Others write books, striving for truth and relatability.
Yet Lin Chuan chooses the opposite path, better to be less realistic and avoid suspicion of documenting crimes.
Lin Chuan had come to a clear understanding. The system was definitely messing with him, offering only criminal professions with no other options.
The system's full name should be: Criminal Life Experience System, otherwise how could it be that he pulled criminal professions every single time?
Even with Lin Chuan's lousy luck, it couldn't be that he'd always be caught out.
A definite nail in the coffin, absolutely nailed it!
This time, "Touch Gold Notes" first edition, with its seemingly magical hues, was actually right up Lin Chuan's alley.
Shen Qianqian looked at Lin Chuan and asked with a smile, "Changing tracks this time?"
Ahem.
Lin Chuan cleared his throat and smiled, "A different experience, you'll know in a few days when the new book comes out."
"Okay, I'll wait for your new book," Shen Qianqian said with a smile.
"I'll be looking forward to it too."
Qin Sisi added her voice.
"You guys are putting a lot of pressure on me," Lin Chuan said half-jokingly.
The three exchanged glances and burst into laughter.
Afterward.
Lin Chuan took the passenger seat in Shen Qianqian's car and headed to the Cultural Relics Protection and Archaeological Research Institute.
This unit was located in Qingxiu District, not far from Linjiang Mansion, just over a ten-minute drive.
The police station was also nearby.
Upon entering the Cultural Relics Protection and Archaeological Research Institute, the director personally greeted Lin Chuan to discuss cooperation matters.
Mainly concerning the identification, restoration, and protection of cultural relics after excavation.
Lin Chuan didn't make excessive demands, and the Archaeological Research Institute was willing to offer a good price.
The two parties hit it off right away.
"Comrade Lin, our institute has just unearthed a batch of relics from a construction site, which are still being cleaned and have yet to be identified. Shall we take a look together?" After discussing preliminary cooperation, the director suggested with a smile.
The director, named Su Yu, was in his forties, with short hair and a long face, a ruddy complexion, and it was clear that he had been a handsome young man in his day.
"Sure," Lin Chuan readily agreed.
The newly unearthed relics were all placed in the cultural relic conservation studio.
Lin Chuan, the director, along with Qin Sisi and Shen Qianqian, passed through the institute's front hall, a small courtyard, and then entered the conservation studio.
The space inside the studio was spacious, well-lit, soft, and warm.
The walls were adorned with replica cultural relics from various dynasties, while all around were various tools for relic restoration, ranging from ancient wooden carvings to modern high-tech instruments.
In the center was a long table covered with a soft white cloth, on which a batch of newly unearthed relics was placed.
Some archaeological staff, dressed in white uniforms, were brushing these relics with their brushes.
Lin Chuan stepped into the studio, his gaze landing on these newly unearthed relics.
"Lin, take a look at this relic."
Director Su Yu pulled Lin Chuan towards the long table in the middle, pointing to one of the relics.
Lin Chuan looked over to see a bucket.
At the top of the bucket's lid was a ring knob, with a deep body and a pair of replaced ring ears at the top, used for moving the beam.
The surface was lacquered, with red and black lacquer used for painting. The body was painted with lacquer, the lid with interconnected cloud patterns, the foot with diamond patterns, and the bucket body with four sections of paintings, each with different content.
The lines were smooth, the depiction vivid, with elements of people, animals, and mythical beasts present.
"This is a bronze ware from the Western Han Dynasty."
Lin Chuan recognized it at a glance.
Director Su Yu and Qin Sisi exchanged surprised glances.
"I had only heard of Lin's discerning eye, but I didn't expect it to be so profound!" Director Su Yu praised, "Lin, how do you manage to determine the age at a glance?"
"Actually, it's not that difficult."
Lin Chuan walked over to the bronze bucket, pointing to the patina and patterns, explaining, "The rust and patina here all indicate an item from the Han Dynasty. The lacquer paintings unfold in different layers up and down, similar to the performance style of T-shaped silk paintings from the Mawangdui No. 1 Han Tomb in Changsha."
