Chapter 117: Epilogue: The Road Ahead

As Xu Zhizhi’s career continued to soar, she gradually became more low-profile and avoided public appearances unless necessary. Apart from charity events, endorsements, and promotional activities, she rarely attended other gatherings.

Her studio signed a few promising actors, ensuring its sustainability even if Xu Zhizhi eventually left the entertainment industry.

Jiang Yuchuan, as he grew older, saw his group members pursue their paths while he chose to study abroad, eventually becoming a doctor for Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders). His decision surprised everyone. What was even more surprising was that he returned with a girlfriend who was none other than Director Zhou’s daughter.

Years ago, during a film shoot, Director Zhou had casually mentioned introducing his daughter to Xu Zhizhi. No one expected the introduction to happen this way. Truly, fate works in mysterious ways.

In the new year, Xu Zhizhi took on the role of host for a documentary project. It was an official archaeological documentary where she joined a team of experts visiting various sites to explore and preserve cultural heritage. Xu Zhizhi wasn’t merely a celebrity guest but an actual cultural relic restoration expert. Her credentials were earned through rigorous study and examinations, driven by her interest in the field.

Her expertise had already been recognized when she was invited by the Jiang City Museum to assist in the restoration of ‘A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains’. This historic painting had been recovered from a notorious art thief but had suffered severe damage due to careless handling.

Most experts were hesitant to take on the challenging restoration while the country’s senior experts were either too old or unsure of their ability to succeed. Xu Zhizhi, however, was invited due to her outstanding academic performance and practical skills. She played a key role in the restoration process.

Over four months, the painting was successfully restored. When ‘A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains’ returned to public display, it shocked the cultural heritage community. The difficulty of the restoration was well-known.

Her fans were astonished. The actress they admired had set aside her acting career to restore cultural relics! Xu Zhizhi, in a way, became famous not for acting but for her other unexpected talents.

She went on to participate in more restoration projects and gained recognition as a unique expert in the cultural heritage and archaeology fields. It led to her selection as the host for the archaeological documentary. Her expertise and celebrity status made her an ideal choice. The production team and experts welcomed her presence, as she brought both skill and visibility to the project.

Xu Zhizhi bid farewell to Qin Su and embarked on her journey. She worked on various sites, from the excavation of the Terracotta Army to remote locations across the country.

The final stop of the documentary took the team to a forest, where a local ranger had reported a looted tomb. Generally, archaeologists avoid disturbing intact tombs to preserve them but looters often destroy what they don’t take. The team was tasked with a rescue excavation to recover what remained.

From the photos provided by the ranger, the archaeological team identified the site as a princess’s tomb.

Xu Zhizhi followed the archaeological team to the site but the persistent rain made the mountain paths impassable.

Due to the challenging terrain, the filming crew provided everyone with portable cameras to ensure they could capture footage despite the conditions.

Once the weather cleared up slightly, the group carrying heavy gear began their ascent toward the tomb under the guidance of a local guide.

In the dense forest, surrounded by nature’s greenery, the fatigue of the climb was offset by its therapeutic effect. Along the way, a geology expert shared insights about the area’s history and speculated about the tomb’s owner based on the terrain. Xu Zhizhi listened attentively as they walked.

The guide suggested they take a break at the next flat area. When they reached a plateau, cold and exhausted, the group decided to build a fire to warm up and heat some simple food.

Most of the experts were older and had various health issues, making hot meals essential. Xu Zhizhi put down her gear and, armed with a folding spade, volunteered to gather firewood with the guide and some students.

To avoid being recognized by fans, which could disrupt the filming, Xu Zhizhi had deliberately toned down her appearance, using makeup to make herself look more ordinary. This precaution also served to protect her from potential trouble in such remote areas.

She didn’t wander far, staying within a few hundred meters to collect just enough dry wood before heading back. The damp forest air prompted her to tighten her black rain jacket and pull up the hood to keep dry.

As she bent down to pick up a dry branch, the sound of a snapping twig broke the silence.

Dropping the firewood, she gripped her spade tightly and spun around toward the noise.

Standing before her was a middle-aged man with weathered, wrinkled skin, a deep scar across his cheekbone, and a piercingly harsh gaze. Beside him stood two other men, one younger and another middle-aged, both gaunt and wiry.

