Chapter 17: Caution

The matter of the Taihao Mausoleum clearly did not require much worry, yet Xu Chen remained preoccupied with it. Although Professor Ding had promised to send the obtained information to Grandpa Yang’s email, Xu Chen felt something was amiss.

After all, where Grandpa Yang had learned the two characters “Taihao” was something Xu Chen cared deeply about.

He was a leading figure in the medical field, yet he somehow knew a name that even historians were unaware of.

This alone was peculiar.

Moreover, even if he knew these two characters, why was he so intent on understanding their meaning? That seemed to be the crux of the matter.

Xu Chen pondered and realized there was only one way to approach this—simply ask directly.

Yes, just ask.

It wasn’t something to hide or be secretive about, so why not just inquire?

However, when Xu Chen tried, he found he couldn’t seem to reach Grandpa Yang by phone. After a moment of silence, he recalled that Grandpa Yang had already left the institute and hadn’t returned yet.

Considering the level of confidentiality assigned to his own group, Xu Chen had reason to suspect that Grandpa Yang might have also joined some secret organization or mission.

Then he dialed Ouyang Xing’s number.

Apart from the initial strict confidentiality, the secrecy level had greatly decreased afterward, and subsequent information was no longer restricted from external communication, provided no leaks occurred.

So Xu Chen made a few quick calls, and the phone was answered.

As Grandpa Yang’s student, Ouyang Xing might know some of his information.

...

“Report: The gateway intercepted a call to Yang Tianyou from his student, Xu Chen. They’re asking if we should handle it.”

In a hall filled with surveillance monitors, a soldier in camouflage suddenly stood up to report.

The officer bearing military rank on his shoulder pondered briefly: “Is that the Xu Chen who received the email from Director Yang?”

“Report, yes.”

“Could it be that he really uncovered something?”

The officer glanced at Director Yang inspecting patients in various wards on the monitors.

“Alright, inform Yang Tianyou and see what he says.”

“Yes, sir!”

After watching his subordinate leave, the officer mulled over the matter, feeling increasingly uneasy. The situation was serious, and with recent turmoil, he shouldn’t take this lightly. He immediately gave further orders.

“Shi Qiang!”

“Present!”

“Notify the Intelligence Department. I want a full report on Xu Chen’s recent movements—everything he’s done, every detail.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Wang Zhuang!”

“Present!”

“Inform the Special Task Force. Tell them there’s a situation here and a meeting is needed.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Now notify the Equipment Department. Didn’t they say Yang Tianyou’s condition has calmed considerably? I want to speak with him directly. Have them adjust the instruments.”

“Yes, sir!”

The military district’s efficiency was remarkable. Within moments, the instruments were calibrated, and Director Yang was notified of the upcoming conversation.

The officer watched the parameters on the display as the technicians reported.

“Report: Instruments ready, sir. You may proceed.”

“Good, connect me to Director Yang.”

~~~

At the Central Hospital, Director Yang no longer displayed the anxiousness he had shown earlier. It seemed he had already put the Taihao incident behind him.

At that moment, he was in a ward, checking the vital signs of patients lying motionless in their beds.

These patients all suffered from the Taihao disease and had yet to show signs of awakening. After prolonged bed rest, their muscles were atrophying.

As Director Yang prepared to examine the next patient, Xiao Wu called him over to a fixed-line phone. Puzzled, Director Yang answered.

“Yang Tianyou, I am the chief in charge of the Taihao incident at Central Hospital. I’m here to inform you that your student, Xu Chen, just called you.”

Director Yang was unperturbed: “That kid is my friend’s grandson; we’re quite close. He calls me often, for no particular reason. It’s normal.”

“No, this call was about your matter.”

The officer flipped through the materials just delivered, detailing Xu Chen’s recent activities both online and offline, recorded thoroughly. Even he was impressed.

“Not long ago, Xu Chen led three teachers and students from the Archaeology Department of Nanyuan University to discover a sacrificial tomb site. It contained numerous stone tablets, which experts agree could fill many gaps in our country’s folklore and history. It’s the most significant discovery by the History Department in recent years.”

“That’s wonderful. My friend’s grandson is making a contribution to the country. Even if he’s been sent down, he shines on my face,” Director Yang praised.

“The experts have accelerated their efforts to decipher the inscriptions. They’ve just identified the tomb’s owner. Director Yang, do you know who it is?”

“I’m a medical professional, not an archaeologist. You telling me this doesn’t mean much.”

The officer was too impatient for chit-chat: “This tomb is the Taihao Mausoleum.”

He wanted to gauge Director Yang’s reaction, but the receiver remained silent for a long while.

The technician watching the parameters on the adjacent screen immediately grew tense: “Report, the caller’s emotional state has shifted. Their speech and behavior may become erratic.”

The officer grew excited. After days with no progress and nothing to do, now there was a lead. While it might not promise a solution, it hinted at the event’s development. He couldn’t afford to ignore it.

“The Taihao Mausoleum? … It truly exists? Haha, Taihao~ Taihao!”

Suddenly, the line went dead.

The officer glanced at the technician. If the connection failed now, he’d be furious.

The technician, monitoring the situation, saw the officer’s grim expression and quickly reported, “This is a normal phenomenon in voice transmission processing, not a technical issue. It will resolve shortly.”

The officer refocused on the receiver.

He too was puzzled by why Yang Tianyou constantly mentioned Taihao but seemed unclear about what Taihao truly was.

“He can detect its traces, meaning he’s aware to some extent.”

“I knew it, I knew it. Taihao places such importance on him for a reason.”

“So that’s it, so that’s it.”

“His spiritual sensitivity, his spiritual sensitivity.”

“Thus, thus…”

Afterward, Yang Tianyou muttered obsessively as if possessed, making communication impossible.

The officer sighed in resignation, looking at the receiver before hanging up.

Previously, they had tried to communicate with Yang Tianyou when his emotions were clear and controlled—then it was easy. But once Taihao disease was mentioned, he would descend into a trance, talking to himself, unreachable.

At such times, one could only wait for him to regain calm.

Unfortunately, this time, the information seemed within reach—just a little more probing, and they could have uncovered it. Their impatience had cost them.

Still, it wasn’t without gain.

The officer picked up the recorded material and read it carefully, word by word.

There was a meeting coming up, and he needed to jot down all the key points to seek support and raise questions.

Though the line with Director Yang had been cut, a new clue had been found.

From here, they just had to follow the trail and see if they could dig up more.

In any case, it was better than knowing nothing.