Tomb robbing: I was Buried alive in the Mausoleum of the First Emperor, I Get Stronger by Looting Corpses - Chapter 34

Chapter 34: The Inner Palace Holds Silver and Gold

“Master—”

At last, Qinglian opened her eyes, so overwhelmed that she could not find the right words. But her gaze, clear and radiant, fixed itself steadily on Yang Yi. “How do you feel?” Yang Yi asked with a gentle smile. “Better than I’ve ever felt before!” she blurted out, her excitement nearly tripping over itself. “It’s as if I’ve been reborn… like a newborn child, full of life and vitality.” She was breathless, beaming with energy.

“Darling, are you sure this technique doesn’t affect you?” asked Meng Jiangnü, who had finally returned to her senses. Her expression bore the softness of concern. “Not at all,” Yang Yi replied, his smile undisturbed. “There’s no side effect whatsoever.” Without delay, he touched his fingers to Meng Jiangnü’s brow and issued the command to the system: System, bestow one hundred years of lifespan upon Meng Jiangnü.

Ding! 

[The host’s selected target meets all conditions. Lifespan deducted. Transfer successful.]

With the system’s confirmation, a soft glow surged from Yang Yi’s fingertips and disappeared between Meng Jiangnü’s brows. She felt a surge of vitality course through her—her soul stirred, her body flushed with renewed energy, and her breathing technique began to operate on its own, flowing smoothly like a spring river. In that moment, she could distinctly perceive the extension of her lifespan. Though intangible, the sensation left no room for doubt. It was marvellous, like a whisper from fate itself.

“How do you feel?” Yang Yi asked again. The ability to grant lifespan did more than extend years—it could purge illness, revitalise the weak, and invigorate the soul. He had a hunch that if one were afflicted with an incurable illness, this technique might be able to suppress it, perhaps even eradicate it—though he could not be entirely certain of the latter.

“Thank you,” Meng Jiangnü murmured, her voice tinged with emotion. As a disciple of a medical family, she knew her own condition well—and this was a transformation she had never dreamed possible. “Master… thank you—” Qinglian echoed, finally collected enough to speak, her gaze filled with affection that ran deep and warm.

“There’s no need for thanks. You are my wives—we are one,” Yang Yi replied, offering a soft smile before turning to Qinglian. “Now that your strength has returned, get some proper rest.”

“Yes, of course,” she nodded, then added, “Just give me a moment.” Though clearly prepared, Qinglian turned her back shyly, modestly shielding herself from his view. The tomb passage remained as dim as ever.

……………………………………………………………………………

Having gone without sleep for quite some time, Yang Yi finally succumbed to rest. His mind, strengthened through cultivation, was already formidable. With the added protection of his Internal Pre-Heaven awareness, any threat or disturbance would instantly awaken him.

That night, his sleep was blissful, untroubled by dreams or fear. Though part of his consciousness remained alert to the faintest motion, it felt no threat. By the time he woke, both Qinglian and Meng Jiangnü had also opened their eyes. The two of them sat quietly nearby, their gazes fixed upon him until they noticed him stir, at which point they looked away with a gentle grace.

“You must be hungry.”

He sat up with a smile. “Then let’s roast some more venison.” With casual familiarity, he flipped out of bed and began selecting materials from the system space. As he worked, a slow warmth rose within him.

A tomb palace… the First Emperor’s tomb… If not for the darkness of this passage and the lack of light, this life wouldn’t be half bad.

The daily rhythm of a tomb raider, once imagined to be brutal and dreadful, seemed almost comfortable now. It was certainly better than the life he had lived in his previous world, wandering through hardship without meaning or peace. Soon, the fragrant aroma of roasted meat filled the air, wafting down the corridor with tantalising intensity. Yang Yi thought to himself how perfect it would be if only he had modern spices—but he could only sigh wistfully. This was the tomb, after all, not a conjuring ground. He could not summon anything out of thin air.

……………………………………………………………………………

“Darling, shall we carve out a room in the stone wall?” Meng Jiangnü asked suddenly. Though the corridor was empty save for the three of them, its openness still gave her pause. It lacked intimacy, a sense of enclosure. Having a room—even a small one dug out of the wall—would make it feel more like home.

“I think that’s a wonderful idea,” Qinglian agreed at once, her eyes lighting up. “There’s no need,” Yang Yi replied, shaking his head thoughtfully. “We won’t be here much longer. We’ll be heading into the inner palace soon—and when we do, that place will serve as our residence for quite some time.”

“The inner palace?” Meng Jiangnü echoed, her voice tinged with intrigue. “Yes,” Qinglian answered with evident excitement. “It’s vast—filled with chambers and small palaces.”

“Are there treasures inside?” Yang Yi asked, his eyes gleaming with hope. It had been too long since he’d uncovered any true treasures. For someone who made a living as a tomb raider, the thrill of discovery was everything. Yet recently, he had touched countless corpses without yielding a single artefact worth remembering.

Surely, the system’s limited functionality was to blame. He recalled that the corpse-looting feature had only activated when the system sensed he was in mortal danger. Treasure-hunting, in contrast, was supposed to be the system’s core strength.

“There are plenty of gold and silver items,” Qinglian replied cheerfully, her expression alight with glee—like a child about to be gifted sweets. “Only gold and silver?” Yang Yi’s enthusiasm dimmed slightly. Those were just riches—not true relics. They had value, of course, but lacked the historic or mystical weight he longed for. “Is there anything else?” he asked, hope still flickering.

“Hmm… there are a few stone coffins,” Qinglian added after a pause. “And some terracotta warriors, too.” Stone coffins… could they have been meant for the emperor’s concubines? Yang Yi wondered. “Well then,” he said with a smile, rising to his feet as the three of them finished their meal. “Let’s get a bit more rest before we move on.”