Xu Zhizhi’s eyes flicked to their hands and froze on the weapon one of them was holding; an old, rudimentary shotgun.

She realized, with a mixture of frustration and composure, that she was once again in danger. By now, she had encountered peril so frequently that she’d mastered the art of remaining outwardly calm.

“Are you the contact? They didn’t mention it’d be a woman… and this young? Did Old Xu trick us?” the younger man on the right muttered disdainfully before giving her a once-over.

The group’s leader, a middle-aged man, silenced him with a raised hand and turned to Xu Zhizhi. “Who are you?”

“Xu Zhi,” Xu Zhizhi answered quickly, instinctively adopting a name similar to her own.

The man released his grip on the shotgun and pulled out an old flip phone. He flipped it open, studied something on the screen, then frowned and compared it to her. “The name doesn’t quite match. Did that guy make a typo? The face… maybe it’s only a partial match but it could just be the photo being from childhood. Can you enter a tomb?”

“I can,” Xu Zhizhi replied immediately.

At that moment, denial wasn’t an option. Faced with an armed group, she couldn’t afford to give herself away.

Deep in this remote forest, getting killed would be a tragic waste.

Moreover, from the man’s last remark, Xu Zhizhi keenly deduced that this group was a band of tomb raiders.

But why were they here again? The tomb had already been looted just days ago.

Could it be that two separate groups were targeting the same site?

Xu Zhizhi thought to herself but a flattering smile appeared on her face as she said, “Shall we… go?”

The resting place for the experts was only about 200 meters away. If discovered, the three raiders might cause casualties, especially since they were armed.

For whatever reason, Xu Zhizhi was eager to lure them away as quickly as possible.

While observing the three men, a gaunt middle-aged man beside her scrutinized her with sharp eyes before glancing at some firewood she had gathered. “What are you collecting firewood for?” he asked.

“It’s too cold. I just wanted to warm myself,” Xu Zhizhi replied, rubbing her hands to convey her discomfort.

The man dropped the matter but pondered for a moment before saying, “We’re here to find a tomb today. Since you were trained by Old Xu, you should be able to locate it. Tell us what you know.”

Xu Zhizhi’s eyes flickered slightly. She understood their distrust and pulled out a map from her pocket.

Recalling her knowledge of archaeology and what the geological experts had just said, she led the three to a mountain hollow.

“Look at this mountain,” Xu Zhizhi began to bluff. “What does it remind you of?”

The group looked around, puzzled.

Xu Zhizhi shook her head in mock exasperation and explained, “In Feng Shui, this is called the ‘Hidden Dragon and Crouching Tiger Formation.’ The dragon is on the left and the tiger on the right, complementing each other… If I’m not mistaken, there’s a tomb at this location and another one should be around here.”

She pointed to the marked locations on the archaeological team’s map.

The three exchanged glances, surprised at Xu Zhizhi’s apparent expertise. One of the locations was indeed where they had found a tomb two days earlier. They suspected there might be another one nearby, which was why they had returned and invited others to join them. They hadn’t expected the person sent would be a junior, much less one more skilled than their senior.

The middle-aged man mulled over this, “It seems you’re quite capable, well-versed in Old Xu’s Feng Shui teachings. We always thought he only passed his skills to men, not women. It seems reality has forced his hand.”

“Boss, let’s go check it out! If we find something, we’ll strike it rich!” the skinny young man said excitedly.

Xu Zhizhi maintained an air of calm, her face showing a mysterious and profound smile.

In truth, she was quite nervous, fearing they might catch on.

When the three finally decided to move, Xu Zhizhi secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

She followed them toward the marked location on the map, discreetly slipping her hand into the large pocket of her tactical jacket to type a message to the archaeological team leader about the situation.

Familiar with her phone and confident in her memory, she managed to type a reasonably accurate message without looking. To ensure safety, she kept it brief, simply relaying the danger and asking for help.

This way, the team wouldn’t rush in recklessly or seek outside assistance prematurely.

At the same time, Xu Zhizhi activated the location-sharing feature, enabling them to track her.

