The Second Master inquired, "Where did that thing just go?"
I pointed to the front passageway and asked him, "Was that a ghost?"
The Second Master shook his head without saying much. He took a flashlight and handed me the rest of the equipment to carry. We proceeded towards the direction where the white figure had fled.
After a short walk, we encountered a fork in the path. At one entrance, I found a series of peculiar symbols, seemingly carved with some sharp object. I called the Second Master over for a look. He bent down, and his expression changed. I asked if it was left by the previous group and what it represented. He didn't reply but seemed to know something.
The Second Master confirmed it was the right path, and we entered. Soon, we reached an unfinished side chamber. The room was scattered with green bricks, unfinished stones, and rudimentary stone carvings on the walls. We even found tools used by ancient craftsmen, the wooden handles rotted, and the iron parts rusted, suggesting a hasty retreat.
Such unfinished structures were not uncommon in ancient times. Building imperial tombs was a massive project, and emperors started constructing their burial sites from the beginning of their reigns. However, due to various reasons, some emperors died prematurely, leading to premature sealing of tombs, evident in the unfinished sections.
I suggested to the Second Master, "Let's try the other passage. This corridor seems incomplete, and there are no doors deeper inside. This might be the endpoint, and the markings could mean 'this way is blocked.'"
The Second Master looked around and surprisingly told me, "Let's take a break here."
"Aren't we in a hurry?" I was puzzled.
"No, it's fine." He found a rock to sit on and said, "We're not short on time. Take out the food; let's eat first."
I acknowledged, and as we had discarded unnecessary equipment before descending to the third hall, we only had compressed biscuits left. I took them out, and the Second Master selected two packs, instructing me to keep the rest. While eating, he asked about my plans after getting out. I casually mentioned taking a hot bath and sleeping for several days, contemplating never descending again. I also inquired about cigarettes, taking out half a pack of Changbaishan. The Second Master took it without immediately smoking, tucking it into his pocket.
Suddenly, I noticed a well in the side chamber. It was a small square well, about fifty centimeters above the ground. It was dark inside, barely visible without my lantern.
Curiosity got the better of me, and I moved closer, but the Second Master stopped me, handing me his gun and telling me to be careful. It struck me as odd since the gun's tip had always been his personal belonging.
"Second Master, what does this mean?" I asked.
He took off a pendant from around his neck, a red rope with an ancient copper coin, and tossed it to me. Confused, I held the two items in my hands, wondering what to do. He didn't explain, just urging me to rest. As soon as we took turns resting, fatigue overcame me, and within minutes, I fell into a deep sleep.
I couldn't determine how long I had slept when someone seemed to shake me awake. I struggled to open my eyes, finding the Second Master before me. He helped me put on the backpack and whispered, "Go to the other passage. At intersections, turn right. Hurry."
Still groggy, I asked, "Why are you standing there?"
Realizing my confusion, I began to recall the scenes flashing in my mind. Something wasn't right; the Second Master didn't intend to leave!
I moved to pull him back, but he pushed me away, saying, "Go quickly. Once that thing wakes up, no one can escape."
Behind the Second Master, vines extended from the well like a swarm of snakes, resembling the tentacles of an octopus.
"Tree spirit!" I blurted out, and the swaying branches suddenly froze. All the vines aimed towards me, and the Second Master shouted, "Hurry, I'm going to a dangerous place. Only I can go."
"Go away!" The Second Master yelled at me, and shaken, I instinctively took a few steps back. He then revealed a long-lost smile, resembling the Second Master of thirty years ago, and with that smile, he decisively jumped into the well.
As he descended, the vines retracted into the well. Simultaneously, the entire tomb chamber violently shook. I had no idea where the Second Master had gone or whether he survived, but I couldn't take another step forward. I felt weak, inadequate, realizing I lacked the courage even to follow the Second Master.
Carrying the backpack, I turned and ran towards the other passage. It didn't lead to another burial chamber but to a natural cave system. Remembering the Second Master's instructions to turn right at intersections, I lost count of how many turns I had made. I dared not stop, fearing the oppressive loneliness of the tomb and not wanting to return to the fear of darkness. I ran until my lungs heaved, then finally stopped and sat on the ground, gasping for air.
After resting for almost ten minutes, my heartbeat gradually returned to normal. I turned on the flashlight and noticed I was still within the cave system. Not wanting to waste time, I proceeded with the flashlight.
Soon, I reached a fork in the path, and an unsettling discovery awaited me. Fist-sized grooves appeared on the cave wall ahead, filled with silky white balls. Upon closer inspection, I realized these were probably egg sacs of some insect. Considering the earlier encounter with spiders, it was safe to assume these were spider egg sacs. Worse, they were on the wall of the right fork.
Cautiously observing, I saw no spiders guarding the area. I reassured myself that they might be on a break from sentry duty. I tried to comfort myself, thinking it was unlikely there were many spiders (due to my haste and neglecting the acoustic effects of the cave, I erroneously believed there were more spiders than there actually were).
Turning into the right passage, I found myself not in a burial chamber but a section of an underground river. The water flowed rapidly, with narrow embankments on both sides. Additionally, the embankments had many openings, similar to the one I entered from. I gritted my teeth; spiders likely couldn't swim. I took a plunge into the water.
The moment I entered, a shiver ran down my spine. The water was freezing, and the current was much stronger than anticipated. However, to my surprise, I discovered mud, indicating a connection between this underground river and an external water source. Swimming against the current should lead me out.
I attempted a few strokes but found it impossible; the water was too swift. I was being carried downstream, and with each moment, the underground river accelerated. After several twists and turns, I couldn't stop, narrowly avoiding colliding with underwater pillars. The tremendous centrifugal force left me dizzy, and I felt like vomiting.
In a daze, something suddenly startled me. Moments ago, it seemed like something had splashed near me. I swore I hadn't seen anything fall. That splash must have been caused by something underwater. The thought made me
uncomfortable, as I had a profound fear of the deep sea, always imagining something dragging me beneath the surface.
Suddenly, my heart skipped a beat. Something soft had touched my leg—something unmistakable! Terrified, I quickly retracted my leg, pulling open the airbag on my backpack. It provided enough buoyancy to keep me afloat. Then, that something appeared again. Summoning courage, I reached down, discovering it wasn't seaweed but a strand of hair. Beneath the hair was a swollen human head.
I retched as I tossed the head away. The person had died recently; in that instant, I recognized him. It was one of the two guys from the bald team, the one who had warned me to stay vigilant. I couldn't fathom how he died. Before I could contemplate further, a powerful force dragged me underwater.
Submerged, I felt like I was inside a washing machine drum, unable to discern directions. I desperately curled into a ball and held my breath.
The immense suction caused me to bob up and down underwater, colliding with submerged rocks. My entire body must have been battered; there wasn't a part that didn't hurt. In the final whirl, I felt like I was being sucked into a dark pipe. My vision blackened, and consciousness slipped away.