The boy took the waterskin, but merely held it in his hands. After studying it for a while, he slowly raised it and poured a little water into his mouth.
Like an elegant nobleman, he drank in small sips, stopping only after quite some time.
"Have you come to rescue me?" the boy slowly asked.
Before Bu Er could speak, Jiang Zhizhou answered, "We must first confirm whether you are the person we're looking for."
The boy looked at Jiang Zhizhou, then suddenly grinned. "I dare say that down here beneath the earth, apart from those resting eternally behind me, I'm the only living soul."
Tomb Keepers were not allowed to descend into the Imperial Mausoleum. They had designated areas in which to move about and patrol.
"Why are you here? And who are you?" Jiang Zhizhou avoided meeting the boy's eyes. He had a vague sense that those eyes could see through a great many things.
Jiang Zhizhou had another reason to stay on guard: he feared that a moment's carelessness would leave him under an illusion spell.
Pale blue eyes were found only among the foreigners of legend.
Where had this person come from?
"You have so many questions. Where should I begin? Why not simply let me talk as I please?"
But Jiang Zhizhou shook his head. "First, you must tell us how to lower this iron cage."
If this really was the person they were meant to rescue, they would have to lower him to the ground before getting him out. Leaving him suspended in midair made it difficult for Yang Qing to assess the situation from behind them.
"These chains are also called Soul-Locking Iron. They fear neither water nor fire, nor blades nor spears. Only by making them retract on their own can my