She thought bitterly to herself that Qin Su would likely be notified as well. He might already be used to situations like this.

Just as Xu Zhizhi finished sending the message, the middle-aged man turned back, staring at her intently. “Why are you dawdling?”

“I’m not as fast as you…” Xu Zhizhi replied calmly, showing none of the panic that most people would in dangerous situations.

The man studied her carefully but noticed nothing suspicious and continued walking.

They had already traveled a long way and it wasn’t far from their target location.

In just over twenty minutes, they arrived at the spot Xu Zhizhi had marked on the map.

In front of them was a cliff. The three men stood still, staring at Xu Zhizhi.

After surveying the surroundings and thinking for a moment, Xu Zhizhi calmly turned to the three and said, “This cliff is only seven or eight meters high, and its formation shows signs of collapse, likely due to geological changes.”

She pointed to a distant soil boundary and described it, suggesting that they could descend as the tomb should be nearby.

The three men found her reasoning plausible and began securing ropes to climb down.

Xu Zhizhi was the first to descend, likely because the three didn’t fully trust her.

Amidst the lush forest, the improved weather brought the sounds of insects and birds, with more animals moving about.

After reaching the bottom, Xu Zhizhi carefully examined her surroundings and keenly sensed something unusual.

Once the others joined her, Xu Zhizhi stepped forward, took a long tool from the young man’s backpack, determined a location, and inserted it into the soil.

After a series of precise actions, she pulled the tool out, revealing green clay on it.

This type of clay was often used in ancient tombs to seal burial chambers, indicating there was likely a tomb beneath them.

Having some archaeological knowledge herself, Xu Zhizhi recognized it immediately. After all, many early archaeologists came from ‘specialized’ backgrounds and some tools were shared between professions.

The three men, observing Xu Zhizhi’s skilled actions, began looking at her with newfound respect. In their eyes, Xu Zhizhi clearly had real expertise.

The middle-aged man’s initial suspicion was completely gone and was replaced by intense interest.

“Do you know where to dig a tunnel?” he asked.

Although they could search themselves, Xu Zhizhi’s training would make the process faster and more efficient, saving them unnecessary effort.

Xu Zhizhi’s expression turned serious as she began gesturing with her hands, though her mind was on whether Qin Su and the archaeological team could find her.

From her experience, she surmised that the area had likely already been partially excavated. Not because of her extraordinary skills, but because she noticed a collapsed area resembling a tunnel entrance in the southwest corner.

She slowly walked over to the spot, took out an entrenching tool, and dug a bit. Then she turned to the three and said, “There’s a tunnel here. It’s only lightly buried at the surface.”

The three men were thrilled and rushed forward, pushing Xu Zhizhi aside.

Xu Zhizhi watched them coldly.

But when the middle-aged man turned back to look at her, she quickly put on an innocent expression.

The man glanced at her and said, “You wait up here. The three of us will go down.”

As someone who had joined them midway, it was impossible for Xu Zhizhi to go down with them.

She nodded obediently.

After making offerings and cautiously probing the tunnel, the three men climbed into it one after another.

Watching them disappear into the tunnel, Xu Zhizhi finally let out a sigh of relief.

Their weapons were taken below, so she wasn’t in immediate danger. Now, she began to think about escaping.

To prevent them from running off midway, Xu Zhizhi discreetly placed her tracking ring at the bottom of one of their backpacks.

This way, even if they fled, the team would still be able to locate and capture them.

After finishing her preparations, Xu Zhizhi climbed back up the cliff using the rope. She packed it away and turned to head toward the archaeological team.

When the team saw Xu Zhizhi return, they were both surprised and overjoyed. They had already called the police but the area was so remote that it would take a while for help to arrive. They had been extremely worried for Xu Zhizhi’s safety and hadn’t expected her to make it back on her own.

Xu Zhizhi briefly recounted her experiences and provided them with some detailed information about the raiders.

Hearing this, the team exchanged worried glances, even the guide’s expression turned grave.

Guns were involved, which made the situation extremely dangerous for everyone.

Xu Zhizhi looked at the group and suggested, “Let’s retreat for now and meet up with the police before coming back.”

It was the safest course of action. The group consisted of mostly older individuals and ordinary people who couldn’t possibly confront the armed suspects.

