Her Marriage: The Night is Still Young-Chapter 178: You’re Not the Same as Before

Julian Grant put the water cup back on the bedside table and teased with a smile, "No need to thank me."

He looked down at her.

The soft orange nightlight made her eyes shine like brilliant stars.

Julian Grant was captivated for a few seconds and couldn’t help but gently kiss her eyes.

Josephine Thompson was startled and instinctively wanted to push him away.

But he had already moved back.

Their eyes met, and the atmosphere became increasingly ambiguous.

"...Can’t sleep?"

Josephine softly said "Hmm," "My mind is in a mess."

Her heart felt like a huge stone was pressing down, making it hard to breathe.

"Don’t overthink it, I’m here with you," Julian said, stroking her hair, lying down beside her.

"..." Josephine moved inward, making some space for him.

They lay down together.

Surprisingly, there was no tension between man and woman, but rather a sense of calm.

Of course.

She was calm, while he was trying hard not to let his thoughts wander.

Julian found something to talk about, and laughed, "You were talking in your sleep earlier, saying ’Don’t pull me.’ Were you dreaming of someone pulling you?"

Josephine swallowed heavily and said with a sigh, "I dreamed of a shadow pulling me down a tomb raider’s hole, I couldn’t scream, or break free..."

"It was a nightmare, wasn’t it?"

"Yeah."

"You’re lacking yang energy, let me help you with that. My yang energy is strong, even ghosts are afraid of me."

He deliberately spoke in a ferocious tone.

Josephine burst into laughter, the earlier fear mostly dispersed.

She raised her head, looking into his smiling eyes, and suddenly felt relieved.

With him being such a carefree devil.

Even ghosts would avoid him.

With him around, no place is too eerie, no dream too scary.

"I’ve noticed you’ve changed a lot, you’re not like before at all."

Julian paused, then smiled wryly, "With age comes maturity."

"I did a lot of stupid things when I was young and reckless. Thinking about it now still makes my skin crawl, can’t bear to look back."

"..." Josephine remained silent.

It’s true.

People change as they grow older.

Thoughts five years ago are definitely different from thoughts five years later.

Even her, her thoughts keep changing.

"What are you thinking about?"

Josephine: "Not thinking about anything."

"Then get some sleep." Julian said, stretching out an arm, indicating her to rest on it.

Josephine pushed his arm back, "Go sleep in that bed."

Julian: "No, I have to stay here, protect you."

"Then go to sleep early." Josephine turned over, her back facing him as she slept.

Julian wanted to hug her, but after stretching out his arm, eventually held back.

He didn’t want to rush, didn’t want to provoke her resistance or dislike.

Being this close to her was already a big step forward.

In the latter half of the night.

The wind picked up again.

The iron walls of the container made a rustling noise, and in the distance, they could vaguely hear Carter’s cough as he kept watch.

Perhaps his yang energy really was strong.

There were no more nightmares this time.

When she drifted off into sleep, she felt Julian gently tuck the blanket around her. His movements were light, as if afraid of waking her.

...

In the morning.

The first light of dawn broke, and mist shrouded the valley.

When Josephine sat up, rubbing her eyes.

Julian was already standing at the container door, looking out.

Seeing she was awake, he handed over his coat, "It’s very cold today, it’s raining outside, wear something warm."

"Okay." Josephine took the coat and draped it over herself.

After a simple wash-up.

There was a commotion outside the camp, bustling with people.

Captain Zimmerman was walking quickly towards the mountain entrance with a walkie-talkie in hand, and Carter dusted off his pants, peering around, "It must be Professor Warren and his team arriving."

Josephine and Julian stepped outside as well.

As soon as they stepped out.

They happened to meet Shane Lynch stepping out as well.

Josephine greeted him as usual, "Morning, Lynch."

Shane Lynch watched them come out of the same place, feeling a pang in his heart, "Good morning."

"Professor Warren and the others have arrived, let’s go welcome them."

"Sure."

The three of them headed towards the mountain entrance.

After rounding the corner with the crooked pine tree, they saw several motorcycles parked in the clearing.

The mountain road was rough and narrow, cars couldn’t get up.

So, they had to ride electric and motorcycles.

"Professor Warren, welcome!"

The motorcycles were parked neatly.

An elderly man with graying hair, wearing a dark gray jacket and holding a well-worn leather notebook, was none other than Professor Warren.

He was followed by a group of five or six young people.

Some carried sampling boxes, others laser rangefinders, clearly experts he brought along.

"Warren! We’ve been eagerly waiting for you!" Captain Zimmerman greeted, shaking Professor Warren’s hand vigorously.

Professor Warren smiled, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes gathering, "We rushed overnight, where’s the new tomb raider’s hole? I heard over the walkie-talkie on the way about finding lotus pattern pottery shards?"

