Trapped in a Tomb, Why Are These Experts Force-Feeding Me?

Chapter 4｜“Since When Does My Kiss Neutralize Poison?!”

Three things happened almost at once:

1. A poison-tipped arrow grazed my arm.

2. My vision turned acid-green as numbness spread through my fingers and up my arm.

3. Zhang Qiling pinned me against the wall and kissed me.

Not a romantic kiss. A life-saving kiss—all teeth and iron-tasting blood, as he forced his own antidote-laced blood into my mouth. My stomach twisted, my throat burned, and I almost gagged.

I shoved him away violently.

“What the hell—”

“My blood neutralizes toxins,” he said calmly, like he’d just told me the weather forecast. He wiped his lips with a sleeve as if nothing had happened.

The tomb chamber went completely silent.

Wang Pangzi dropped his chips, which scattered across the cold stone floor. Wu Xie froze mid-motion, a piece of beef jerky still clutched between his fingers. Black Glasses slowly adjusted his shades, the click of metal echoing in the tomb.

“…Well then,” he said, voice dry but oddly impressed.

Huo Xiuxiu, ever the scholar, raised her tablet like she was about to snap a picture for posterity.

“For academic documentation,” she muttered, and I swear I saw a smirk tug at the corner of her lips.

⸻

New Discoveries

1. My first kiss went to a centuries-old tomb raider.

2. Said tomb raider looked as emotional as a brick wall.

3. The golden phoenix tattoo on my arm was absorbing the poison, glowing faintly like molten gold under the dim torchlight.

Black Glasses whistled audibly.

“Congrats, princess. You’re officially a walking antidote. Someone should probably start worshipping you.”

Wu Xie suddenly whipped out a notebook and scribbled furiously.

“So theoretically, your saliva could—”

“Why are you taking notes?!” I snapped, nearly throwing my water can at him.

⸻

Ten minutes later, I was spitting into Pangzi’s canteen like a mad scientist.

“Put some soul into it!” he instructed, shaking the bottle like it contained liquid gold.

“Imagine you’re cursing Black Glasses with every drop!”

Black Glasses raised an eyebrow.

“Excuse me?”

I glared at him while he pretended to ignore the verbal assault.

We confirmed two important things:

1. My saliva worked—even diluted, it neutralized the poison.

2. Zhang Qiling’s eye twitched slightly whenever I “detoxified” Wu Xie, which was… kind of satisfying to notice.

⸻

Small Mishap

Just as I thought I could relax, a stone slab nearby cracked under Pangzi’s boot.

“Oops,” he muttered, staring at a pile of dust that revealed yet another tiny pressure plate.

I groaned.

“I swear, if this tomb kills me before lunch, I’m haunting all of you.”

Zhang Qiling’s eyes narrowed.

“Stay alert. That plate triggers a spike trap. Stand back.”

Black Glasses grinned.

“Or we can see if our princess can disarm it with… enthusiasm?”

“Enthusiasm?” I wanted to choke him.

Wu Xie muttered under his breath, waving a small toolkit.

“Or you could just trust the golden ratio. Physics never lies.”

⸻

Central Bronze Coffin

The central bronze coffin began bleeding, coppery liquid seeping from engraved seams. The inscriptions on the lid glowed ominously:

“With the blood of the Phoenix, awaken eternity.”

All eyes locked onto my glowing tattoo. I felt the warmth of it pulsing like a tiny furnace under my skin.

Black Glasses, never one to miss theatrics, cheerfully offered a dagger.

“Just a little blood, hm? Makes things more… interesting.”

Wu Xie stepped between us.

“Use mine!” he said, holding out his own arm like a willing lab rat.

Zhang Qiling unsheathed his sword, the steel gleaming in the torchlight. He gave me a nod that could’ve been reassurance… if it weren’t so deadly serious.

I inched toward the pile of poisoned arrows, muttering under my breath:

“…Can I choose death instead?”

The tomb felt alive. The floor shifted slightly, as if breathing. Tiny motes of dust danced in the glowing light of my tattoo, and I realized the Phoenix blood in my veins was interacting with something in the tomb itself.

Black Glasses clapped his hands like a child.

“Oh, this is perfect. The Phoenix reacts to your saliva, the tomb reacts to the Phoenix, and we… just get to watch!”

I rolled my eyes, half in exasperation, half in disbelief.

“This is not my circus, and definitely not my monkeys,” I muttered, earning a snort from Pangzi.

⸻

Cliffhanger

Just then, the air thickened.

A metallic clang echoed, and the coffin’s lid creaked upward. A faint green mist seeped out, curling toward my glowing tattoo.

I tightened my fists, feeling adrenaline spike.

“Alright, Phoenix… don’t fail me now.”

And in the distance, I could hear Black Glasses whistling:

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is going to be fun.”