What to do?

The twilight was getting thicker, and in the distance, the outline of the small building was already a little blurred. After the rain, the cool wind blows in the face, diffusing the fragrance of the leaves, and at the same time, it also brings a very chill to us who have been worried about the rockery for a long time.

I looked at Xu Lan who was frightened and Chen Qiu who was frowning, and my heart began to be impetuous, and an inexplicable anger rushed to my head.

"Squad leader, stop walking around! You've trampled all the leaves on the ground! Chen Qiu stopped me.

As soon as I looked down, sure enough, the locust tree that fell to the ground was trampled under my feet, and the branches made a breaking sound from time to time, adding a bit of bleakness to the silent twilight, and many leaves were unconsciously trampled into pieces by me.

"Don't care! …… I'm wondering what to do! "I deliberately stepped on another branch, and my tone was very angry, and I was about to have a big argument with someone.

Chen Qiu's eyebrows rose upward, as if he wanted to reproach me.

"Little star, don't do this! …… Now, there's just the three of us left! After saying this, Xu Lan came over and grabbed me, her voice was a little choked, and her eyes were red.

Xu Lan never called me by my nickname in front of others, she kept saying that calling me by my nickname was like calling me "orangutan", which was really unpleasant, but now I can't take care of it, it seems that she is really six gods and no master!

"It doesn't matter! We can always figure it out! I scratched my head and tried to speak as lightly as I could, but everyone could tell that I was just comforting her.

What's the solution? Smash open the bluestone brick wall on the other side of the cloister? Regardless of thirty-seven twenty-one, rush back to Xiaolou to face Xu Lan's "grandfather"?

I looked at the corridor, then I turned my head to look at the small building, and in my heart I measured the feasibility of these two methods.

However, as long as I think of my hands that were numb from the shock of the bluestone wall bricks before and the frightened look on Xu Lan's face afterwards, I know that neither path will work.

"We can go back to the small building and have a look." Chen Qiu's tone was a little hesitant, "...... Perhaps, just now...... Illusion! ”

"Delusion? You probably want to say hallucinations! I pouted unconsciously, "I wish it was all a dream!" …… Hmph, but if you don't wake up all the time, it's even more terrifying! ”

"Don't ...... That's it! I...... Don't want to go back anyway! Xu Lan lowered her head and whispered, obviously feeling sad.

Chen Qiu and I both kept our mouths shut, and silence became our only choice now.

The silence was broken by the sound of hurried and panicked footsteps, and the three of us all looked up in unison, and vaguely saw a vague figure suddenly running towards the rockery from the other end of the corridor. The man staggered and almost fell several times, but it seemed that something terrible was driving behind him, so he did not run slowly, and in a moment he approached us.

"Jane?! …… Where did you three just run away? What about them? I stared at the figure that was getting closer and closer, and finally recognized that it was actually Xiao Zhen who was running!

I was surprised and delighted to meet me, and Xiao Zhen also saw our faces clearly, and jumped up to me and hugged me tightly, and cried out upside down: "Great! …… Squad leader, you are ...... here Xu Lan, what's wrong with your family? They...... It's all gone! Woo woo...... "Later, she actually started crying.

"Don't cry, don't cry, we're all here! …… Aren't you looking for someone in the yard? How could they have disappeared? I quickly patted her on the shoulder, comforting her while trying to find out the whereabouts of the other two from her.

