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墨書 Inktalez
As the sun set, the deep blue sea surface rippled slightly, but near the wreck, there was an eerie stillness, so calm it sent chills down my spine. The water was completely motionless, and the Qing Dynasty Shipwreck loomed like a ghost, waiting for our arrival.
Just as we were about to reach the wreck, Jiao Ba suddenly said, "Everyone stay alert; I feel like this place is dangerous."
Even without his warning, I knew that tonight could bring unforeseen events. Each of us might end up dead in that wreck; I had already prepared myself for the worst.
The voice of the Bearded Man came from behind us: "You all wait on deck and don't try anything funny. My gun doesn't discriminate."
"Don't worry, we won't run," I replied. This guy was really keeping a close watch on us. After we boarded the ship, we waited on the deck for them. Shunzi whispered beside me, "Brother Yi, why do I feel so anxious?"
I glanced at Shunzi; he was trembling slightly, his face pale and cold sweat beading on his forehead. "Shunzi, are you okay?" I asked, concerned about him.
"I'm... I'm fine. Just a bit nervous," Shunzi forced a grim smile.
Jiao Ba chimed in with a sarcastic remark: "Nervous? Ha! Sounds more like you're scared. Cowards are always like this; they can't handle the battlefield."
"Don't think being a tomb raider makes you so capable," Shunzi retorted defiantly, though his tone betrayed his fear.
"Shut up; everyone keep it down," I snapped at Jiao Ba when he opened his mouth to respond. Reluctantly, he turned away. The tension between him and Shunzi was palpable; neither seemed pleased with the other.
"Save your energy! Everyone focus," Mai Lao's voice cut through the air. The old man seemed unusually excited now; his usual smile was gone, replaced by a serious demeanor that made me uneasy.
At that moment, their small boat came to a stop, and a group of armed men with submachine guns climbed onto the wreck. The Bearded Man was the last to board, holding a pistol and cursing under his breath, "What kind of damn ship is this? So filthy—look at me!"
The moss covering the wreck was thick, and it was inevitable that he would get some on himself while climbing up. The Bearded Man looked like a bear covered in green muck; if his men hadn't pulled him up, I would have doubted whether he could even make it aboard.
Seeing him in such a state made all four of us laugh in unison. The Bearded Man scowled and shouted, "What are you laughing at? Hurry up and lead the way!"
I raised my hand and said, "I can lead, but how about giving me a flashlight? How else am I supposed to guide you?"
The Bearded Man tossed me a flashlight he'd taken from one of his men. "Lead well; if there's no treasure, you're the first one I'll take down."
I smiled lightly and then glanced at Jiao Bayi. He nodded, and I was the first to turn and walk into the cabin. The three of them followed closely behind. Inside the cabin, it was pitch black; there was no moon tonight, and the Wreck felt eerily quiet. The seawater inside still reached our knees.
I switched on my flashlight, dragging my feet as I moved deeper inside. Apart from the sound of water caused by our footsteps, I couldn't hear anything else. The flashlight's beam was limited, barely illuminating the path ahead. The surroundings of the corridor were chillingly cold, and when I shone the flashlight upwards, I was surprised to see traces of ice.
I exchanged a glance with Jiao Ba, who whispered in my ear, "Be careful. Something feels off."
I nodded, trying to keep my mind clear. I adjusted my body to its optimal state, preparing for any sudden events. Although I had walked this path several times before, this time it felt like I was heading towards death. Last time, Jiao Ba and I managed to escape here by sheer luck; I wondered how it would turn out this time. Life and death are fated; what is meant to come will eventually arrive.
Halfway through, I heard the Bearded Man cursing loudly, "What the hell is this place? It's all water! Are you messing with me? Is there really treasure here?"
I turned around and replied, "This is a Wreck; do you think it's a palace? Of course there's treasure! Didn't you see the other things we salvaged?"
The Bearded Man cursed again, "Damn it, hurry up! I don't want to stay in this hellhole for another minute."
We continued deeper into the cabin. A few minutes later, we reached the last compartment. The hatch was closed again, but I wasn't surprised anymore; having experienced it once made it feel quite normal. After we stopped, the Bearded Man approached us with a few of his men holding guns and said, "Why did you stop? Keep going!"
"We're already here; this is where the treasure is hidden," I pointed at the closed hatch.
"Then why are you just standing there? Open the hatch!" The Bearded Man demanded with a fierce look.
Feigning ignorance, I shook my head and said, "No, no, we can't do that. If you want it opened, you should do it yourselves." I needed to play my part well; the more I acted like this, the easier it would be for him to take the bait.
"What’s inside? You don’t even dare to open the hatch—there must be an ambush!" Sure enough, the Bearded Man said with a sly grin, his face quivering with excitement.
"There’s no ambush; don’t you know that there are things you shouldn’t touch in both wrecks and ancient tombs? I think this cabin might be one of those places," Jiao Ba chimed in at just the right moment.
The Bearded Man glared and cursed, "Stop trying to fool me! Open the door now! If you keep talking nonsense, I'll blow all of you away." He quickly raised his pistol and pressed the barrel against Jiao Ba's head while his men readied their submachine guns. It seemed that if we dared to resist, they would turn us into a porcupine on the spot.
I quickly put on a submissive demeanor and said, "Alright, alright! We'll open it; just don’t get worked up. Lao Ba, come open the door."
The four of us grabbed hold of the hatch. I shouted, "One... two... three... open!"
We all exerted force together as the hatch began to creak open slowly. "Faster! Hurry up! Don't dawdle!" The Bearded Man urged from beside us; he seemed quite anxious. My intended effect had been achieved.
Accompanied by the creaking sound, the Hatch opened, and a chill seeped out. Although it wasn't overwhelming, I still felt it; the four of us shivered, clearly affected by the sudden drop in temperature.
"What the hell, why is it suddenly so cold?" one of the Bearded Man's subordinates stammered.
I led the way into the cabin, swinging the Flashlight around. The sight was still filled with Bones scattered throughout the space. The Bearded Man and his group rushed in, and many of his men were stunned by the scene before them, their faces reflecting a mix of fear and disbelief.
"Oh my God! What... what happened here?" one subordinate exclaimed, gun in hand, his eyes wide with shock.
The Bearded Man seemed taken aback. He scoffed dismissively, "Get a grip! It's just a bunch of dead bones. What's there to be scared of?"
"Boss, I think we should get out of here! Why is it so cold? Something feels off," another subordinate began to panic. Anyone would feel uneasy in such a place on their first visit.
We exchanged glances; Jiao Ba smirked lightly while Mai Lao remained expressionless. Shunzi looked confused, and I continued to play dumb.
"Get out? What are you talking about? There's nothing to fear! Damn useless fools! Kid, where's that treasure you mentioned? Don't tell me it's just this pile of worthless bones," the Bearded Man snapped, though I could sense his underlying fear.
I maintained a calm demeanor and replied, "The treasure is right next to you."
"Next to me?" The Bearded Man quickly turned around and shone the Flashlight towards a dark coffin that loomed before him...
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