Chapter 625: Chapter 595 Specialization Match_1
The group halted their steps, looking in the direction Liu Yufei pointed.
Indeed, at the ten o’clock position, next to a tall spruce tree with dense shrubs around it, there appeared to be water seeping out through gaps in the rocks below.
Mr. Liu shook his head, his face filled with apology.
"We mostly just go to the foot of the mountain. We’ve been up this north slope twice, but only climbed from a mountain ridge about five kilometers to the east. We have never walked through these mountain hollows since there are leopards and bears in the Qilian Mountains. Even if we don’t know whether they are present in this particular area, their traces have been found on the southern slope."
The group exchanged glances, and Mr. Zhao raised an eyebrow.
"This isn’t Qindao. We’re on vacation right now, we don’t need to overthink it. It’s all about free and easy travel, doing whatever we want. At worst, if we’re not fully satisfied, we can just change our flight tickets, returning a day or two later, which isn’t a big deal. Director Xu also said to have a good time," he said.
Zhu Xingxing gave him a glare.
"Cut it out. That was said for the boss. He hasn’t had much of a break these past few years, so he was told to take a proper rest for a few days. You just tagged along, so don’t get too full of yourself."
To this exchange of banter, not only Zhou Ning but also Mr. Liu, the tour guide, were well accustomed. Xia Momo adjusted her backpack, stepping forward in front of everyone. Of all the team, her physical strength was the weakest, but she had persisted all the way.
"If we want to go, let’s go. It’s snowy up there, and the temperature feels very low here already. We can’t possibly continue upwards, and I’m not quite ready to head down. I won’t hold anyone back, I promise!" she said confidently.
Mr. Zhao laughed.
"Look at Mr. Xia’s resolve. If no one objects, then let’s go check it out. Safety first though, because this area doesn’t seem to have any human activity.
Moreover, that mountain spring water might be from the melting snow on the mountaintop, seeping through the rock cracks. The fact that there’s no water at the foot of the mountain at least suggests that this water source might be new, or temporary due to melting. Otherwise, the desert wouldn’t be called a desert," he said.
Indeed, this analysis seemed quite reliable.
Without further discussion, they continued in their original sequence, heading horizontally towards the mountain hollow at the ten o’clock direction.
Although the destination appeared close, getting there proved difficult—directly in their path lay a mountain ridge.
After a while, Mr. Zhao neared the mountain spring. The vegetation richness increased among the stones, and he kept snapping photos, while Chen Cheng helped collect samples.
As a result, their pace slowed. Liu Yufei and the tour guide moved to the front. Approaching the trail of water flowing down the rocks, they discovered it was flowing out from a large cluster of trees and shrubs.
Liu Yufei lost her footing while sidestepping across, slipping on a rock and sliding down the edge.
Xia Momo cried out in alarm, grabbing Liu Yufei’s clothing and falling backward towards the mountain, both of them crashing into the bushes and vegetation.
Zhou Ning and the others rushed over, only to find that the two women had vanished after falling back like that.
They reached the spot to discover a large swath of broken shrubs and plants, revealing the scene behind.
"Momo, Mrs. Fei!"
Zhou Ning called out, stepping on the broken shrubs and peering into the pitch dark behind them.
"Mr. Xia and I are fine, no need for such a fuss. We don’t even have a scratch. But behind us is a cave—its entrance doesn’t look natural. There are traces of stone stacking, just covered by plants. We’re looking for a way to climb up now," came their voices from below.
Zhou Ning couldn’t see the situation below, but the sound was unmistakable—it was at least four or five meters deep. He was immensely worried, but their phones were with Xia Momo.
"Quickly, Zhu Xingxing, find a powerful flashlight. Chen Cheng, grab some rope. Mr. Zhao and Mr. Liu, use your shovels and clear these shrubs for me. Leave the thicker tree alone for now, check if it’s sturdy. We might need it to pull people up later," he said, issuing commands.
Instructions given, everyone sprang into action, even Mr. Liu cooperated well. In moments, the shrubs were cleared, and the shape of the cave entrance was fully exposed.
The entrance was like a gaping pocket torn into the mountainside, and from above or head-on, one couldn’t tell there was a cave. The opening was about seven or eight meters wide, and the visible depth approached four meters.
Inside was a steep, rock-stacked slope of over 70 degrees, near vertical. They could see the two women standing below but couldn’t make out the details of the cave bottom.
Zhu Xingxing found a powerful flashlight and approached, shining it down into the cave. Zhou Ning intervened.
"Stop, the flashlight is for them. If you shine it directly down, you’ll blind them," he cautioned.
Zhu Xingxing uttered an acknowledgment, quickly wrapped the flashlight in a bag, and threw it down. Then she lay on the ground.
"Boss says, here is a powerful flashlight for you two. Turn it on, so you won’t be scared. We’re about to send down the rope, then we’ll pull you up one by one," she said.
As she spoke, Zhu Xingxing released the bag, which slid down the steep slope. Xia Momo picked up the bag, pulled out the flashlight, and turned it on. After adjusting the beam to spread the light, Zhou Ning could finally see the scene below.
