Huo Ban was a person of no historical renown, but in Hu Hai's account, his status was noble, rivaling that of a National Preceptor, even surpassing figures like Zhao Gao and Li Si in rank.
It was a pity that Huo Ban was solely dedicated to the study of Lu Ban's secret techniques, having no interest in political maneuvering or concern for the lives of ordinary people – otherwise, he would never have constructed the Great Wall.
The Great Wall was but one of Huo Ban's masterpieces, yet it was not his most satisfying creation.
His most satisfying work was, in fact, the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang!
For Huo Ban, constructing a grand palace, complete with various traps and mechanisms, was his greatest passion and hobby.
However, Zhao Gao and Li Si did not see it that way.
Immediately after Qin Shi Huang's death, the two dispatched experts to the imperial mausoleum to kill Huo Ban. But Huo Ban's mastery of sorcery made them no match for him; instead, they were killed by Huo Ban and turned into puppets, left within the mausoleum.
To express his anger, Huo Ban even severed the head of one of them, placed it on a wooden figure, and then cast a spell, causing the wooden figure to march all the way to the Xianyang Palace.
This completely terrified Zhao Gao and Li Si, who believed such sorcery far exceeded their understanding.
Unable to eliminate Huo Ban, Zhao Gao and Li Si could only seek a truce. Huo Ban, holding neither of them in regard, continued his research on the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang.
Later, during Qin Shi Huang's interment, Huo Ban invited masters from various folk cults. They willingly entered the imperial mausoleum to guard it for Qin Shi Huang.
Among them, the most powerful were the Corpse Masters, Paper Figure Sculptors, Gu Masters, and Illusionists.
They offered their souls to Huo Ban, allowing him to confine them within the main hall, leaving only their physical bodies within the inner city, entombed by Huo Ban.
From then on, the four descendants of the folk cults slumbered eternally within the underground palace alongside Qin Shi Huang.
At the time of Qin Shi Huang's burial, Hu Hai had already foreseen his own future.
He knew he was merely a puppet and that Zhao Gao would eventually kill him. Being naturally timid and afraid to resist, Hu Hai secretly sought out Huo Ban.
Hu Hai implored Huo Ban to find a way for his soul to enter the imperial mausoleum after his death. He didn't seek to share the main hall with his father, but was content to merely guard the outer city.
Perhaps touched by Hu Hai, Huo Ban took a wisp of Hu Hai's soul, stored it in Lu Ban's Yin wood, and then sealed it in advance upon the inner city gate of the mausoleum.
Regardless of where Hu Hai eventually died, his soul would return to the mausoleum.
And when the inner city of the mausoleum was opened, it would be the day Hu Hai awakened. At that time, Hu Hai would be able to directly control the four powerful descendants of the folk cults guarding the inner city, using them to repel grave robbers.
Later, Hu Hai was forced to commit suicide by Zhao Gao, and his soul did indeed arrive at the mausoleum.
This vigil lasted for two thousand years.
After Yan Shouyi and his companions awakened Hu Hai, Hu Hai wanted to control the four folk cult descendants to kill Yan Shouyi and his group.
However, the result far exceeded Hu Hai's expectations; those zombies and malevolent spirits completely ignored him!
It must be said that Hu Hai's personality had not changed over the years.
He had been threatened by Zhao Gao and made a puppet emperor back then.
Now, Yan Shouyi had only threatened him a little, and he had spilled everything.
After listening to Hu Hai's account, Yan Shouyi frowned slightly.
Hu Hai quickly said, "Every word I speak is true. If I dare to lie to you, may I be struck by heavenly lightning!"
Yan Shouyi took out a Taoist charm and casually placed it on Hu Hai's forehead. Hu Hai immediately lost the ability to speak or hear, with only his eyeballs constantly darting around.
"His soul has been temporarily sealed within Li Yang by me. Captain Wang, please have someone keep an eye on him for me."
Two team members came forward and supported Li Yang, who was possessed by Hu Hai. Hu Hai dared not struggle, obediently lowering his head.
The others gathered to discuss.
Yan Shouyi asked Liang Yinqiu, "Professor Liang, you know history best. Do you believe what Hu Hai said?"
Liang Yinqiu pondered for a moment and replied, "It's basically credible. Although the history of the Qin Dynasty is very distant from us, bamboo slip records already existed then. I once saw records of the imperial mausoleum's construction on excavated bamboo slips from later generations. They did mention a figure named Huo Ban, but at the time, I didn't realize his identity was so special, so I didn't pay much attention."
