Tomb robbing: I was Buried alive in the Mausoleum of the First Emperor, I Get Stronger by Looting Corpses - Chapter 36

Chapter 36: Interrogating the Death Guard

“Darling—who is this?”

By the time Yang Yi returned carrying the unconscious woman, both Meng Jiangnü and Qinglian had already awakened. The moment their eyes settled on the figure in his arms, surprise flashed across their faces. “I found her in the corridor,” Yang Yi explained. “She had fainted, so I brought her back.”

“She’s from the inner palace?” Meng Jiangnü asked, frowning slightly. “But her attire—she’s not dressed like a palace maid or one of the concubines.”

“Exactly,” Yang Yi replied with a nod. “Which means she’s likely one of the tomb’s guardians.” Turning to Qinglian, he asked, “Have you seen her before?”

“No, never,” Qinglian answered firmly after a moment of thought. “The tomb guards always wear armour. If you hadn’t said so, I wouldn’t even have known there were female generals among them.”

“She may not be a guard,” Yang Yi added coldly. “She could be connected to the Yin-Yang faction.”

“What will you do with her?” Meng Jiangnü asked, her voice cautious. “She must be a martial artist, right?”

“How could I let such a fine delicacy go to waste,” Yang Yi murmured, his gaze hardening. “And this one… is truly exquisite.” He laid the woman gently on the bed, continuing, “Do not be fooled by appearances. She’s not gravely injured—she drugged herself with a fainting pill.”

“So she approached you on purpose?” Meng Jiangnü asked, though her tone held certainty. “I believe so,” Yang Yi confirmed. “She probably intended to assassinate me. Most likely, it’s because I buried the craftsmen and unintentionally disrupted someone’s hidden agenda.”

“In that case, she must not be spared,” Qinglian said firmly, her voice cold and steady. “Worry not—I know what I’m doing,” Yang Yi replied. “She will not harm either of you.”

He began to remove the woman’s armour, piece by piece, revealing her skin—smooth, taut, and toned from years of martial training. Even in unconsciousness, she radiated an untamed energy, like a panther resting in the shade. Her muscles held tension, her very presence exuding a fierce elegance. The sight left both Meng Jiangnü and Qinglian flushed. They knew full well what Yang Yi intended.

You like pretending to be unconscious, do you? You thought I would behave like a gentleman and not take advantage?

With a sneer, Yang Yi withdrew a set of silver needles from his system space and inserted them carefully into various acupuncture points across her body. Though he had no skill in traditional acupressure techniques, the needles allowed him to block the flow of her internal strength. Her blood and energy were sealed—rendering her, for the time being, an ordinary woman. Once the process was complete, he removed the needles and turned to Meng Jiangnü. “If she’s a death guard, she may have poison hidden in her teeth.”

“Good point,” she replied. “You should check.” Yang Yi chuckled and patted his forehead lightly. “Almost forgot.” He could hardly be blamed. In truth, he only knew of such things through novels and television dramas in his past life. In reality, it had slipped his mind entirely. He forced open her mouth and felt around her teeth. Sure enough, nestled deep in her molars was a tiny capsule of poison.

“So she really is a death guard.” His tone dropped, laced with gravity.

Winning her over will not be easy. If that’s the case, then I’ll need a different approach entirely. I’ll begin by conquering her through… other means. He lifted her up once more.

……………………………………………………………………………

As he moved, the woman’s brows creased in discomfort, then gradually relaxed. Yang Yi paused, startled by an unexpected discovery. She’s in her thirties… yet untouched? Was she raised from youth as a death guard—her emotions erased, her humanity stripped away?

His brow furrowed with a flicker of unease. It would not be easy to cultivate her loyalty.

Soon, her eyelashes began to flutter. An unfamiliar sensation coursed through her—an ache, deep and invasive. She felt something pierce her, again and again. Yet, after the initial pain, there followed a tingling, almost numbing sensation that confused her already reeling mind.

Despicable… He took advantage of me while I was defenceless!

Her thoughts burned with fury. The moment full consciousness returned, her eyes snapped open. Sure enough, the first thing she saw was Yang Yi’s face—looking down at her, an icy smirk tugging at his lips.

“You… scoundrel!” she hissed. “Heh,” he sneered in return. “And what right does a death guard have to call me despicable?”

“If I hadn’t acted first, would you have waited patiently for me to win your heart—or were you going to stab me in my sleep?” Her glare darkened, but her voice was steady. “You knew?”

“Of course.” Honey trap. Injury ruse. A beauty delivered straight to my hands. “Too bad your little scheme was too quiet. Not convincing enough.”

“If that’s the case,” she said calmly, closing her eyes, “then kill me.” Yang Yi narrowed his eyes. Bold. “But I’m not here to boil a pig,” he said softly. “I’m here to tickle it.”

He stood still, watching her coldly. The room grew heavy with silence as they stared each other down, locked in a quiet, unrelenting standoff. After a long pause, Yang Yi let out a faint scoff and shifted slightly. Her lashes trembled.

“Speak,” he said. “Whom do you serve?”

“No comment,” she responded icily and fell silent again. “Zhao Gao? The Yin-Yang faction?” he probed. “Surely not someone from the Emperor’s direct line?” She remained motionless. Not a sound. Not even a blink.

Smack!

Yang Yi’s patience wore thin. His palm cracked against her skin with a sharp sting. Still, she lay there, unmoving—more corpse than woman.

“A proper death guard indeed.” His voice dropped as he crouched beside her. “Then tell me this—what is your true objective? What secret lies with the body of Qin Shi Huang?”

Silence. The woman said nothing, as if she had turned to stone. Even this doesn’t work? He sighed, exasperated.