Chapter 38: The Location of the True Tomb

Cheng Xiangru had to admit that the newcomers were remarkably clever.

Facing the family of black-haired spiders that had dealt Gao Zhuang and his group such a heavy blow, these people had resorted to fire. Not only did they successfully rescue Gao Zhuang, but it was safe to assume they had also inflicted severe casualties on the spiders.

This group was also extremely cautious. Knowing full well that Cheng Xiangru and Leng Ying were hiding behind one of the doorways, they did not recklessly search each one despite being armed. Instead, they chose to use smoke and fire.

Cheng Xiangru and Leng Ying were now backed into a corner. They had only two choices: suffocate in the smoke or rush out and fight for their lives.

As the choking black smoke billowed toward them, growing thicker by the second until they could barely keep their eyes open, Cheng Xiangru grew frantic. "Red Fatty, why don't we just go out and fight them?"

Leng Ying shook her head and reached out her right hand toward him.

Through the haze, Cheng Xiangru misinterpreted her gesture. Thinking she wanted to hold his hand as they made a break for it, he reached out to grasp it, only for her to quickly pull back, leaving him clutching at air.

"What are you thinking? I'm not asking you to hold my hand; I need you to give me the pistol!"

Cheng Xiangru had picked up Big Head Yu’s handgun earlier and kept it on him. He hadn't expected her to ask for it at such a moment and had mistaken it for a romantic gesture, his face flushing crimson with embarrassment.

"You should have just said so!" Cheng Xiangru muttered, pulling out the pistol and handing it to her.

He then heard a clattering sound; it seemed Leng Ying was dismantling the weapon.

A moment later, she shoved it back into his hands and whispered, "I checked it. There are three rounds left. Don't use it unless absolutely necessary. I’ve engaged the safety and chambered a round, so be careful not to have an accidental discharge. I’ll go out first; I’m fast, and with the thick smoke cover, they won't easily hit me. You wait a while with the creepy weirdo before coming out—it’s best to wait until things are quiet outside."

Without waiting for a reply, Leng Ying grabbed her red-tasseled spear and prepared to rush out.

Cheng Xiangru reached out and grabbed her arm. She looked back at him.

"Be careful!"

"Understood."

Cheng Xiangru let go.

Leng Ying paused for a fraction of a second before sprinting out.

A short time later, gunfire erupted outside. Cheng Xiangru’s heart leapt into his throat, but with no other options, he could only pray silently that she wouldn't be hurt.

***

The gunfire continued outside. As the wait dragged on, Cheng Xiangru grew increasingly restless. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, he dragged Chen Shangke to the edge of the doorway and cautiously peered out.

The corridor was filled with billowing black smoke and the bright glow of fire. Through the haze, he could see Leng Ying, her spear slung on her back, darting between the doorways. She used them as cover to dodge bullets, gradually closing the distance between herself and the men, occasionally firing back with a slingshot.

It was only then that Cheng Xiangru realized she must have used that slingshot earlier to knock the gun out of Big Head Yu’s hand. She was quite accurate, it seemed. However, the slingshot’s lethality was limited, and since she was moving at high speed, she wasn't able to injure the attackers; it was essentially just an exchange of fire.

The attackers seemed reluctant to engage in a prolonged battle. Firing as they retreated, they backed all the way to the tomb gate, unleashed a final volley of wild shots, and then turned and fled together.

Leng Ying ducked in and out of a few more doorways to ensure no one was left to ambush her before turning back to find Cheng Xiangru, though she had lost track of which doorway she had originally emerged from.

"Blue Fatty... *cough*... Blue... *cough*..."

"I'm here!" Cheng Xiangru dragged Chen Shangke out of the doorway and waved his arm vigorously through the thick, black smoke.

Leng Ying hurried over, and without a word, they shared the weight of the still-unconscious Chen Shangke, sprinting toward the tomb gate.

When they reached the entrance, the smoke had thinned significantly. It was still acrid, but tolerable.

Leng Ying gestured for Cheng Xiangru to wait, then crawled over the rubble to peer outside. Her movements were slow at first, then swift as she lunged out.

A moment later, she retreated, looking furious. "They’re too crafty. They aren't waiting outside. They must have exited through the raiding tunnel and are waiting for us at the opening."

Cheng Xiangru shook his head. "If I were them, I’d pull up the ropes, fill in the tunnel, and trap us down here to die."

Although the fire wasn't massive, the dense smoke had nowhere to dissipate and would linger for a long time. The already scarce oxygen would be rapidly consumed, and with the vicious black-haired spiders and countless traps, unless the people trapped down here were gods, there was no chance of survival.

Of course, if they were gods, why would they be trapped here in the first place?

"What do we do now?" Leng Ying sat down, exasperated, and wiped her forehead, leaving a smudge of soot across her face.

"How about we go upstairs and take a look? Maybe there’s a way out after all?" Cheng Xiangru was out of ideas; he could only pin his hopes on the impossible and pray for a miracle.

"Fine! Let's go up and see!" Leng Ying nodded, using her spear to help herself back to her feet.

There was no need to speak; both knew exactly where "upstairs" meant.

It was clear that Leng Ying’s repeated, all-out sprints had drained her energy; she was utterly exhausted.

***

Carrying Chen Shangke, they exited the tomb gate. The air outside was noticeably better; although it still carried the smell of burnt debris, it wasn't as choking as in the corridor.

Leng Ying found the rope she had left behind and climbed up first, beckoning to Cheng Xiangru. "Tie up the creepy weirdo; I'll pull him up!"

"He’s very heavy. Can you pull him? You look exhausted!"

"If I can't, do you think you can? Don't you know that even a starving camel is bigger than a horse?"

Cheng Xiangru was speechless. He silently wrapped the rope around Chen Shangke’s shoulders and waist and tied a knot. "Ready!"

Leng Ying pulled the rope taut, and Chen Shangke’s limbs dangled as he was slowly hoisted upward.

After a long while, the rope was tossed back down.

Cheng Xiangru grabbed the rope and climbed up the side of the tomb gate, exerting every ounce of his remaining strength until he finally hauled himself up.

After the massive physical exertion of the night and the repeated brushes with death, Cheng Xiangru felt he had reached his limit.

*Buzz... buzz...*

With a jarring sound, the rusted copper lock on the wooden door was shattered by Leng Ying’s impact drill.

After packing away her tools, she pushed the door open.

Dust rained down as the wooden door creaked open with a decaying groan, revealing a pitch-black passage.

Cheng Xiangru shone his flashlight inside, his eyes widening in amazement.

Beyond the door lay a corridor wide enough for one person. The ceiling was arched and painted with intricate constellations, and the walls on both sides were covered in vibrant, colorful murals!

Leng Ying saw the sight as well, her expression complex. "Blue Fatty, we guessed wrong. This isn't an escape route—it’s a real, ancient tomb!"