There is someone at the bottom of the pit

As Zhao Min and I adjusted our positions, we hurriedly ran beneath the mine. Coffin lids were piled everywhere, making the path challenging, but fortunately, it wasn't completely blocked, and we could navigate around the obstacles.

Before I could celebrate, my foot unexpectedly tripped on something, and I tumbled to the ground. My flashlight flew far away, hitting a stack of coffin lids nearby. The batteries scattered as they bounced a couple of times and slipped into the crevices.

In the absence of flashlight, we found ourselves engulfed in darkness. Zhao Min offered a supportive hand as I got up. Luckily, my fall didn't result in any harm, but I was puzzled because I could swear there was no obstacle on the path.

Zhao Min checked her backpack and sighed, "This is the last flashlight. How about using this glow stick?"

I accepted the glow stick in the dark, and as I shook it to activate a faint glow, I went to retrieve my fallen flashlight. Its casing was cracked, making me grumble about its poor quality.

Holding the flashlight, I illuminated the piled coffin lids, and what I saw sent a shiver down my spine. The mine bottom was filled with coffins—some empty, some broken into wooden boards. However, the coffin covered by the lids contained a corpse.

My heart chilled; it wasn't supposed to have a body. The eerie green light emitted by the cursed glow stick added a touch of vintage Hong Kong cinema atmosphere to the scene.

Seeing my reaction, Zhao Min asked, "Is there something inside?"

Reluctantly nodding, I replied, "A corpse. The battery rolled beside it."

Zhao Min approached and extended her hand, but I hesitated for a moment. Suppressing any lingering doubts, I handed her the glow stick. She insisted, "Give it to me; I'll do it."

Internally hesitating, I succumbed to a sudden surge of male pride and swiftly responded, "I'll handle it. It just caught me off guard earlier."

Though the situation was unsettling, I couldn't let a lady handle it alone. Not having the time for a romantic standoff, I remarked, "I'll go first; follow my lead."

I crouched down and reached into the coffin through the gaps in the lid. As my hand explored, the fear within me grew. I felt the stiff and wrinkled skin of the corpse, but my hurried search for the battery was haphazard.

With my arm deep inside and the unsettling sensation of the corpse's cold skin, I suddenly encountered resistance when trying to retrieve the battery. Panicking, I pulled harder, causing the coffin lid to emit cracking sounds, and the corpse seemed to stir.

"Crap! It's grabbing me," I exclaimed, and Zhao Min rushed to help, instructing me not to move recklessly.

In a tight squeeze, she positioned herself behind me, hands delicately sliding down my arm. After a moment, she announced, "Found it."

Relieved, I pulled out the battery, examined my right hand, and acknowledged her with a nod. "You were right; I was just too tense."

Curious about my sudden fall earlier, Zhao Min suggested, "Did you feel something?"

I raised my flashlight, and although the path wasn't perfectly smooth, I couldn't find any apparent obstacles. She proposed, "Did you trip over your shoelaces?"

While contemplating that possibility, I checked my shoes and found them securely tied. However, a small black handprint appeared on my pant leg. We exchanged uneasy glances, and Zhao Min lowered her voice, asking if I sensed anything unusual.

With a troubled expression, I responded, "I have a bad feeling. Did you bring the 'Black Donkey Hoof'?"

She shook her head, remarking, "Even if I did, it probably wouldn't help our current situation."

Suddenly, I noticed that Laowan and the others on the bamboo tower were moving rapidly. Realization struck me, and I exclaimed, "Something's wrong up there; let's hurry."

Circling around the piled coffin lids, we rapidly moved towards the direction they had taken. However, during a turn, I felt a push from beneath my feet.

Given the earlier incident, I remained cautious, managing to avoid stumbling this time. I swiftly turned to shine my flashlight where I had felt the push but found nothing.

Taking a deep breath, I warned Zhao Min, "There's something around us."

Suddenly, a chilling laughter echoed in the confined space. Startled, I turned to face the source but saw nothing. Anxiously, I asked Zhao Min if she had heard it.

Confused, she shook her head, and I was perplexed since it hadn't seemed like an illusion. I cautioned her, "Be vigilant. I think Laowan is right; there's something down here. Let's move quickly."

Following the flashlight beams of Laowan and the others, we traversed through a large portion of the mine. Coffin lids were scattered everywhere, raising questions about how many the "Yushan" group had excavated. The mine was a maze of uncertainty, and Fox Demon King's burial practices left us in suspense.

As we moved along, I suddenly heard that ominous laughter again, sending shivers down my spine. This time, it felt more malevolent, carrying a vengeful intent. I grimaced, realizing that the situation was becoming increasingly unsettling.

Deep in thought, I was abruptly greeted by Zhao Min's unusual appearance. Her face, once smooth, was now covered in a dense layer of white fur, and the eerie laughter echoed from her mouth.