Toward evening, rain inexplicably began falling from the sky, turning the wasteland into a muddy mess.
Two or three hundred meters beyond the checkpoint stood a corrugated steel shed. That was Pit No. 8, where excavation had only just begun-the place where the archaeological team had met with disaster.
"Luo, are you sure Professor Su won't have any more problems?" Ma Zhonghua still couldn't put his mind at ease. This was the second time he had asked.
Luo Yang smiled. "Director Ma, don't worry. I can take good care of Professor Su."
He had barely closed his mouth when Su Changming said, "I don't need you looking after me. I'm a grown man. I can take care of myself."
"All right, then. I hope everything goes smoothly." Ma Zhonghua had nothing more to say.
Ye Yiming came up to Luo Yang and cautioned him solemnly, "Luo, be careful. Safety comes first. Whatever you do, don't try to be a hero."
Luo Yang nodded. "Thank you, Uncle Ye. I understand."
"Can I come along?" Shi Fei, who had come with them, looked at Luo Yang expectantly.
"I want to go too," Bai Jing said.
Luo Yang shook his head. "Don't rush. Let me check things out first. If everything's all right, you can go afterward. If too many people go at once, I won't be able to look after everyone."
"I don't need you looking after me. I can take care of myself," Bai Jing said.
"Either way, not this time." Luo Yang still refused.
Bai Jing immediately stuck out her lower lip, looking so unhappy that no amount of coaxing would help.
"Stay here, both of you. Luo and I will go take a look first," Su Changming said.
"All right." Bai Jing immediately fell into line.
Shi Fei nodded too.
Luo Yang held up his umbrella and walked toward the steel shed.
Su Changming opened his umbrella and followed.
"Luo, you're a shaman, aren't you?" Su Changming suddenly asked along the way.
Luo Yang froze for a moment but said nothing.
Su Changming continued, "I've carefully analyzed what you told me. You said you were a doctor, yet you know a great deal about shamanic culture. I think you're actually a shaman, because in shamanic culture, medicine and shamanic sorcery are the most fundamental abilities. Am I right?"
"Professor Su, you know a great deal about shamanic culture too. Are you a shaman?" Luo Yang cleverly parried Su Changming's probing question.
Su Changming frowned slightly. "You're changing the subject. I'm a professor of archaeology. Shamans played an important role in the early days of Chinese civilization. Isn't it perfectly normal for me to know about their culture? Knowing is one thing, but I can't perform any shamanic sorcery. You can. Today, you cured all of us. What you used wasn't medicine, but shamanic sorcery. Am I right?"
Luo Yang couldn't help glancing at Su Changming.
The old man was really a detective whose calling had been sidetracked by archaeology. Now it seemed Bai Jing had been influenced by him too. She was good at spotting details, never overlooked the slightest clue, and had to get to the bottom of everything.
"Admit it, Luo. I promise I'll keep your secret. Besides, this isn't medieval Europe. Nobody hunts witches here. Even if your identity gets exposed, you won't be in any danger." Su Changming coaxed him patiently.
"All right. You're sharp indeed, Professor Su. I am a shaman, and what I used to cure you was indeed shamanic sorcery. I'm here to help, but I know nothing about the Sanxingdui civilization, so I hope you'll be generous with your knowledge. If I have any questions, I hope you'll answer them." Luo Yang simply gave the old man what he wanted, partly to stop him from pestering him, and partly for the same reason as before: he needed to build a good relationship with him.
"No problem," Professor Su agreed cheerfully.
"By the way, Professor Su, you promised me. Please keep this secret. Don't even tell your student Bai Jing," Luo Yang reminded him.
"I won't tell anyone else your secret, but I can't make any guarantees about Bai Jing."
"Why not?"
"Bai Jing is a very clever girl. Her IQ is 141. She's a genius. If even I could guess your identity, do you think she won't? It's only a matter of time."
Luo Yang: "..."
They reached the steel shed.
No one guarded the entrance. After what had happened, there was no way anyone would post a guard here. But the door was secured with a padlock and shut tight, so they couldn't see inside.
"Damn, I forgot to ask for the key. How about I smash it open?" Luo Yang suggested, taking the lazy way out.
Su Changming blocked the door to keep him from smashing the lock, then pulled a key from his trouser pocket and unlocked it. With considerable pride, he said, "Don't forget, I'm in charge here."
Luo Yang smiled faintly. It seemed working with this old man had been a very wise choice.
Su Changming pushed the door open.
The interior was dim, but Luo Yang could see everything clearly. A layer of earth had been scraped away from the floor of the shed, exposing a flat layer of black soil. Not far from the entrance was a pit covering only ten or so square meters, with several bronze artifacts at the bottom that had yet to be fully unearthed.
Su Changming reached out and switched on the lights, instantly brightening the shed.
"Follow me," Su Changming said.
Luo Yang suddenly grabbed his hand and yanked him behind him.
"Luo, what are you doing?" Su Changming asked in confusion.
Luo Yang didn't answer. He stared fixedly at a corner of the pit, where the Bronze Knife lay.
"Luo, let go of my hand."
Luo Yang released Su Changming's hand and suddenly shouted, "Run!"
Just then, a bolt of lightning suddenly flashed down from deep within the clouds.
Crack!
Rumble!
Nothing happened.
After the lightning and thunder, the rain actually stopped, and a fiery sunset glow even appeared along the western horizon.
Su Changming chuckled. "Luo, you're supposed to be a young man, yet you're more timid than an old fellow like me. Nothing happened. Why are you so nervous?"
But Luo Yang seemed not to hear Su Changming at all. His gaze hadn't left the Bronze Knife for even a second.
The Bronze Knife was embedded at an angle in the soil. Its spine curved slightly and had no groove. Its handle appeared to be made of gold, and even the dirt couldn't hide its golden color.
But none of that was what drew Luo Yang's attention. What drew him was an eye on the handle, shaped like a willow leaf and slightly larger than a one-yuan coin. Just a minute earlier, it had been closed. But right before that bolt of lightning struck, it had opened!
An eye carved into a knife handle suddenly opening was eerie enough, but even more eerie was the fact that it had a pupil-and a green one at that!
Luo Yang stared at the eye, and the eye stared back at him.
Su Changming stepped up beside Luo Yang and patted his shoulder. "Luo, let's go in. If you're scared, I'll lead the way."
Just then, the Bronze Knife suddenly trembled, then rose from the soil and floated in the air, its tip aimed straight at Luo Yang!
Before you continue