Everything was pitch black in front of my eyes. I didn't dare to use the flashlight or move, but I could imagine that a white-faced monster with exposed fangs was slowly approaching. It was very close to me, and I could clearly hear the low growl coming from its throat, and I could smell the foul breath coming from its mouth. It might have been only a few centimeters, or even closer. If it decided to bite, my life would likely be in danger.
But at that moment, I couldn't make a sound, couldn't move, couldn't do anything out of the ordinary. I had to remain quiet, with every inch of my body tense.
"Gurgle..."
The low growl from its throat carried a beast-like threat. I retreated without making a sound. But soon, my entire back was against the wall. That's when I realized that my back was all wet, with cold sweat making it very uncomfortable. The darkness was making me feel unsafe, with all the skin on my face and body standing on edge. The danger was too close, making my nerves completely taut.
But at that moment, the footsteps from behind us were also getting closer. The white-faced monster in front of us was clearly attracted to these footsteps. It turned away, and as a result, I breathed a sigh of relief, looking sideways not far away. But just that glance surprised me! Along with the footsteps, there was a light illuminating the passage made of white bones.
It seemed to be a flashlight. In the darkness, it hurt my eyes. Could it be that the ones approaching from behind weren't the white-faced monsters? I didn't dare to look too overtly, and it was evident that the several white-faced monsters had fixed their gaze on the light from the flashlight, their low growls rising, and the people holding the flashlights had stopped their steps. On both sides, within this passage paved with white bones, the mutual hostility was unmistakable.
"Who's there in front? Mountain? Where's Shanzi?"
The voice sounded somewhat familiar. Without realizing it, I frowned. Fatty was relatively close to me and whispered, "Sounds like the voice of Li Dunzhu!"
It was only then that I suddenly realized, indeed it was the voice of Li Dunzhu! It seemed that the group who had caught up from behind should be Gu Yu and his team. They hadn't activated the mechanism to open the earth wall before, yet somehow they had caught up now.
The fatty and I didn't speak. Luo Dong wasn't stupid, but unexpectedly, just then, the sound of someone calling out from the darkness, Shen Mentian, actually shouted for help.
"Who are you? We're here, help us!"
To be honest, I generally respected female comrades who could hold their own, especially the ones who were good-looking. But at that moment, I really wanted to slap her. Now all of us were exposed!
As soon as Shen Mentian shouted, several white-faced monsters immediately growled and looked around. Meanwhile, the group ahead, led by Zhuzi, slowed down their pace. Initially, I had intended to use Gu Yu and his team as cannon fodder, relying on their strength to hold down these white-faced monsters, making it easier for Fatty and me to stage a surprise attack from behind, flanking them from the front and back to kill them all. But now, damn it, forget about flanking, I was afraid that I wouldn't even be able to save myself.
"Ao!"
The white-faced monsters roared. They had found Shen Mentian first and pounced towards her according to the sound, pinning down her location. She screamed in panic and hastily retreated. But as she backed up, she found the wall against her back, and in her panic, she kept shouting for help, making her position even more certain to the white-faced monsters.
"Don't come here, ah, help, don't come near..."
Shen Mentian continued to cry out in alarm, while I furrowed my brow. If I rushed out to help her, I would definitely be attacked by the other white-faced monsters. Perhaps, I wouldn't be able to save myself and might even lose my life. But if I didn't save her, was I really going to watch this girl be torn to pieces? I was conflicted, while Shen Mentian's situation became even more perilous.
In the critical moment, I suddenly stood up and clapped my hands while shouting, "Brother Zhuzi, we're here. We've already gone through all the mechanisms inside. Come quickly to save us!"
This was a lie, but the purpose was clear, to get Zhuzi to step in and help! Gu Yu and his team were highly capable, and it wouldn't be difficult for them to kill these white-faced monsters. But I was afraid that they might consider us as cannon fodder and use our bodies to pave the way.
After shouting, I unsheathed the triangular spike and turned on the flashlight, shining it forward. In the light, I at once saw Shen Mentian looking panicked, and the white-faced monster closing in on her.
