Tomb robbing: I was Buried alive in the Mausoleum of the First Emperor, I Get Stronger by Looting Corpses - Chapter 38

Chapter 38: The Woman in the Scroll – Princess Yushu!

“She’s been gone too long. I suppose the mission has failed.”

“Yinghua did warn us—our opponent is formidable.” The middle-aged man spoke with a grim undertone, his voice low and cautious. “Then terminate the operation,” came a response at last.

“That old fox Yinghua has his eyes wide open.”

“If he’s come down personally, he’s likely targeting someone from the Yin-Yang faction.”

“Whatever happens, do not let his attention shift in my direction.”

“The Nine Fiendish Dragon Formation? If we lose it, it merely makes matters more troublesome. Nothing more.”

After a long silence, the voice returned once more—languid and beguiling, soaked with charm so potent it seemed to coil around the very bones of the listener. “Yes, Mistress,” the man murmured. With his head bowed low, he exited quietly. Only after he had left the hidden palace chamber did he exhale, the tension leaving his body in a rush.

……………………………………………………………………………

Yang Yi, of course, remained oblivious to the conversations unfolding within the inner palace. At that very moment, he had completed yet another bloodbath—this time in the fifth corridor. The bodies had been dealt with, and the great pit had already been dug. Now, he was moving from one corpse to the next, looting with practiced hands.

Ding, ding, ding…

The familiar tone of the system’s notifications chimed incessantly as resources piled steadily into the system space. Lifespan and cultivation time were increasing with each body touched, though nothing beyond the ordinary seemed to surface. So it really is just as the system said, Yang Yi reflected quietly.

This is the norm. Not every soul is a bearer of fortune. And not everyone gets to marry a beautiful wife, do they? A soft sigh slipped from his lips as he pushed on. Then something caught his eye. “Hmm?” In the arms of a young man’s corpse, he discovered a folded piece of cloth. His eyes lit up at once. Finally—something different.

It was a strip of silk. Though he couldn’t yet determine what it held, it was rare to uncover anything of this kind among the workers. If it happened to be a treasure map or something equally valuable, that would be a tremendous find.

Unfolding the cloth slowly, he paused. It was not a map, but a painting of a woman, mid-dance, graced the silk in delicate brush strokes. She was exquisitely beautiful, her posture fluid and ethereal, her entire figure shrouded in an aura of quiet grace. She wore robes of pure snow-white, rather than the dark tones favoured by the Qin people.

Ding! 

[Congratulations, Host, you have acquired a scroll painting.

Detected: artefact is a contemporary item with little material value. Reward evaluation in progress.]

Ding!

[Target of painting identified as a special character.]

Ding!

[Congratulations, Host, you have triggered a ten-thousandfold critical reward. You have obtained the actual person depicted in the painting. The reward has been transferred to the system space.]

Yang Yi stood frozen for a moment as the system’s voice echoed. Wait—did I just receive the actual woman in the painting as a reward? He blinked, barely believing it, before quickly storing the scroll and opening his system space to investigate. Sure enough, a new figure had appeared. Now she stood among others—Lu Zhi, Yu Ji, the mysterious Miss Ku, the adopted daughter, the child bride, the death guard… and now, this newcomer.

She was dressed in a flowing white gown, her presence ethereal—like a spirit descended from the heavens. Her face was exquisite, untouched by impurity, radiating a purity that seemed immune to profane thoughts. “System, you said she’s a special figure?”

“Who is she?” Yang Yi asked curiously. [Princess Yushu of the Kingdom of Antu.]

The answer came clear and swift. “What? Princess Yushu?” Yang Yi was baffled. “System, are you sure?”

[Absolutely certain.]

The system’s tone was firm, leaving no room for doubt. “Is this even a proper version of the Qin Dynasty anymore?”

“I mean… wasn’t Princess Yushu just a made-up character from that television drama and film The Myth?”

“And is there even a historical country called Antu?”

He was genuinely puzzled.

Ding! 

[Kindly note, Host: Whether or not this Qin Dynasty aligns with the version familiar to you is irrelevant. Each era is filled with countless figures—how can you be certain that Princess Yushu only exists in fiction? Please consider the reasonable likelihood of coincidence.]

[Furthermore, while no formal historical records mention a kingdom named Antu, it is widely documented that the First Emperor unified the realm, vanquished the six major states, and brought even the outer tribes into submission. It is entirely plausible that Antu was among the vassal states.]

[As a tomb raider, the Host is advised to adopt the principle: “What exists is real.” Above all, believe what your eyes see. And remember—what enters your possession belongs to you.]

The system’s voice had taken on a scholarly tone, as though delivering a stern history lesson. “Alright, alright. I hear you,” Yang Yi muttered with a half-smile. “I’m not arguing. I’m just… shocked.”

The system had always been unusually adaptive—almost human in its responses. Then again, perhaps that was part of its charm. After all, had it not granted him the corpse-looting function in a moment of desperation? Looks like this version of the Qin Dynasty is a fusion—drawn from multiple sources… but not quite a perfect blend. Characters may appear unexpectedly, their timelines misaligned with what I know.

He made a mental note of the pattern. From now on, even if he stumbled upon someone from a Qin-themed animation or legend, he would no longer be surprised. Just as the system said—what one sees with their own eyes holds more weight than the gaps of historical records. But why would a young craftsman have a portrait of Princess Yushu? He wondered idly but chose not to dwell on it. No matter. As the system says: once in your pocket, it is yours.

“Ah… such a fitting motto for a tomb raider.”

“That line ought to be my life’s philosophy.”

Chuckling, Yang Yi turned his gaze once again toward the inner palace. The anticipation in his chest stirred.

Soon… A grand feast atop a long bed. That will be the life. And when I finally return to the outside world, I’ll excavate every tomb of nobility and royalty I can find.

Ding! 

[Congratulations, Host. You have gained one year of cultivation time and twenty years of lifespan.]

The system’s cheerful prompt broke into his thoughts, and a smile curled on his lips. With his mind clear and his mood restored, Yang Yi threw himself once more into his familiar routine—looting bodies with ruthless efficiency. Ding…