The cave entrance was indeed large, over two meters high and at least five or six meters in length. It was a duckbill-shaped opening, and the elevated area in front was clearly built up with stones, all of which were remarkably smooth, indicating they had been carefully chosen and polished.
In such a remote location, the construction of such a meticulously crafted wall to conceal this cave entrance, which blends seamlessly with the mountainside, is remarkable. The spruce trees above the entrance all have trunks about 20 centimeters in diameter. Given the dry climate and insufficient sunlight on the mountain’s north slope, these trees must have grown very slowly. To reach this thickness, the trees must be decades old.
Who could have gone to such lengths to construct this camouflage and even plant trees so carefully? What person or thing could justify such an effort?
Zhou Ning shook her head without pondering too deeply, lay down at the edge, and looked carefully below. After turning on her flashlight, at least they could see clearly. They were a bit dirty, but from head to toe, they were uninjured and not as wet as expected.
This eased a bit of Zhou Ning’s worry.
"It’s good you’re not injured. I thought there would be standing water inside, but it seems the spring water from the mountain is flowing through the cracks in the rocks and directly seeping out past this wall."
Liu Yufei nodded her head and was about to speak when Xia Momo, holding a bright flashlight, seemed to step on something. She turned around and then froze in that position.
Zhou Ning’s expression faltered, and she quickly pointed at Xia Momo. Liu Yufei followed where Zhou Ning was pointing, turned around, was about to pat Xia Momo’s arm, but Xia Momo grabbed her instead, and they both turned to look into the cave.
With closer observation, one could see both of their hands trembling slightly as they held onto each other.
Liu Yufei, who doesn’t flinch even when crashing head-on in a car, must have seen something unbelievable in the cave below. Whatever it was, it shocked and panicked them both.
Zhou Ning pressed her voice lower out of instinct and hurriedly asked:
"What did you see?"
Xia Momo dared not move; Liu Yufei turned back to Zhou Ning, her eyes wide with fear, clearly terror-stricken.
"Giant... giant... giant cocoons, I think, I’m not sure. They’re huge, hanging from the ceiling of the cave. Have we discovered some ancient tomb? Quickly, pull us up."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Ning also became anxious. Seeing that Chen Cheng was ready with the rope, she threw one end to Liu Yufei.
Liu Yufei, holding onto Xia Momo, tied her to her waist and shoved her toward the edge of the cave. Mr. Zhao and the others also gathered around Zhou Ning. They all leaned against the mountain surface and began to back up into position, ready to pull, with Zhou Ning holding onto one end of the rope.
"Don’t be scared. We’ll pull you up one by one. Mrs. Fei, don’t look inside; you two just look in my direction. Don’t be afraid."
Zhou Ning’s reassuring words were effective, and the two were less panicked. Together, they helped Xia Momo step by step, assisting her as she climbed up the side of the wall.
Just when Xia Momo was more than a meter above the ground, the previously smooth wall under her feet began to crack, and water started seeping out from beneath her. A crack appeared, and Zhou Ning, quick as lightning, yelled out:
"Don’t put weight on it. Let go, the wall is collapsing."
As she called out, Zhou Ning had already cut the rope with her dagger. Liu Yufei also reacted, pulling Xia Momo and tumbling back into the cave. Zhou Ning and the others quickly moved back, releasing the rope.
Their spruce tree, just like that, fell straight down the mountain, and the camouflaged wall of the cave entrance was torn open by the uprooting of the tree, bringing down bricks, stones, ropes, and shrubs all in a massive landslide.
Mr. Liu, the tour guide, was so frightened he kneeled on the ground, unable to speak for a long time. Chen Cheng and Mr. Zhao were only slightly better off. All of them felt an afterchill. If it wasn’t for Zhou Ning’s quick response, Xia Momo and the others would have tumbled down the mountain just like the ropes and trees.
From here to the base of the mountain was at least several hundred meters. Falling from such a height would have been certain death.
Zhou Ning glanced back at the people behind her; they were all leaning against the side of the mountain, uninjured, and quickly called out in the direction of the cave.
"Momo, Mrs. Fei, are you hurt?"
"No."
"Don’t worry about us; how are you?"
Zhou Ning breathed a sigh of relief.
"Don’t worry; we’ll check the path we took earlier. Now that the entrance camouflage has fallen away, it’s actually easier to get through."
Mr. Liu, the tour guide, was still in shock, squatting to one side and trembling, reaching into his pockets several times, only to realize he didn’t have his wallet with him.
"Let me refund your guide fee. If something happens, I can’t afford to compensate."
Mr. Zhao slapped Mr. Liu on the back and said with a stern look:
"Just spit it out, all this nonsense. Stand aside. Check your satellite phone. Anyway, now that the entrance has crumbled, we’ll take a look inside. If it’s an ancient relic, we’ll take photos, secure the area, and notify the archaeological department in Ganzhou City to come and excavate it.
If it’s not an ancient relic, but something set up due to political reasons in the past, then we need to inform the city government. If it’s neither of those things, then it’s right up our professional alley. Either way, wait until I come out, make the call, understood?"
Mr. Liu nodded, seemingly grasping the gravity of the situation, and stared at the group in panic.
"Are you... are you tomb raiders?"
