Chapter 69: Identity Confirmed

  I found that my nose was bleeding black blood, and I immediately panicked. I hurriedly asked: "Mr. Xu, what's going on? Why is my blood black?"

  "Don't move around, it's not over yet." Xun Xin said, then found a small cloth package in the car, rummaged through it for a while, and finally took out a relatively thin incense stick.

  He then lit the incense stick and wisps of white smoke rose up.

  I didn't know what he wanted to do, and I didn't dare move randomly. Then, I saw Xu Xin actually put the ignited incense slowly under one of my nostrils, and I directly inhaled the white smoke into my belly.

  I was immediately choked and sneezed, and felt very uncomfortable in the lungs, and then I felt a strange itching sensation coming from my nose.

  I was just about to let out a sneeze when Xu Xin stretched out his hand and pinched my chin, his other hand had very long fingernails that reached into my nostrils and pinched something out of my nose.

  After Xun released his grip on my hand, I quickly went to take a look and found that what he had pulled out of my nose was actually an insect the size of a cigarette.

  I rubbed... After I saw clearly, I felt dizzy for a moment. This kind of worm is too familiar to me. It was actually in the deep pit of that 'Ten Thousand Worm Hand' ancient tomb, the one that chased us all the way.

  "How could this be, Mr. Xu? Quickly take a look and see if there's any more!" I exclaimed anxiously, looking up at him.

  "If there was one more, you would have been dead."

  Xu Xin found a sealed plastic bag and wrapped up the insect that looked like it was already dead, putting it into the small cloth bag.

  I took one look and felt particularly disgusted, asking: "What do you want it for? Get rid of it quickly, this kind of bug is very ominous."

  "I'm asking you, how did you come to know this insect? Where have you seen it before?" Xun Xin suddenly asked seriously.

  I was taken aback and quickly made excuses, saying: "This is the first time I've seen this, and it can actually drill into my nostrils. Isn't that weird enough?"

  Xu Xin didn't continue to ask questions, but instead found some tissues to wipe his hands. I also quickly grabbed some and squeezed my nose hard, almost suffocating myself before stopping.

  It's amazing, after resting for a while, I feel much more relaxed all over. Lately, I've been feeling weak all over and having some trouble breathing. At first, I thought it was because of my mood, but I didn't expect that this bug was causing the problem.

  "I thought of this and continued to ask: 'How did this bug get into my nose?'"

  "This worm grows by feeding on human flesh. Once it enters the human body, it will slowly suck the person's blood and flesh, but the person themselves won't feel a thing. As the worm gets bigger and bigger, it will eventually compress nerves and burst the person's blood vessels, and that person will meet their end."

  "It's okay, it's okay, fortunately Mr. Xu's magical powers are boundless and he managed to get rid of this worm." I said with relief.

  "No, you're wrong, this bug was almost dead when I caught it, and I don't know why, maybe there's something wrong with your blood."

  "Ah......" I understood a bit when he said that, since this bug is afraid of my blood and died after drilling in, it's normal. But this matter is still unclear, now is not the time to talk about it, looks like we should change the subject!

  "Mr. Xu, how did you end up here? Aren't you supposed to be living in the mountains?"

  "Who told you I'm living in the mountains? Although I was born into a Taoist family, but in today's society, I have another profession, called Feng Shui Master." Xu Xin seemed to be still somewhat disdainful.

  I understand now, nowadays rich people like to find someone to look at Feng Shui, especially real estate tycoons, before breaking ground they will always find a famous Feng Shui master to perform rituals and need to pay a lot of money for it.

  Look at this new ride of his, and look at Professor Li's attitude towards him, it can be seen that he is doing quite well.

  The two of them chatted for a few more simple sentences before getting off the bus. I saw that the archaeological team's preparations were almost complete. Xu Xin and Professor Li consulted with each other for a while, then they walked towards the orphanage building together.

  I was just about to follow up and take a look, when I was pulled back by Li Rui'er. Then I heard her say: "What are you doing? Where do you want to go?"

  "I'll go take a look!"

  "How can this be? Except for our internal personnel, even police are not allowed to touch the scene of the crime. You're an outsider, so you're naturally not allowed either."

  I was taken aback and I was a bit confused, they were conducting legitimate archaeological excavations, but I thought it was tomb raiding, I stood there foolishly smiling for a while before stopping in my tracks.

  Only four people went in, including Xu Xin and Professor Li. I asked Li Rui'er why she didn't go in, and she said that her generation was too young and not professional enough, and that this kind of exploration couldn't be relied on. She would only join when the formal excavation began.

  Two people chatted idly for a while, probably over half an hour had passed, when everyone who went in came out.

  Xu Xing had just arrived in front of me when I heard Professor Li, who was following behind him, excitedly shouting: "It's confirmed, it's confirmed. Everyone get ready, we're starting work immediately."

  I didn't understand what was going on, when suddenly I heard Li Rui'er let out a high-pitched scream of excitement. She quickly ran over and grabbed Professor Li's hand, asking: "Is it? Is it? Is it the tribe we've been looking for?"

