The Grave Robber's Gamble Chapter 1

My mother was a grave robber.

On the day of the summer solstice, when "yang" energy is at its peak, she dragged the whole family out to dig up a tomb.

We found no antiques, but we did unearth a thousand-year-old female zombie.

I was sacrificed by my family as the zombie's groom.

They thought she would drain my blood and kill me.

Instead, not only did I survive, but the Zombie Queen led me to a treasure trove of artifacts.

My brother, envious of my newfound wealth, blew me up with homemade dynamite.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day my mother found the Zombie Queen.

This time, my brother eagerly volunteered to be the groom.

I laughed in the shadows.

Did he really think sleeping in a coffin and having his life force drained every day was a good deal?

* * *

After my brother blew me up, I was reborn.

Reborn on the summer solstice, the day my family pushed me to be the zombie's groom.

My mother was a grave robber.

In my previous life, she found a tomb but dared not dig it due to the heavy "yin" energy.

The summer solstice, with its peak "yang" energy, was the only safe time.

So, she took the whole family to dig.

After much effort, we broke in, only to find a single coffin.

My sister rushed forward excitedly.

"Mom, this coffin is made of golden nanmu wood! There must be priceless treasures inside!"

Golden nanmu was reserved for royalty in ancient times. The occupant must have been wealthy.

My mother nodded in agreement.

Disdaining the men for potentially clashing with the energy, she and my sister pried open the lid.

Inside, there were no treasures, just a breathtakingly beautiful female zombie in ancient royal attire.

My mother was dumbfounded.

Before the Zombie Queen could fully awaken, she hissed, "Leo, get over here."

Before I could react, my brother shoved me toward our mother.

She sliced my palm with a knife and pushed me into the coffin.

"Great One, we didn't mean to disturb your rest. This boy has pure 'yang' energy; we offer him as an apology."

Then, they frantically sealed the coffin lid.

Inside, I begged them to let me out.

But the thousand-year-old Zombie Queen on top of me woke up.

She grabbed my wrist, pinning me down with immense strength.

I stopped breathing from fear.

A cold breath touched my neck.

"Are you my groom?" Her voice was unexpectedly clear and melodious.

I lay there trembling, teeth chattering. "No... no, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to fall into your coffin."

"Can you let me out?"

She chuckled, stroking my face.

"Your blood has sealed the pact. From now on, you are mine."

Her icy finger traced my Adam's apple.

I felt like prey stared down by a venomous snake.

At dawn, she finally released me.

Licking her scarlet lips, she remarked, "Pure yang blood is indeed nourishing."

I became her tool for absorbing yang energy.

By night, I slept in the coffin to satisfy her needs. By day, I had to fend for myself to avoid starvation.

Seeing I was penniless, she gave me valuable artifacts from the tomb to sell.

That's how my brother caught me.

Learning the source of my wealth, he demanded I get more from the Queen for him.

When I refused, he followed me to the tomb and blew me up.

What he didn't know was that I wouldn't have lived much longer anyway.

The Zombie Queen was an evil entity. Her constant draining had left me with little life force.

I thought about escaping, but she had cursed me; she could find me anywhere.

Reborn, watching my brother eager to take my place...

I couldn't help but sneer.

Does he really think being a zombie's groom is a blessing?