Lu Ke's account IX.

…………

…………

"Wow! It's so beautiful!! Mrs. Tong said inexplicably.

Suddenly, a very large fluorite appeared in front of our eyes.

But it's too dark to see.

…………

The light emitted by the kerosene lamps and the complex shadows created by this light make the Nüwa Cave a miraculous sight.

The surrounding rock walls are all shaded by stalagmites of various sizes.

The dark ground is intertwined with white patterns.

Like a large snake or earthworm entwined, countless stalagmites hang down from the top in a complex and strange shape.

In addition, there are small puddles of water dripping from the tops everywhere.

Countless cylindrical stalagmites emerge from it and connect with the stalagmites above, forming large and small stone pillars.

…………

We couldn't help but stop and look at this strange scene.

…………

…………

"It's beautiful." Mr. Ma San exclaimed. "It's amazing. The rarity here, and the scale of this place, is nothing the world has ever seen!! ”

Koko held the kerosene lamp high above his head and let the light illuminate the surroundings.

…………

"This place, which is a bit like a square, we call it the Tiger's Cave, is located in the middle of the entire Nuwa Cave. There are 33 caves that we know of, and only seven have been explored. ”

"Guzi, can we take a break here?" Ma San asked.

…………

"Absolutely. I was ready to rest. So, let's take a break here!! ”

…………

"Then I'll take out the tea and snacks." Mo Si immediately lifted the lid of the bamboo basket in his hand.

…………

…………

We observed the cave with great interest.

Uncle Wang, who looked tired, found a dry stone to sit on.

It was just after noon.

…………

Dafeng took out the rose cake from the bamboo basket and gave it to those who wanted to eat it.

…………

…………

"It must have taken hundreds of years for these stalagmites to grow like this!!" Ma San looked up at the huge stalagmites in the field and sighed.

"Why, Mr. Ma San?" Mrs. Tong walked up to him and asked.

…………

"Generally speaking, in limestone fields with abundant groundwater, large and small caves will be created due to the dissolution of groundwater. Stalagmites are formed by the accumulation of porosity dripping from the top, or stalagmites are formed by the accumulation of pore stones dripping onto the ground. ”

“……… But it will take a long time to complete these things, and it should be said that this Nuwa Cave continues to form stalagmites to this day. ”

…………

"We can't just destroy this thing like a bamboo shoot, is it called a stalagmite?"

"Of course. It's shocking to say that these stalagmites have taken several times, or even dozens of years, to become what they are now. ”

"I see, it's really incredible!!"

…………

I listened to their conversation and approached Guzi, who was refueling the kerosene lamp.

…………

"What's the matter, Mr. Luke?" Guzi turned his head and asked.

"Uncle Gu, I'm sorry, can I go back to the Wolf King Fang first?"

…………

"What's wrong with you?" The expressionless subordinate Guzi slowly stood up, looked at me carefully and asked.

"The place where I was injured yesterday was a little painful, and I felt very cold, I can't figure it out because I was infected with a cold!!"

…………

"This may be a bit inconvenient, could you please bear with me a little bit?"

"I'm really sorry, in fact, I've been feeling very uncomfortable since just now......... I can go back to the Wolf King by myself, so that it won't spoil the interest of the others. I'll go back to the workshop and lie down for a while, and I should be fine. ”

Gu Zi thought sideways, then turned his head and looked to the side, "But Mr. doesn't know the way back to the fang, so I or Dafeng must go back with you." ”

"Such"

…………

"It doesn't matter. I'll ask Dafeng to go back with you!! ”

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry for you." I frowned slightly, making it look like the wound was painful.

…………

"No, don't say that." Gu Zi searched around for the tall and thin man, and at the same time said, "It's just that the gate of the Wolf King Fang at this time may be closed." I may have to trouble you to enter the workshop from the Tiger Cave........."

…………

"It doesn't matter. Dafeng should know the authentic location, right? ”

"Yes, he knows."

…………

…………

I explained the reason to Mo Si and Ma San, and Gu Zi told Dafeng to accompany me back.

…………

Dafeng, with a solemn expression, led me out of the cave and back to the entrance above the stream.

