The faint glow of a flashlight illuminated the pit.
Song Moting had already awakened. Compared to Jiang Xiaoxiao, he was much luckier, save for a few small scratches, he was practically unscathed.
Fan Jianguo was in the same condition.
Jiang Xiaoxiao enviously thought that heaven seemed to be on their side.
The question was, what were the odds?
Three people could meet and fall into a pit together.
When Song Moting saw Jiang Xiaoxiao, his frown was sharp enough to kill a fly.
"You shouldn’t be here!"
He knew he couldn’t hide it for long, but Jiang Xiaoxiao had actually dared to sneak up the mountain.
He had known she was brave before, but the problem was being excessively brave.
This was a reckless adventure.
How could his wife be so carefree?
She’s already a mother; how could she not consider the child?
Jiang Xiaoxiao wasn’t such an impulsive person, yet every time she would make fundamental mistakes when impulsive.
Even after many lessons, she wouldn’t change.
"I must find Grandma and Grandpa."
Jiang Xiaoxiao felt very apologetic, she knew she was rash, she should have been calmer, but whenever it involved family, she would lose control.
In her heart, there was actually a tiny bit of luck and reliance.
If it weren’t for the things in the space, she wouldn’t dare to be so reckless!
People’s courage comes from constant conditioning, the Jiang Xiaoxiao of the past life wouldn’t behave , recklessness was nonexistent.
Caution and vigilance were the norm.
Now, it’s just growing step by step, slowly breeding an unparalleled death-defying spirit.
Lowering her head in shame, her attitude was sincere, so sincere that Song Moting couldn’t keep a stern face.
"Alright, Xiao Xiao didn’t do it on purpose, she’s just too worried about Grandma and Grandpa."
Fan Jianguo couldn’t bear to see it, remembering how Jiang Xiaoxiao had dared to defy his big brother for Grandma back then, this wasn’t even a big deal.
In their family, no one thought there was a problem with anything Jiang Xiaoxiao did, Fan Jianguo was used to it.
Song Moting helplessly looked at Fan Jianguo, who was keen on protecting his niece, thinking Jiang Xiaoxiao became capriciously reckless because she was spoiled .
Jiang Xiaoxiao raised her finger, tilting her ear to listen, she had just heard this sound.
She had discovered it when she touched Fan Jianguo, and now it seemed to come again.
"Xiao Xiao, what are you doing? Besides the three of us unlucky souls, who else could be here? Don’t try to scare your uncle! I’m not like you, those ghosts and gods can’t scare me."
"Cough cough... cough cough... help... me..."
A faint sound drifted through the silent pit, causing Fan Jianguo to jump up and hit his head on the top of the pit, fainting in a daze.
Song Moting held on tightly to the flashlight. The pit they were in wasn’t just one, but a series of interconnected pits, which was why Jiang Xiaoxiao got hurt falling from above even though the pit’s height was only about half a person’s.
Above them was a more open stone-walled pit, making their tunnel seem long and spooky.
It reeked of mold and carried a cold, damp air.
Jiang Xiaoxiao shivered, scooting closer to Song Moting, clutching his arm tightly. Doctors are materialists, believing in atheism.
But she was still afraid.
"Cough cough... cough cough..."
Someone really was coughing, the sound was so faint that if Jiang Xiaoxiao hadn’t pointed it out, Song Moting wouldn’t have heard it.
"Cough cough... cough cough... help..."
The voice seemed intermittent.
Song Moting squeezed Jiang Xiaoxiao’s hand, signaling her to follow behind him. He gave Fan Jianguo a hard kick.
Fan Jianguo rubbed his head as he got up, clearly more cautious this time, ensuring he didn’t bump his head again.
The three of them walked over, facing a wall, and were taken aback.
On the other side of the stone wall, a weak voice came through.
"Cough cough... cough cough... help..."
"Uncle, listen, isn’t it Grandma’s voice?"
Jiang Xiaoxiao pressed her ear against the wall excitedly, hearing more clearly.
"Grandma, is that you? Are you with Grandpa?"
Jiang Xiaoxiao frantically pounded the wall, her voice breaking into sobs.
Fan Jianguo leaned against it.
"Mom, Dad, is it you? It’s Jianguo, Mom and Dad!"
"Cough cough... cough cough... Xiao Xiao, Jianguo, how did you get here?"
They heard it clearly; it was Old Mrs. Fan’s voice, weak but familiar.
"Grandma, Grandma, how are you and Grandpa now?"
Jiang Xiaoxiao examined the stone wall. It was a wall with traces left behind from carving. Clearly, this was one of those legendary abandoned tunnels, digging stopped here; the opposite was probably another such abandoned tunnel.
Unluckily, they weren’t connected.
Were it not for a coincidence, they would’ve fallen in and never known anyone was there.
"Xiao Xiao, Jianguo, your Grandpa is hurt. He’s unconscious, it’s always dark here, I don’t know how long it’s been, your Grandpa never woke up. Don’t act rashly, it’s filled with rubble here.
You need to be careful, there could be a collapse."
Grandma’s voice was weak, pulling at one’s heartstrings.
It’s easy to imagine the elderly couple had gone hungry and thirsty for at least two days and nights and suffered terribly, now in a very dangerous situation.
"We know, wait for us! We’re coming to rescue you soon."
Crying, Fan Jianguo yelled. His parents were on the other side; they were separated by a wall, unable to see each other.
Most worried about was Grandpa.
Song Moting gave Fan Jianguo a tug, pointing to a spot on the stone wall above.
"I knocked around just now, that’s the weakest spot, yet it’s out of reach. I brought a rope and a spade; you can step on my shoulder and chisel it open."
"Grandma, stay away from the wall, get as far away as possible, preferably hide behind rocks, be careful not to get hit."
Song Moting patted the wall and shouted.
"I... got it... Xiao Song... how did you end up here too?"
Old Mrs. Fan, dragging and half-carrying the old man, struggled to move behind a pile of rocks.
Fan Jianguo looked at the spade in his hand, with a troubled expression, "Maybe you should go up, I’m afraid I won’t know how to use it right and might mess it up."
He didn’t even know which part was weak; he’d have to have Song Moting directing him if he went up. It was inconvenient for Song Moting to observe from below, so why complicate things for himself?
Song Moting didn’t stand on ceremony.
Taking over the spade, "Alright then! Uncle, I won’t be polite."
Fan Jianguo braced himself against the wall, hands supporting it, legs bent to form a bow shape.
Song Moting placed a hand on his shoulder and nimbly stepped up, mounting Fan Jianguo’s shoulder in one swift move.
"Uncle, stand up slowly."
Song Moting checked the position already within reach.
Fan Jianguo pushed himself up, veins bulging on his neck, holding his breath, standing up.
Song Moting tested the spot with the spade.
Rocks splintered and flew.
Jiang Xiaoxiao crouched behind a pile of rocks, watching the struggling figure work on the stone wall, solid and firmly grounded like a towering mountain, reassuring and steadfast.