As he spoke.

His gaze swept past Captain Zimmerman, pausing on Josephine, "How are you adapting on the mountain, Thompson?"

Josephine quickly nodded, "Thanks, mentor, I’m adapting well."

Professor Warren smiled and then looked at Julian Grant with a nod, "How’s Grant performing? He insisted on coming to assist you."

Josephine’s cheeks turned red, glancing awkwardly at Julian Grant.

Julian Grant shook Professor Warren’s hand with a smile, "Performance must be top-notch, Expert Thompson is very satisfied. You won’t find a better assistant like me with a lantern all over the world."

"..." Josephine’s face turned even more awkward.

Professor Warren couldn’t help but laugh.

Others might not know Julian Grant’s background.

But he knew it well.

Plus, he was a good friend of Julian Grant’s grandfather.

He was also well aware of Julian Grant’s real purpose for being here.

After exchanging pleasantries.

Captain Zimmerman: "Have you had breakfast, Professor Warren? If not, let’s all have some breakfast first."

"Stop saying so much, just take us to see the new hole made by the grave robbers first."

"Alright then."

"The hole is two kilometers away, we have to walk over there."

"This way, please."

The group walks along the mountain path, which is still covered in morning mist, towards the hole made by the grave robbers.

The gravel underfoot is slick with dew, making it quite slippery to step on.

Julian Grant walks beside Josephine Thompson, occasionally reaching out to help her.

Seeing her coat collar being blown open by the wind, he reaches out to adjust it for her, "The mountain wind is biting, don’t catch a cold."

Josephine doesn’t shy away, only murmurs a low "Thank you."

Shane Lynch walks diagonally in front, holding the archaeological trowel tightly in his hand, his face a little pale.

Ever since Julian Grant arrived,

he has intentionally distanced himself from Josephine Thompson.

Apart from necessary work-related communication, he purposely avoids her at other times.

Josephine finds it a bit baffling, unsure why he’s distancing himself from her.

"Master, earlier you mentioned that the Lotus Pattern Box might be related to the Feudal Lord’s Seal. My dad’s notes had a phrase: ’The lotus opens in threefold, the seal hides in its heart.’ Do you know what it means?"

Professor Warren pauses his steps, looking back at her with approval in his eyes, "You remember that phrase? Elder Thompson pondered over it for quite some time. He said this might be the mechanism of the Lotus Pattern Box, with an outer layer shaped like lotus petals. The middle layer conceals a secret compartment, and the innermost layer houses the seal."

"However, we’ve never seen it in person, so it’s just a hypothesis."

He points to the mountain cove ahead, "If this hole indeed connects to the main tomb, we might find some evidence."

As they talk, the group reaches the hole made by the grave robbers.

Captain Zimmerman removes the branches covering the entrance, revealing a pitch-black hole exuding a chilly dampness mixed with the cloying, sweet smell from yesterday, now even more intense.

Professor Warren crouches down to inspect it carefully.

Afterward, he signals the young members of the expert team to shine inside with the High Intensity Flashlight, while he examines the soil marks at the entrance with a magnifying glass.

"The person who dug this is quite skilled. See the trowel marks on the wall? They were made at a slant with grooves to prevent slipping, typical of a seasoned hand."

"And the location is cleverly chosen."

Shane Lynch approaches, pointing in the direction of Tomb 3 not far away, "It’s right in the blind spot of the main tomb passage. If they dig at a slant from here, they can reach the ear chamber in less than ten meters."

Julian Grant listens beside him, furrowing his brows, "So, one of the grave robbers understands archaeology?"

Shane Lynch glances at him coolly, his eyes carrying a hint of ’ignorance.’

Many who make a living by grave robbing are sometimes more adept and professional than experts.

Never equate livelihood skills with theoretical knowledge.

Professor Warren examines a bit more before standing up and dusting off his hands, "Lower the Detector to see if there are any cavities beneath."

"Okay." Two young members immediately take out a more specialized Detector and slowly lower the probe into the hole.

The device emits a soft "beep-beep."

The screen gradually reveals a blurred image.

Professor Warren stares at the screen for a long time, his expression darkening, "As expected, it’s connected."

"About three meters down there’s a horizontal passage, likely hitting the side wall of the ear chamber."

Josephine’s heart tightens, "Then the artifacts inside might have suffered..." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"Hard to say." Professor Warren sighs.

"The ear chamber usually houses burial pottery and weapons. If they managed to dig through, nine times out of ten, they’ve been damaged."

With that,

he turns to Captain Zimmerman, "Alert the team, prepare for a rescue excavation."

"Understood."

Professor Warren: "Everyone else should go to Tomb 3 and continue with the usual work."

