"Ah!!"
A pig-slaughtering scream erupted from behind, sending a shiver down the spines of the two brothers. Without looking back, they bolted forward.
As Zhao Yan ran, she noticed the grooves in the cave walls were displaying different faces, all staring intently at her and emitting eerie cackles.
Zhao Yan distinctly felt someone rapidly pursuing her.
She glanced back and saw numerous footprints not far behind her, yet there was no one there.
Quickly, she grabbed a talisman and hurled it behind her.
With a "buzz," the talisman ignited, emitting a bright light.
In the glow, she saw several floating spirits, glaring at her menacingly.
Upon closer inspection, Zhao Yan's expression darkened, and she retreated several steps.
The cave was packed with spirits.
She hadn't noticed them before because they were all trapped within the coffins.
The moment Guan An opened the coffins, these spirits were unleashed.
Guan An had been knocked back not by a physical force, but by the spirits rushing out, which had sent him flying.
No wonder the female corpse fought more ferociously; this cave was her base of operations.
"This female corpse wants to ascend."
Zhao Yan held her talisman, her gaze fixed on the spirits.
"Miss Zhao, wait for us," Bai Guangnian and Bai Guangyue called out, running towards her.
The two brothers were struggling to run.
They felt as if they were using all their strength, yet they couldn't run any faster; instead, they grew more exhausted.
Many spirits extended their hands, tightly grasping Bai Guangnian and Bai Guangyue. Some even clung to their backs, cackling.
The two brothers were frozen by the chilling energy, trembling uncontrollably, their eyebrows frosted over.
As they felt themselves being pulled backward, Bai Guangnian and Bai Guangyue cried out in alarm.
Thinking they were doomed, the talismans in their pockets suddenly ignited.
As they burned, the pressure on them vanished. Freed from the restraint, they exerted all their might and ran towards Zhao Yan.
"Don't look back," Zhao Yan commanded sternly.
Heeding her words, the brothers dared not turn their heads.
The entities, momentarily stunned, quickly pursued them into the cave.
As Bai Guangyue and Bai Guangnian reached her side, Zhao Yan threw three more talismans behind her.
With a "buzz," the three talismans ignited.
As they burned, Zhao Yan spotted Liu Tan's soul amidst the spirits.
This brought a flicker of joy to her heart, and she quickly rushed forward.
The spirits continuously reached out, attempting to drag Zhao Yan into the darkness.
As they drew near, the three talismans unleashed a blinding flash of light that quickly dissipated.
The radiance forced the spirits to shield their eyes.
Zhao Yan seized this fleeting moment to capture Liu Tan's soul, then turned and fled.
Just as she exited, countless spirits extended their hands towards the long cave entrance, only to retract them rapidly as they reached the opening. In an instant, the cave returned to its previous appearance.
Gazing at the pitch-black, all-consuming cave, Zhao Yan felt a chill. How many people had perished within this place?
If it were a direct confrontation, she wouldn't fear the female corpse. The real problem was the corpse's ability to absorb the Yin energy from the spirits in the cave.
It was precisely because she realized this that Zhao Yan decided to retreat.
She fled without hesitation; when it was time to run, one had to run.
By the time Zhao Yan charged into the cave, Bai Guangnian and Bai Guangyue had already escaped.
They were still trembling, their legs unable to support them, and collapsed onto the ground.
"Senior Brother is still inside. How will we explain this to Master?" Bai Guangnian sighed, looking at the long cave.
"Call for backup," Zhao Yan said.
Bai Guangnian nodded in understanding and immediately made a call.
"Miss Zhao, can you..."
Zhao Yan knew what Bai Guangyue was about to ask and replied directly, "No."
She had no intention of going back in, especially not during the night when Yin energy was at its peak.
Furthermore, she wasn't well-acquainted with Guan An. Venturing into danger for someone she barely knew was foolish.
She took out two talismans. Although the spirits were controlled by the female corpse, to prevent them from emerging, she affixed the talismans to the wooden door.
With that done, she felt a little more at ease and turned to head back towards the village.
The villagers seemed oblivious to Zhao Yan's return. As she re-entered, she placed Liu Tan's soul back into his body.
Liu Tan, who had been in a daze, instantly recovered. Initially bewildered by his surroundings, he was even more astonished to see Zhao Yan before him.
Recalling the unfortunate events, Liu Tan became flustered.
"Don't worry. What you need to do now is rest well. Don't be too scared," Zhao Yan patted Liu Tan's back and handed him a calming talisman to help stabilize his emotions. She didn't want him to scare his own soul away, which would be counterproductive.
As she handed him the talisman, Zhao Yan explained the events that had transpired, aiming to help Liu Tan adjust better.
Bai Guangnian and Bai Guangyue, worried about Guan An's safety, hadn't slept all night.
When Zhao Yan woke up, she saw the two brothers sporting significant dark circles under their eyes.
She went out to wash her face and encountered Village Chief Liu Xi, who asked if her friends had arrived.
Seeing his concerned expression, Zhao Yan replied that they would be here soon.
Just as she finished speaking, the sound of a car approached from outside the village.
Zhao Yan smiled, "My friends have arrived."
She then raised her head and spoke to Bai Guangnian and Bai Guangyue. They immediately peered out the window, their faces lighting up with joy as they recognized what they saw, and they quickly ran downstairs.
"The reinforcements I called have arrived," Bai Guangnian said softly.
Zhao Yan hummed in agreement, "Good. Once they're here, we'll have to go back to the cave."
"Of course. Before we go, we'll need to create a larger opening above the cave to disperse the Yin energy."
"Whatever you say," Bai Guangnian replied.
The two brothers knew that without the two talismans Zhao Yan had given them, they would have been finished long ago.
They placed their complete trust in Zhao Yan's words.
A large group of people arrived, all dressed in plain clothes.
After speaking with Village Chief Liu Xi, his expression changed drastically. He immediately gathered many villagers, adamantly refusing to let them tamper with the long cave.
Bai Guangnian and the others pleaded tirelessly, nearly resorting to force, before Liu Xi finally agreed.