…………

…………

"I'm sorry, Dafeng." I sat down on a rock and apologized to him.

But he remained expressionless, "It's okay. Please take a break, Mr. Lu Ke. ”

…………

…………

Dafeng walked in front and led the way to the Wolf King Fang.

I followed along, and the wound on my head really started to hurt.

Also, I feel uneasy because I have deceived everyone.

…………

I decided to remain silent and just go.

Take a good rest before arriving at the Wolf King's Square.

Anyway, Dafeng doesn't talk much, and I don't know what to talk to him about.

…………

…………

I came to a different place than before, at the end of a narrow mountain road.

Surrounded by tall grass and trees, I had no idea where the entrance to the tunnel was, or if there were any paths leading to the entrance.

…………

"Please go this way."

Without saying a word, Dafeng pushed aside the dense foliage trees and headed straight for the fir forest.

I hurried to catch up with him.

There was still a remnant of the morning mist in the forest, with the occasional drop of atomized water dropping from the leaves.

…………

After a while.

We came to a bush, a grave-like place.

……………………

"Mr. Lu Ke, this is the entrance to the Tiger Cave."

It was a thick arched iron gate, like a boulder buried in the ground.

Maybe it was really the stone that was removed and then made into an iron gate.........

…………

Dafeng put his hand on the iron door, and I also followed to help, although it was not locked, it was still too heavy for one person.

The Tiger Cave was pitch black, and a narrow path that could only accommodate a single person continued to stretch inward.

…………

Dafeng lit the kerosene lamp he brought and was the first to enter the cave.

I'm a follower.

In an instant, our bodies were swallowed up by the infinite darkness.

This is where the nightmare begins

…………

…………

The walls of the tunnel are made of stones.

When it was built, the wall was probably dug up and then stacked with large stones to prevent it from collapsing.

The walls were covered with moss, dust, and mold.

The wind was cool and smelled of earth.

…………

…………

"How far is it from here to the Wolf King's Fangli, Dafeng?" I asked Dafeng, who was walking in front of me with a kerosene lamp in his hand.

"About two or three miles! I don't know. He replied lightly.

…………

The light of the kerosene lamp stained the walls of the tunnel red, and his shadow stretched to me, and my shadow fell backwards.

The sound of our footsteps echoed faintly in the tunnels.

The tunnel has a few steps up the slope and the occasional stone staircase.

We made several turns along the way, and we had no idea which direction we were heading.

…………

"I heard that this tunnel will be connected to the cellar of the Wolf King's Fang, right?" I asked the back of Dafeng, who was walking forward silently.

"Yes. The exit to this tunnel is right next to the wooden staircase in the cellar. Probably just below the door of the firewood room of the Wolf King Fang. ”

…………

At the end of the tunnel is a very steep wooden ladder.

I walked a little evenly, and after a few more big turns, it was a long flat road that followed.

At the end of the road is a wall with a small exit about a height of about one person.

But the other end of the exit was blocked by a large stone slab.

…………

"On the other side is the cellar." Dafeng said to me while placing his hands on the stone slab.

Take a closer look.

It turns out that there are grooves on the edge of the slate where you can put your fingers.

I stepped forward and helped him slowly push the slate to the left.

…………

…………

We walked through the exit and returned to the cellar of the Wolf King.

What awaits us there is the atmosphere of the earth mold and the gloomy atmosphere.

…………

It is a square room surrounded by stone walls that look new and should have been built not long ago.

The ground is adobe. The roof is low.

Next to the small staircase was a wooden shelf for storing things, and a few useless barrels were stacked. Other than that, there is no more.

…………

From the room, I looked at the stone slab that blocked the doorway and served as a secret door.

In fact, it is just an old blank canvas with nothing on it, and it looks like an ordinary ornament.

…………

…………

"It's scary." I helped Dafeng push the secret door back and muttered.

As soon as I walked out of this small room, the wooden ladder was on the side.

With the kerosene lamp in his hand, Dafeng lit the white lantern on the wall closest to us.

The flames grew larger, and the surroundings became brighter.

