Chapter 9: Surviving the Heavens
"Wait here, I'll go take a look." Bai Yi instructed Ding Dali to rest in place, while he forced himself to move upward. Surely this couldn't be a road without end? No matter how large the tomb chamber was, space was still limited. Bai Yi took out a throwing knife from his body and carved a mark on the wall as a sign, then continued to move forward.
Bai Yi took out another flying knife and threw it to Ding Dali, saying, "Hurry up!"
The two individuals were continuously digging around the stone slab until it began to shift slightly. Bai Yicai stepped back, while Ding Dali spat into his palms twice and shouted loudly, exerting all his strength to push the stone slab upward. Suddenly, light from outside illuminated the two of them, and they struggled to climb out, collapsing weakly onto the ground.
Bai Yi received no response. He turned his head to see Ding Dali lying on the ground, his fingernails digging into the soil, struggling to suppress his sorrow. A muffled sound kept emanating from his throat, a sign of his repressed emotions. Bai Yi sighed, nearly all was lost.
The stone walls on both sides were cold and grim, resembling the face of death. Bai Yi did not look at them; he merely focused on the path beneath his feet. It had been about half an hour of walking, and the upward path seemed endless. In the narrow space, one had to bend their knees to proceed with the books. Although half an hour is not long, his legs had already grown weak and fatigued. Bai Yi felt this way, and the tall Ding Dali was even more affected, already gasping for breath.
Ding Dali was taken aback; in his rugged heart, he thought perhaps Brother Bai believed the brothers inside could still breathe. A wave of desolation surged within him, and he fought to suppress his sorrow. He lifted the stone slab back into place, piled some dirt on top, but did not cover it completely. Only then did he stagger to follow behind Bai Yi. On the vast plain, the two figures grew increasingly distant until they vanished into the vastness.
Leaving Tang San's corpse behind, Bai Yi and Ding Dali returned to the small path and the book, the winding upward path leading either to a road of life or a road of no return, all was left to fate
Uncertain how much time had passed, Bai Yi let out a long sigh and called out, "Dali, we are out."
Ding Dali recovered on his own; he did not wait for Bai Yi's comfort. Bai Ge is just that kind of person, but it does not mean he is heartless or ungrateful. With red eyes, Dali asked, "How should this stone slab be handled?"
At this time, it was the autumn of 1931, also known as the 20th year of the Republic of China. That year, a wave of anti-Japanese sentiment began to rise in the commercial sector of Shanghai, spreading vigorously across the nation, creating a tremendous uproar. However, all of this had nothing to do with Tang Hetushu and Bai Yi, as each of them embarked on an unusual path. The year 1931 would mark the end for the vast majority, yet it was about to become the beginning for these two individuals
With each step, Bai Yi's body remained tense, as if any misstep could trigger a mechanism, bringing the terrifying quicksand back once more. Ding Dali felt the same fear; a sound like muffled thunder echoed in his throat, a manifestation of his dread of death. "Not afraid of death?" It was merely a pretext to encourage himself to survive.
"Seal it off then." Bai Yixin felt a sudden stir in her heart: "No, don't seal it off too tightly."
Brother Bai ... ... '' Ding Dali wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead, his legs trembling incessantly
Ding Dali sat alone on the long, narrow bluestone path. The longer he sat, the more he felt the hairs on his body standing on end. In the silent space, fear gradually spread until Bai Yi's voice broke the stillness: "Dali, come up quickly, I found the exit!" Ding Dali climbed up swiftly like an arrow released from a bow, using both hands and feet. In no time, he reached the spot where Bai Yi was located. He saw a heavy bluestone slab above Bai Yi's head. Bai Yi had already used a flying knife to carve out a gap beside the slab, through which faint light was filtering down, illuminating Bai Yi's head. That was a glimmer of hope for life.