My Partner Always Wants to Dig My Grave - Chapter 46

It took Si Wan a long while for her thoughts to truly detach from that dream.

She lifted her gaze, and when her eyes fell upon the white bones clad in armor identical to that of the soldiers in her dream, a myriad of inexplicable emotions surged within her, and she felt dazed once again.

Si Wan’s lowered hand clenched tightly, but the icy coldness in her palm made her realize she was holding Sheng Zhen’s hand. Fearing her actions might hurt the other, she immediately released her grip.

The moment Sheng Zhen noticed Si Wan letting go, she anxiously grasped Si Wan’s hand in return. Staying close by Si Wan’s side, she feared Si Wan might faint again. Just as she was about to urge Si Wan to leave this place, she heard Si Wan speak to her.

“Thank you.”

After saying this, Si Wan herself was taken aback. Her eyes lowered slightly, unsure why she had suddenly expressed gratitude. She just felt, in that moment, that everything Sheng Zhen had done deserved those words.

Guan Yue, however, was puzzled and said, “What are you thanking me for? We’ve been friends for so many years, did you think I’d just ignore you?”

Si Wan had no mind to explain to Guan Yue and instead thanked her again.

Hearing Si Wan’s repeated thanks, Guan Yue frowned and asked, “Why are you being so polite all of a sudden?”

Si Wan sighed, glancing at Sheng Zhen intentionally or not, then replied calmly, “It’s nothing. Let’s keep moving forward.”

As she spoke, Si Wan took Sheng Zhen’s hand. Having grown accustomed to the other’s cold body temperature, she held on even tighter.

Sheng Zhen’s gaze shifted from Si Wan’s hand holding hers to Si Wan’s retreating figure. Only she knew that Si Wan’s first “thank you” was meant for her.

What was Si Wan thanking her for?

For gathering the bones of the dead from the battlefield, yet failing to find the remains of the one she loved?

Sheng Zhen’s eyes lowered, concealing the emotions beneath, a loneliness that tugged at the heartstrings.

Seeing Si Wan walking swiftly ahead, Guan Yue immediately urged Nian Nian, who had been wanting to examine the skeletal soldiers, to catch up.

“Si Wan, why are you walking so fast?”

Before her words faded, the last sounds were drowned out by a piercing, agonized scream.

The echo reverberated through the corridor, causing the group to halt and furrow their brows.

Exchanging glances, Nian Nian’s expression darkened as she spoke. “It’s likely something happened to the people ahead.”

Guan Yue curled her lip and remarked sarcastically, “Serves them right for being greedy. Trying to profit from the dead.”

Si Wan looked ahead but saw no sign of anyone. Her tone was cold and unyielding as she said, “Even if they’re dead, we need to drag their bodies out for forensic examination. We can’t let this be pinned on us.”

After speaking, Si Wan paid no attention to the others’ reactions and simply continued forward, pulling Sheng Zhen along.

Nian Nian had only heard about Si Wan from others, and upon hearing her words now, a flicker of disbelief passed through her eyes.

Noticing Nian Nian had stopped again, Guan Yue pushed her impatiently and grumbled, “Hey, why do I always have to urge you to move? Stop being so curious. What are you staring at Si Wan for? Ugh, that’s just how she is. If we don’t find anyone soon, I’m going to lose it too.”

As Si Wan walked ahead, faint rustling sounds emerged behind her, distinct from the footsteps of Guan Yue and Nian Nian.

For some reason, Si Wan felt as though countless eyes were fixed intently on her, cold and penetrating, yet devoid of any malice.

This was an ancient tomb. Though it belonged to Sheng Zhen, Si Wan had no idea if she was the only ghost dwelling here.

The realization sent a chill down her spine. She halted abruptly, turning sideways to glance behind her.

Behind her were Guan Yue and Nian Nian, who had caught up. Beyond them, countless pairs of eyes glowed with faint, eerie will-o’-the-wisps.

The skeletal remains clad in armor had somehow shifted their positions. From Si Wan’s perspective, the pitch-black eye sockets of the skulls now flickered with faint green flames, resembling eyes that stared intently at her. The sight was unnerving, yet there was a strange sense of nostalgia, as if they were gazing upon a long-lost acquaintance.

Seeing Si Wan stop, Guan Yue grew puzzled and followed her gaze. The scene that met her eyes made her heart skip a beat. She immediately clung to Nian Nian, her trembling finger pointing at the skeletal soldiers as she stammered, “Why have they turned around? Are they… ghosts?”

Guan Yue’s eyes finally settled on Si Wan, and only upon seeing her calm expression did she feel a sliver of reassurance.

