Chapter 450: Without a Fire Starter

Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked.

Xiao Ningyuan hurriedly said: "Since we are in the resting place of the deceased, it is inconvenient for us to enter; may I ask the senior to send someone to retrieve it?"

The old man shook his head: "It is the rule passed down through generations of tomb guardians never to set foot inside the tomb."

"I see, please forgive my rudeness, senior."

Xiao Ningyuan hesitated for a moment: "I don't know if the senior permits us to go in and take it ourselves?"

"Yes."

The old man answered very readily, and Xiao Ningyuan was instead startled.

The clansmen behind him, however, began to shout:

"Clan Chief! Absolutely not!"

"This is the sacred mausoleum of our former emperor; how can we allow descendants of the Xiao family to set foot inside?"

"If we let them in, what face will we have to meet our ancestors after death?"

The old man waved his hand, and everyone fell silent.

He looked at Xiao Ningyuan: "Young Master Xiao, only you and your younger sister may enter; the others must wait outside. Are you willing?"

Xiao Er shouted first: "No! Eldest Son, the Prince ordered me to guard the Miss; I will never leave her side!"

Lu Qi gave a cold snort: "Old man, are you trying to lure the lord into a jar?"

The guards also shouted:

"Let the Eldest Son and the Princess face danger alone? What use are we then?"

"It's too dangerous! No!"

Xiao Ningyuan raised his hand, stopping the noise.

He also didn't understand what the old man intended.

"I, the junior, believe the senior harbors no ill intent; otherwise, with your numbers and skills, subduing or expelling us would be a piece of cake."

"But I, the junior, do not understand why only my brother and sister are allowed to enter this tomb."

The old man's gaze settled on Tuan Tuan's face: "Because only the two of you are of Xiao family blood."

"If, relying solely on your sibling strength, you can retrieve that Nine-Gap Dragon Vein Map, that would be enough to prove this child is truly the one destined by heaven."

"The Heavenly Son Sword has not chosen the wrong person."

"My Uwen clan people, even in the nine springs below, will have the face to meet the emperors of past dynasties."

"Your guards may wait here."

"If you cannot do it, you will remain in this tomb as burial companions for the former emperors."

Having said that, he turned to look at his clansmen: "Do you still have any objections?"

The people looked at each other, then after a moment performed a salute together: "Clan Chief's words are reasonable; we have no objections."

The old man turned to Tuan Tuan: "Little one, are you afraid?"

Tuan Tuan lifted her little face to look at him, then at her brother: "Not afraid, Grandpa, I have Big Brother with me!"

The old man smiled slightly: "Young Master Xiao, what do you think?"

Xiao Ningyuan gritted his teeth: "All right! I will follow the senior's words!"

Xiao Ningyuan crouched down and whispered near his sister's ear: "Tuan Tuan, is the junk you brought enough?"

Tuan Tuan opened the embroidered pouch, looked, and shook her head: "Not enough!"

Xiao Ningyuan smiled: "Then hurry up and pick; look around to see if there's anything you want. Once you've gathered enough, we'll go in."

Tuan Tuan happily ran to Xiao Er, grabbed his big hand: "Uncle Two, hold me! Let's go pick up junk together!"

Xiao Er felt a pang in his heart, bent down and lifted her: "All right! Miss, Uncle Two will accompany you to pick up junk!"

Having said that, the two strolled near the spirit road.

The old man, puzzled, furrowed his brows and watched them.

Earlier, this child would rather not be the ruler of the world than pick up junk; I thought it was just childishness, but could it truly be… just picking up junk?

Xiao Ningyuan was not idle either: "Pack the dry rations and fresh water for me."

Upon hearing this, the guards hurriedly prepared; Lu Qi drew his personal dagger and handed it to him: "Eldest Son, take it for self-defense."

"Okay!" Xiao Ningyuan took it, lowered his head to look at himself; from childhood he had no talent for martial arts, being the only one among the three brothers who cannot practice martial arts.

Therefore, he never carries any weapons on his person.

"Where to put it? Right! I can learn from the third brother!"

He lifted his garment, slipped the dagger into his boot, moved his leg a bit—it was really uncomfortable.

"Third brother, don't you find it uncomfortable?"

After a while, Tuan Tuan returned laden: "Big Brother, there's lots of junk here! Look, I've filled the embroidered pouch Mother made!"

Xiao Ningyuan rubbed his sister's head: "Great! Our Tuan Tuan is the best!"

He lifted his gaze to scan the crowd: "If we don't come out, you must not delay; set off immediately and return to Xibei!"

