The situation seemed relatively stable on the surface at this time, but in fact it was undercurrents, with various forces competing secretly for their own interests.
The reason why the four major families in Tanzhou, Su, Gu, Chu and Shang, are what they are today is because their ancestors made a living by buying and selling underground things.
Today, although many of the secret methods have been lost and they have all become businessmen running legitimate foreign companies on the surface, they still carry out certain shady activities in secret.
The four major families on the surface and the four major sects in secret have a long-standing relationship between them. They are wary of each other and support each other.
It is said that this is because the ancestors of the four families were actually from the same sect, and they were taught by the same master.
It was in this complicated situation that the original Su Qiao, under the order of Grandpa Su, her grandfather, entered the archaeology department of a foreign school.
And now, she is following Professor Tang, a famous professor in the Department of Archaeology, to track down a mysterious ancient relic.
Also traveling with them were Gu Han, the young master of the Gu family, his sister Gu Ling, and Chu Hui, the young master of the Chu family.
Gu Han and Chu Hui are Su Qiao's classmates. They have the same tutor, Professor Tang, and Gu Ling was the one who managed to catch up with him by force.
The last one, the dark-faced old man with a slightly lame leg, was the old hunter they found in a village before arriving at the western mountains after taking a train for two days and two nights.
He was very familiar with the terrain of Huilong Mountain. He had been hunting in these mountains with his grandfather since he was a child.
It is said that seventeen years ago, they accidentally visited the mysterious tribal ruins they were going to.
Speaking of this, we have to mention Jiang Han, the personal bodyguard sent by Grandpa Su to protect his granddaughter Su Qiao.
Jiang Han is the illegitimate son of the Su family.
Because of his fierce temper, he was nicknamed "Agou", and some people also called him Jiang Mad Dog behind his back.
Both of his parents were servants in the Su family. His father disappeared more than ten years ago and his life or death is unknown.
Not long after, the mother also fell into a well and drowned in an accident.
Because of his intelligence and talent, Mr. Su arranged for someone to train him well.
When he was seventeen years old, that is, five years ago, Grandpa Su sent him to Su Qiao to go to school with Su Qiao and also to protect her safety.
On this trip, Jiang Han followed Su Qiao as usual.
Considering the safety issues along the way, the team leader Professor Tang did not object.
Unfortunately, three days after they entered Huilong Mountain, Jiang Han was attacked by several wild boars and unfortunately fell down a stone slope, breaking his right leg.
Although his bones had been set and he had taken medicine by the hunter He Shu who had some knowledge of medicine, the team had to stop because of his behavior.
After a day and night of stalemate, everyone discussed and decided to hide Jiang Han in a cave where Uncle He and his grandfather used to live when they went hunting.
They left food, water and medicine for him, and also helped him pick up a pile of dry firewood, dead branches and grass.
It was agreed that they would pick the person up after they came back.
On one side was his grandfather's tough order before he left, and on the other side was the person who had been with him for five years. The original Su Qiao hesitated for a long time, but finally chose to move on.
But she didn't expect that this decision would not only kill herself, but also hurt Jiang Han badly.
The final destination of their group, including Professor Tang, was not some tribal ruins at all, but a large tomb.
The tomb of the queen of a mysterious country for which there is no historical record.
The group entered the tomb with great difficulty, and after going through numerous traps, they finally found the door leading to the main tomb chamber.