound finally came from the point where the coffin lid and body met.

Immediately afterwards, a faint black mist, as if it were alive, began to seep out from the tiny crack that had just been pried open.

A wonderful fragrance wafts through the air!

"Cover your mouth and nose! Back up!" Old Hu shouted.

Everyone quickly covered their mouths and noses and backed away, but the strange fragrance had already entered their nasal cavity.

The aroma is rich and sweet, and the first whiff is invigorating, as if it has a refreshing effect. However, upon closer inspection, it carries a subtle hint of staleness and allure.

The black mist didn't spill out much; it quickly dissipated in the heat of the torches and the flowing air.

"Keep going! Lift the lid off!" Wu Zhichong roared.

The iron hook was secured again, and this time, the gap had opened, greatly reducing the resistance.

"rise!"

With a deafening roar, several burly men simultaneously exerted all their strength!

"Boom—!"

The heavy sandalwood coffin lid was finally flipped backward, tumbling and crashing onto the nearby ruins with a loud bang!

More black mist, like a floodgate bursting open, surged out of the open coffin!

The aroma became even more intense, almost overwhelming.

Everyone held their breath, stared wide-eyed at the coffin shrouded in black mist!

The candlelight in the southeast corner flickered, twisting and leaping in the mist, illuminating everything in a bizarre and fantastical way.

After a few breaths, the black mist gradually thinned out.

The scene inside the coffin was finally clearly revealed to everyone.

Then, everyone was stunned.

Including Huang Shujian.

Inside the large sandalwood coffin, covered with dark gold brocade, lay a person lying quietly.

It was a woman.

She wore an extremely gorgeous and elaborate imperial concubine's dress from the previous dynasty, with lifelike phoenixes and peonies embroidered in gold and silver threads, and a phoenix crown inlaid with gemstones and pearls, with tassels hanging down.

And her face...

Her eyebrows were like distant mountains shrouded in mist, her face like peach blossoms reflected in water, her nose delicate and exquisite, and her red lips adorned with a touch of vermilion, making her look incredibly beautiful.

Her skin was fair and delicate, and even in the firelight, it could be seen to have a faint glow, as if she had simply fallen into a deep sleep.

She is an absolutely stunning classical beauty!

Time seemed to stand still around her.

"This...this is Consort Dong?" a servant murmured in a daze.

"My God...it's just like a real person..."

"No, she's more beautiful than a living person..."

"How can someone who's been dead for decades be preserved so well? Even the best embalming agents in the palace couldn't do that!"

Exclamations and gasps of surprise rose and fell.

The scene before them completely overturned their understanding of death and decay.

The candlelight in the southeast corner suddenly turned emerald green!