"We’ll complete the initial detection here before deciding the next step."

"...Alright."

"Let’s head back first."

Josephine feels a lump in her chest, walking back with the staff, filled with nervousness and uncertainty.

She has a hunch.

This new hole is the main burial chamber.

Moreover, it holds what she needs, the method to open the Jade Bone Box.

The way back feels much heavier than when they came.

Josephine clutches a pottery shard in her pocket, her fingertips repeatedly caressing the lotus pattern on it.

The vermillion dot in the pattern has been polished to a shine, looking strikingly similar to the "Lotus Pattern Box" mechanism diagram in her father’s notes.

Julian Grant walks beside her, noticing her head-down and frowning expression, lightly nudges her arm, "What are you thinking?"

"Nothing in particular."

"Josephine, I’ve noticed you’ve been quite preoccupied lately. What’s troubling you so much?"

He always seems to effortlessly see through the unspoken thoughts in her mind.

Josephine relaxes a bit, sighs softly, "My dad used to study the Lotus Pattern Box, always said it and the Jade Bone Box are a pair. The Lotus Pattern Box hides the seal, and the Jade Bone Box holds the ’key.’

"To open the Jade Bone Box, you need to find the mechanism formula hidden in the Lotus Pattern Box. But he passed away before he could find the real thing..."

Before she can finish speaking,

there’s a sudden commotion ahead.

It’s Shane Lynch and Captain Zimmerman standing by the excavation pit of Tomb 3, Shane holding a newly unearthed bronze cup, his face looking grim: "The inscription on this cup has been scraped! It must have been brought out by the grave robbers from the ear chamber and carelessly discarded here!"

Captain Zimmerman is also anxious, "I just found it while having someone clean the excavation area. It’s so close to the hole, they might have already ransacked the ear chamber!"

Josephine feels a sinking sensation, quickly walks over.

The bronze cup is placed on a board covered with soft cloth, and indeed there are fresh scrape marks on the abdomen. The area that should have inscriptions is worn to the point of being indistinct.

One of the experts brought by Professor Warren examines it with a magnifying glass, "The scrape marks are very fresh, likely made within the past week. The grave robbers scrape the inscriptions, either to destroy evidence of the artifact’s origin or because...the inscriptions contain something they’re looking for."

"The inscription contains something?"

Josephine suddenly remembers something from her father’s notes.

"The lotus pattern hides location, the inscription records the mechanism." She crouches down to closely examine the blurred scrape marks, then suddenly points to a spot that isn’t completely scraped clean, "This isn’t an ordinary inscription! It’s a Star Constellation Pattern!"

Shane Lynch rushes over, his eyes lighting up instantly, "Star Constellation Pattern? Are you sure?"

"My dad’s notes have similar drawings."

Josephine nods, "He said that in the early Western Ancient Dynasty vassal king’s tombs, sometimes the artifacts would be marked with a Star Constellation Pattern to indicate the main tomb’s location. Look at these remaining lines, don’t they resemble the handle of the Big Dipper?"

Captain Zimmerman also approaches, upon hearing this he immediately instructs someone to take photos, "Document the remaining pattern! Josephine, does your father’s notes mention how the Star Constellation Pattern corresponds to locations?"

Josephine is about to answer when Shane Lynch suddenly interjects, "I recall Professor Warren saying before, that the Star Constellation Pattern generally aligns with the North Star’s position at the time of the tomb owner’s burial, and the direction the handle points indicates the main tomb passage!"

He says this while picking up the bronze cup to demonstrate, "This handle is off by half an inch, which means the main tomb passage might not be directly south as we previously speculated."

"Yes, my father’s notes contain the same records."

Shane Lynch’s expression stiffens, he doesn’t respond, just looks down and continues examining the bronze cup.

But Josephine notices him tapping the bottom of the cup three times, the rhythm identical to the "Lotus Pattern Box Mechanism Knocking Method" from her father’s notes.

As she watches,

suddenly everything goes black, and she feels dizzy and light-headed.

In the next moment,

she can’t keep her balance and loses consciousness.

"Josephine, Josephine, what’s wrong?" Julian’s heart leaps with fear, quickly catching her.

Josephine, feeling light-headed, collapses softly.

Julian is both startled and panicked, "Quick, someone, Josephine has fainted."

The team doctor and other staff, seeing this, hurriedly gather around.

"What happened to Professor Thompson?"

The team doctor steps forward to check, "First, lay her on the ground."

"Oh, okay." Julian quickly carries her to an open area nearby.

The team doctor examines her for a moment, his expression growing serious, "Josephine’s symptoms seem like poisoning."

Just as he says this,

another voice cries out in alarm, "It’s not good, Carter has also fainted."