Si Wan took a moment to steady her emotions before speaking with feigned nonchalance. “They’re newly developed candles from ancient times.”

At her words, Guan Yue’s fear instantly vanished. She was the one who knew best that Si Wan was talking nonsense, but the pervasive chill in the air left her no choice but to grit her teeth and nod in agreement. “Yes, you’re right.”

Nian Nian, having seen plenty of corpses and bones, was unfazed. Hearing the two confirm that these were candles, she grew curious and wanted to take a closer look. Unfortunately, she was weighed down by Guan Yue clinging to her.

Seeing Nian Nian about to approach the skeletons, Guan Yue mustered unexpected strength and dragged her away without looking back, putting on a fierce front. “What’s there to see? Let’s hurry and find the person so we can leave.”

Guan Yue marched forward resolutely, completely forgetting that Si Wan was still behind them.

Si Wan withdrew her gaze from the skeletal soldiers. As she turned to leave, the sensation of being watched did not diminish in the slightest, instead, it grew even more intense. An inexplicable sorrow welled up in her chest, making her uncomfortable.

“General.”

“Si Wan.”

Two distinct voices made her pause once more. The voice other than Sheng Zhen’s was hoarse, as if spoken by thousands, sending a tremor through her soul.

Si Wan’s body stiffened involuntarily. A biting, howling wind stung her skin, evoking memories of the harsh frost and bitter cold from the borderlands in her dreams.

She turned stiffly to face the scene before her. Though it was not the revered spectacle from her dreams, the rows of skeletal remains were even more awe-inspiring.

In her daze, Sheng Zhen forced something into her hand.

Lowering her gaze in bewilderment, Si Wan saw three sticks of incense that Sheng Zhen had given her.

The incense, already lit from some unknown source, emitted smoke that rose like three translucent veils. The scent, not unpleasant, lingered at her nostrils, stirring something deep within her.

The usual smile in Sheng Zhen’s eyes was replaced by silence. With a sorrowful sweep over the skeletal remains, she spoke after a moment’s contemplation. “They haven’t seen you in a long time. Take a good look at them now, just as you are.”

After speaking, Sheng Zhen placed her hand on Si Wan’s back, applying a gentle pressure that made Si Wan bow slightly, as if paying respects with utmost reverence.

Though puzzled, Si Wan followed Sheng Zhen’s lead, bending her spine a little further.

Sheng Zhen held three incense sticks identical to Si Wan’s, bending forward with a poise that radiated innate elegance. Her voice, neither too loud nor too soft, echoed faintly, stirring a sense of bewilderment in those who heard it.

“Your general has returned, safe and sound. All soldiers may now depart in peace.”

Upon hearing this, Si Wan’s expression shifted slightly. She wanted to refute, but when her eyes met Sheng Zhen’s, the words died in her throat.

As if sensing Si Wan’s thoughts, Sheng Zhen tilted her head slightly and gave a reassuring smile.

“Si Wan, how could they not recognize him?”

Having fought alongside the general for years on the battlefield, they would never mistake his identity.

After a moment of silence, Si Wan closed her mouth, choosing not to speak further.

Even if Sheng Zhen was referring to someone else, as long as Sheng Zhen wished it, Si Wan had no issue playing that role.

Just as Sheng Zhen’s words faded, a sharp, eerie wind swept in from nowhere, causing the incense in their hands to burn faster, as if in agreement with Sheng Zhen’s declaration.

At that moment, Guan Yue’s scream pierced the air. Si Wan’s expression changed, and she quickly pulled Sheng Zhen along, rushing toward the source of the sound.

But as she hurried away, Si Wan did not notice the skeletons behind them collapsing within their armor, scattering bones across the ground, the ghostly flames in their eye sockets extinguishing, leaving only hollow emptiness.

Fortunately, Guan Yue and Nian Nian had not gone far, and Si Wan soon found them.

Guan Yue was lying on the ground, one hand tightly gripping Nian Nian’s wrist, both of them staring at something.

As Si Wan approached, she heard Guan Yue’s fearful muttering.

“Why does the path end here? Where’s Si Wan? Wasn’t she walking ahead of us? Did she fall down…”

The more she spoke, the more convinced Guan Yue became that Si Wan had fallen. Her grip on Nian Nian’s wrist tightened, leaving Nian Nian no chance to explain.

Si Wan walked up to Guan Yue, leaned over slightly to look down, and asked in confusion,

“Who fell down?”

Guan Yue, frowning deeply, replied,

“Si Wan, of course. Nian Nian, stop staring and help me think of something!”

Only then did Guan Yue realize the voice sounded familiar. Turning her head, she saw Si Wan standing perfectly fine beside her and immediately scooted closer to Nian Nian in fright, pointing at Si Wan and exclaiming,

“How are you here? Weren’t you down there?”

