Chapter 13: Ghost Blowing Out the Light

I followed Fatty Fang down, only halfway down the steps when Xiao Zhao called out, “Brother Fang, look! This epitaph!”

I was startled, not expecting Fang to be so serious again.

We had descended from the northeast corner of the tomb and immediately saw another epitaph inside, standing before the coffin, facing the steps.

Behind the epitaph was a red wooden coffin. On top of the coffin lay a bowl, and toward the back on the right side was a large square stone block that looked like a stone bed.

I stared in surprise. My great-grandfather’s little booklet had many notes but nothing about how to enter the tomb.

Fatty Fang circled the epitaph endlessly. Curious, I approached the stone slab, faintly recalling some characters on it.

Upon closer inspection, it wasn’t a stone bed but a stone coffin.

Inscribed on it were the words: “Seal coffin.”

“In the third year of Tongzhi,” Fang read aloud, “Still Qing dynasty. A Qing tomb,” he said, disappointed.

Big Tiger was pacing around the red wooden coffin. Hearing Fang’s tone, he said, “Brother Fang, forget the dynasty. Thieves never leave empty-handed. Let’s open it and see.”

Fang responded listlessly, “Open it, then. Hopefully, there’s a surprise.”

A cold apprehension crept over me. The words “seal coffin” carried many implications, and I wasn’t sure what to expect.

“Brother Fang, come look at this,” I pointed at the seal coffin.

“What’s there to see? It’s just a seal coffin—something to scare people,” Fang said without moving closer. “Usually, those coffins hold sacrificial children from poor families. Nothing valuable.”

I thought to myself that Fang must already know about this. Losing interest, I stepped beside him, knowing my place as an apprentice.

In truth, my heart was pounding. Childhood memories surged back, and I feared what lay inside—that woman.

Big Tiger grabbed a shovel and began to pry at the coffin wood. Fang folded his arms, watching like a spectator. “You’re inexperienced. Look for the coffin nails. Without pulling those out, you won’t open it.”

Before Fang finished, Big Tiger managed to lever up the coffin lid.

“Damn, it’s not sealed!” Fang exclaimed.

The coffin lid creaked as Big Tiger pushed it open slightly.

A gust seemed to stir inside the tomb, and the light dimmed before my eyes.

I focused intently on the opening of the coffin. The first thing to appear was an official’s hat.

“A high official!” Big Tiger exclaimed.

“Push it open more,” Fang urged, now anxious.

The lid creaked wider, revealing a red cloth that covered the corpse’s face beneath the official’s hat.

With a strong heave, Big Tiger flipped the heavy coffin lid onto the ground with a clatter.

A cloud of dust rose, and I held my breath again.

“Damn, Big Tiger, you’re strong,” Fang gave him a thumbs-up.

A chill ran through me. Just then, I saw the coffin lid hit the seal coffin stone, causing it to shift slightly. Something seemed to spill from the crack.

“It’s hit the jackpot!” Big Tiger shouted excitedly, reaching to grab the treasure.

My eyes followed his voice.

The official wore full ceremonial robes adorned with precious jade and gold. Even the red cloth covering his face was embroidered with gold thread.

Most astonishingly, the bindings on his feet were all made of golden threads.

“Don’t move!” Fang stopped Big Tiger immediately, waving his hand. “Brother, let me teach you—this is a delicate operation. If we don’t follow the rules, something bad will happen!”

We all looked at Fang. I found it amusing that even now, with so much treasure before us, he still put on this act. Now I was even more certain of Fang’s background and the origin of his nickname.

Xiao Zhao looked ready to drool. Yet, something felt off to me, though I couldn’t place it.

“Xiao Zhao, stand southwest and watch the candle carefully. If it goes out, you must tell me immediately. That’s the owner’s greatest tolerance for us taking the treasure,” Fang instructed.

My heart skipped a beat—I finally understood what was wrong. We were holding flashlights but hadn’t noticed the candle in Xiao Zhao’s hand had gone out.

“Brother Fang…” Xiao Zhao looked down at his hand, his voice trembling.

“Damn it, Xiao Zhao! Scaring people can kill people. Speak up, what’s wrong?” Fang stared at the treasure inside without turning.

“The candle... it went out...” Xiao Zhao’s voice shook.

“Fuck!” Fang stepped back sharply and stared at Xiao Zhao, eyes wide. “When did it happen?”

“I don’t know.”

“Damn, we’re screwed!” Fang immediately took out matches.

I saw his hand trembling.

He struck three matches before finally lighting one, but as he brought it toward the candle, it went out again.

He shakily lit another match; the candle caught flame briefly, then a spark popped, and it went out once more.

“Damn it, ghost blowing out the light!” Fang cursed, throwing down the matches. He sprinted to the steps, shouting, “Run!” He scrambled up quickly.

I felt a pang of fear, choosing to stand near the steps where we had come down.

Fang reached the top first and shouted to run, so he was a step ahead. I followed closely behind.

Fang was small but agile.

When I reached the top and stood up, Fang had already disappeared.

I glanced back. Xiao Zhao was just arriving, pushing past me and shouting, “Run! Don’t just stand there!”

“Help me!” Big Tiger shouted from below.

I froze, then looked down.

Big Tiger was holding a flashlight in one hand and clutching something in the other, struggling to climb up.

But in the darkness, his pants seemed caught on something.

His hand reached out, and without hesitation, I grabbed it.

“Rip!” Big Tiger’s pants tore, a piece of fabric left behind on the ground.

“Damn! Someone’s pulling my pants!” Big Tiger shouted, letting go of my hand and running.

I was stunned. Now, from the second person up, I had become the last.

Despite his short stature, Big Tiger was tough. He reached the edge of the pit, planted his foot hard on the soil, and sprang up with force.

I followed behind, but luck was against me.

As he climbed, he swung his leg back. I had to dodge, or he would have kicked me.

That caused me to lose momentum and fail to get up.

The pit was nearly two meters deep; there was no way to climb up with just a push from flat ground. I thought Big Tiger would wait, so I called out, “Big Tiger, pull me up!”

But I saw no sign of him. I shouted again, “Big Tiger, help me up!”

No response from above. My heart sank. “That bastard’s run off,” I thought.