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Tomb Raider Legend
墨書 Inktalez
In the 1980s, Daxing'anling resembled a prison shackled by the biting cold, where the people living there endured the dual trials of nature and fate.
In this world draped in silver, there was an inconspicuous little town where Zhang Qi and the monkey resided.
Their home was located on the outskirts of the town, a dilapidated shack ravaged by time. The walls were mottled and peeling, exposing rough and cold bricks beneath.
When the fierce winds howled past, the chilling gusts pierced through the cracks in the walls like countless fine needles, emitting a sharp wail that seemed to mock their plight mercilessly.
The interior was stripped down to the bare essentials, featuring only a rickety wooden table that resembled an elderly man struggling to hold on in a corner; a few uneven benches scattered haphazardly around, with nothing else to speak of.
Zhang Qi and the monkey struggled daily in the quagmire of life.
Before dawn broke, while the entire town remained shrouded in darkness and cold, they had to endure their drowsiness and chill to head to Forest Farm.
At Forest Farm, piles of timber became their "battlefield." Zhang Qi tightened his thin, patched cotton coat, exhaling heavy clouds of white breath as he rubbed his numb, reddened hands. Together with the monkey, they gritted their teeth and exerted all their strength to move those incredibly heavy logs.
Each piece of wood felt like a small mountain weighing down on them, bending their spines and making their steps unsteady. After a day's grueling labor, the meager earnings they received could barely buy them a few steamed buns to fill their stomachs; any other needs were simply beyond their reach.
On a frigid night when the wind howled fiercely, Zhang Qi and the monkey returned home, dragging their exhausted bodies behind them.
The cold house felt like a massive ice cellar, devoid of warmth. They huddled in a corner, igniting what little fire remained in the stove. The feeble flames flickered within, seemingly struggling against the encroaching cold.
At that moment, Ergouzi, a companion from the monkey's village, hurriedly arrived.
As soon as Ergouzi entered the room, he eagerly rushed to the fireplace, stretching out his frozen, stiff hands to warm them. Excitedly, he exclaimed, "Monkey, Zhang Qi, have you heard? Something big has happened in our village recently!"
Monkey looked up, a hint of confusion and fatigue in his eyes. "What big thing? Can it be bigger than our miserable lives?"
Ergouzi lowered his voice mysteriously. Even though there was no one else in the room, he instinctively glanced around before continuing, "While digging a cellar, someone in the village unearthed a strange object that looks like the entrance to an ancient tomb! There could be countless treasures hidden inside!"
Zhang Qi's previously vacant eyes suddenly sparkled with interest but were quickly replaced by doubt. He frowned and said, "Don't talk nonsense. Is this really credible? What ancient tomb could exist in our poor place?"
Ergouzi grew anxious and patted his chest for assurance. "Am I lying to you? I saw those people dig it up with my own eyes. There were many stones engraved with strange patterns; they looked extraordinary. The village elders say it might be the tomb of some high-ranking official from long ago. The treasures inside could let us live a good life."
Hearing this, Monkey felt a flicker of hope. He turned to Zhang Qi with a glimmer of expectation in his eyes. "Brother, do you think this could be our chance to change our fate? If we really find some treasure, we won't have to live such hard lives anymore."
Zhang Qi fell silent for a moment, his face showing hesitation. He knew well that tomb raiding was illegal and dangerous, but the endless poverty weighed heavily on him like a mountain, making it hard for him to breathe. Slowly, he said, "It's not that simple. Leaving aside whether there are treasures or not, what if we get caught? That would be the end for us."
Ergouzi urged from the side, "What are you afraid of? The ancient tomb has just been discovered; no one is watching yet. If we act quickly and grab the treasures before anyone notices, we'll be fine. Besides, do you want to suffer in this poor place for the rest of your lives?"
Monkey's eyes flickered with struggle and desire as he clenched his fists tightly, as if trying to motivate himself. "Brother, I think Ergouzi makes sense. We've been poor for so long; finally having a chance—why not give it a try?"
Zhang Qi gazed into the dancing flames of the fireplace, lost in thought. His heart burned like the fire itself, caught between desire and reason. On one hand, he feared that risking tomb raiding could lead to severe consequences; on the other hand, the dream of escaping poverty and living well tightened its grip on his heart like an invisible rope.
After a long while, he sighed slowly and said, "We need to think this through carefully; we can't act impulsively."
However, despite Zhang Qi's words of caution, his weary heart—worn down by poverty—had already begun to ripple with excitement at the rumors of the ancient tomb.
On this cold and lengthy night, the topic of ancient tombs burned like a blazing flame in their hearts, dispelling some of the chill and igniting a flicker of hope and fantasy for the future.
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