Chapter 061: The Poisonous Mist That Awakens the Demon

The sudden change made both of them wary, and they couldn’t help but quicken their pace.

The sound of water, like fine rain, kept approaching, and at the same time, strange noises, reminiscent of bones grinding and snapping, mingled in, echoing from a distance. This unsettling sound was far more nerve-wracking than the water’s patter—it felt as if some living person’s joints were being twisted by an unknown force.

They ran about fifty meters when they noticed the black track beneath their feet had turned entirely orange-red. Li Tianque saw clearly now: the track they were running on contained something akin to a heating element, like those quick-boil pipes.

As the heating pipes gradually lit up, the temperature inside the cave soared, and sweat soaked both their bodies.

“This cave is way too advanced—it’s got its own geothermal system, unbelievable…” Bi Fatty couldn’t help but marvel.

Li Tianque wasn’t in the mood to be impressed. He listened intently to the increasingly dense creaking sounds in the distance, his unease deepening.

“Hurry! Something’s not right here. Who knows how hot these heating pipes will get—it’s best to be careful.” Li Tianque urged.

“Right, we should run faster. If all these red pipes heat up, who knows if we’ll end up roasted alive…”

By the glow of the red lights, Li Tianque discovered that, besides the track, there was a dark channel nearby, less than two centimeters from the heated pipes. At regular intervals, connecting ports linked the channel to the track.

Simply put, there were two parallel tracks: one housed heating pipes, the other was empty, but connected at intervals. If a liquid were to flow…

“Looks like we won’t be roasted… It’ll probably be worse…” Li Tianque said, horrified.

“Hm? What do you mean?” Bi Fatty stared at Li Tianque, puzzled by his sudden change in tone.

Li Tianque pointed at the side channel and explained, “If I’m not mistaken, this track is meant for some kind of liquid. As it flows, it’ll enter the heated pipes and turn into steam, filling the cave. If this liquid produces toxic gas when heated, we’re done for…”

Bi Fatty’s heart skipped a beat as he listened to the approaching water and faint hissing. Li Tianque’s theory seemed plausible, especially since a pungent odor was starting to seep into the air.

“Yeah, we need to be careful. Luckily, I’ve got protective masks in my bag—hopefully they’re effective…” Bi Fatty, suddenly anxious, rummaged through his backpack.

“We’d better hurry. Some gases can’t be blocked just by covering your mouth and nose!”

Bi Fatty quickly found two protective masks, and a pair of mountaineering goggles for himself. He handed a mask to Li Tianque.

“Put it on. It’s made from professional anti-toxic materials; should be fine.”

Li Tianque took the mask. Once equipped, they immediately picked up their pace.

Not far ahead, they saw the poisonous mist creeping closer.

Meanwhile, water gushed along the dark channel, some of it flowing into the heating pipes and instantly turning to steam, saturating the cave.

Li Tianque instinctively shielded his eyes, but his body was soon engulfed by the thick mist.

Inside the vapor, Li Tianque felt no unusual sensations. His eyes and skin weren’t irritated.

He relaxed a little, but, just to be safe, kept the mask on.

As the channel continued to flow, more steam enveloped the cave. Though Li Tianque and Bi Youqian were only two meters apart, they could barely discern each other’s positions.

The sound of bones snapping grew clearer in the fog—close enough to touch.

Li Tianque slowed, tapping Bi Fatty’s shoulder.

“Let’s run slower. If this mist is part of the cave’s defense mechanism, it might be paired with other traps. Watch your step!”

“Don’t worry, I’m watching!” Bi Fatty adjusted the flashlight’s beam to his feet, making it easier to observe the ground.

Li Tianque kept running, ears alert for the eerie noises. Ahead, the sounds grew denser, and occasionally, he heard things falling from above.

Nearby, the noises weren’t as intense, but clearly emanated from the walls.

What exactly was making that sound?

What purpose did the mist serve…?

Mist… Water vapor… Water…

Li Tianque pondered as he ran, when suddenly, he heard something breaking through the stone wall nearby—a sound like pulling out a buried cabbage by force, crisp and unmistakable.

In that instant, a terrifying idea flashed through Li Tianque’s mind.

To confirm it, he boldly lifted the edge of his mask and sniffed the dense fog.

A faint scent of blood and rot lingered, but stronger was the pure smell of water vapor.

Now Li Tianque was certain: the mist filling the cave was ordinary steam.

He quickly asked, “Brother Li, when that stone horseshoe crab attacked you, you were urinating, right?”

“Yeah, why?” Bi Fatty looked at him, puzzled by the sudden question.

“And that thing—it jumped up from below you?”

“Uh, probably!”

Li Tianque nodded thoughtfully, frowning. “Then we’re in trouble. I think we’re about to face something big…”

“Big trouble?” Bi Fatty was baffled.

Li Tianque didn’t explain, but slowed his pace, listening warily to the strange sounds around them.

Suddenly, a sharp hiss erupted from behind and to his side. Li Tianque reacted instinctively, reaching for the source and activating his kilovolt glove.

A brilliant spark flared in his hand, followed by a sizzle and the stench of scorched flesh.

Bi Fatty jumped, and on closer inspection, saw Li Tianque gripping the very stone horseshoe crab that had attacked him before. The creature convulsed under the sudden electric shock, but its terrifying pincers and suction cups still twitched and strained.

“Damn, how did this thing come back to life?” Bi Fatty cried out.

At the same time, the rustling sounds in the cave intensified. Both men realized what those dreadful noises meant.

(End of this chapter)