…………

…………

Above the wooden ladder should be a firewood room, and the kitchen is next to it.

…………

It's scary, it's quiet.

Although this Wolf King Fang is very much like a cemetery, it is inevitably too quiet.

There is no trace of human breath at all.

Are the other people in charge of the kitchen on the first floor?

…………

"Thank you, Dafeng. Then I went up to the second floor and went back to my room to sleep. ”

"Okay, please get some rest. If necessary, I can ask Mr. Lei Sheng to help you diagnose it. ”

"Okay, I'll trouble you again if you need to. I'll lie down for a while and see. ”

…………

I went up the wooden ladder with Dafeng.

Just as he was about to climb to the first floor, Dafeng suddenly stopped.

He stopped on the wooden ladder and looked around.

Then, as if he saw something on the wall, he suddenly turned his head and stared at the blank sketchboard on the wall.

…………

"What's wrong?" I was stunned and asked, "What's going on?" ”

But Dafeng kept a tense face and didn't answer, just turned around and walked down, past me, all the way to the aisle.

…………

"Dafeng ........." his inexplicable behavior made me very confused.

…………

"No ........."

He looked intently at the dark and silent cellar, lighting the white lanterns hanging from the four corners one by one.

Then he walked over to the ironclad figure that was placed in the innermost part of the west.

…………

"What's wrong?" My voice trembled for no apparent reason.

“……… Mr. Lu Ke, please wait a moment. ”

After he dropped these words, he walked alone and pushed open the black wooden door behind the iron statue, I was a little surprised, the wooden door was very hidden, and the surrounding darkness was completely unnoticed.

Later, Dafeng walked in.

Suddenly, the light from the kerosene lamp in his hand was no longer visible.

The huge cellar is full of only me and the ironclad figures.

…………

Silence filled everything.

The light of the white lanterns on the wall flickered from time to time.

I felt very uneasy.

…………

…………

After a long time, nothing happened.

I stood by the shelf of the small wooden ladder and didn't know what to do......... Should I catch up with Dafeng?

Or go back to your room?

Or who to call.........

…………

What did Dafeng see in the dark?

There was nothing wrong with the blank sketchpad he looked at at first.........

But why is it so quiet?

Completely uninspired.

What about the couple of the big housekeeper Rego and Lei Sheng and Lei Lai?

Go to their respective rooms and have a look, I don't know if you can find anyone?

…………

Right now

A faint voice came from the wooden door that Dafeng had just walked into.

I can't tell the difference.

I couldn't help but stand on end.

…………

But I made my decision in an instant.

I turned my head to look at the black wooden door in the corner.

…………

Someone is running.

I heard a faint but solid sound of footsteps.

…………

…………

"Hey!!" I shouted, but no one answered.

I immediately chased in the direction of the footsteps, and quickly pushed open the black door.

…………

Inside is not a "room", but a "corridor".

The narrow passage that only allowed one person to pass through stretched into the depths of darkness. There was an indescribable stench inside.

About a foot ahead, the walkway made a big bend to the right.

There hangs a lit white lantern.

…………

Suddenly, a dark shadow flashed around the bend.

It was the shadow of someone.

…………

"Stop!!" Instinctively, I chased after it.

Before I could see clearly, the black shadow at the bend disappeared into the darkness.

…………

I walked into the Black Gate, which was very narrow.

…………

…………

I picked up the white lantern on the road, and then slowly walked deeper into the road in the direction where the black shadow had fled with the light of the fire.

…………

…………

I listened. There was silence all around, only my own voice.

…………

After walking for a while, an earthen wall appeared in front of me, which was exactly the same as the one around it.

There is a black wood door on the wall.

…………

Is there a room in the innermost part of the cellar of the Wolf King Fang?

It can't be in there, right?

…………

A chill slid across his back, and the hand holding the white lantern trembled.

…………

I slowly pushed open the door and walked into the room with my head down.

…………

…………

On the left wall hangs the chains that lock the murderer, but nothing else.

…………

I tried to investigate the room, but it was too dark to see anything.

…………

I put my hand carrying the white lantern inside, and the red flame lit up the room

Oh my God, how can this happen?

