Chapter 8: A Way Out

Bai Yi's expression was extremely grim; Tang San was truly sinister. Despite having searched thoroughly himself and found nothing, Tang San not only produced a jade sword ornament but also claimed there was more inside! Bai Yi stared in astonishment as Tang San continued to feel around in the stone coffin, this time exploring the two ends, closely pressed against the coffin wall. Tang San took a deep breath, withdrew his hand, and to his surprise, there was a precious pearl in his palm! The so-called precious pearl was none other than a luminous pearl! Ding Dali whispered, "This kid is really sinister." Bai Yi stared in astonishment as Tang San continued to feel around in the stone coffin, this time exploring the two ends, closely pressed against the coffin wall. Tang San took a deep breath, withdrew his hand, and to his surprise, there was a precious pearl in his palm! The so-called precious pearl was none other than a luminous pearl! Ding Dali whispered, "This kid is really sinister."

Bai Yi placed his hand under Tang San's nose and shook his head in regret: "There is no breath left."

Looking at the narrow path, Bai Yi shook his head: "Taking him along will only hold us back. Da Li, carry him back." Bai Yi was referring to the tomb chamber. Ding Da Li sighed, picked up Tang San Cheng, and started walking. Tang San Cheng's body felt as cold as ice in his hands. Ding Da Li thought about how Tang San Cheng had been gorging himself the night before, and increasingly felt that he had originally intended to be a glutton.

Tang San was taken aback: "Something happened inside. Ah."

Bai Yi held the luminous pearl in his hand and asked, "Is there any more?"

Bai Yi became agitated, and Ding Dali let out a muffled sound from his throat. The desire to survive circulated among the three of them. Tang San's heart felt as if it were being tightly gripped by someone, causing him intense pain. He was actually afraid; Tang San, who had never known fear from childhood to adulthood, felt inexplicably anxious at this moment. This press—was it life or death?

The empty stone coffin seemed to be a resting place specially prepared for Tang Sancheng. Ding Dali placed Tang Sancheng's body inside the coffin and casually adjusted his clothing. The already thin garments appeared even more desolate at this moment. Ding Dali took off his outer robe and draped it over Tang Sancheng, saying: "Brother, we have shared a bond, so let this be your burial garment."

Upon receiving the items, Bai Yi felt not only shock and desolation but also immense worry about whether he could take these few ceremonial vessels out of the tomb. "You found the entrance, so you must be able to find the exit," Ding Dali said, standing in front of Tang Sancheng like a gust of wind. "Find the exit, or else we all die together"

Tang San Cheng was stunned as if he had been shouted at, his arms tingling, his legs unable to move. Bai Yi's face spun in front of him, along with Ding Da Li's heavy breathing. Tang San Cheng felt that everything was drifting further away from him. His eyelids grew heavier, their faces became blurred, and then he fell into a darkness. His body slumped down weakly. His eyelids grew heavier, their faces became blurred, and then he fell into a darkness. His body slumped down weakly.

Tang Sancheng did not want to die; it was precisely because he did not want to die that he descended into the tomb. If he were to die here, he would not accept it. He began to search up and down in this grand tomb chamber, while Bai Yi and Ding Dali closely watched his every move. All hope rested on this so-called "spiritual child." After an unknown amount of time, Tang Sancheng dejectedly turned back and said, "I didn't find anything..."

"There may still be something in that stone coffin," Tang Sancheng said confidently as he walked over. He had a strong feeling that something had happened inside the coffin, as if it were calling to him. He reached in and, after a short while, pulled out two jade pendants—one dragon and one phoenix, a matching pair. Bai Yi's throat felt somewhat parched, and he could hardly speak. Tang Sancheng instinctively handed the dragon and phoenix pendants to Bai Yi, shaking his head firmly: "There is nothing else."

Ding Dali was the first to enter, while Tang Sancheng automatically retreated to the back, allowing Bai Yi to go in first, and then he followed behind. Beyond the hole was a winding path that spiraled upward. As they walked in, a chill enveloped them; the moisture from earlier was likely due to this. Tang Sancheng glanced to the side and spotted a patch of green grass. Remarkably, there was grass in this ancient tomb. Having never been in a tomb before, Tang Sancheng casually reached out to pluck it.

Bai Yi glanced at Tang San's ashen face and said: "If you truly are a spiritual child, then bless me and Da Li to successfully walk out. If not, my brother and I will return to accompany you in death! Da Li, let us go!"

Ding Dali looked dejectedly at Tang Sancheng, who was collapsed on the path, feeling a twinge of sadness: "If it weren't for him, we wouldn't have made it out. What about this kid and the books? Should we take him out?"

Upon witnessing this action, Bai Yi shouted, "Put it down!"

Without waiting for the two to respond, Tang San firmly stated, "Not finding it does not mean it does not exist; there must be an exit." He pressed his ear against the wall, moving it little by little, listening to the sound of the wind... the sound of insects crawling... the sound of water, dripping. Tang San closed his eyes, his hand exploring gradually, until his fingers suddenly poked into a groove, hearing the faint sound of water coming from within. Tang San turned back and said, "I found it."

Tang San was determined to take the risk. If it was a trap, they would all die together; if it was an exit, they would escape alive. With all his strength, Tang San pressed down, and a square hole appeared before the three of them. Ding Dali jumped three feet high, exclaiming, "There’s an exit, Brother Bai, there’s an exit! We have a way out!"