  Professor Li said with a smile: "It can't be confirmed yet, but judging from the age of the ancient tomb, it shouldn't be too different. We'll know once we excavate it."

  I just wanted to ask Xinxin what's going on? But when I saw him, he completely ignored me and went back to the car to rest.

  The people around me all started to get busy, and then I suddenly found that a large excavator had driven in from outside the orphanage, carrying heavy tracks all the way to the front of the orphanage building before stopping.

  I was wondering what this motorcycle was doing here when another one came in with a "whooshing" sound.

  When the two excavators stopped in front of the house and waited for orders, Professor Li shouted loudly: "Start..."

  Two excavators lifted their big iron claws and smashed them against the wall of the orphanage.

  I'm speechless... It wasn't until now that I realized this excavator was here to demolish the house. I thought to myself: This archaeological team and the grave robbers are really different. Look at them, openly and brazenly demolishing houses and digging up the ground. And then look at us, we have to sneak around and risk our lives in secret, and even if we die, no one will know.

  Sigh, looking at the house where I've lived since childhood being dug up in an instant, my heart aches with some sadness. I also don't know where grandma and the others from the orphanage have gone, or if they'll encounter any danger.

  After being sad for a while, listening to the rumbling engine sound, I felt it was meaningless, so I simply got into Xu Xin's big BMW.

  He was originally resting with his eyes closed, but was awakened by the sound of my door closing. He immediately turned his head to look at me and asked: "What did you come up here for? Why haven't you left yet?"

  "Go? Where are you going?"

  "You can go wherever you like, just don't stay here. This is an archaeological site and has nothing to do with you. What are you doing staying here?"

  I felt a bit anxious as soon as I heard it, thinking to myself: This stinky Taoist priest really isn't weak, he can turn his face at will, but what he said is indeed very reasonable, and I don't have a suitable identity.

  "After some thought, I said: 'Why don't you just tell them that I'm your assistant?'"

  Xu Xin revealed a very strange expression, looking at me with confusion, and said: "I just don't understand, what is the purpose of you staying here, and what significance does it have?"

  "Of course there's a purpose, it's because you're here, I want to follow you."

  "What am I supposed to do with you?"

  I looked around and saw that there was no one else in the car, so I said very seriously: "Because I have seen that painting 'The Fox Fairy of Mount Shang', and I also know the story."

  I thought I had said enough to shock Xinxin, but instead he stared at me blankly for a moment before bursting out laughing.

  "What's going on?! Is this old man crazy or something? I was just about to ask him what he's laughing at, when Xu Xin stopped smiling and said to me: 'It seems my guess wasn't wrong, you're indeed related to this matter. However, I've always been puzzled - how did a ordinary person like you with no power or influence get entangled in all this?'"

  Now I understand, that damned old Taoist's previous words were actually testing me, the purpose was to get me to say out loud what I knew.

  But in this way, at least I can confirm that he has seen that painting and is related to this matter.

  "Mr. Xu, let's not investigate why I got involved for now. What I want to know is, are you a descendant of the great Daoist master Xu Yidao?"

  "Not bad, the Xu Yidao Chang in that story is actually my ancestor."

  I was overjoyed when I heard this and continued to ask, "So, that means your appearances these few times were also for finding those lost treasures?"

  Xu Xin sank into thought for a moment, then said: "You guessed it right, that ancient painting was passed down from generation to generation of my ancestors and finally ended up in my hands. However, it suddenly went missing a year ago."

  Then he told me about what had happened...

  When the "Xian Shan Fu Hu Tu" was passed into Xu Xin's hands, it started out peaceful as well. Xu Xin had long known about the legend of the guardian of national treasures, but there were rules in their organization: no matter who took over this ancient painting, they had to take good care of it and were forbidden from searching for other treasures.

  But unexpectedly a year ago, after Xu Xin returned from going out, he found that the ancient painting was actually lost. He was shocked immediately and began to search everywhere.

  Not long after, he was surprised to find that this ancient painting had been printed into many copies and scattered among the people. Many tomb raiders and archaeological organizations have seen this painting.

  Xu Xin then began to investigate the outcome of this matter, but in the end, there was no clue.

  Helpless, he had no choice but to follow the records on the painting and start searching for the remaining six national masters' tombs. Unexpectedly, the first two were already taken by someone who got there before him...

  When I heard him say that, I felt as if I had done something wrong and thought to myself: If Xu Xin knew that the previous two graves also had my share, wouldn't he slap me to death?

  Although I now know a part of the truth, it's finally made me feel a lot clearer in my heart, and I've also confirmed Xu Xin's identity, which is something to be happy about.

  But I still have many doubts that haven't been resolved, so I continued to ask: "Do you also want to get those treasures? Ah, it's true, at your age, if you can regain your youth, it wouldn't be bad."

  Xu Xin glared at me fiercely and said, "Don't talk nonsense. I'm not pursuing any elixir of immortality, and no one should be immortal either. Once these treasures are obtained by one person, they can be combined into a divine artifact. If used well, it can save suffering and difficulties; if used poorly, it will surely bring great chaos to the world."