"It seems our institute has found a strong partner," Director Su Yu said with a hearty laugh.
Lin Chuan smiled modestly.
Then, Director Su Yu pointed to the next relic.
It was a bronze lamp.
Differing from ordinary bronze lamps, this one had three tiers with nine branches, each supporting a mulberry leaf-shaped lamp bowl, resembling a Fusu tree.
"A Fusu tree bronze lamp from the Western Han period, made by an official foundry." Lin Chuan murmured, "The mere presence of these two items is enough to testify that this tomb is extraordinary."
The bronze bucket from just now and the current bronze lamp were the most precious relics unearthed this time.
Whoever could afford to use these two items for burial in the Han Dynasty was no commoner.
But who knew.
Director Su Yu sighed, "Comrade Lin, you've seen our little spectacle; these relics were dug up from the construction site, and we are still locating the tomb."
"If I may be so bold as to ask, where is this construction site?" Lin Chuan asked with a smile.
"It's on the outskirts of Anling City, about a kilometer past Anling Bridge," Su Yu replied with a smile, before looking at Lin Chuan and asking, "Lin, do you also dabble in archaeology?"
Lin Chuan shook his head and replied with a smile, "Just a bit interested, that's all."
At that moment,
Qin Sisi chimed in with a laugh, "Director, you don't know, Lin Chuan has another identity. He's a web novel writer, and he recently wanted to write a novel about archaeology."
Director Su Yu looked up at Lin Chuan with a flash of surprise on his face before laughing heartily,
"I had no idea Comrade Lin was also a web novel writer. If Lin is interested, we could also take a look at the construction site. Going to the actual site for your novel could perhaps spark some inspiration."
"Then I thank you very much."
Lin Chuan's face lit up with a smile.
Normally, he might have taken an interest in archaeology as a spectator, but now, he felt that he might as well try his hand at it.
After all, the system now required him to experience the tomb-robbing copy.
Theory alone was not enough; he needed to take practical action.
Time is the sole criterion for testing truth.
"It just so happens I also need to go to the construction site, so let's go together," Director Su Yu said cheerfully.
"Director, I want to go too," Qin Sisi requested.
"You're about to transfer to the National Archaeological Team, and you're still interested in this small event?"
The director joked with a laugh.
Qin Sisi blinked her eyes and chuckled, "Exactly because I'm about to be transferred, I want to see the progress of our Anling City's archaeological work and broaden my knowledge."
"Alright, let's go together then."
Director Su Yu nodded in agreement.
The group left the Cultural Relics Protection Workshop.
As they walked, Shen Qianqian asked, "Qianqian, you're being transferred to the National Archaeological Team?"
Qin Sisi nodded and smiled, "Yes, recently the National Archaeological Team has been looking to bring in some new blood, and the Research Institute submitted my name. I didn't expect to pass the preliminary round, and just a few days ago, I also passed the interview."
"Congratulations."
Shen Qianqian laughed, "Joining the National Archaeological Team means you'll be wandering far and wide now."
"Yes, I heard that the archaeological squad I'm being assigned to will be heading to the Qilu Region for an excavation right after I report in," Qin Sisi replied.
"The Qilu Region?" Shen Qianqian was taken aback.
"Mhm, it's rumored that there might be a Great Tomb there. I'll find out once I get there," Qin Sisi said with a smile, excitement evident on her pretty face.
She truly loved archaeology.
Since preparing for her transfer to the National Archaeological Team and receiving this assignment, she had been making preparations, conducting a series of related investigations into the burial sites in the 'Qilu Region.'
This time, a collection of copper artifacts had been found at a local construction site in Anling.
Like Lin Chuan, she was also very interested.
It was noon now.
The morning's warm sun had become scorching. With barely any breeze, the temperature had soared to over thirty degrees. The tires of cars rolled forward on the road, hissing with friction.
Soon, Lin Chuan and his group arrived at the construction site on the outskirts of Anling City.