"The three of us are in ...... I searched the yard twice, but suddenly found ...... We can't find the building! …… The yard seems to have become very large, but we walked around and kept going in circles between the fish pond and the rockery! It was getting darker and colder, and we were going to break our legs...... Later, we found a big hole in the rockery...... I just want to go in and rest......" Xiao Zhen's expression became very strange, frightened and confused, "Who knows, the three of us walked into that big hole, and kept walking, and kept walking...... That hole seems to have no end! I walked in front, and the more I walked, the more scared I became, and I wanted to stop and talk to the two of them. How do you know that when I turn around...... They...... Both of them ...... It's all gone! I was the only one left in the darkness, standing alone. ”

"A cave with no end? How can it be?! Xu Lan's face turned pale and interrupted Xiao Zhen's narration. Then she explained to us: "Our rockery is made of Taihu Lake stone, which is a very precious 'water Taihu Lake'. This kind of stone has been eroded by the lake water for a long time, forming holes of different shapes, commonly known as 'marble's nest'. Because there were already many small holes in the stone, there were no more artificial caves when the masonry was built. ”

Xu Lan paused, and continued without hesitation: "So, there is no cave in our rockery!" ”

After listening to this paragraph, I suddenly remembered that the rockery of Xu Lan's house looks a bit like the "Guanyun Peak" in our Suzhou Lingering Garden, and there is indeed no cave below. Xu Lan and I both looked at Xiao Zhen with puzzled eyes, thinking that Xiao Zhen might be too nervous and scared, and it was dark, so we mistook other places for caves in rockeries.

“…… However, we really walked into the cave of the rockery! …… They're really not in there! "When Jane saw that we didn't believe her, she was so anxious that she cried again.

I couldn't bear it, so I said to her, "Xiaozhen, don't cry!" It's not that we don't believe you, it's just ......"

"It's true...... Why don't you believe me! Xiao Zhen said aggrievedly while wiping her tears with her hands.

I looked at Xu Lan in embarrassment, and then at Xiao Zhen.

At this time, Chen Qiu, who had been standing silently beside him, suddenly said lightly: "What are you fighting for?" Why don't you just check it out? ”

Xiao Zhen immediately stopped crying, nodded again and again, and said, "Okay, go and see if I'm talking nonsense!" With that, he took the lead in leading the way.

I thought this was the only way to work, so I pulled Xu Lan and Chen Qiu up and followed Xiao Zhen closely, bypassing the fish pond and the locust tree that fell to the ground, and walked to the front of the rockery.

It was already dark, and the rockery made of Taihu stone stood quietly, and the vague outline was somewhat deformed in the night, like a monster writhing its body.

"Ah, there it is!" Jane pointed to a place on the left side of the rockery and shouted.

The three of us took a closer look, and there was a big black hole on the left side of the rockery, hidden in the shadows of a few plane trees. The look on Xu Lan's face was even more surprising than seeing his deceased grandfather appear again just now. I froze, this hole is so big, we have been around this area no less than ten times not long ago, it is impossible not to see it, but...... The facts are in front of you, and a big hole has mysteriously appeared under the rockery!

"How? I'm not talking nonsense! …… Shall we go in together? Jane looked back at us, her expression a little gloomy.

I stomped my foot hard, almost gritting my teeth, and said, "Let's go in!" …… I'd like to see what demons and monsters are in there! ”

"Wait!" Chen Qiu grabbed me who was about to rush into the cave, "...... Didn't she say that as soon as you enter this cave, everyone will disappear? …… We have to be very careful, it's safer for the four to get in together! After speaking, Chen Qiu looked at Xiao Zhen coldly, with a strange light flashing in his eyes.

“…… Good! Squad leader, you and I are in front. Xiao Zhen seemed to be a little afraid of Chen Qiu, she intentionally or unintentionally avoided Chen Qiu's gaze, walked around to me, and grabbed my other sleeve.

"Hmph, why are you so afraid of me? …… In my opinion, it would be more appropriate for the two of us to walk in front! Chen Qiu let go of my hand and stopped in front of Xiao Zhen.

Xiao Zhen hurriedly took a step back and looked at me with pleading eyes, I thought that they didn't get along well before, and I don't know what kind of dispute will arise after a while, it is better for me and Xu Lan to separate them!

"Forget it! Or me and Xiao Zhen walk in front, Chen Qiu, you and Xu Lan follow us! ”

As soon as I finished speaking, Xiao Zhen happily pulled my sleeve and said, "Okay! Squad leader, let's go! Not long ago, she was very scared of this strange cave, but now she is actually elated, as if she is going on an outing, and Jane's temper is really childish!

