With the help of the Tibetan Mastiff, I quickly broke free from the monsters' attack and swung my knife at the last monster that was holding my arm.
"roar!"
The monster, facing my knife, didn't dodge or flinch at all, but pounced on me and grabbed my neck tightly with both hands.
The feeling of suffocation hit me instantly, as if all the strength in my body had been drained away, and I didn't even have the strength to lift my hand.
"boom!"
Before the monster could make any further move, a burst of flame exploded on its body.
Immediately afterwards, the monster jumped off me.
The intense heat struck instantly, making my cheeks sting and my eyebrows singe.
"Aww—"
As I escaped, a shrill scream came from the mastiff not far away.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw that the mastiff had been pinned to the ground by several monsters, its limbs torn off, its body being devoured, and its blood being sucked.
Seeing the mastiff let out a pitiful howl, I raised my pistol, pointed it at its head, and pulled the trigger.
The gunshot rang out, and the barking of the dogs stopped abruptly.
"Boom!"
Miao Xiaoxian rushed to my side at this moment and threw several fire beetles at the monsters: "What are you standing there for? Let's go!"
I turned around and saw Miao Xiaoxian standing on the platform. At her feet, a rope had been thrown down at some point.
At this critical moment, I had no time to think about why Miao Xiaoxian had appeared. With her as my lifeline, I took advantage of the monsters devouring the mastiff's corpse, grabbed the rope, and climbed up the wall to the platform.
"Boom!"
Miao Xiaoxian threw away a few more fire beetles, then grabbed my arm and pulled me onto the platform: "The monsters here are immortal, we have to leave immediately!"
"Walk!"
I nodded, and then ran back with Miao Xiaoxian.
"roar!"
We hadn't run far when the monsters also leaped onto the platform and charged towards us.
I originally thought that Miao Xiaoxian had come from a nearby exit, but she was just running wildly with her head down.
Seeing Miao Xiaoxian's actions, I couldn't help but ask, "How far are we from the exit?"
"I don't know!"
Miao Xiaoxian replied breathlessly, "I knocked out the clansmen guarding the tunnel and sneaked down here. I searched all the way here, but the path I came from has been blocked by traps."
I was stunned when I heard that: "You don't know where the exit is?"
"I originally planned to come down and blow up the Temple of the Evil God, but I didn't expect this place to be so big! I followed the sound of gunfire and found you."
As Miao Xiaoxian spoke, she tossed a few more fire beetles behind her: "These monsters are afraid of fire but not of it. Flames can only temporarily disperse them! Once these guys get used to the high temperature, the flames will be useless."
"We'll stall for as long as we can!"
After hearing Miao Xiaoxian's answer, the flame of hope that had just been ignited in me dimmed again.
Fortunately, the fire beetles she carried could temporarily hold them off, buying us time to escape.
We ran wildly through the tomb passage. The few passages we saw along the way were either located at high places or were large mechanisms powered by water flow, none of which could be opened in a short time.
The monsters behind us were only scared away by Jiang Man's fire beetles when they got close, but they just kept a distance from us and showed no signs of giving up.
As we ran, a ravine appeared in front of us.
Located between two stone platforms, one high and one low, the entrance is only half a meter wide, and it gets narrower as you go further in.
With no way out in front of us, I said to Miao Xiaoxian, "Leave a few of your fire beetles for me. I'll cover you from below. You climb up the walls on either side and cover me from above!"
"It's too late."
Miao Xiaoxian shook her head: "There are only five fire beetles left, not enough for both of us to go up. Only one of us can survive! You go, I'll hold them off!"
"What nonsense are you talking about? The attack power of these monsters is far beyond what ordinary people can withstand. Anyone left behind will only face death!"
"I know."
Miao Xiaoxian calmly replied, "From the moment I knocked out the guards and entered the tomb, I had no way out! According to the clan rules, my behavior is unforgivable and I should be thrown into the holy water pool to drown! I can't get out now. It's just a pity that I still couldn't destroy this hellish place and free the other clansmen from this misery!"
"Leave the fire beetle to me, go up yourself!"
I looked at the monster charging towards me and smiled at Miao Xiaoxian: "If you hadn't saved my life, I'd probably be dead by now. Since there's no way out, let's fight these guys to the death!"
"What nonsense are you spouting? I didn't save you so you could die with me!"
Miao Xiaoxian tossed a fire beetle away and looked at me seriously: "Our lives are different. People from Ping'an Village are destined for tragedy from the day they are born. Even if I leave here, I will only face death! I can't go back to my old life, nor can I integrate into a new world! Don't worry about me, just go!"
I ignored Miao Xiaoxian's explanation and reached out to grab her hand: "You just saved my life, how could I abandon you? Let's go together!"
"Don't move!"
Seeing my actions, Miao Xiaoxian immediately grabbed the remaining fire beetles from her pocket and held them to her neck: "If you continue to act recklessly, I'll die right here in front of you! If you want to repay this debt of gratitude for saving your life, remember to spread the word about this place after you leave! And don't say you've been to the Temple of the Ferocious God. I believe that as long as more people are attracted here, this place will eventually be destroyed!"
Before I could answer Miao Xiaoxian, an angry voice suddenly rang out from above us: "Miao Xiaoxian! You are a disgrace to your village!"
I looked up and saw the person above me, and I was immediately stunned: "The clan leader?"
Miao Xiaoxian looked up and saw the clan chief of Ping'an Village standing above the steps. His lips moved, but in the end, he didn't say a word.
"roar!"
At that moment, the monster behind us had already rushed up to us.
When Miao Xiaoxian saw the team leader appear, she became completely stunned, and her eyes became blank.
It seems that for her now, death is even a relief.
The clan chief, looking down at her with fury, demanded, "As the Holy Maiden of Ping'an Village, you are shameless and treacherous, colluding with foreign enemies and attempting to destroy everything that Ping'an Village has protected for thousands of years! Does your behavior deserve your status and the name 'Ping'an'?"
"I have never wronged Ping'an Village! It is Ping'an Village that has wronged me!"
Upon hearing the clan leader's question, Miao Xiaoxian let out a hysterical roar: "For thousands of years, we have only been tools to guard the Temple of the Ferocious God! What's wrong with wanting my people to live for themselves?"
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