With the light from the torches, the eerie staircase felt much better. Of course, the premise was no one was purposely trying to make it creepy. They carefully avoided the crumbled parts. Fatty basically stuck himself to the wall and edged forward like a crab. However, this made things difficult for Jiang Cheng, who planned to do the same thing.
Therefore, he turned around to whisper something in Fatty’s ear. The next second, Fatty immediately jumped away from the wall. He looked at it like it was a monster.
“Stop touching it,” Jiang Cheng whispered, “You might wake up the thing inside the wall with your touch.”
Based on their previous observation, some unknown patterns, like the one on the hidden door, had been carved into the wall of the staircase as well. They should be the work of the same craftsman.
The creepy creature appeared in Fatty’s mind. His throat moved. The Loli girl and the tall man walked at the back. They lowered their torches so they could see the steps clearly.
When Fatty was halfway up the stairs, he stopped to take a breath. He turned back to look. The duo was lagging about ten metres behind. They walked very slowly.
Fatty thought that the two were very brave. If it were him, he wouldn’t dare to stay so far away from the group. Jiang Cheng leaned on the wall. He seemed to be resting too, but his chest rose and fell evenly. There was no sweat on his face.
However, just as the young master also stopped to turn to look at him, Jiang Cheng changed. First, he coughed, then he gasped hungrily for air. His red was so red, like he was about to die.
Jiang Cheng gasped as he shook his hands. Fatty almost died from cringe.
In the end, Jiang Cheng cleared his throat ostentatiously. He continued in a weakened voice, “Brother Chen, you have no idea, but I’m different from the rest of you. I was pulled into the nightmare in the middle of work.” He patted his chest and pushed his crotch forward. “That’s why I’m so tired.”
Fatty frowned when he heard that. He had a bad feeling.
The young master didn’t seem to understand Jiang Cheng. A few seconds later, he asked, “You didn’t enter the nightmare in your dream?!”
“My work is different from yours.” Jiang Cheng ground his waist around. “I earn money by lying down.”
“Lying down…” The young master was startled. His curiosity in Jiang Cheng reached its peak.
Just as Jiang Cheng narrowed his eyes and waited for the young master to ask the fated question so that he could gloat, Fatty suddenly walked over and urged, “Let’s hurry up. It’s not safe here.”
“Okay.” The young master nodded. He glanced at Jiang Cheng and left…
“Doctor,” Fatty looked at Jiang Cheng, who was miffed, “We should go too.” Then, without waiting for Jiang Cheng to reply, he walked past him.
Standing before the second stone door and feeling the warmth and light that came through the gap, the group sighed in relief.
The climber woman, who had done nothing, was the first to crawl into the door. Moments later, just as Jiang Cheng was about to take revenge on Fatty, who was trying to squeeze through the door, a scream came from inside. It was the climber woman.
Jiang Cheng paused and pulled Fatty away from the door. Fatty was stunned from being yanked back. He had a new understanding of the Doctor’s strength.
Jiang Cheng and the young master moved away from the stone door. Neither of them entered the door. They moved to both sides with surprisingly great teamwork. The scream happened once and stopped. This was clearly abnormal.
The young master faced the door and whispered, “Are you alright?”
“I… I… am fine.” The climber woman’s voice drifted out. Her voice was trembling from fear. However, there was also shock from discovering something inexplicable.
“Come in. They are gone!” The woman said.
No one outside the door moved. Everyone held their breath. The climber woman’s voice suggested that she moved inside the room.
Jiang Cheng suddenly asked, “Miss Yi, what did you see when we were in the same group?”
The movement inside suddenly paused. Jiang Cheng and the young master moved back further. The latter glanced at the staircase behind them, looking for an easy exit.
The next second, rapid footsteps approached the door. Before they could react, the climber woman pushed half of her body out. She urged, “Get in here!” She added bitterly, “Plus, I was in the same group with this gentleman earlier.” She pointed at the young master. “And my surname is not Yi. I’m a human! But… Just come in!”
When everyone entered the room, they were shocked to realise that the biker woman and the aged woman… were gone. The room was only so big. Where could they have disappeared to?
“Could it be those people?” Fatty said, “While they distracted us downstairs, another group sneaked up there to snatch the women.”
“No.” The young master denied it instantly, “There is no sign of fighting here. The two wouldn’t have been captured without resisting. They aren’t that dull.” The young master continued, “Discounting any supernatural explanation, they probably left voluntarily.”
“Then, let’s assume that is true,” Jiang Cheng continued naturally. He studied the room. “Let’s think of why.”
“They could have encountered some dangers and had to leave,” The climber woman suggested. That was the only possibility she could think of. After all, someone could have come there for the flame and warmth.
“Or they could have discovered something important.” Jiang Cheng scratched his chin, “And wanted to go downstairs to inform us.”