Chapter 65.2: The Thing That Returned Home

At first, the boy thought he was seeing things. In a place dominated by darkness, he trusted his ears more than his eyes.

He swept the flashlight back—and there it was again. A figure, standing still, right hand on the rock wall, one leg jutting forward, half a face peeking out, as if spying on them.

Runsheng immediately stepped forward, moving to stand protectively in front of the boy. Clearly, he saw it too.

“Xiaoyuan, should we check it out?”

Runsheng knew that in dangerous situations, the boy usually leaned toward caution. But this time, Li Zhuiyuan replied:

“Runsheng ge, let’s go forward.”

“Okay.”

Out of caution, Li Zhuiyuan had only inspected the area immediately around them after coming ashore. He hadn’t explored further ahead. But judging by the figure’s posture, it was clear that there was some sort of recess on its left side.

Either a rocky outcrop jutted out there—or there was another opening.

He had roughly calculated the time they’d spent sliding through the tunnel and the duration of their freefall afterward, arriving at an estimate for the vertical drop. With such a drop, blindly following the underground river would likely only take them farther down—not out into the sunlight like escaping a waterfall cavern.

Their best bet now was to find a way upward.

The flashlight beam remained fixed on the “spying” figure. It didn’t flinch—didn’t move at all.

Could it be… not human?

As they drew closer, the refined texture reflected back by the light revealed the truth—it was stone.

Relief washed over Li Zhuiyuan. Not a person—just a statue.

But the design of the statue was… unsettling.

He wasn’t sure if it had originally been painted, but no color was visible now. Judging by the figure’s posture and form, it seemed to depict a woman.

She wasn’t spying—she was watching.

The distinction was subtle, but important. Spying implied a focus on him and Runsheng. Watching placed emphasis on the statue’s own agency.

Li Zhuiyuan turned his flashlight toward the statue’s left rear side. A cave entrance came into view—inside, a stone staircase.

He turned the light back onto the statue, this time illuminating the back.

Now the feminine features were clear—even the skirt’s design could be made out. Thanks to his daily exposure to Ah Li’s wardrobe, Li Zhuiyuan could now mentally reconstruct the skirt’s style just from the patterns still visible on the statue.

She hadn’t been carved and then placed here—she had been sculpted directly out of the angled rock wall. Much of her upper body was fused with the stone.

Li Zhuiyuan took several steps back in the direction they came from. Runsheng followed suit. They returned to face the statue head-on.

“Xiaoyuan, this is kinda creepy…”

What frightened Runsheng was never physical objects—but atmosphere.

And Li Zhuiyuan? This was exactly what he sought.

The closer he had gotten earlier, the more a sense of familiarity had crept over him. Now, he finally remembered where it came from.

In many ancient tombs, directly above the coffin chamber, murals would often depict… a “Lady Opening the Door.”

Scholars have long debated its meaning, but Li Lan believed it symbolized the tomb owner being welcomed into another world after death.

Of course, this “other world” didn’t necessarily refer to Hell or the court of Yama. Depending on the era, region, or faith, it might represent ascension to immortality—or simply a grand estate where one could indulge in pleasures as they did in life.

In any case, not a place for the living.

And that stone staircase behind the cave…

This wasn’t the main burial chamber. Nor was it along a conventional tomb path. So then—who was this statue welcoming?

Li Zhuiyuan turned to look at the raging underground river.

When logic failed, it was time to shift thinking.

If the river could be likened to the Yellow Springs or Netherworld River, then the stairs and the “Lady Opening the Door” here must be welcoming the souls of the dead—guests from the underworld.

If this was indeed a tomb, then how hospitable must the owner have been in life, to go on welcoming ghostly guests even in death?

Li Zhuiyuan looked across the river. After their earlier signal exchange, the opposite flashlight had remained lit—occasionally swaying to show they were still there.

He began flashing his light again, signaling them to cross over.

Both sides had made discoveries. The real question was—which side would lead the team?

Soon enough, they responded—they were coming.

Runsheng waited by the water’s edge. Before long, he helped pull the two wet figures out.

“Huff… huff…” Tan Wenbin knelt on the ground, gasping.

Xue Liangliang just spat out a few mouthfuls of water, then strode up to Li Zhuiyuan. “Xiaoyuan, we found a boat. But it’s made of stone—carved right into the riverside rock.”

“Then take a look at ours.”

Xue Liangliang raised his flashlight, examined the statue, then the staircase behind it.

Li Zhuiyuan explained the meaning of the “Lady Opening the Door” and shared his thoughts. After hearing him out, Xue Liangliang quickly agreed. “Then that boat we found—must be a Netherworld ferry?”

Li Zhuiyuan nodded. “It does tie together.”

“So, Xiaoyuan… do we take the stairs? Or…”

Li Zhuiyuan: “We wait for rescue.”

Just then, Tan Wenbin called out: “The water’s rising!”

Li Zhuiyuan and Xue Liangliang rushed over. Sure enough, the water level had risen.

Before, there had been a drop between the river and the shore. Now, not only was that gap gone—the river had started spilling onto the bank.

Li Zhuiyuan raised his light and shined it on the wall above. “No wonder this rock face is so smooth. The water must reach all the way up during a flood.”

Xue Liangliang: “That’s nature’s craftsmanship for you.”

“Liangliang ge, now’s not really the time for admiration.”

“Doesn’t matter. We’ve only got one choice left anyway.”

“Let’s go,” Li Zhuiyuan made the call. “We can only go up.”

Runsheng led the way. Li Zhuiyuan and Xue Liangliang walked side by side. Tan Wenbin brought up the rear. They hadn’t rehearsed it, but everyone seemed to fall into place instinctively.

The stone steps were smooth and had no railings. Everyone hunched over as they climbed, carefully keeping their balance, often pressing their hands to the stone for support.

Tan Wenbin quipped, “If only this place had an elevator like in a hotel…”

Next Chapter >>>