“Alright! Let’s head back first!” the guide agreed.

The team extinguished their fire, packed their belongings, and retraced their steps.

An hour later, they regrouped with the police team that had arrived.

After some deliberation, the archaeological team returned to safety, while Xu Zhizhi and the guide led the police back into the mountains.

The police, armed for protection, were prepared for any potential dangers. Xu Zhizhi estimated that the suspects would still be inside the tunnel for a while, giving them a chance to catch them.

With the guide and Xu Zhizhi leading the way, the group quickly pressed on.

Breathing heavily, they finally reached the site. They lowered ropes into the tunnel, with officers descending while others set up an ambush outside.

Since the suspects were armed, it was critical to wait for the right moment to act and ensure they were subdued immediately.

The team of eight, including six officers, Xu Zhizhi, and the guide, waited quietly, their breaths held.

After half an hour, there was movement in the tunnel. A young man climbed out first, followed by the skinny middle-aged man, and finally, the fierce-looking leader.

As the three discussed their haul, the police sprang out and pinned them to the ground.

The leader, now handcuffed, looked at Xu Zhizhi in shock. “You actually called the police on us? Aren’t you afraid your group’s secrets will be exposed?”

“I’m Xu Zhizhi, part of the archaeological team, not your contact,” Xu Zhizhi replied coldly.

The middle-aged man was stunned, confused by Xu Zhizhi’s revelation.

At that moment, there was movement in the nearby forest. Everyone turned to see a young man emerge, staring at the scene in shock.

The police quickly interrogated him and uncovered the truth; he was the contact the three suspects were supposed to meet.

Xu Zhizhi frowned. The suspects had clearly made a serious error in identifying people.

The police, equally curious, took out the contact’s old-fashioned phone. The blurry, low-quality image showed an ordinary face. It seemed to have been photographed from a picture in a photo frame, not directly taken from a live person.

The lead officer glanced at Xu Zhizhi and compared her to the image. “They do look somewhat alike but how did they even mix up the gender?”

The middle-aged man looked numb, unable to comprehend how he had been fooled.

The young man was also taken into custody, making four suspects in total, all successfully apprehended.

All four individuals were caught.

Xu Zhizhi couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief. Even when talking to Qin Su on the phone, she found the coincidence ridiculously absurd.

Qin Su, on the other hand, was both helpless and worried. If Xu Zhizhi’s strange luck wasn’t just a rare occurrence, he would have wanted to stay by her side 24/7 to prevent anything else from happening to her.

After all, things had been peaceful for over a year.

Xu Zhizhi ended up comforting Qin Su instead, assuring him that at least, for now, there was nothing more to worry about.

Qin Su fell silent, clearly thrown off by her logic.

Meanwhile, the production crew reviewed all the footage Xu Zhizhi had gathered. They couldn’t help but think that once this segment aired, their documentary was bound to burst in popularity.

But now wasn’t the time to think about that. Their original plan had been to conduct an emergency excavation of a single tomb. Instead, they ended up with two.

Everyone marveled at Xu Zhizhi’s uncanny ability to locate tombs.

Xu Zhizhi remained silent, recalling the Feng Shui books she had casually read from time to time. Even she hadn’t expected them to actually work. When she found the tomb, she had been even more shocked than the others.

After the ordeal, the excavation began. The villagers were hired to clear the outer layers and the team settled into their daily routine of meticulous digging and brushing.

The princess’s tomb had been heavily looted, leaving almost nothing behind.

Fortunately, the group of tomb raiders Xu Zhizhi had encountered was the very one who had targeted this tomb. Since they were caught before they could sell the stolen artifacts, everything was recovered.

The second tomb belonged to a feudal lord. It contained many burial goods, some of them with significant archaeological value.

Although the outer chamber had been damaged, the main burial goods inside remained untouched, allowing for a proper excavation.

By the time Xu Zhizhi returned home, three to four months had passed.

Feng Jie gasped at how much rougher Xu Zhizhi looked after her time in the field. But luckily, with her natural beauty, a little care would bring her back to her usual self.

Feng Jie had originally planned to go with her but Xu Zhizhi had firmly refused, insisting that she stay at the company to learn more. That way, she could help Yun Ziwei manage the studio in the future.