"Eldest Son! We won't leave!"

"Right! We'll wait here!"

"If the Princess doesn't come out, we'll avenge you!"

Xiao Ningyuan shook his head: "What revenge? It's us who want to go in; what does it have to do with you people?"

"The former dynasty fell so long ago, yet they can still hold out here—this shows they are loyal and righteous; don't blame them wrongly."

The old man nodded secretly; this son of Xiao Yuanhang is indeed a person who understands reason.

Xiao Ningyuan opened his arms toward Tuan Tuan: "Come, Tuan Tuan, Brother will hold you; let's go."

Xiao Er tightened his arms, turned his body sideways, unwilling to let go.

Tuan Tuan hugged his neck and gave his face a gentle kiss: "Second Uncle, don't worry, I'll be out in a moment!"

Xiao Er's face turned dark and flushed red, but his arm still didn't loosen.

Tuan Tuan opened her little arms toward Lu Qi: "Seventh Uncle!"

Lu Qi's face was full of surprise; Xiao Er finally released his grip, letting Lu Qi take Tuan Tuan over.

Tuan Tuan hugged Lu Qi's neck and rubbed her face against his: "Seventh Uncle, wait for me to come back!"

Lu Qi felt a sour softness, nodded, and whispered in her ear: "Lord Master, if you can't find it, just come out; the Tianji Pavilion's greatest skill is treasure hunting, at worst, please have the Young Pavilion Master come personally!"

Tuan Tuan smiled: "Don't worry, Seventh Uncle, I will definitely find it!"

She waved at the guards: "Uncles! Listen to big brother's words!"

The guards' eyes reddened: "Princess (Commandery), take care!"

Xiao Ningyuan stepped forward, took his sister from Lu Qi's arms, his back bearing a bundle packed with dry food and fresh water, and looked at the elder: "Excuse me, senior, where is the entrance?"

The elder turned: "Follow me."

The group followed him to a very ordinary‑looking stone tablet beside the Divine Path.

The elder raised his hand and pointed: "This stone tablet is the entrance."

Xiao Ningyuan silently admired; people generally think the imperial tomb entrance lies in the Hall of Enjoyment or the Bright Tower, never would they imagine it's within a stone tablet beside the Divine Path—truly ingenious.

He held his sister standing before the stone tablet, waited a moment, while the elder stood silently beside them.

Xiao Ningyuan cleared his throat: "Senior, please open the entrance so we can go in."

The elder was startled: "I only know the entrance is here, but I don't know how to open it."

Xiao Ningyuan slapped his forehead, muttering, "Damn, you really know nothing!"

He helplessly set Tuan Tuan on the ground, walked around the stone tablet, felt it all over from top to base, not missing an inch, yet the tablet showed no sign of movement.

"I'll try!" Xiao Er stepped forward.

The elder raised a hand to block him: "If the two of them can't even get through the door, you may all turn back home together."

Xiao Er's steps halted instantly.

Xiao Ningyuan scratched the back of his head, gave a wry smile: "Tuan Tuan, brother can't find it, you try."

"Alright!" Tuan Tuan lifted her little legs, imitating her brother, walked around the stone tablet, turned to the elder: "Grandpa, is this a door?"

"Yes, little kid, you have to find a way to open this door, otherwise…"

Before he finished, Tuan Tuan extended her small hand and gave a gentle push.

"Crack crack…"

The stone tablet slid sideways, revealing a pitch‑black opening below!

Everyone stared dumbfounded: "What? It's already open?"

The elder stammered: "Y‑you, how did you… open it?"

Tuan Tuan, with an air of obviousness, said: "Grandpa, didn't you say this is a door? I just pushed! Aren't doors all opened by pushing?"

"Nonsense!" the elder shouted in his mind, "I've pushed this tablet thousands of times since childhood, and it never moved! How did your single push make it open?"

Tuan Tuan curiously walked to the opening and peered inside: "So dark…"

Before the words finished, a huge suction surged out, and Tuan Tuan let out an "ah" and fell in!

"Tuan Tuan!" Xiao Ningyuan shouted in alarm, lunged to grab her sleeve, but only caught a piece of fabric.

Their figures were instantly swallowed by darkness.

The guards finally remembered: "Fire Fan! The eldest son didn't bring the fire fan!"

Xiao Er quickly took out the Fire Fan, tried to throw it into the hole, but the stone tablet had already returned to its original state; the Fire Fan struck the tablet and fell with a "thud" onto the ground.