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墨書 Inktalez
After discussing for a while, the three of them reached a conclusion: "First, we need to find First, and then we can leave this place."
Seven said, "Second, Third, your bodies haven't fully recovered yet. Should we rest a bit before setting off?" Third replied, "No need." Second agreed with Third's suggestion. Seven decided not to insist further. The three of them quickly packed their things, lit a torch, and set off.
After walking for a while, Third reminded them, "Put out the torch." Once the torch was extinguished, the darkness remained as usual; however, there was a faint light in the area, resembling moonlight. Seven remarked, "The designer of this underground palace is truly remarkable," his face showing an expression of envy. Second retorted, "What good is it to create such a dreadful place to harm people?"
Seven responded, "Second, you just don't understand. Outsiders see the spectacle; insiders see the intricacies." Second was momentarily at a loss for words and snapped back, "You brat, you can talk back now. Annoying." Seven playfully dodged. Second didn't pursue it further; they had all played like this before when there were eight of them. Second lowered his raised hand, and the two exchanged smiles.
The three continued on their journey through the vast underground palace, where darkness reigned supreme. Fortunately, there was some light that allowed them to quicken their pace.
The problem they needed to solve was: "How can we find our elder brother?" According to the clues provided by Second, they should head toward the pond. However, both had long lost their sense of direction. Luckily, Seven had arrived; he could be considered a living map, allowing the others to relax about their bearings.
Guided by Seven, they smoothly arrived at the edge of the pond. The pavilion still stood intact, and the girl on the wall remained flawless. The three reassessed their surroundings.
Seven said, "I discovered that shadow right here earlier." Second interjected, "Let's not worry about who that shadow is for now; we should focus on finding our elder brother."
Standing aside, Third crouched down and sniffed the ground intently before standing up and pointing down one path. "We should take that route."
With Third leading the way, the other two followed. Upon entering that passageway, the darkness deepened even further as they continued forward while holding onto the walls. Third lowered his voice and said, "I just caught a whiff of blood."
Second responded anxiously, "Could it be our elder brother's?" Seven cautioned, "Second, let's not jump to conclusions."
Suddenly, Third urged, "We need to pick up the pace."
The three reached an unspoken agreement and lit their torches again; the light surged forth to engulf the darkness but remained confined within a certain range. Their footsteps quickened. Instinctively, Second shouted out, "Elder brother!" The sound reverberated through the medium in such an environment, creating an echo that lingered for quite some time.
"Third," he hurriedly reminded, "don't make a sound, or we'll alert the snakes." Second quickly caught on and stopped calling out. As they walked, Seven lowered his voice and said, "The structure here is primarily composed of sandstone from sedimentary rock. This material is quite suitable for construction, but such large stones are not easy to come by. Moreover, the architectural design here, whether it's the buildings or the 'tunnels,' reflects perfect practicality and sturdiness." Second was not particularly interested in such intricate architecture, while Third listened intently.
Seven continued, "The biggest mystery about this underground palace is that it seems overly cautious against intruders. There are traps designed everywhere."
Third asked, "What do you mean?"
Seven replied, "Since we accidentally entered this place, danger has been constant, and it's the kind that could lead to death." A serious expression crossed Seven's face. He added, "This might be the tomb of some important figure, but there are too many doubts; it also feels like a place meant for the living."
Upon hearing this, Third felt as if something heavy had pressed down on his heart, causing a twinge of pain.
Second raised the torch and asked, "Third, have you found any clues?" Third steadied himself and replied, "Not yet."
Second continued, "This path should be fine, right?" His suspicion was gradually growing.
Third shook his head. Seven surveyed the visible area and said, "The path ahead doesn't seem to change much. We can move forward."
The path wasn't as long as they had imagined; after about fifteen minutes of walking, Third caught a whiff of a bloody smell again. He quickened his pace and soon reached an intersection where a dark, foul odor enveloped them. The group felt nauseated and quickly covered their noses with their hands.
"What the hell smells so bad?" Second cursed, and even Seven couldn't help but mutter a curse under his breath. They exchanged glances for a moment before Third looked at the source of the stench with a slight frown. Seven stepped closer to examine it; moisture continuously dripped from it onto the ground, which had already formed a shallow puddle. The damp and dark environment had caused it to rot and mold.
After a while, Seven said, "This should be tree roots!" Third nodded in agreement. Second squeezed in to look at the misty layer ahead and remarked, "This place is probably not simple either."
Third took the torch from Second's hand, lit it, and extended it forward. He saw several stone tables and chairs standing ahead. "There must have been people here before," he said. Then he added, "I'll go down to take a look; you all wait here."
Through the flickering light of the torch, Seven noticed disturbed soil settled in the water below. He immediately spoke up, "Third, look! Someone has definitely been here."
The three of them leaned over to look into the water. "The mud is disturbed," Seven said. "It’s clear that whoever went down there was in a hurry. If it was our brother, things might not be good."
"What are we waiting for? Let's hurry and find him!" Second urged.
