Tomb robbing: I was Buried alive in the Mausoleum of the First Emperor, I Get Stronger by Looting Corpses - Chapter 40

Chapter 40: The Deranged Craftsman!

“You fool.”

“Who told you this was human flesh?”

“If I can produce fruit at will, do you think I’d stoop to something so barbaric?”

Yang Yi scoffed coldly, then pulled out three more pears. He took one for himself and passed the other two to Meng Jiangnü and Qinglian. Witnessing this, Ying was visibly shaken. Had they been in the outside world, she might have dismissed it as some sleight of hand or a cheap street illusion. But this was a tomb palace—buried underground, devoid even of bark or roots to chew.

Could an illusion produce fresh fruit? Divine magic?

The thought flashed through Ying’s mind like lightning, wild and irrational. Yet she dismissed it almost instantly. There were no immortals in this world. If there were, then Emperor Ying Zheng would have obtained an elixir of life long ago—and he certainly wouldn’t be entombed here. Still… if not divine magic, then where did the fruit come from? Her thoughts were beginning to unravel.

It wasn’t until she heard the crisp sound of Yang Yi biting into a pear that she snapped out of her trance. Her gaze drifted toward him again—deep, probing—and then, without a word, she accepted the roasted meat handed to her. She didn’t speak. She simply began to eat. It was venison. She could tell instantly the moment it touched her tongue. A flurry of questions stirred within her, but she said nothing. She would not ask.

“You’re certainly lacking in manners,” Yang Yi muttered. “Not even a simple thank you.” She still did not look at him. Like a statue, she sat there chewing mechanically—gnawing on roast meat and biting into her pear as though made of wood.

Truly, no two people are the same. One meal was enough for Qinglian to give herself to me. And this one here—this stone-hearted woman—eats her fill and offers not even a glance of gratitude.

Yang Yi sighed inwardly as he checked her loyalty rating. It was still twenty. Unmoved. Unchanged. She really does seem to have a taste for abuse, he thought with a shake of the head. Soon enough, Ying finished eating. She didn’t look at him, didn’t request clothing. She simply turned, lay down on the bed, pulled up a blanket, and went to sleep.

“Do all death guards have hearts made of stone?” Qinglian asked with a faint, amused smile.

“Maybe she believes she’s lost everything already,” Meng Jiangnü replied with a helpless chuckle. Yang Yi said nothing. Yet deep down, he thought it was fine this way. She wasn’t throwing a fit, nor asking why her strength had been sealed. That sort of quiet compliance was a promising start. Of course, he wasn’t naïve enough to believe she had truly submitted. On the contrary, she was likely planning how to slit his throat in his sleep. A loyalty rating of twenty still meant danger. It’s a pity… her little tricks won’t work on me at all.

Yang Yi’s lips curled slightly. To most, this situation would be confusing. They’d struggle to determine whether she was genuinely yielding or just pretending.

……………………………………………………………………………

But Ying truly was exhausted—physically and mentally. Before long, her breathing became soft and even. “Collect.” Yang Yi placed his palm gently on her body and whispered a command. In an instant, she vanished—drawn back into the system space. “You had a plan all along,” Meng Jiangnü said with a grin. “I thought for a moment you’d begun to trust her.”

“You really think so little of me?” Yang Yi teased. “Come, let’s get some proper sleep.”

Pulling both women into his arms, he lay back on the bed. And this time, he truly meant to rest.

“I’ll keep watch, darling,” Meng Jiangnü offered softly. “I’ve slept more than enough. Besides, if they’ve sent one death guard, they may very well send another.” Yang Yi nodded and embraced Qinglian as he drifted into sleep.

That night, he slept deeply—peacefully—and did not stir until he woke naturally. When he finally opened his eyes, he found Qinglian already up, quietly discussing medicine with Meng Jiangnü. “You’re awake, my love.” Both women turned with gentle smiles.

“Mmm.” He returned the smile and, after a brief wash, retrieved venison, firewood, and seasoning from the system space. Before long, the corridor was filled with the rich, mouthwatering aroma of roasted meat. Ying, for now, would not be joining them. Yang Yi had more important matters to tend to.

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“Let’s go.”

“This time, we’re clearing the sixth corridor.”

“Take some rations. I plan to sweep through at least three corridors today.” After they had eaten, Yang Yi stood and addressed the others. “Alright,” Meng Jiangnü responded without hesitation. They would never object to his decisions. The three of them made their way to the sixth corridor.

“You two don’t need to come inside.”

“Just stay at the entrance.”

“Especially during meals—if anything happens, run into the corridor immediately.”

At the mouth of the passage, Yang Yi paused to instruct them. Before they could even ask why, he produced a strip of cloth and tied it around his face, leaving only his eyes exposed. His senses were sharp. Even before stepping inside, he could detect the stench of rot. It was the unmistakable scent of corpses and coagulated blood. “Understood.” The two women exchanged glances, then stepped back several paces.

Your little slaughter games are making my job harder, Yang Yi muttered under his breath. And with that, he stepped into the corridor. He hadn’t walked more than a few paces when the scene before him struck like a hammer to the gut. It was hell. Scattered about the floor were remains—disconnected limbs, broken torsos. Bones, ragged and gnawed. A stench of rot hung in the air.

“I’m here to bring peace to your souls.” Drawing his halberd, he moved further in. Soon, he spotted movement ahead. A figure, back turned to him. As Yang Yi approached, the man slowly turned. Hair wild, skin streaked with blood, especially around the mouth. His eyes were sunken, his irises a crazed crimson. He looked no older than twenty, yet his face was grey and withered, aged beyond his years.

“Jié jié…”

“Are you the soul reaper from the underworld?”

“Are you here to claim me?”

“No—no!”

“I can’t die yet… I haven’t found it!”

“I must find it!”

The sight of Yang Yi’s halberd sent a shiver down the man. For a moment, his eyes cleared—just briefly. Then madness overtook him. He let out a blood-curdling scream and charged forward with savage force. There was nothing human left in that gaze, only unhinged frenzy.