Yun Ziwei, when facing Xu Zhizhi, had long since given up trying to control her. It wasn’t out of disappointment. It was just that Xu Zhizhi had been so dedicated to her acting career over the years, so Yun Ziwei didn’t want her to overwork herself.

Now, the studio was filled with countless trophies, most of them belonging to Xu Zhizhi.

One of them was even an international award, a level of achievement that placed her among the top in the entertainment industry.

Thinking back, Xu Zhizhi had once been an actress plagued by scandals and Yun Ziwei had planned to take a hands-off approach with her.

But in just a short time, Xu Zhizhi had found her own path to success, rising to become a lasting star in the industry.

Her accolades were enough to make other actors envious.

So, Yun Ziwei never imposed any expectations on her. In fact, she hadn’t even taken on any other stars in recent years.

The actors in the studio were all managed by hired agents.

Every now and then, Xu Zhizhi would take one of them along to walk the red carpet, giving them a little exposure.

As Xu Zhizhi rubbed hand cream onto her hands, she looked at Yun Ziwei, who seemed deep in thought. With a bright smile, she asked about the studio’s current status.

Yun Ziwei gave her a straightforward update.

After getting her answers, Xu Zhizhi quietly slipped away. After all, she was only there to make an appearance.

Feng Jie followed suit. She was tagging along with Xu Zhizhi for a trip.

In the following months, Xu Zhizhi took on a role in a film about child trafficking, playing a mother searching for her lost child.

As expected, she won another Best Actress award.

Along the way, Xu Zhizhi rescued several children and women, which inspired her to explore alternative applications of her hacking skills. She eventually handed those innovations over to the authorities, successfully reuniting hundreds of families.

Over time, Xu Zhizhi learned to develop systems with more positive applications, using her skills for the greater good, just as she had always strived to do.

Qin Su, as always, silently supported her.

As for the documentary, it turned out exactly as the production team anticipated. After its release, it sparked widespread discussion online, becoming a sensation and earning a significant place in the history of archaeology.

Audiences gained a firsthand understanding of Xu Zhizhi’s rumored exploits and her tense encounters with criminals, presented from her perspective. The documentary even inspired numerous short videos featuring similar storylines.

As her time in the entertainment industry grew longer and her accolades more numerous, Xu Zhizhi was eventually honored with the entertainment industry’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. At the same time, she received recognition from official organizations.

Her awards weren’t just for her artistic achievements. They acknowledged her years of philanthropy by helping over 200 girls escape poverty, leave the mountains, and build careers in various fields. They also recognized her efforts to recover stolen funds in a major fraud case that had ruined countless lives.

Years later, after all the criminals involved in those cases were caught, Xu Zhizhi’s contributions were finally revealed to the public.

At the awards ceremony, story after story moved countless people to tears. When Xu Zhizhi accepted her award, everyone agreed she deserved it completely.

Meanwhile, Li Feng was released from prison and watched Xu Zhizhi’s accomplishments on screen, weeping with regret. His arrogance and prejudice had led to his mistakes. How could someone like her, a person of such immense goodness, ever be led astray? It was his greed and unwillingness to accept reality that had blinded him.

Now, he understood his son’s true nature; he was the real monster. For the rest of his life, Li Feng resolved to keep a close watch on his son to prevent him from doing any more harm.

Unaware of this, Xu Zhizhi continued with her life. At the age of 33, she welcomed a daughter into the world. A few years later, she retired from the entertainment industry.

Though she stepped back from the spotlight, she didn’t fully settle into idleness. Xu Zhizhi continued to work in various roles and stayed active.

Qin Su, who was initially expected to return home and take over his family’s business, shifted his focus to preparing their daughter to inherit the family legacy instead.

Years later, after fulfilling their responsibilities, the couple traveled the world together, growing old and gray side by side.

In her later years, Xu Zhizhi began recalling fragments of memories that had once been erased. She found herself wondering about the parallel timeline.

What kind of life the version of Xu Zhizhi who became a lawyer might have led?

Did they both feel satisfied with this exchange of lives? And had the pain hidden in those moments of time been healed for her counterpart?