Chapter 149 Completely Empty

After that brief contact, the creature quickly withdrew from me, ceasing its attack. It circled above the main hall, and when I looked up, my scalp nearly exploded in shock—there were three of those so-called drought spirits hovering above the hall.

At that moment, I heard Guo Fan shouting. It turned out they had all entered the tomb chamber. I had been delayed for just an instant, and the tomb door was about to close. Hastily, I moved my body inside, but with a sharp “bang,” the door shut.

I was trapped outside, alone. A wave of awkwardness washed over me as I glanced at the three drought spirits staring directly at me. Cold sweat broke out all over my body. The situation was unbearably tense.

Then, to my surprise, the tomb door opened again. Yet, the next moment left me stunned—the chamber was completely empty. No wonder Shen Cong called it an elevator mechanism. Seeing it in person was astonishing. I was deeply impressed; it was hard to believe ancient people possessed such advanced technology. If they had such skills, why didn’t they build taller structures? It seemed such a waste.

My mind began to wander, but I forced myself to focus. I couldn’t hesitate any longer. No matter what, I had to get away quickly. One drought spirit was already enough to handle; three at once would surely tear me apart. Though confident in my agility, I wasn’t foolishly overconfident.

I swiftly slipped inside. The three drought spirits dashed in like shadows, heading straight for me. I raised my gun and began firing wildly. Just as they neared, the tomb door slammed shut. I exhaled deeply—was this a reprieve, a second chance at life?

I sensed the elevator moving, though I had no idea when the door would open or where I would emerge. Would I find Guo Fan and the others? Or perhaps encounter Li Ling? These questions weighed heavily on my thoughts. Shaking my head, I pushed away the chaotic emotions, pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and took a long drag. The smoke soothed my lungs and calmed my nerves.

The tomb remained closed for some time, seemingly moving slowly. I began studying the chamber, wondering if the wall beyond hid another tomb. If so, Guo Fan and the others might be just beyond a thin barrier. I knocked, hoping for some response, but none came.

Time passed—I smoked several cigarettes and zoned out—until finally, the tomb door creaked open to darkness outside. Fearful of the drought spirits, I grabbed my gun and secured a grenade at my waist. If I couldn’t defeat them, I was ready to go out in a blaze of glory. Dying torn apart by those monsters was too horrible to imagine.

But unexpectedly, the place was unfamiliar and silent. Cautiously, I stepped out, alert to every sound. Being alone here was unsettling; having a companion would make it easier.

This didn’t seem like a man-made structure but rather an underground cavern with a subterranean river—a typical karst landscape. In Yunnan, such formations are common: surface water dissolves limestone along faults and fissures, creating grooves, shafts, pillars, and stalagmites. Water seeps through cracks forming deep sinkholes, and lateral flows carve caves. Karst terrain offers a rich, wondrous natural spectacle.

Though dark, my flashlight revealed the handiwork of nature’s artistry. With companions, it might feel like a tour through a wondrous cavern.

As I walked, the sound of dripping water echoed beneath my feet amid puddles and uneven ground. Glancing back at the tomb, its door remained open. I wondered why the mechanism had halted here and what connection this cave had to the tomb.

My knowledge of ancient tombs was superficial—I was essentially a layman. Unable to decipher the mystery, I continued exploring. Suddenly, the tomb door slammed shut. I hurried over to check. The tomb I had exited lay within the mountain, its door set into the rock face. Now the mountain showed only one door, and no matter how I tried, it wouldn’t budge.

With no choice, I ventured deeper into the underground cavern. As a civil engineering student, I felt no fear and understood the terrain well. With a river flowing beneath, following it should lead me out. But for now, I wasn’t trying to escape—I needed to find Li Ling and my other companions. After all, I had brought them here. Despite the financial ties, we were comrades; I owed them clarity.

Suddenly, a distinct “plink plink” echoed nearby. I froze. I hadn’t stepped in water just now. Where did that sound come from? It wasn’t dripping water—could it be some underground beast?

Grasping a handgun, I prepared cautiously. My submachine gun had been lost during battle with the drought spirits, leaving me with only two pistols. I also carried grenades and explosives, and Zhang Feng had taught me how to make simple bombs, though I had yet to try.

As long as it wasn’t those drought spirits, I wasn’t overly worried. Even a tiger wouldn’t intimidate me. Holding my gun in one hand and flashlight in the other, I carefully scanned my surroundings, moving slowly to avoid lingering in one spot.