Chapter 17: The Road Ahead Unknown

Chapter 17: The Uncertain Road Ahead

Zhang Sanlu lay at the bottom of a pit lined with tangled vines. Steep, slick walls of earth rose around him, each breath carrying the scent of soil. Above, the sky was nothing more than a narrow slit; pale light seeped through the cracks in the clouds, the cave’s only illumination, but this was already far less oppressive than the boundless darkness from before.

Qiu Ming and Man Shan lay not far off, gasping for breath. Their strength was completely spent, drained by hours of crawling and climbing. Their muscles ached, their joints pricked by a thousand needles, and even the smallest movement brought a tearing pain.

After a moment of heavy breathing, Zhang Sanlu was the first to struggle to his feet, urging the others to leave. Faced with their questions, he gave no answer. The horrors they had just witnessed defied explanation, and he had no wish to recall any of it—he only wanted to escape.

Man Shan and Qiu Ming rolled over with difficulty, groping for a handhold in the earth. Zhang Sanlu dug his fingers into the dirt, mud caking under his nails, his knuckles turning white with effort. He pulled himself upward, inch by inch, using every last shred of strength.

Soil and pebbles slipped from their grasp as the three of them struggled up the wall, like insects trapped in amber, fighting desperately toward the light above.

Sweat and mud ran in rivulets from Zhang Sanlu’s brow, stinging his eyes and clouding his vision. Through relentless effort, they drew nearer to the rim of the pit.

At last, Zhang Sanlu’s fingers found the edge. With a final surge, he heaved himself over and collapsed on the cold ground, chest heaving, utterly exhausted. Yet beneath his fatigue was a strange sense of relief—if he could pour all his strength into climbing, he needn’t think about whatever lurked in the abyss below.

When they had caught their breath, the three looked around and realized they were in a cavern. It was dim and uncertain, with only a few pale beams of light filtering through cracks above. Water droplets fell from the rocky walls, echoing in the gloom.

They had to keep moving, to find a way out.

Zhang Sanlu stood, each step cautious, fearing another fall. The air inside the cave was clammy and cold, each inhalation a chill in his lungs. Guided only by the faint phosphorescence of moss on the walls, they pressed forward, step by slow step, determined to escape.

Before long, they saw light in the distance. It had been deep night when they entered the cave, but now day was breaking outside. At the sight of it, Man Shan and Qiu Ming stumbled forward, their legs carrying them faster, fatigue forgotten. The light grew brighter as they approached, until they were swallowed by its glow.

As they emerged from the cave, all three squinted against the sudden brightness.

Far off, the horizon was painted with the first pale streaks of dawn; the curtain of night was slowly lifting to reveal the earliest rays of morning. Atop the mountain, the air was sharp and pure, each breath cleansing the heart. A delicate mist still shrouded the landscape, lending it a dreamlike, silent beauty.

In the east, the sky began to blush, as though someone had brushed a wash of crimson across the heavens. The color deepened, layer by layer—from amber to pink, then to a deep, burning red—as if flames licked the edge of the world.

Then a blade of light split the horizon, and the sun’s rim crept above the earth. It began as a sliver, then quickly swelled to a golden half-circle. Sunlight washed over the mountains, gilding their peaks, waking every flower, tree, and blade of grass in the temple’s grounds with warmth.

The world stirred in the baptism of sunrise, brimming with hope and new life.

Gazing at the spectacular dawn and the familiar temple, Man Shan and Qiu Ming could not hold back their tears of joy. This sunrise, once so ordinary, now seemed more beautiful and unforgettable than ever before.

Zhang Sanlu watched it all, his heart filled with indescribable emotion. In any world, it had been so long since he had seen a sunrise. To escape the darkness—this was not just the beginning of a new day, but a rebirth, a surge of hope and strength.

“We can go home now!” Man Shan, still only a boy, could not hide his delight.

But Qiu Ming’s excitement faded, his gaze dimming.

“What’s wrong, Brother Qiu Ming? Don’t you want to go home?” Man Shan asked curiously.

“I... I’m an orphan. It was Master... it was Master Tongxuan who found me and brought me to the mountain. I always thought... I thought this was my home.”

Zhang Sanlu knew Qiu Ming must feel deeply conflicted toward Tongxuan—the master who had adopted him, taught him, named him, but in the end only saw him as a vessel to prolong his own life.

Zhang Sanlu shook his head. “All the more reason not to stay here.” He could not bring himself to describe what he had seen; perhaps if the others had witnessed it, they would have chosen to remain.

Qiu Ming was silent, frowning, a hint of resentment in his eyes.

After a moment, Man Shan spoke. “Brother Zhenfu, Brother Qiu Ming, since you have nowhere else to go, why don’t you come with me? My home is just outside Hejian City, in Mazi Village. We can clear some land, and when autumn comes, we’ll have a harvest…” Man Shan rambled on, his words full of hope for the future.

Qiu Ming seemed moved by Man Shan’s suggestion. “Brother Zhenfu, you shouldn’t stay here either. Let’s go together.”

Zhang Sanlu was silent for a long moment, tightening his bundle on his shoulder.

“Let’s go. First, let’s get away from here.”

He had made up his mind. There was nothing for him here; it was better to go down the mountain and search for a way out of this world. The hallucinations that had plagued him seemed to be gone. If he could return, perhaps he could finally live a normal life—watch movies, play basketball, do all the things he once wanted but never could.

At his agreement, both Man Shan and Qiu Ming breathed sighs of relief, their faces breaking into smiles.

“But before we leave, we should search this place thoroughly. At the very least, we need to bring some food and water for the journey.”

“Yes, Brother, let’s check the kitchen,” Man Shan and Qiu Ming replied eagerly. There was a lot to gather, and many things left behind by their lost brothers that could still be of use.