The site, planned to cover six to seven hundred acres, was originally intended to flatten the mountains and build a high-end mall, thereby creating a new economic circle for Anling and relieving the pressure on Qingxiu District.
The discovery of a batch of copper artifacts had now left the construction site in a state of suspension.
Police barriers cordoned off the site, with public security officers maintaining order.
The staff of the Cultural Relics Protection and Archaeological Research Institute were bustling about.
Director Su Yu led Lin Chuan, Qin Sisi, Shen Qianqian, and a few others past the cordon and into the construction site.
Lin Chuan looked up to see several large excavators sitting on flat ground, pressing down the overgrown weeds.
A bit further away.
Layer upon layer of mountains stretched continuously, resembling serpentine dragons coiling, meandering, and soaring, each with its own form.
"Lin, over there is where the Western Han copper artifacts were unearthed."
Director Su Yu pointed to a large pit not far ahead and explained.
Lin Chuan walked up to the edge of the pit with the others and looked inside. It was more than ten meters wide, with many archaeologists meticulously digging.
Others were using precise instruments to measure back and forth within the pit.
The modern Archaeological Team, unlike the Touch Gold Captain's tomb raiding, had far more advanced equipment, such as sonic detectors.
This was something the Touch Gold Captain didn't have.
But the two were not of the same path.
The Archaeological Team relied more on instruments, whereas the Touch Gold Captain depended on heritage and personal practice, a fundamental difference.
Of course.
Some highly skilled Touch Gold Captains would also join Archaeological Teams, but that's a different matter.
"Director, I'm going over there to have a look," Lin Chuan pointed to a low hill a few hundred meters ahead and said.
"Comrade Lin, is there something special there?" Director Su Yu asked.
Qin Sisi also looked over curiously.
Lin Chuan chuckled dryly, "Nothing special, but I've heard that ancient burials were all about feng shui. Standing at a higher place might reveal something."
"Comrade Lin's thinking is quite unconventional," Su Yu laughed heartily, but didn't question further.
"Lin Chuan, I'll go with you," Shen Qianqian said with a smile after glancing at Lin Chuan.
"Alright."
Lin Chuan nodded in agreement.
Before long, Lin Chuan and Shen Qianqian were on the low hill.
From the top of the hill, one could see the scorching sun beat down on the earth as if enveloped by waves of heat, while the surrounding mountains extended endlessly, encircling Anling.
Lin Chuan frowned.
Then, he shifted his gaze downward, overlooking the construction site, and shook his head, "That's not it."
"Not what?" Shen Qianqian asked curiously.
"Not where the tomb is located," Lin Chuan formed a preliminary judgment and smiled.
"What?" Shen Qianqian was startled, then turned to look at Lin Chuan, "Do you really know?"
Lin Chuan grinned and said, "What if I said I know from researching, would you believe me?"
"Could I not believe you?" Shen Qianqian pursed her lips, thinking to herself, this guy always comes up with some inexplicable skills out of the blue and then claims it's from researching.
Who checks out crime-related information with such strong learning abilities?
Lin Chuan chuckled and continued to scan the surroundings.
This was the 'Observation' part of the tomb raider's 'Observation, Listening, Inquiry, Pulse Taking.'
Observation involved using one's eyes to look at the feng shui to locate the specific position of ancient tombs.
There are two common methods used.
First, observe the heavenly bodies above and survey the earthly veins below.
This means the tomb raider needs to judge the specific position of the ancient tomb based on the terrain of the rivers and mountains as well as the positions of the sun, moon, and stars.
Second, observe the soil marks and discern the color of the grass.
The marks and spacing on the ground's soil and the color of the compressed grass differ above buried tombs.
This is a difficult step.
It requires the tomb raider to have rich knowledge in geography, astronomy, and feng shui.
Lin Chuan gazed intently, his eyes sweeping over the area below in the fierce sun, until they stopped at a certain point.
Corners of his mouth turned slightly upward, revealing a hint of a smile, "That must be it!"

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