Tomb robbing: I was Buried alive in the Mausoleum of the First Emperor, I Get Stronger by Looting Corpses

Chapter 27: The Concubine from the Yin-Yang Clan!

The sizzling sound of roasting meat filled the passageway, accompanied by the rich aroma of venison fat dripping onto the crackling firewood. The golden-brown meat glowed under the dim light, releasing a scent so tantalizing that Meng Jiangnv, despite her usual composure, found herself swallowing hungrily. Even with limited seasonings, Yang Yi’s skilled cooking elevated the simple dish into a feast.

“It smells so good…” A soft murmur broke the stillness as Qing Lian stirred from her sleep. For the first time in years, she had slept soundly—no fear, no hunger gnawing at her stomach, no trembling in the darkness. The warmth of the blankets and the sense of safety lulled her into the deepest slumber she had experienced since entering the palace.

As her half-lidded eyes fluttered open, the first thing she saw was Yang Yi crouched by the fire, carefully turning over the venison on the skewer. The fat sizzled audibly, the juices bubbling and glistening. For a moment, she thought she was still dreaming.

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Qing Lian blinked, still drowsy, before sitting up. “Are… are you roasting meat?” Yang Yi glanced over, amused. “You’re awake. Wash up first, then come and eat.” Still groggy, Qing Lian rubbed her eyes and nodded. As she walked over, her gaze fell on the neatly stacked firewood, the clean ceramic bowls, and even a wooden spoon. She froze, her mind struggling to process what she was seeing. This is not the life of a prisoner in an imperial tomb. This is a banquet.

Her stomach tightened with hunger, but even more than that, her heart clenched with emotion.

Meng Jiangnv walked over with a warm smile, handing her a small dish of coarse salt along with a simple wooden toothbrush. “Use this to brush your teeth. After that, we eat.” Qing Lian hesitated. “You… use salt to brush your teeth?” She had heard of this practice among nobles, but here in the emperor’s tomb, it felt like an unimaginable luxury.

But when she saw Yang Yi casually summon more supplies out of thin air, she finally accepted the truth. Meng Jiangnv had told her—he was a man with divine powers. She lowered her head and murmured, “Godly Master…”

Yang Yi chuckled. “Godly Master? That’s new.”

Meng Jiangnv laughed softly, patting Qing Lian’s shoulder. “You’ll get used to it.”

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The venison finished roasting, and Yang Yi used a sharp dagger to slice it into thin, juicy pieces. Meng Jiangnv clapped her hands together eagerly, and even Qing Lian, despite her refined palace manners, couldn’t hide the hunger in her eyes. “Here, eat,” Yang Yi said, handing them both a wooden plate filled with steaming meat.

The moment Qing Lian took her first bite, her eyes welled up with tears. The meat melted in her mouth, rich and flavorful despite the lack of heavy seasonings. It was the best thing she had ever eaten in this wretched place. She covered her mouth, trying to suppress the sob that rose in her throat. Meng Jiangnv gently nudged her. “Eat, don’t cry.”

Yang Yi sighed, shaking his head. “Did the palace treat you that poorly?” Qing Lian sniffled, forcing down another bite before answering. “No… but even in the palace, I never had something like this. Not like this.”

She lowered her gaze, whispering. “For years, I have never truly felt… full.”

Yang Yi froze, his fingers tightening slightly around his plate.

She has been a palace maid, but has never had enough to eat? How many more women had been abandoned to such a fate?

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As the meal continued, Yang Yi decided it was time to ask the real question. “Qing Lian, do you know if any of the emperor’s concubines are martial artists?”

Meng Jiangnv paused mid-bite, glancing at him sharply. “You’ve noticed something?” she asked. Yang Yi nodded. “There is an old man among the tomb guardians. He is at least at the Peak of the Transformation Realm.”

Meng Jiangnv inhaled sharply. “Peak Transformation?” That was a realm beyond imagination for ordinary people.

Yang Yi met Qing Lian’s gaze and continued. “I believe he was sent here to keep an eye on the concubines. Or rather… on one concubine in particular.” Qing Lian set her plate down slowly. “I cannot speak for the others, but my mistress is a martial artist.”

Yang Yi’s eyes flashed. “Tell me everything you know about her.”

Qing Lian took a slow breath, gathering her thoughts. “She is a noblewoman of the Yin-Yang Clan.” Yang Yi stiffened immediately. Yin-Yang Clan? Meng Jiangnv furrowed her brows. “Is that important?”

Yang Yi narrowed his eyes, his mind racing. The Yin-Yang Clan was one of the most mysterious and feared factions in the empire. Their members were known for their mastery of illusions, astrology, and hidden arts.

A concubine from the Yin-Yang Clan guarded by a Peak Transformation master was no coincidence. “Your mistress,” Yang Yi asked slowly, “would she willingly allow herself to be buried in this tomb?”

Qing Lian hesitated, then shook her head. “No… I don’t think so.”

“Then why is she here?” Yang Yi muttered to himself. Why would the Yin-Yang Clan throw away a prodigy? What are they hiding?

Meng Jiangnv touched Yang Yi’s arm gently. “Husband, are you thinking that… this is part of a scheme?”

Yang Yi exhaled slowly, his mind clicking the pieces together. “It must be,” he said grimly. The Yin-Yang Clan wouldn’t waste a true genius. If this concubine was here, it meant something had gone horribly wrong… or something bigger was at play.

“Maybe,” he murmured, “she is a threat to the new emperor.” Or worse… she is a threat to the empire itself. Qing Lian swallowed hard, sensing the shift in his demeanour.

“Husband,” Meng Jiangnv said softly, “what will you do?” Yang Yi stood up slowly, staring toward the distant shadows of the tomb. “I will find her,” he said. “And then, I will decide.” In this world, where the dead walked the halls of emperors, where warriors guarded ghosts, and where secrets buried themselves deeper than any tomb nothing was ever as it seemed.