There was something unbelievable in the room.........

At that moment, I even wondered if my eyes were spent.

There's a very uncomfortable thing down there. A disgusting thing.

It was a corpse.

…………

A corpse dressed in brown fell face down on the ground.

The head of the corpse was covered by a gray cloth bag.

…………

The corpse's feet were facing the room, and its shoulders were facing the doorway.

A red-dyed iron nail rake landed next to the corpse.

…………

I was frozen in fear, my whole body was exhausted, and my consciousness drifted farther and farther away.

I wanted to shout, but my throat couldn't make any sound.

My feet felt like they were made of wood, and I couldn't move at all.

…………

I swallowed a mouthful of saliva and walked over slowly.

I didn't even know what I was doing, and I was sleepwalking forward to the corpse.

…………

Who is it?

Who is this corpse?

I do not know. With a gray cloth bag over my head, I can't tell.

This person is of moderate stature, neither fat nor thin.

…………

The surroundings seemed to freeze.

I trembled and reached out and touched it. Sure enough, it was already cold.

It seems like a long time since this man was killed......... How long ago was he killed?

What's more.

Who the hell is this person?

…………

…………

I suppressed my fear and shook his right hand. Bone-chilling cold.

…………

People were not killed today, they could have been yesterday or the day before yesterday.

…………

I'm not pretending and can't judge exactly, but I can speculate.

People are not killed today.

…………

…………

His hands have many wrinkles. From this point of view, the deceased should be an old man.

But it is also possible that it has been a long time since the corpse has been dead.

…………

Judging from the size, it is more likely that there are only Lai Mo or Lei Sheng, but I have just separated from Lai Mo.

So, could it be Leisheng?

However, judging from the many wrinkles, Lei Sheng is not that old.........

I can't tell who this corpse is............

I stepped back.

Who did such a thing?

Who caused such a tragic fate for the dead?

Who is the murderer?

Ah, I'm so stupid!

Of course, it's a murderer.........

That guy is the only one who can do such a terrible thing.

It was a man who harmed this man.

…………

…………

I have to find the murderer.

You have to find it out quickly.

If you don't hurry up, there will be other victims.........

But why did the murderer cover the deceased with a gray cloth bag?

…………

Also, where the hell is that guy now?

…………

Who is the deceased?

Who is this corpse?

What the hell is going on?

What the hell is going on?

I don't understand.

stop

Don't hurt people anymore!!

Oh, my God!!

…………

My feet were shaking and I felt shuddering, and I had small bumps all over my body.

I'm scared, it's all scared.

I felt more and more uncomfortable, and the stuff in my stomach was almost coming up my throat. I couldn't take it anymore.

…………

I slowly backed away, knowing that my face must have turned into a ball.

I'm getting out of here. I'm going to call someone. I'm going to show you this corpse.

…………

I found some kind of breath.

Something is behind me.

But I found out too late!!

…………

Something swung at my feet from behind.

I was hit with something that resembled a stick.

The pain was excruciating, and I fell forward, and the white lantern flew out of my hand.

I turned my head and the other man struck again.

I stretched out my left hand to protect my face.

They beat me with sticks and stuff.

I turned sideways and curled up. The weapon struck me in the shoulder, and a burning pain rose up.

…………

"Stop!!"

I resisted desperately, kicking my feet and trying to kick them away.

At the same time, I struggled to prop up my upper body, trying to catch the person who was constantly swinging me.

My right hand grabbed something resembling a shirt or cloth.

The other party was taken aback.

…………

At that moment, the white lantern that fell to the ground suddenly grew a little larger before it was about to go out.

For a moment, I could vaguely see the other person's face.

It's an old man.

…………

A very old man. His face was covered with a veil, and his forehead was black and cracked, covered with numerous wrinkles.

I didn't get to see his whole face, but when I saw those eyes, I felt only deep fear.

I couldn't help but shout no, and the other party seemed to shout in a hoarse voice.

But I didn't have a chance to tell if that was the case.

…………

In the next moment, I was plunged into deep darkness.

I was hit the head.

When I found out about this, I also lost my mind.........

…………

…………