Chapter 2096 - 37: Heart of Chongshan IV_2

Theoretically, he could indeed leave these people outside, but as he said, it was almost as if waiting for death.

For someone more cold-blooded, this was the best opportunity to ditch them; after all, upon reaching here, the others were no longer useful. However, for Fang Hong, he disdained using such petty tricks.

After arranging everything, the group began to delve into the fissure.

To prevent possible dangers, Fang Hong assigned the Big Cat People to lead the way, while Parker, having certain scouting abilities, joined the Paladin as the team's ears and eyes.

He and Hilveld were responsible for the rear, because with Xiesta around, they could confront any situation.

The others were arranged in the middle of the group, including Miss Natural Historian and the only Priest.

Also, Tianlan was there to liven up the atmosphere; with this chattering Poet around, the others wouldn't be too tense and uneasy.

Besides, Tianlan wasn't stupid, knowing when to encourage the group and when to keep quiet—for a Poet, that could be considered excellent.

As for the group underground with Walnut, Fang Hong's only expectation for them was not to mess up the formation. Generally speaking, as long as they're not suddenly attacked, a ten-level Invoker should not have trouble with this—

...

In the darkness, there seemed to be subtle sounds—a shadowy presence following closely, with whispers and faint laughter—in extreme silence, people are more prone to hallucinations.

The team advanced silently, occasionally glancing nervously behind, but this was normal; darkness often disorients people, making them feel as if someone is behind them.

Fang Hong was accustomed to this, merely adjusting his clockwork fairy in silence.

Around him, the fissure's rocky walls were carved by nature, intersecting and sharp. Eternal winds etched deep marks on them, sketching jagged outlines between the sharp rocks.

The broken stones appeared ice-blue, and the further in, the deeper and darker it became.

Accompanied by the sound of footsteps, dim light began to spread along the stone walls.

Tang Xin lit the crystal on her magic wand for illumination, its light dimmer than a torch but stable, not consuming oxygen and not attracting heat-seeking subterranean creatures.

Adventurers, through years of experience, had specific lighting preferences; in the cold underground, open flames make one as conspicuous as the sun, detectable miles away by heat-sensitive creatures.

Crystal lighting, however, is much more discreet.

Both the Big Cat People and Parker stayed outside the light's boundary, possessing the ability to see in dim light.

The former inherited the typical traits of feline animals, while the latter was also known for their exceptional vision—the Papalarians boasted proud eyesight.

The Big Cat People were the first to halt, their high scouting ability and good vision in darkness revealing some traces among the ground's stone fragments.

He pressed on Parker's shoulder, turning the complacent Papalarian back.

"Who's pulling me... Big Cat? What's going on?"

Reed patted his shoulder, directing his gaze in one particular direction.

Parker looked into the darkness of that direction. After a moment of careful observation, scouting skills revealed a red blur in his vision.

The red spot was imprinted on the gravel-covered ground.

Then more blurs appeared, extending forward into the darkness.

"Footprints?"

"Not long gone, at least twenty or more people."

"I know." Parker argued forcefully, feeling slightly embarrassed that the Big Cat had noticed this detail first, despite his reputation as the King of Night Thieves.

But he was no longer a Nightingale; those glorious past days were fading memories.

"There's something ahead." Parker spotted a red light in the darkness, regaining some pride.

The Big Cat People smiled slightly, twisting a copper ring on his chin braid with his paw, "Really? Why don't you go and try to retrieve it?"

"Of course, I found it."

Parker, suspecting nothing, confidently ran over, approaching the red light, bending down to pick it up.

But just then, he heard Fang Hong's voice on the party channel: "Careful ahead!"

At the front of the team was Fang Hong's clockwork fairy.

In the narrow crevice, the ice and wind crisscrossed the terrain below, rendering the fairy's scouting ability minimal, so Fang Hong placed them at some junctions as warnings.

And at that moment, he saw a shadow flash past one of the directions in his vision.

Parker, slightly flustered, looked up as a shadow slipped out from behind a rock wall near the red light.

It had an icy blue, flat appearance, emaciated as if it were just a shadow, with pale hands glowing in a crystal-like sheen, seemingly covered in scales.

"I-I-I warn you, you-you-you better not come over!"

The Papalarian clumsily reached for the crossbow behind him, fumbling multiple times to disengage the buckle, unable to pull it out.

Unbothered, the creature approached him.

Parker broke into a sweat, just about to call for the Big Cat to come save him, but found he couldn't utter a single sound.