I shook my head with a wry smile and let her pull me into the dark, eerie cave that was slightly above our heads.

The moment before entering the cave, I heard Chen Qiu's almost inaudible sigh in my ears, and then, her breath followed me closely, and she seemed to be talking to herself behind my head, and seemed to be reminding: "Be careful! ”……

After entering the cave, it was even darker, almost out of sight, and there was a deathly silence, and the footsteps of the four of us seemed extremely abrupt, chaotic and monotonous, which made people even more frightened.

After walking for a long time, the hole still stretched forward, as if there was no end, my legs were a little sore, compared to my mood, every step I took, it was heavier. If we extrapolate according to the direction and distance we walked, we would have already passed through the small building of Xu Lan's house, and now we are not in the Xu family's house at all!

In the dark, I couldn't see the faces of the others, and no one spoke anymore, I didn't know what they were thinking. However, judging from the sound of everyone's gradual rapid and heavy breathing, everyone's hearts were shrouded in this endless darkness, and a terrifying and strange atmosphere was quietly permeating, as if there was an invisible net, tightly wrapped around us.

After walking for a while, the surroundings became darker and darker, and there was nothing to hinder me, but I still felt tightness in my chest and shortness of breath, and I couldn't move my steps. I know it's because of the fear of being in the dark for too long, not being able to see. (Ahem, this is what I saw in a tomb robbery novel when I read Western science fiction not long ago.) ）

I cleared my throat, ready to say a few words to dissipate my fear. Jane, who had been tugging at my left sleeve after entering the hole, suddenly screamed in horror and let go of her hand at the same time.

"Jane! What's wrong? I hastily identified it by my senses, and then pulled Jane with my left hand. Hey? My hand shook sharply, and I was caught in the air!

What about Jane?

Before I could ask again, in the darkness on the left, a strange cold wind rushed from the side, mixed with a strong and vicious murderous aura, and a few hints of elegant fragrance. A voice in my head was shouting, "Danger! Dangerous! Get out of the way! "But my body reaction was not so sensitive, I only had time to tilt my head, the wind rubbed my neck, it felt like hairy, and warm, like a living thing!

"Squad leader, come over here!" Chen Qiu's anxious shouts came from the right. I didn't care about the hot neck, it hurt so badly that I heard the sound and was ready to run towards Chen Qiu and Xu Lan.

But the strange "wind" wouldn't let me escape, and it swooped up from the top again. This time it was head-on, and in my eyes, which I had tried to keep wide, I saw a white shadow in front of me, stirring up several strange cold lights, as if a sharp and sharp knife was forking towards me.

At this moment, I forgot to dodge, in fact, I couldn't dodge, and I almost despaired and thought: It's over! It's a dead deal!

Unbeknownst to me, the cold light suddenly stopped at the tip of my nose, and a strange and unfamiliar voice sounded eagerly close to my ear: "Take out the things!" The voice was very high-pitched, and it seemed to be so desperate for the "thing" mentioned that it had the ferocity of a beast in its tone!

"Something? What is it? I screamed.

At this moment, the cave, which had been pitch black, suddenly lit up. When my eyes adjusted to the sudden light, I realized that I was standing alone on the side of the cave, with nothing in front of me!

Less than five meters away from me, stood Chen Qiu and Xu Lan. Chen Qiu was holding a very strange thing in his hand, it was the size of two adult fists, and it seemed to be a mass of inflated translucent white yarn, with many small flashes of light in it.

"Little Star, how are you?" Xu Lan ran over and stared at my neck and looked at me again and again, looking very panicked.

"It's fine! Chen Qiu, what do you have in your hands? Why is it so bright? …… You wouldn't have taken it out sooner! "I complained and touched my numb and sore neck with my hand, cough! Why is there blood on one hand? I was taken aback.

