Chapter 31: Raging Sea: Double-Layered Tomb Wall

No matter how I cajoled and pestered, acting shamelessly, Third Uncle refused to tell me what happened next. In the end, he glared at me, then went back to reading his newspaper, ignoring me.

I knew Third Uncle's temper. Since he'd said that much, pressing further would get me nowhere, so I didn't dare say anything more. But having heard only half the story, I felt the rest must be the key part, and my heart itched with unbearable curiosity.

I said to Third Uncle, "Since you don't want to talk, I won't force you. But could you tell me more about that bronze fish? Didn't you say there were some clues back then? If we could find the experts who did the research, and ask them now, wouldn't we find out what they discovered back then?"

Third Uncle was slightly taken aback by my words and said, "That is a good idea, but that was 1984 — twenty years ago. Who knows if those old experts are still alive."

I quickly said, "Don't look for the senior experts; find their assistants. Even if their assistants were in their forties back then, they'd only be in their sixties now, maybe not even retired. With your connections, you should definitely be able to find them."

Third Uncle sighed and shook his head. "After that project ended, we all went our separate ways and lost contact. When we did meet, it was only for academic exchanges. Many of them I don't even know by name. Finding them is easier said than done."

After saying this, Third Uncle suddenly seemed to think of something. He frowned and let out a "Huh?"

Seeing there might be more to the story, I poured him a cup of tea and waited for him to continue.

Third Uncle lit a cigarette, squinted, and thought for a long while before saying to me, "The Xisha archaeological expedition was so long ago. I've forgotten most of the trivial details. It's only because you brought it up just now that I recalled a bit, and I happened to remember something very strange."

I asked, "What is it? Tell me about it."

He said to me, "I can't be certain, but just now I remembered — among the young experts who went to sea with me, there was one person who seemed to look a lot like that quiet young man!"

I burst out laughing and said to him, "Third Uncle, how is that possible? At that time he must have just been born. How could he have been your colleague!"

Third Uncle thought carefully, his frown deepening. "I know words are unconvincing, but we took a group photo before we set out. We can check it and see if I'm right."

Third Uncle called home and had his servant scan a few group photos from his old photo album. Five minutes later, an email arrived on his laptop. The photo was black-and-white. For the second wave of experts going to sea, there were only about ten people. The front row was squatting, the second row standing, with a military dock as the background and a few navy men on the side. He must not have looked at this photo for a long time; it was heavily yellowed, with mildew spots on the corners.

I zoomed in to examine the photo. Squatting in the middle of the front row was the young Third Uncle. The person standing behind him looked somewhat familiar. I looked more closely and found he really did look like…

No, it wasn't just similar.

I thought I was mistaken, so I rubbed my eyes and looked again. Immediately, I felt as if I had been thrown into an ice cave; goosebumps broke out all over my body.

The eyes, the expression — my god, it was too similar. This person looked exactly like Poker-face.

What the hell was going on? Who on earth was Poker-face? Why hadn't he aged a bit over all these years? Could the expedition at Xisha twenty years ago really be connected to the Lu King's Palace? How was that possible? Two events so far apart in space and time — how could they be linked?

Poker-face was already mysterious enough. Now his identity became even more bewildering. The countless puzzles surrounding him suddenly plunged into an even more inconceivable realm.

Third Uncle stared at the computer screen in puzzlement. Suddenly, he stood up nervously and shouted, "I understand, I understand!"

Shouting, he grabbed his luggage and ran out. Confused, I hurried after him and asked, "Third Uncle, where are you going?"

He shouted at me, "I'm going to Xisha again. Take care of Panzi, and don't follow me!"