"Damn it, if you're brave enough, don't touch the woman. Come at me."
The fatty next to me also shouted, and we both charged at the pale-faced monsters. But as soon as the fatty stepped onto the bone pathway, he was immediately sent flying by two pale-faced monsters. Even though the fatty weighed over two hundred catties, he flew out like a sandbag.
"Don't mind me, save the girl comrade first!"
The fatty shouted as he fought with the pale-faced monsters. At this moment, Luo Qiong rushed out, catching the attention of the other two pale-faced monsters. These two people were really daring. I pursed my lips and charged towards Shen Mengtian's direction. She had already curled up in a corner, using the bones in front of her to barely fend off the attack.
"Save me, please save me!"
It's not surprising that she was so frightened at this moment — she was just an ordinary girl. A primary school teacher, who wouldn't be afraid in such a situation?
"Get lost!"
I was anxious, and as I rushed behind the pale-faced monster, I was not very accurate. I intended to stab it in the neck with my triangular blade. I didn't expect the stab to hit its scapula instead. Even though it harmed the pale-faced monster in front of me, it didn't kill it instantly like the previous times. However, thanks to my attack, the pale-faced monster slowly shifted its gaze towards me and locked eyes with me!
I took a few steps back, swinging my triangular blade. I felt a bit regretful. If that previous stab had hit, this pale-faced monster would already be dead. Clearly, I lacked experience and was running out of energy. Glancing behind me, the other pale-faced monster was coming around from the back. I wasn't sure if the fatty and Luo Qiong could hold on. I wasn't very worried about Luo Qiong - he was born in the hunter's home and must have fought with beasts in the mountains. Conversely, the fatty couldn't use his godly skills and was just an ordinary person. Although he was very strong, being besieged by two pale-faced monsters might lead to trouble. Of course, my own situation wasn't very good either. The "Wudang Five Elements Skill" wasn't suitable for close combat. These two pale-faced monsters could easily kill me at any moment.
I needed to calm down now. We couldn't let ourselves become Gu Yu's cannon fodder, and we definitely couldn't die here. The situation now was that Gu Yu would definitely be watching from the sidelines, and Shen Mengtian had disrupted my original plan, putting us in a passive position. But there was still a chance to turn the tables.
"Zhu, there are a total of nine levels of mechanisms inside. I've passed the first four levels, and each level has a different method to pass through. I've figured it out after a long time of trial and error. If you help us, I'll tell you the methods to pass the levels!"
I shouted out, but it was all nonsense, but at present, I had to make Zhu and the others help.
However, after shouting, there was no response. It might not be that Zhu and the others were unwilling to help, but that Gu Yu was blocking them. Besides, they were all seasoned veterans and not easily deceived!
"Fatty, Luo Qiong, can you still hold on?"
I didn't dare to act rashly while the injured pale-faced monster and the other one were watching me closely.
"I'm okay; I just got a few scratches. Damn, these bastards are strong!"
The fatty replied immediately. After a moment, Luo Qiong said, "I can still hold on, but these two guys are too brutal!"
But at that moment, the pale-faced monster in front of me suddenly roared and charged at me, raising its claw to fiercely strike towards my head. I was startled, instinctively dodging to the side, but my reaction was still not quick enough. Its claw grazed my back, leaving three claw marks and an instant burning pain, as if my whole back had been scorched by fire.
"Damn."
I immediately swung my triangular blade, forcing the pale-faced monster that tried to attack me to retreat. Then, I turned around and shouted, "Zhu, the mechanisms inside are the only way through. Each mechanism changes after being passed through once, but I have found the pattern within them. If I die here, you'll spend even more time finding the pattern, delaying your treasure hunt, and possibly even risking your lives. Help me out, and I'll take you inside!"
I continued to exaggerate, and the pale-faced monster behind me growled and charged at me. I rolled on the spot to dodge and looked towards Zhu and the others, but they still hadn't moved.
Was this really the end for me this time? Despairing thoughts suddenly flooded my mind.