Chapter 140: Beginning the Excavation
It’s important to know that the nearby mountain range, including Dragon Head Mountain, is riddled with large and small caves, making it very easy to mistake one for another if you’re not careful. Therefore, the search had to be extremely thorough.
Just now, he had discovered a hole, which appeared to be a tree hollow. However, there seemed to be signs of human alteration inside. Although quite old, faint traces were still visible. San Biang Gua, an experienced mountain runner, was confident in his keen eye for such details.
I examined the entrance of the hollow, located beneath a sturdy, large tree surrounded by thick undergrowth. In the darkness of night, it would be difficult to spot without careful observation. The inside was also overgrown with weeds, but there were enough subtle clues to prove it was not a natural tree hollow. Shining a flashlight into it, I noticed the interior was surprisingly smooth. A natural cave wouldn’t have such neatly flattened areas; it was clear this place had been artificially modified, resembling the kind of ancient refuge cave San Biang Gua had described.
I had San Biang Gua double-check. Using a powerful flashlight, we found that the tunnel inside was not straight but winding. I paused for a few seconds, my mind racing. There was no better option at the moment, so rather than wait, we should give it a try. Judging by San Biang Gua’s confidence, it seemed promising. He told me that many of the tunnels around here shared similar characteristics; as long as the direction was right, following it would eventually lead somewhere. Even if we encountered a dead end, as long as the direction was correct, we could dig through to the next section without needing to dig very deep.
With that encouragement and my own resolve to try, I bit the bullet and decided to proceed. I began assigning roles: someone needed to stay at the previous spot to keep watch over the camp and the exploration site. I wasn’t sure how well the walkie-talkies would work between the tunnels and above ground, but it was worth trying to maintain communication and stay updated.
As for who would stay behind, I already had a choice in mind: Anna. Of course, I wouldn’t leave the foreign girl alone up top. I needed someone trustworthy alongside her. Naturally, Liu Dong came to mind. I trusted him now, and having him as support above was the best option. That way, I could rest easy. I would take Guo Fan with me down below to prevent any accidents. He was very experienced and had been with several tomb-raiding teams before, so it made sense for him to accompany me.
I shared my plan, and Liu Dong agreed without hesitation. Anna, however, initially refused, insisting on coming down with me. Her adventurous spirit, typical of foreigners seeking thrills, was fully on display. But I finally told her that someone trustworthy had to stay above to support and keep watch, implying that I trusted Anna the most for that role. Only then did she nod in agreement.
Thus, Anna and Liu Dong remained above to keep watch and provide support, while I led the other five down into the hollow. After a final equipment check, we prepared to enter. San Biang Gua, the most experienced in the area, naturally took the lead. Guo Fan brought up the rear, and I positioned myself third, following Zhang Feng. As the six of us entered the tunnel, a foul odor assaulted us—like the stench of rotting vegetation. Yet the passage grew wider the deeper we went, though we still had to stoop. Twisting and turning through the labyrinthine path left me a bit dizzy. Fortunately, we had a compass, so losing our way was unlikely. San Biang Gua’s mountain-running experience proved invaluable; he explained that without a strong sense of direction, it was easy to get lost deep in the mountains.
After some time, it became clear this was no natural cave. While the outside resembled one, the interior bore unmistakable signs of human handiwork. I speculated that this might have started as a natural tree hollow long ago but was later expanded by ancient people for use as a refuge.
After about twenty minutes, we came upon several forks. Ahead were three entrances, all close to each other. Naturally, we couldn’t split up. San Biang Gua suggested trying each one in turn. We first tried the middle entrance, but after a short walk, it seemed to be an animal’s nest. We hurried back to avoid danger. The passage was narrow and grew increasingly tight until no human could pass.
Next, we tried another entrance. After about fifteen minutes, we heard a “thump! thump!” sound resonating nearby. I recognized that noise well—it was the sound of the exploration equipment. Although not very loud, we could still hear it clearly. This suggested we were very close to their small tunnel.
But then a new problem arose: this tunnel was a dead end. Being so close yet blocked was hard to accept. After some discussion, I decided we should try digging, starting with ten meters to see if we could break through. If not, we’d think of another solution.
We took out our entrenching tools, working in pairs to dig. The soil was loose and easy to excavate, so the work wasn’t too strenuous. We piled the dirt to the side. We weren’t trying to widen a passage yet, just seeing if digging here might connect to another tunnel. Based on the direction, it seemed correct, and San Biang Gua agreed.
Six of us dug in pairs, rotating three times. After about ten meters, a narrow passage just wide enough for a person to crouch through emerged. The machine’s pounding noise grew clearer, though still faint, but more distinct than before.
Though uncertain if continuous digging would eventually connect, this spot was certainly on the right path. We dug another five or six meters before taking a break. We each lit a cigarette. I asked San Biang Gua, “We’re already around fifteen or sixteen meters. Digging further might be tough.”
Hearing this, San Biang Gua quickly stubbed out his cigarette and crawled back into the narrow tunnel. Moments later, he emerged, visibly excited. “Boss, it’s good—really good! Look at this soil.”