Third stared at the chaotic mud, which extended into the darkness until it disappeared from view. Following what had just been said, he declared, "I'll go down; you two stay here."
Second quickly replied, "If anyone is going down, it should be me. I’m Second, and since our brother isn’t here, I should take the risk."
Seven chimed in, "Yeah, Third, if we’re going, we should all go together."
Third looked at both of them for a moment before finally saying, "Alright, but we must be careful."
Both of them nodded in agreement. The three of them began to wade into the murky water without any protective gear. The foul stench grew stronger as they moved deeper.
They struggled to endure it, covering their mouths and noses tightly as their stomachs churned violently, cold sweat trickling down their backs. The water beneath their feet made a crisp sound as it swirled around them.
In the chilling environment, droplets continued to fall from above, and tendrils from below brushed against them, causing slight tremors in their bodies.
"This isn't working," Seven said. "The sounds are muffled and unstable through all this layering."
"We need to pick up the pace," he added. The torch flickered weakly in the oppressive atmosphere, barely holding on. The three exchanged glances. The water began to ripple as they moved forward. Along the way, they called out for First, but received no response.
Should they split up to search? Seven gestured with one hand. Second agreed, but Third firmly opposed the idea. In such an environment, losing even one person could spell disaster. The suggestion was set aside.
The flickering flame now barely illuminated more than the surrounding darkness.
The three of them extended their formation, ensuring they remained within sight of one another as the sound of water began to intertwine chaotically. They walked while searching diligently.
Their clothes were slowly becoming completely soaked, yet there was still no sign of First.
Third gestured to the others, indicating that they needed to leave quickly. The three regrouped, and Third spoke, his throat slightly hoarse: "Big Brother is definitely not here."
The other two looked at him with questioning eyes. Third's gaze flickered for a moment before he said, "A good horse doesn't turn back; we need to keep moving forward."
They began to run with all their might, their bodies trembling uncontrollably. The splashes of water grew louder, but at that moment, they could hardly care about anything else. If they didn't get out soon, it could mean certain death.
As they quickened their pace, the foul stench that had been overwhelming them started to fade. However, another threat loomed larger.
After running for a while longer, they noticed the number of roots beginning to decrease. A spark of hope ignited within them as they sprinted forward, their feet moving like the wind. Gradually, the tree roots stopped appearing. Without pausing, Third signaled that this area was still not safe.
Their teeth were chattering from exhaustion. "Damn it!" Second cursed silently in his heart.
Finally escaping the shallow water and its foul odor, they were drenched and reeked just like the water around them. Seven could no longer hold it in and began to vomit in one spot, followed by Second, and then Third. Everything they had eaten not long ago was now being offered up here.
They felt utterly drained, their limbs weak as they squatted on the ground unable to stand. Soon enough, another wave of foul odor hit them. They jolted back to life and ran a short distance forward.
The stench gradually dissipated. Once their emotions settled slightly, they finally realized where they were.
Damn it, they couldn't even tell which direction they were facing anymore. The three stripped off their wet clothes and laid them on the ground to dry. They had no choice but to rest here for a while. The temperature in this place was warmer than before but still carried a chill. They sat down on the ground.
Second spoke up: "You two rest; I'll keep watch." The other two opened their mouths as if to respond.
Second immediately interrupted them, saying, "You can't compete with me." The two fell silent and began to close their eyes to rest.
During this time, they had never taken a break so seriously, which left several of them feeling a mix of emotions. From their days as soldiers until now, although they often faced life-and-death challenges, at least they could maintain basic sustenance.
Third and Seven closed their eyes and fell asleep.
A cool breeze stirred in the darkness. Second sat on the ground, staring blankly ahead, lost in thought.
Time passed unknowingly; they were living a life on the edge, having been inexplicably drawn into this place.
After resting for about two or three hours, Third woke up. Rubbing his face vigorously, he said, "Second, it's my turn. You go rest." Second waved his hand dismissively.
Third came over and sat beside Second. Both remained silent, the surrounding stillness was profound, occasionally broken by the sound of dripping water trying to disrupt the tranquility.
After a while, Seven turned over and got up. His clothes were nearly dry but still carried an unpleasant odor. They all put their clothes back on.
They strapped on their weapons; they should have brought some guns from the start. After all, in a defeat, weapons would be discarded. Second led the way forward. Now the three of them had nothing to illuminate their path; everything had been soaked in water earlier. From now on, they would have to rely on "feeling their way in the dark." They had gained some experience walking in darkness and moved steadily. In this vast underground space, it felt as if there was a dim light casting a shadow over them, urging them to break free from their constraints.
The path they walked was wider than before; this space was quite large. The vertical distance from the ground was about ten meters or more, with widths varying from a few meters to over twenty. The ground was no longer paved with flagstones but was instead a primitive dirt path. Due to the valley effect, the mud here was not dry; rather, it was somewhat muddy. Thick layers of mud clung to their feet as they walked, causing them to shake off mud with every step. They began to sweat; this stretch of road was not easy at all.
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