135: Sweet Warning

"Hello, Dr. Jiang." Lin Feng's voice was as calm as ever.

"Hello, Mr. Lin." Jiang Wanqing seemed to pause for a moment on the other end of the line, perhaps not expecting him to be so cold.

She quickly regained her composure, her tone becoming very formal: "On behalf of the Archaeological Research Center of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, I would first like to express our highest respect for your astounding discovery and selfless dedication. You have found a lost treasure of seven hundred years for the country; this achievement is enough to be recorded in the annals of history."

Lin Feng listened to this excessive praise without a ripple of emotion.

He grumbled to himself: If it weren't for the system mission, I'd still be lying at home.

"You're too kind. It's only what I should have done," Lin Feng replied flatly.

“...” There was another silence on the other end. Jiang Wanqing felt her conversational rhythm was completely disrupted. Talking to Lin Feng was like punching cotton—there was no leverage.

She cleared her throat and continued, "Mr. Lin, several colleagues from the expert group and I have already arrived in Haikou by private jet. Regarding many details of the 'Southern Song Dynasty Treasury' and the subsequent protective excavation work, we hope to have an in-depth exchange with you and Mr. Wang Dalong in person. I wonder if it's convenient for you now?"

"Sure. Send me the address."

A crisp, concise answer without a hint of extra emotion.

Half an hour later, in a heavily secured hotel conference room in downtown Haikou, Lin Feng and Wang Dalong met Jiang Wanqing.

She wore a well-fitted beige suit that accentuated her tall, straight figure. Her long hair was simply tied back in a ponytail, revealing a smooth and full forehead. Her face was free of makeup, yet she was bright and moving, especially those eyes, which were clear and bright as if they could see through everything.

"Hello, Mr. Lin, Mr. Wang." Jiang Wanqing took the initiative to reach out her hand.

Wang Dalong was overwhelmed by the favor and hurriedly shook it. "Dr. Jiang, long time no see!"

Lin Feng only lightly touched her fingertips before quickly withdrawing. He gave a slight nod and then sat down in the seat closest to the door on his own accord—a typical symptom of late-stage social anxiety.

A hint of amusement flashed in Jiang Wanqing's eyes, but she didn't mind.

The subsequent meeting was less of an exchange and more of a stand-up comedy routine by Wang Dalong. He vividly recounted the process of their adventure. Of course, he cleverly blurred the parts about the system and historical illusions, saying only that Lin Feng had found the clues through rigorous logical reasoning and intensive study of history.

Lin Feng kept his head down the whole time, occasionally adding a word or two on key details, remaining brief and concise.

However, Jiang Wanqing and the several veteran experts behind her grew more and more shocked as they listened.

Human stepping stones, kowtow mechanisms, Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches combination locks, underwater escape passages... This series of designs was interconnected and exquisite, filled with the wisdom of the ancients. If any single link had gone wrong, it would have been a dead end.

"...And that's roughly how it happened." Wang Dalong spoke until his mouth was dry and drank a large glass of water.

The conference room fell silent.

One veteran expert adjusted his glasses and looked at Lin Feng with a face full of emotion. "The young are to be feared! Little Lin, your sensitivity to history and logical reasoning abilities have exceeded the imagination of us old-timers. You were born for this line of work!"

Lin Feng just twitched the corner of his mouth and didn't speak.

At this point, Jiang Wanqing spoke up. She looked at Lin Feng with a sincere and complex gaze.

"Mr. Lin, the state will certainly grant you the highest level of commendation and rewards for this matter. However..."

She shifted the topic, her tone becoming serious.

"I must remind you. For historical sites of the level of the 'Southern Song Dynasty Treasury,' the internal structure, air environment, and microbial state are all extremely fragile. Any intrusion without professional assessment could cause irreversible damage to the artifacts. Furthermore, the traps in ancient tombs are far more dangerous than we can imagine."

"I understand your spirit of exploration, but from the perspective of the state, we sincerely hope that if you find similar clues in the future, you can contact us as soon as possible. We will organize professional teams for exploration. This way, we can ensure your safety and protect our cultural heritage to the maximum extent."

These words were perfectly articulated, expressing gratitude while also issuing a warning, with a hint of concern mixed in.

It could be called the official version of a 'sweet warning.'

Wang Dalong nodded repeatedly in agreement. If not for good luck this time, the two of them really would have met their end down there.

Lin Feng, however, raised his head, met Jiang Wanqing's gaze, and said calmly, "Dr. Jiang, rest assured."

"This was just an accident."

"It's impossible to find a second treasure of this level so easily."

He said this, but he was silently complaining in his heart: The next mission is the Mausoleum of Genghis Khan. That difficulty is something even I don't want to attempt. How could I possibly report it to you? Even if I did, would you even dare to go?

Jiang Wanqing looked into those eyes that were as calm as an ancient well. She felt he was speaking in riddles, yet she couldn't find any fault.

She could only nod helplessly. "I hope so."

The meeting ended, and the officials sent a car to take the two back to their hotel.

As soon as they entered the room, Wang Dalong collapsed onto the bed and let out a long breath. "My god, talking to these big shots is more tiring than going into a tomb. But Brother Feng, this Dr. Jiang is actually quite nice—pretty to look at and pleasant to listen to."

Lin Feng ignored him and walked straight to the computer.