Gritting their teeth, the group once again began desperately digging for a way to survive in absolute darkness, using only their hands and small knives...
After an unknown amount of time, just when everyone was exhausted and almost ready to give up—
"Shh—!" Uncle He suddenly let out a terrified hiss, his voice trembling uncontrollably, "I hear...there...people...outside!"
Everyone froze instantly!
Dead silence!
really!
A series of extremely faint yet distinct footsteps, mixed with hushed conversations, were coming from the direction of the abandoned alleyway outside the crack! Getting closer and closer!
"...Damn it, there was a commotion just now? Master Wang gave a strict order: not a single mouse can escape! Search this abandoned area thoroughly!"
The hushed voice, like a cold, venomous snake, clearly burrowed into everyone's ears through the not-too-thick rubble wall.
Immediately afterwards, the flickering torchlight suddenly moved much closer to the gap!
The flickering light even pierced through the tiny holes at the edges of the rubble, casting distorted shadows on the desperate faces of the people inside!
The chill of death instantly gripped Jiang Chan's throat!
She could feel the taut, iron-like muscles of the pillar behind her, and Uncle He's hand gripping her arm trembled like a withered leaf in the autumn wind, his icy sweat soaking through her tattered clothes.
"Silence! Hold your breath! Press against the wall!" She used all her strength to squeeze out a very low, breathy sound from between her teeth, each word trembling with the fear of death.
She doesn't need to say it a second time.
As the torchlight drew near, everyone froze like geckos, slamming their bodies against the cold, slippery rock face.
Even the man whose leg was crushed and who had been groaning in pain bit his arm hard, forcing back all his cries of pain. His body trembled violently, and cold sweat mixed with coal dust streamed down his face.
Absolute silence.
The only sounds were the approaching footsteps outside, the crunching of footsteps on gravel, and the faint crackling of torches burning.
Each approaching footstep felt like a hammer blow to everyone's heart.
Light!
The torchlight was blinding!
Suddenly, a beam of golden light swept across the largest hole in the rubble above the crevice! Piercing through the darkness, it carried a scorching heat and almost grazed the rubble wall above Jiang Chan's head!
The light illuminated every detail of the dust that filled the gaps!
Jiang Chan's heart was in her throat.
She could even smell the tar from the burning torches and hear the heavy breathing of the henchmen outside!
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