"Don't talk nonsense! Xu Lan, Yao, go to my clothes pocket and take that little cloth bag of white powder and sprinkle some powder on her! Find another handkerchief and help her wrap up her wounds! ”

Xu Lan carefully sprinkled white powder on me, tied two of her own handkerchiefs together, and helped me cover the wound on my neck. Chen Qiu held the strange thing and stood beside me to examine my wounds.

I looked at her, and when I saw that she looked unusually serious, I muttered, "What kind of powder is this?" If you sprinkle it on my wound, will it become inflamed? ”

“…… That's white medicine! You haven't heard of it! Chen Qiu looked at me, "You just saw clearly and hurt your ...... Something? What is it? ”

"Something? Why do you talk about things? …… What the hell is it? I didn't agree with the preface, but what I was thinking about was what the "strange wind" just now wanted me to hand over something.

“…… Me, I...... See clearly! A trembling voice came from behind me, and the three of us turned our heads together, and not far away came Xiao Zhen, who had suddenly disappeared.

Her expression was frightened, there was no trace of blood on her face, her upper and lower lips trembled, and she finally said what she had just said.

I saw that she seemed to be about to fall down at any time, so I wanted to help her, but Xu Lan hurriedly stopped: "Hey, little star, you can rest!" I got it! ”

Chen Qiu still stared at her coldly and didn't say a word.

"Xiao Zhen, you said that you saw clearly, what hurt you...... Monitor? Xu Lan helped Xiaozhen to my side and asked eagerly.

"I ...... I see it clearly! Be...... It's that white jade gluttony! ”

"What?!" Xu Lan was shocked, and I was also full of surprise, we couldn't believe our ears, and shouted in unison: "How is this possible!" …… White jade gluttony?! ”

"That's it! I see it clearly...... It has two horns and a pair of open ...... The blood-red copper bell giant eyes, the face is hideous, and it is terrifying! …… It's really it!! Xiao Zhen calmed down instead, her tone was so unquestionable that Xu Lan and I were even more panicked.

The white jade gluttonous statue actually lived? And they attacked us and almost killed me?

"Oh? White jade gluttony! Is that monster with a head and no body? …… What did it use to attack the squad leader? Horns on the head? Its mouth? Chen Qiu's tone seemed to be joking, but her expression was extremely cold, and her eyes stared at Xiao Zhen like sharp swords, as if she wanted to pierce her.

“…… So what do you say? Could it be a female ghost floating around? Xiao Zhen was also angry and ridiculed each other.

"Perhaps, it's a little monster who doesn't dare to see the light and can only hurt people with secret arrows!" The corners of Chen Qiu's mouth rose, pulling out a cold arc, and sneered contemptuously.

"You ......" Xiao Zhen was very angry, glaring at Chen Qiu angrily, even I felt her anger rising, as if even her hair stood up!

I looked at the two people in confusion, a little confused. Why did you quarrel at this time?

"Hey, hey, don't argue! …… Listen to me! I saw Xu Lan staring at the depths of the dark cave in a daze, thoughtful, looking lost and depressed, and my heart was even more confused, so I raised my voice and interrupted their continued quarrel.

"At this time, what are you arguing about inexplicably?! What's more, I don't think I need to care about what it is now...... Hurt me! The point is, why did it attack me? It wants me to 'get things out!' ’…… What does it want me to hand over, you say? "Finally, I remembered the murderous and impatient voice that had sounded in my ears in the darkness not long ago, and the strong and vicious murderous aura...... It's a chill!

Silence, long silence! Chen Qiu and Xiao Zhen didn't continue the "topic" just now, but they seemed to have a tacit understanding, and they both closed their mouths tightly. Xu Lan turned her head to look at me, obviously hearing what I said, but her face turned blue and white, as if she was hesitating about something, and she didn't speak for a while.

"Speak! Why don't you speak? …… I...... Don't know what it wants! …… I didn't take anything either...... Something that doesn't belong to me! "I'm sad, why is everyone silent and reluctant to help me? Are you all afraid of being affected by me?

