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The 'tourist', as Hei Xiazi called him when he sent the profile, was a researcher. Xe Mingzhe was academia royalty with all his archeology degrees, published papers and so forth.
The 'tourist' was an asshole; he didn't have to be rude to Wu Xie.
Despite Wu Xie's patient explanations, the man responded with a churlish attitude that irritated everybody. To Liu Sang's surprise, it set his teeth on edge as well.
His attitude ran across Liu Sang's back like bristles going the wrong way. He'd either launch into a loud argument with Wu Xie or pretend he wasn't even there. Or worse, didn't ignore him and focused on pointing out everything Wu Xie did that wasn't to his fussy standards.
It was uncalled for. Especially after Wu Xie stopped him from entering the wrong door.
"…don't need you to tell me what that represents. In my experience, it means…"
"Shouldn't have stopped him, Tianzhen."
Pangzi muttered under his breath, not within earshot. Well, not within their earshot. Pangzi's gaze flickered towards Liu Sang, his eyebrow arched slightly. His scowl abruptly split into a grin.
"Damn Pangzi," Liu Sang muttered, low enough no one heard him. But Pangzi winked at him as if he did. Throughout the expedition, he'd been winking whenever Liu Sang looked in his direction, as though they were sharing a secret only they knew. Liu Sang's mouth pressed thin. He ignored Pangzi; someone needed to be the professional here.
Xe, or Xe-boshi, as he demanded to be called, was now disassembling Wu Xie's previous interpretation of the murals that bookended the door he tried to enter. Liu Sang wanted to plug his ears with his white noise earbuds. Xe's voice was making even his sinuses burn. If shibie suddenly appear around them, Liu Sang was sure who was to blame.
"This drivel you submitted to my department has no academic merit. Dangerous? 'Would not recommend entering the tomb during the rainy season?' Where are your references for this claim? Your proof? A trap? This tomb is over a thousand years old. What trap would still function? That is the problem with hobbyists like you; always so melodramatic…"
Wu Xie or Pangzi's quiet demeanor confused Liu Sang, seeing them nod along as though they found Xe-boshi's logic sound. Even Ouxiang remained nonplussed, although Liu Sang thought his expression went increasingly flatter and blanker with every disparaging hand gesture towards Wu Xie.
Ouxiang snapped his hood over his head after Wu Xie's second congenial, "Of course, you're right." And for the rest of Xe's indignation, Zhang Qiling folded his arms in front of him, dark glittering eyes fixed on Xe's shoulders. His sword stayed in its sheath on his back.
"Thanks to you, we missed the opportunity to enter the tomb through its ceremonial corridor. Countless research hours nullified. We were supposed to be filming my discovery by now. But because you had to be the star of the show and stopped me, we lost the opportunity. How will you compensate the university?"
Ingrate, Liu Sang also glowered at the back of the scholar's balding head as he told Wu Xie off. His right ear ached; Xe's voice kept cracking in a way that reminded him of nails on chalk.
Why didn't they walk off the job? Liu Sang couldn't, obliged by a contract whose fee he had already spent on the medical treatments for his ears. However, Wu Xie and Wang Pangzi's work was strictly volunteer. And Zhang Qiling could disappear anytime in an instant, like a wisp of smoke. After all, Liu Sang invited them in to help. They're not responsible for the project nor for this asshole; only Liu Sang is—
Oh.
Liu Sang blinked wide-eyed at Wu Xie as he strolled beside Xe-boshi, the murals a backdrop for his friendly gestures, as a docent might.
"That's right, Tianzhen," Pangzi murmured behind a smile that grew more murderous than friendly as the minutes progressed.
"Shovel more crap down that asshole's throat. Let's finish this before the tomb finishes us."
As Xe continued to question Wu Xie's theory, Liu Sang's eyes narrowed, fixed on Xe's shiny bald spot.
The so-called renowned Xe-boshi no longer second-guessed Wu Xie after he pried open the first door, stalked in and almost got squashed by the large setting stone. That dropped from the ceiling the moment he set foot into the corridor Wu Xie had warned against.
Wu Xie snatched Xe back by the collars, faster even than Zhang Qiling. Then Wu Xie stumbled back, because he was fast but not as graceful as Ouxiang. Pangzi was surprisingly nimble as he hopped forward and caught Wu Xie before the back of his head connected with a pillar.
No one commented when the professor meekly hung back, the rustle of their clothes and their boots the only sounds now as they continued deeper into the tomb.
Liu Sang spied Wu Xie winking at Pangzi. Then Pangzi winked exaggeratedly at Zhang Qiling, a knowing glint in his eye, and Zhang Qiling...
Ouxiang glanced over, his features still shrouded deep within his hood. He nodded, a fraction of motion that barely rustled his hood. And Liu Sang could swear Ouxiang smiled at him. Maybe?
Liu Sang's lips twitched before a grin bloomed, even though it made him look like a fool in front of Ouxiang. The sound of his boots thudding rapidly on the stone as he hurried after the Iron Triangle filled the air. When Pangzi clapped him on the shoulder with a quip about slow feet, Liu Sang didn't shrug him off.