Hearing this, Si Wan raised an eyebrow slightly before casually offering an explanation.

“You two walked too fast earlier. I tripped and fell behind.”

Relieved, Guan Yue let out a sigh and then laughed awkwardly, saying,

“I thought a ghost had pushed you down.”

She then turned and glared at Nian Nian, complaining,

“You didn’t even tell me Si Wan had fallen behind. Were you just enjoying the show?”

Faced with Guan Yue’s accusation, Nian Nian silently rubbed the red marks on her wrist left by Guan Yue’s grip, looking somewhat helpless.

Sheng Zhen, however, was displeased. Drifting over to Guan Yue, she let out a light hum and said,

“Who gave you the nerve to slander me? I’m not like those characters in your storybooks who kill their wives to prove their devotion.”

Hearing Sheng Zhen’s words, Si Wan coughed abruptly. When the other two looked over, she quickly turned her head away, hiding her slightly flushed ears from view.

Sheng Zhen didn’t need sleep. Si Wan, worried she might get bored at night and also to prevent her from suddenly turning off the lights to scare people, would wear earplugs herself, play TV dramas for Sheng Zhen, and tell her they were modern-day storybooks.

Si Wan had no idea what Sheng Zhen had been secretly watching behind her back at night.

After calming down slightly, Si Wan and the others once again peered into the pitch-black abyss below the cliff. Then, in a low voice, she spoke.

“There’s only this one path here. For now, we can only confirm that the earlier scream came from below. We don’t know the exact situation of the person down there.”

Nian Nian shone her flashlight downward, pausing on the broken rope ladder and the feathered arrows embedded in the cliff wall. She said, “I noticed that rope ladder earlier. Judging by its condition, it doesn’t seem like it belongs to the tomb, it was probably brought in by someone who entered.”

As she spoke, the beam of her flashlight shifted to the side, illuminating a narrow path along the cliff wall, barely wide enough for one foot. She continued calmly, “That person didn’t dare risk taking that route but didn’t expect there would be traps even going down this way.”

Whoever prepared these things must have come well-prepared.

“Are there any other paths?” Si Wan asked, though her question was directed at Sheng Zhen.

Guan Yue, thinking Si Wan was asking them, shook her head and said, “For now, that should be the only one.”

Sheng Zhen pondered for a moment, then began feeling around as if searching for something. “I’m not familiar with this place either, but there should still be mechanisms here. As for whether there are other paths, I’ll keep looking.”

Though she said this, her hands, seemingly aimless, precisely touched several spots. The next moment, the sound of mechanisms echoed, causing the ground beneath their feet to tremble slightly.

Everyone tensed up instantly. Guan Yue exclaimed in fear, “I remember we didn’t touch anything!”

As soon as Guan Yue finished speaking, another piercing scream echoed from the bottom of the cliff. Yet Sheng Zhen remained with her back to them, murmuring to herself as she accurately triggered a few more mechanisms.

Watching Sheng Zhen’s actions, Si Wan’s tense nerves relaxed slightly. She merely pursed her lips, making no move to stop her.

As the screams from below faded, Guan Yue finally lowered her hands from her ears and patted her chest in relief. “Thank goodness the traps aren’t here with us.”

Sheng Zhen stopped what she was doing, turned around, and smiled at Si Wan, a brightness that starkly contrasted with her pale face, as if none of this had anything to do with her.

But Si Wan knew Sheng Zhen had done it on purpose. It wasn’t that only the traps below were triggered, she had deliberately activated all the mechanisms down there.

Sheng Zhen blinked, feigning innocence, and said, “There probably aren’t any other paths here. If you want to know whether the person below is alive or dead, I’ll condescend to go down first and check for you.”

Hearing this, Si Wan instinctively shook her head in refusal.

Sheng Zhen chuckled, drifted to Si Wan’s side, and gently patted the back of her hand in reassurance, so naturally that Si Wan didn’t even notice the ambiguity between them.

“Don’t worry, all of you combined haven’t been dead as long as I have.”

Before Si Wan could react, Sheng Zhen’s figure vanished into the darkness at the bottom of the cliff.

Seeing Sheng Zhen disappear, Si Wan immediately grew anxious. She snatched the flashlight from Nian Nian’s hand, shining it around frantically as if trying to find Sheng Zhen’s silhouette.

“What are you looking for?” Guan Yue asked, puzzled.

Si Wan’s movements paused. Having failed to find Sheng Zhen, an unreadable emotion flickered in her eyes, yet in the end, she did not confess that she had been searching for a ghost.

…