Leo gestured to Chloe to keep moving forward, letting the undercurrent push them. He then kissed Domingo on her red lips, giving her a breath of relief.
Domingo couldn’t swim and kept her eyes tightly shut in the water. She was on the verge of suffocation when she felt warmth on her lips and a rush of air entered her mouth. She greedily took deep breaths.
To an outsider, it looked like a couple taking underwater wedding photos, passionately kissing.
After catching her breath, Domingo stopped struggling. The three of them followed the undercurrent through a gap between two large rocks, revealing a massive stone staircase ahead.
Each stone step was covered in moss and seaweed, yet they were perfectly aligned with sharp, clean edges, clearly man-made.
Suddenly, a strong force surged from behind. The undercurrent sped up as it passed through the narrow stone formations, pushing them forward.
Tall stone pillars stood silently on either side like soldiers awaiting inspection.
Leo and Chloe barely had time to take in the sight before they were lifted into the air and thrown onto a flat surface.
In mid-air, Leo managed to flip over and hold Domingo in his arms.
Chloe, lacking such a cushion, took the full impact and nearly fainted.
Once out of the water, the three of them gasped for air.
Chloe and Domingo lay on their backs, looking like they had just survived a disaster.
Leo’s gaze involuntarily fell on Domingo’s red lips. Perhaps due to the heavy breathing, her lips looked as vibrant as rain-kissed petals. His heart skipped a beat, and he quickly turned away.
Both women were drenched, their clothes clinging to their bodies. What was previously hidden was now quite visible…
Wait! There was light!
Leo realized they could see each other and that they were on solid ground with air to breathe. Had they reached the shore so quickly?
The two women were still lying on the ground, their eyes unfocused.
Leo stood up, untied the makeshift rope from his waist, and began to survey their surroundings.
Behind him was a deep pool of water, its depths unknown.
He sniffed the air; there was no hint of decay.
Though this underground palace was designed as a tomb and connected to the grand underwater structure, it seemed to have dedicated ventilation shafts, keeping it free from foul air.
This area resembled a front hall, scattered with stone chairs and artifacts. Leo’s attention was immediately drawn to a Dragon Porcelain vase that still held an eternal lamp.
The eternal lamp symbolizes the owner’s eternal life and could burn for a very long time.
Though the lamp had long been extinguished, the thick layer of ash inside the Dragon Porcelain vase indicated its prolonged use.
Next to the Dragon Porcelain vase was a white stone chair with a cushion that had long since decayed, its stuffing exposed and blackened.
Leo’s eyes widened as he noticed an incredible sight-a buttock imprint on the cushion.
At first glance, it looked like two crescent moons, but upon closer inspection, it was clear someone had recently sat there.
A chill ran down Leo’s spine. Was someone else here?
Just then, a woman’s voice broke the silence: “A White Jade chair from the Song Dynasty?”
Leo turned to see Chloe supporting Domingo as they walked over, both of their faces flushed.
Domingo had recovered but avoided meeting Leo’s gaze.
Leo, feeling awkward himself, quickly changed the subject. “Is this from the Song Dynasty?”
“Yes, a White Jade chair. The entire stone chair looks naturally formed with exquisite craftsmanship. The dragon-shaped armrests indicate royal use.”
“So it’s related to Emperor Lee again,” Leo remarked.
The three of them continued deeper into the tomb.
Domingo regained her composure as they walked. Breathing air and seeing light made her feel safe.
The light came from phosphorescent stones on the walls.
Leo knew they were back on land but didn’t know their exact location. He wasn’t in a hurry to leave; he wanted to explore this underground palace thoroughly.
They moved from the front hall to the middle hall, where the layout changed noticeably.
Various household items were displayed-basins and jars-many still gleaming with gold. Despite their age, their extraordinary craftsmanship was evident.
Chloe casually picked up a golden basin and turned it over, reading the inscriptions on its bottom: “Bowman King, first month of the lunar year, auspicious day in Yihai.”
“Is this Bowman King’s stuff?” Domingo’s curiosity was piqued.
“Does Western Xia have a Bowman King? Such a surname is interesting,” Domingo mused, having recently brushed up on her history but never hearing of Bowman King.
“Who knows? Let’s go inside and see,” Chloe said, gently placing the basin down and leading the way.
Leo wanted to warn Chloe about potential traps but reconsidered. This tomb resembled a living palace more than a burial site; who would set traps in their bedroom?
As Leo prepared to follow Chloe and Domingo, his gaze fell on a nearby stone table with three stone stools around it. One stool had another buttock imprint made of plant fiber fragments, indicating recent use.
This couldn’t be from the tomb’s owner waking up at night for a stroll…
“Ah!”
A sudden scream interrupted Leo’s thoughts-it was Domingo’s voice.
Why didn’t Chloe scream? Could it be…
A sense of dread filled Leo’s heart.
He grabbed Domingo’s hand almost instinctively and checked her over. She was pale and trembling but unharmed.
“I’m fine,” Domingo said.
“Where’s Chloe?” Leo asked.
“There!” Domingo pointed to a platform on the east side.
Leo looked over and saw three lacquered red coffins lying side by side on the platform. Chloe was examining the middle one closely.
The coffin was almost as tall as Chloe, resembling a small boat.