The Grave Robber Notes: The First Notebook 生

Entering the Grave

"The big cauldron could be an indication of the kitchen some of the Ming graves have but I don't think that that's all. Look at the placement and the cauldron itself. The design and the symbols on the stone predate the rest of the grave. It could be the cauldron of an old Taoist Priest for pill refinement. I'm not sure I would have to take a lot more time analysing it before I could give a finally assessment but other than that following this cauldrons placement the room is gathering energy you have a lot of narrow edges and arrows pointing right into the cauldron. I'm not really that good at Feng Shui I only know what I gathered during my days of appraising different artefacts but with energy like that there should be a balancing shouldn't there?"

The last question was directed at old man Lao and Li Jun who both seem to have experience with Feng Shui. They carefully nodded in general the idea Zhen Wei was presenting wasn't entirely wrong of course there was more to it than just those observations but since Zhen Wei seemed to be aiming for something specific, they didn't interrupt him but instead agreed with his last assumption. "In general, you are right, keep going." Old man Lao spoke. Zhen Wei nodded looking around. He really wasn't experienced in this kind of things and standing here with experts right in front of him he felt insecure but since they didn't disagree, he couldn't do anything but go on.

"There are two things that are missing in here. The first... the imperial tomb I assumed the design was taken from had a sacred kitchen, a well and a changing room in the first courtyard. As I said before there is a slight indication for a changing area with the half walls to each side. The cauldron could be seen as a kitchen. But then there would still be the well missing. On the other hand, an imperial tomb had servants working in the tomb so this should be represented by either sacrificial coffins or other servants that can be taken to the afterlife such as paper man or if we go back further maybe even terracotta figures depending on who the tomb owner really was. Second, we are missing the energy balance. For the cauldron to nurture poisonous or attacking energy the rest of the grave as to be protected from the negative energy working in this room. So, there should be more rooms. To each side to keep it symmetrical both build to form good energy and for the grave servants to be placed."

Zhen Wei let out his breath slowly. Turning to look at each wall. "I don't know which way is front and what is left and right but I'm sure if you find that out you will find doors on both the left and the right wall."

Old man Lao, shook his head taking out a compass. "If what you are saying is right north should be what you called the front." Turning Around with the compass until the was facing north old mal Lao pointed to his sides. "Search these two walls." After old man Lao took over Zhen Wei sat down on the foot of the cauldron watching them work. He had done enough from here on it would be up to the professionals to find the rooms on each side since he had no idea about any of that. Kris was busy following Wang Yong around as he tried to learn any trick the man was sharing in how to locate a hidden door.

After they search for some time without finding anything Zhen Wei was getting more and more convinced that he was wrong and that he totally wasted their time. Ready to admit his mistake and to call everything off he stood up when suddenly the sound of stone grinding on stone was heard from on the corners of the room. Right away everyone hurried over to look at the small room Shan had found. It wasn't even big enough to actually be called a room it was just a thin hallway like walkway running along the sides of the room. The door was hidden more to keep people from interrupting the energy flow in the room then to hide anything. "Careful." Wang Yong pulled Kris back who wanted to step into the hallway. "You never know what traps there are. A narrow hallway like this can be the perfect death trap."

Kris stopped right away stepping to the side to let someone else go first. "Wait here, Shan and Li Jun will go first they are the most agile." Old man Lao decided. After that, the group gathered close to the door watching Li Jun and Shan as they walked down the hallway turned around and came back. "There is nothing. Besides some puppets and the walls are wet but that's it I don't think the other side will give a lot more. Oh, and a mirror at the end of the hall." Shan nodded to confirm Li Jun's words.