"Don't be cranky! …… I guess it hits you, just...... Just pick a target! Chen Qiu seemed to see my thoughts, and hurriedly comforted me.

"And what about it...... What do you want? "My voice is pitiful.

“…… I guess it'...... White jade gluttonous like it! Chen Qiu replied to me seemingly casually, moved the strange "lantern" in his hand closer to Xiao Zhen, and his eyes were also staring at Xiao Zhen intentionally or unintentionally, with a cold light flashing in his eyes, Xiao Zhen opened her mouth, but she didn't say anything, looking angry and helpless!

I was even more confused, but I saw Xu Lan frowning, thought for a while, and said, "It seems that it is." …… I only have this weird white jade gluttonous statue in my house...... It's like what it wants! ”

I couldn't stop crying: "Stop! Stop! What is this? Could it be that the white jade gluttony asked me for the white jade gluttonous image? This, this, this is ridiculous! ”

Xu Lan sighed: "I'm sorry! I should have told you that this white jade gluttony looks like a ...... Hoodoo! Squad leader, do you remember that when I was talking about my grandfather and aunt, I once mentioned the clues left behind? ”

"Clues? Oh, you say, two things were left at the time! …… Is this white jade gluttonous statue?! ”

"Yes! …… In Guangxi Province, near the small county town called Shangsi, my grandfather and aunt participated in an ancient tomb archaeology and excavation. Towards the end of the excavation of the tomb, the archaeological team discovered a tunnel hidden deep in the tomb. Xu Lan's voice was faint, with a bitterness that was incommensurate with her age, "It is a not long tunnel, less than 100 meters in total, and at the end is a thick mountain wall, on which is carved a huge charcoal painting, on which is the image of the white jade gluttony, and below are some ancient people who can't see their faces and a few lines of strange words that they can't recognize." The tunnels were empty, with no mechanisms or moving things, and in front of the mountain wall was a platform made of black stone, on which were enshrined...... That white jade gluttonous statue! ”

Hey? Why is it different from the last time?

I just wanted to ask, but Xu Lan stared at me and said, "Squad leader, you must be surprised that what I told you in the corridor is different from the current one, right?" …… At the time, I didn't realize that this was going to happen...... So I'm hiding some weird parts. …… At that time, when their archaeological team sent six people to pick up my grandfather and aunt, they first found my unconscious aunt in the tunnel, and she was clutching a black stone in her hand, as if she was fighting with someone! …… Not far away, they found the grandfather who was no longer breathing, he was holding the white jade gluttonous statue tightly, his body kept the action of pounced, but he kept a happy smile on his face, just like ...... It's the same as being alive! Although they were shocked, they resolutely chose to evacuate, and they carried my grandfather and aunt, along with the white jade gluttonous statue and the black stone, and quickly withdrew out of the tunnel. ”

My mind followed Xu Lan's narrative to the mysterious and strange ancient tomb tunnel, where there was no mechanism to kill people, no zombies that suddenly jumped out, and even no moving objects. However, there are huge gluttonous statues on the mountain walls, unrecognizable ancient statues, strange characters that cannot be recognized, a platform with black stone walls (I am afraid it is an altar), a hideous and terrifying white jade gluttonous statue with red eyes, and an unconscious woman and an archaeologist who is still smiling after death......

I glanced at the depths of the cave, like an abyss, and felt like the huge mouth of that terrible monster, and I shivered several times in a row, and I didn't dare to imagine it anymore!

"And then?" Chen Qiu asked.

"Later? Nothing later! The next day, the tomb was engulfed in a mudslide triggered by heavy rains. Everything is gone, everything yesterday seems to have never happened! It's just my aunt...... It's been crazy ever since! My grandpa also left us and couldn't come back! Xu Lan's voice became lower and lower, and helpless sadness echoed in this space, making us children who would not have experienced the impermanence of life feel heavy sadness!

