Temple of Truth

Chapter 77

Wu Xi tried to listen in on what was going on, scavenging for information before stepping into a situation unprepared. There was still a distance of at least another curve between them, he hadn't even seen Fatty yet. Nor, heard him – unsure if that was good or bad, you normally could always hear him.

But that argument sounded dangerous – at least what little he could understand from it. Almost on instinct he held his hand on the rope next to him.

That wasn't only a simple argument he noticed.

He had heard his uncle tell him stories about Tomb robbers. The incredible places he got to visit, the adventures he had, and the deadly dangers lurking in the dark. He as well as his grandfather had always told him, that the greatest threat didn't come from the traps, neither from the environment nor the animals living there – no, the greatest threat was the human heart.

Wu Xi had easily understood that his own angst, would be a great enemy of him. Under the earth he had to stay as calm and collected as possible, dangers could lurk around every corner and many mistake especially those out of fright could cost him his life.

He took longer to understand, that his family members had warned him about the other people, who went inside the tomb with him. He didn't know the greed for treasure, the envy that could eat people up from the inside out. He had never seriously wished someone to die in pain. Sheltered as his childhood had been, it had protected him from many things.

As such was the case, he had naturally taken longer to understand, just how rotten to the core some tomb robbers could be. Getting rid of any competition that could minder one's own share of the stolen treasures.

All the negative emotions, and desires that could make a rather simple expedition end in a massacre.

Negative emotions, like the somewhat unhinged anger he could hear at the moment. People firing their shouts like cannonballs at each other. An Argument that had already disrupted the peace of the mercenary group, as he still couldn't hear his uncle and Fatty.

He knew it would end badly, even before he could hear the beginning of a full blown physical altercation. He didn't know the reason behind the people going after each other. The rest of the mercenaries not even trying to put an end to it any more.

It was like they had finally noticed the lawlessness of this place, the opportunities given to them, just in hands reach. To satisfy their greed for wealth, to let go of the masks of the civilized people they all had been holding on outside.

Most of them Wu Xi noticed, hearing more and more of them shout about, let go of the bridle and allowed their anger, annoyance and even malice to run free.

'Not good' he knew. Could remember the feeling of those hidden stares he had received the day before. Probably even the same day, when he was still to out of his head from being practically thrown out of bed to notice anything.

Even forgetting his really, really important first aid kit. He would have loved to grumble loudly about it, but he didn't dare. Those stares, if it hadn't been for him knowing he was save with both Zhang and his uncle there he would have turned tail to get as much distance between them as possible.