"Speaking of which, Huo Ban is practically your half-ancestor," Lin Zhitong teased.
Yan Shouyi coughed twice, thinking to himself, "If this ancestor recognized people, we wouldn't be in such a predicament."
Xia Qi worried, "Ancestor? Then if we enter the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang now, aren't we tarnishing Brother Yan's ancestor's reputation?"
Everyone fell silent, as if Xia Qi's words held some truth.
If Yan Shouyi emerged from the mausoleum unscathed, wouldn't that be an insult to their ancestor Huo Ban?
Yan Shouyi smiled and said, "Although he is an ancestor, I don't think I am necessarily inferior to him."
Hearing this, everyone felt slightly reassured.
Huo Ban was indeed formidable in his time, but Yan Shouyi did not believe that his current self was significantly inferior to Huo Ban. After all, the Book of Lu Ban had been passed down through generations. While some ingenious crafts were lost, more had been absorbed and improved upon.
It could be said that current descendants of Lu Ban undoubtedly possessed far more skills than Huo Ban!
Perhaps Huo Ban himself, upon seeing Yan Shouyi today, would pat him on the head and praise, "Well now! Not bad, little bro!"
Lin Zhitong then said, "Hu Hai said he could command the four folk cult descendants and control the zombies and malevolent spirits, but now it no longer works. What do you think of his statement?"
"Based on his reaction earlier, it should be true," Wang Sihua finally managed to interject.
Before engaging in rescue, Wang Sihua had worked as a criminal detective for several years. Hu Hai's reaction just now didn't seem faked.
Either Huo Ban had deceived Hu Hai, and in reality, he had not endowed Hu Hai with the ability to control the four folk cult descendants.
Yan Shouyi pondered for a moment and said, "I actually believe what he said. The reason those malevolent spirits and zombies don't obey him might be something else."
"What reason?" Liang Yinqiu asked.
Yan Shouyi did not answer but exchanged a glance with Lin Zhitong. Lin Zhitong immediately understood his meaning.
It was because of the National Preceptor of Qing Jiang!
For the National Preceptor of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang was already over a thousand years old.
Upon entering the mausoleum, he would inevitably encounter these folk cult descendants.
With the National Preceptor's methods, it was possible for him to have reversed the roles, taking control of the four folk cult descendants.
With this thought, Yan Shouyi turned and tore off the Taoist charm sealing Hu Hai.
He said solemnly, "Your Highness Hu Hai, in fact, more than a thousand years before us, someone had already intruded into the mausoleum. I surmise that he had entered the main hall back then."
Hu Hai's eyes widened in anger, "Who dares to be so bold!"
Yan Shouyi gave a wry smile, "What good would it do you to tell you?"
Hu Hai: "..."
Hu Hai sighed. He had also come to terms with his predicament. He had no dignity when alive, no ability in death, and could do nothing even when his father's tomb was intruded upon. He could only vent his frustrations here.
"Coincidentally!"
Yan Shouyi's tone suddenly changed. He smiled at Hu Hai and said, "We have a grudge against the person who came before, so we are willing to help you drive him out of your father's palace."
Hu Hai's eyes lit up, but then his gaze became wary, "No offense means foul play!"
Yan Shouyi's eye twitched.
It was not surprising that Hu Hai was suspicious, having been tricked so many times. Even a fool would learn a lesson.
Yan Shouyi had a way to deal with such a Hu Hai, and he sighed lightly:
"It's hard to be a good person! Since you're unwilling to help, we'll leave. Then you'll be left all alone in this vast mausoleum, forlorn and helpless, with only zombies and malevolent spirits around you. And they don't even recognize you as the Second Emperor of Qin, treating you like dirt every day and tormenting you... Oh, just thinking about it makes me feel pity. But what can be done? Who told you not to recognize good intentions..."
This speech made Hu Hai even more fearful. Although it was his father's imperial mausoleum, he was completely unfamiliar with it!
Moreover, just as Yan Shouyi said, Hu Hai had lived a life of luxury since childhood, needing to be fed. How could he survive alone in the mausoleum?
Was he supposed to rely on those dim-witted zombies and malevolent spirits?
So Hu Hai gritted his teeth and said, "What do you want me to help you with?"
Yan Shouyi replied, "It's very simple. Tell us how we can enter the main hall."