“…… So, why does your grandmother keep this white jade gluttony? After being silent for a long time, Chen Qiu suddenly asked.

“…… Because, when grandpa was sent back, he was still holding the white jade gluttonous statue tightly, and no one in the archaeological team could take it down. Grandma went up, and with just a slight click, she took the white jade gluttonous statue from her grandfather's hand. …… For this reason, grandma went to the leader of their archaeological team to discuss many times, and finally asked for the white jade gluttonous statue. In grandma's heart, that white jade gluttonous statue is the last memorial left by her grandfather! ”

"But I still don't understand who it is...... Want a white jade gluttonous image? I didn't take the white jade gluttonous statue at all, why ......"

Before I could finish speaking, Chen Qiu suddenly interjected: "We have stopped here for too long, we have to move forward quickly!" She deliberately ignored my question and shook the "strange lantern" in her hand: "Wait a while, if you don't have this ...... 'lantern', I don't know what to encounter!" Let's go! After speaking, Gu Zi raised his legs and walked forward, and Xu Lan immediately followed.

I froze, puzzled and aggrieved. I had a lot of questions, but they were all in a hurry to move forward, as if my questions didn't matter.

"Let's go! Monitor. Jane pulled up my sleeve again, and she leaned into my ear and whispered, "Let's go behind, wait a minute, I'll tell you something!" ”

Then, she glanced at Chen Qiu's back in disgust, and raised her chin arrogantly and elegantly, "Hmph! Look at the way she doesn't care if anyone else lives or dies! It's annoying! ”

I also looked at Chen Qiu's back, and my heart was mixed, and now, I can't see through what kind of person Chen Qiu is!

"Squad leader, Jane, keep up!" Xu Lan stopped and shouted, seeing that we still hadn't moved, he waved to us again and again! Chen Qiu heard her scream, and also stopped and turned around, the slightly flickering light covered her whole body with a mysterious halo, she seemed to be standing next to the water, her face and expression were like a reflection in the water, a ripple dispersed, and it was fragmented and blurred!

I was sad, my heart was suddenly full of sadness, and Sun Anning's shadow unexpectedly surfaced in my heart again. Could it be that my friends are destined to be unpredictable "people"? Perhaps, Chen Qiu didn't really regard me as a friend! I was a little discouraged, and I followed the light ahead of me, walking sluggishly.

After walking for a while, Jane secretly pulled my sleeve from behind, and I was startled and immediately slowed down. Xiao Zhen approached me and whispered in my ear, "Squad leader, do you feel the ...... in her hands?" Uncanny? ”

I looked at Chen Qiu, who was holding the strange "lantern" high, and everywhere she passed, there was light. The "lantern" flickered, but it was no less bright than a 20-watt electric lamp. Such an unusually bright light emanated from the translucent white veil. There was no power supply, and there was no flame to be seen, only countless clusters of light rolling in large and small times, very much like catching a lot of fireflies when I was a child, and they were packed in large glass bottles.

“…… Well, maybe a lot of fireflies? I subconsciously lowered my voice to defend Chen Qiu.

"Fireflies?! Squad leader, are normal fireflies so bright? That's like a searchlight! Jane rolled her eyes disdainfully.

Also, fireflies are too small, their light is very weak, and it is really too difficult to emit such a bright light!

I muttered, "Well...... If there were enough fireflies, they would be able to emit such a bright light, right? ”

"Alas, squad leader, you still won't believe me! …… Think for yourself, fireflies are living creatures, and besides, there are so many fireflies, can you take them with you? There must be a ghost in this 'lantern'! She's not a normal person! Although Xiao Zhen's voice was deliberately low, her tone was intense, with inexplicable meanness and eagerness.

I was in a trance, as if I had returned to the past, and Chang Dao's long and difficult voice echoed: "He's not a ghost!" But...... Nor are they normal people! Then, the voice and Xiao Zhen's voice mixed together, and the vibration continued for a long time.