Li Chongxi's words, to a certain extent, showed disrespect towards Liang Yinqiu, while simultaneously "escalating" the conflict between them and also blocking any retreat for Liang Yinqiu and Yan Shouyi.
Liang Yinqiu, not fully aware of Yan Shouyi's capabilities, didn't think much of it. Only Yan Shouyi understood the deeper meaning behind Li Chongxi's actions.
He knew that Liang Yinqiu was proud. If he were to forcibly include Yan Shouyi and Lin Zitong in the team, they would likely be targeted and isolated within the imperial mausoleum.
Being targeted and isolated wasn't the main concern; Yan Shouyi and his companions' objective in entering the mausoleum was not archaeology. However, if disagreements arose within the team, various problems would inevitably emerge. Yan Shouyi and his group could protect themselves, and ultimately, any trouble would befall ordinary people like Liang Yinqiu and his colleagues.
Therefore, Li Chongxi acted out of consideration for Liang Yinqiu's safety. He deliberately made his stance firm, giving Yan Shouyi an opportunity to showcase his skills. Only by gaining Liang Yinqiu's trust on the surface could they unite as one once inside the mausoleum.
With heavy military guard outside, Yan Shouyi and his companions, lacking any official identity, were considered "illegal residents." Their only path to enter the mausoleum was by joining the expert team. Thus, Yan Shouyi could only comply with Li Chongxi's intentions.
After being confronted by Li Chongxi, Liang Yinqiu became genuinely angry.
Xia Qi quickly went to console him. It was then that Yan Shouyi learned that Xia Qi and Li Yang were Liang Yinqiu's students.
While calming down the elderly Mrs. Liang, Xia Qi said, "Teacher Liang, the doctors are currently unable to help the professors. Lives are at stake, so why don't we just try anything, even if it's a long shot? Let Brother Yan give it a try."
"What did you call him?" Liang Yinqiu asked, puzzled.
Xia Qi hastened to explain that he and Yan Shouyi were from the same hometown. He also emphasized that his elder sister, who was a police officer, also knew Yan Shouyi.
Upon hearing this, Liang Yinqiu, though still angry, nodded:
"Alright, you two go ahead and try. If you can't cure the three professors, then get out of here quickly and don't cause any more trouble!"
It couldn't be blamed on Liang Yinqiu for speaking harshly. If Yan Shouyi and his group couldn't even solve the problems on the surface, Liang Yinqiu indeed had no reason to believe they could handle matters underground.
Yan Shouyi, neither humble nor arrogant, agreed and walked into the makeshift medical tent.
Upon entering, Yan Shouyi was assaulted by a nauseating stench. It turned out that one of the experts had gone mad and lost control of his bodily functions. Due to the limited conditions, it had been impossible to clean him up.
Yan Shouyi did not want Lin Zitong to be involved in such a filthy scene, so he asked her to wait outside.
As the others entered the tent, Old Han explained:
"After they were brought out, this is how they've been, babbling incoherently."
Liang Yinqiu added, "They've been given sedatives, but they're not having any effect."
Yan Shouyi inquired, "What about the two cave explorers who rescued them?"
"Them..."
Old Han hesitated, then pointed to two dark, bagged bundles lying on stretchers nearby.
These were body bags!
Yan Shouyi's expression darkened. He had been wondering why the two rescued explorers, who had successfully escaped, were not sharing their experiences to organize a rescue effort. It turned out they were both dead!
Yan Shouyi walked forward, knelt, and unzipped a body bag. Inside was a skeletonized corpse, seemingly devoid of any fat, its skin stretched taut over its bones, a horrifying sight.
Among those present, only Old Han had never seen a dead person. He couldn't handle it and ran out, covering his mouth.
The others remained composed. However, Liang Yinqiu was impressed by Yan Shouyi's calmness.
Yan Shouyi took one look and zipped up the bag.
He sighed. He had seen this condition before; it was the same as Ma Xingping's!
This meant that the two explorers had fallen victim to a curse.
Unfortunately, regardless of their good physical condition, they were no match for Ma Xingping. They couldn't even last half a day before reporting to the King of Hell.
"They must have been poisoned," Xia Qi deduced.
Yan Shouyi shook his head. There was no need to investigate or explain the condition of the dead. He turned his attention to the three mad experts.
All three experts were middle-aged and not in the best physical condition. Yet, they thrashed wildly, their struggles making the bed frames creak even with their limbs bound.
Their faces were contorted, saliva dripped from their open mouths, and their eyes were bloodshot.
They looked exactly like zombies!
Xia Qi took a small step back, afraid of being scratched by the "zombies" and becoming infected.
The medical staff, concerned that the experts might bite off their own tongues, had placed anti-biting balls in their mouths, which also restricted their speech.
"Have you figured anything out?" Liang Yinqiu asked, her arms crossed, her tone somewhat sarcastic, though her gaze remained concerned for her colleagues.
Yan Shouyi said gravely, "I initially thought it was possession by spirits, but it doesn't seem to be the case now."
"Then what happened to them?" Li Chongxi asked.
Yan Shouyi let out a soft snort. He didn't believe Li Chongxi couldn't see the professors' condition; Li Chongxi was deliberately leaving it for him to handle!
"They've been afflicted with Gu. This is most likely a mechanism or trap of the imperial mausoleum."
"Gu? Really?" Li Yang adjusted his glasses, questioning, "Isn't that something only found in novels and movies?"
Yan Shouyi ignored Li Yang and began to examine the experts for wounds.
However, the experts were extremely restless, struggling continuously and emitting low growls from their throats, as if warning Yan Shouyi.
Annoyed by the noise, Yan Shouyi took out the Thirteen Needles of Ghost Gate from his satchel and inserted one into the expert's neck.
The expert, who had been unresponsive to sedatives, instantly calmed down!
Seeing this, Liang Yinqiu unconsciously uttered an "Oh," her expression becoming serious. She let go of her crossed arms and intently observed Yan Shouyi's movements.
He meticulously searched the expert's body and found a wound on his calf.
The wound was small but deep, appearing as a gaping hole. The surrounding area was inflamed, oozing purplish blood.
Having found the wound, Yan Shouyi gently pressed along the expert's leg with his fingers, as if sensing where the hole led.
Finally, he felt along the side of the expert's tailbone. Lifting the skin, he discovered a small bulge that was constantly wriggling. He could faintly see a worm churning beneath the skin!
Yan Shouyi said calmly, "I've found you."