My heart was beating so fast it felt like it might jump out of my throat. The eerie presence of those ghostly figures lingered, and it took me quite a while to convince myself to calm down. However, thoughts of those stiff shadows lingered, and my body couldn't help but shudder.
How could there be coffins so ominously black? Could it be that the bizarre procession was here for a funeral?
I couldn't help but wonder about the origin of those strangely tall figures ahead. Their clothing bore intricate ancient patterns. I have collected well-preserved ancient costumes in the Qin and Han Hall, and I can usually discern the specific dynasty based on the patterns and craftsmanship. Yet, the attire of those figures was unlike anything I had ever encountered, perhaps tracing back to a period even earlier than the Shang and Zhou dynasties.
And what about the peculiar attire of the pallbearers behind? I've never heard of funeral attendees wearing such vibrant red colors. Are they not afraid of disturbing the dead? Blindfolded, and for what reason? Too many aspects defy logic.
I began to suspect if something in this cave was affecting my mind. Perhaps what I saw was just an illusion. But illusions, I reasoned, require prior exposure to exist in one's consciousness. Could it be that I witnessed such a funeral procession in my childhood, only to forget it later?
Lost in these thoughts, I felt some strength returning to my hands and feet. I clenched my hands, which were gradually regaining their power. Opening my backpack with some difficulty, I administered myself an antibiotic injection.
During this time, I had a few bites of compressed biscuits. Frankly, it was my first time trying them, and they tasted terrible. If there's a next time, I'll definitely bring some with strawberry flavor. Ugh, next time, as if I have any say in the matter.
After another half-hour, I was able to move again. I checked and repacked my backpack. To conserve battery, I turned off the flashlight and switched to a handheld one, continuing my exploration.
Assessing the situation, it seemed going back the same way was unlikely. The chances of finding my way were uncertain, and I had no desire to face those horrifying spiders again. In contrast, the likelihood of encountering the group ahead was higher, and surely, Old He and the others wouldn't abandon me. They must be searching for me now. The best option was to follow this cave network, hoping to reunite with them.
However, after approximately an hour of walking, I began to regret my decision. The underground cave network was incredibly vast. I couldn't recall how many turns I had taken, despite marking each turn with a small knife. Now, I noticed that every few turns, I encountered one of my markings. The caves were not only expansive but also interconnected, forming a complex labyrinth.
This situation heightened my anxiety. I recalled a story a friend once shared about a sinkhole in Yunnan. Beneath it was an extensive cave network. Some curious villagers went down, and they didn't return for a long time. The local authorities sent a rescue team, including police dogs, and found the villagers. Some had starved to death, and one had developed psychological issues, alternating between moments of coherence and silent wall-staring.
Back to my current predicament, after another hour of walking, I started considering if I was experiencing an optical illusion or being led astray. I even entertained the idea that something unclean might be following me from the lake. However, the magnitude of these cave formations was overwhelming.
Walking cautiously, I dared not turn off the light, fearing a blood-soaked face would suddenly appear in front of me. Checking my watch, I had been walking for nearly four hours. Suddenly, I froze because, in the silence of the cave network, I heard a familiar sound—a phone ringtone?
Could it be Old He and the others, or perhaps Second Master? It seemed implausible; where would the signal come from here? Was it possible that some metallic element in this place facilitated satellite signal reception? Excitement surged through me. Finally, I wasn't alone in this eerie place. Listening closely, I realized the ringtone was not far away. I shouted in that direction, "Is that you, Old He? Or someone from Second Master's team?"
The cave became eerily silent, and I walked toward the source with my flashlight. It led me to a depression with accumulated water. The sound had clearly come from here, but now, it was gone. Could they have left just as I arrived? It didn't make sense. If they heard my call, they would surely respond.
I searched around with the flashlight but found nothing. Just as I was about to leave, the ringtone echoed once more. It was more distinct this time, and I pinpointed its direction. To my surprise, behind a protruding stalactite, there was a roughly one-meter-wide opening. The sound emanated from within.
The peculiar thing about this opening was that if I hadn't coincidentally stood beneath this protruding stalactite, I wouldn't have seen the entrance at all. Even from the side, the opening was hidden in the shadow of the rock. If not for the ringtone, I wouldn't have noticed it. I pointed my flashlight at the opening and called out, "Who's in there?"
As soon as I shouted, the ringtone abruptly stopped, and the cave returned to silence.
This was an unsettling feeling. The person on the other end must have heard my call, but it didn't make sense. If it were Old He or someone from Second Master's team, they would have greeted me. The situation was akin to someone deeply engrossed in using a mobile phone, suddenly startled by my voice and hastily turning off the device.
Feeling unsure, I hesitated for a while, deciding to climb up and take a look. Perhaps someone was injured and couldn't speak, so they used the ringtone as a signal. After all, not everything could operate a mobile phone.
The opening was about five meters above me, but it wasn't challenging to climb. The surface was covered with protruding stalactites, providing good footholds. Climbing halfway, I suddenly thought, even if someone is injured, why would they climb so high? Could this ringtone be a warning instead of an invitation?
Suddenly, the phone rang again, and I was already close to the opening. The ringtone was so sudden, sounding as if it were right next to my ear, and it frightened me, causing a cold sweat to break out.
I stood still for a while, and the ringtone didn't continue. I resumed climbing and reached the top, where I thought about sitting down. I felt my heart pounding. I glanced around but was taken aback—where did the corpse go?