A cold sweat broke out all over my body. Even from this distance, that red dot looked as big as an egg—just how massive was it really…?

I hurriedly tapped my mom’s arm to show her, but before I could speak, she grabbed my wrist, yanked me toward the passage ahead, and let out a sharp “shush.” Instinctively, I clamped a hand over my mouth.

“Don’t look back. Just run,” she whispered.

Second Brother, Wei, and Wu had already moved ahead.

I nodded obediently but kept glancing back—was the red dot following us? My mind buzzed with questions. What *was* that flickering red light? I hadn’t spotted any red source when we entered the coffin field. When did it appear? And that squelching sound we heard before arriving… why did it vanish the moment we stepped inside?

I frowned, head throbbing.

No one looked back. Whether they hadn’t noticed the dot or refused to acknowledge it, their pace had quickened noticeably. Faded, weather-worn patterns still lined the walls. Second Brother slowed, shining his flashlight close. His expression shifted to shock.

I glanced nervously behind us. Only silence. No movement. No light. I let out a shaky breath.

“These walls are ancient, Big Sister… this place?” Second Brother murmured, fingers brushing the stone.

“The carvings are unverifiable. Without proper tools, I can’t date them,” Mom replied softly, tracing the glyphs.

“Around 1000 BC, during the Western Zhou era, early nomadic tribes roamed the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Though few in number, they formed many clans, each claiming territory. One tiny tribe was forced to settle near Qinghai Lake. They had their own language and script—but constant warfare erased them. History left no record.”

“Yet no one knew… the only trace of their existence remained hidden deep beneath this vast lake.”

Mom’s fingertips lingered on the mural.

“Wei Chuanyi named this tribe the Dragon Tamer Clan.”

“Huan Long?” I echoed, unsure of the characters—but it wasn’t my focus.

“You mean… a tiny tribe from a thousand years ago… actually came here?” I asked, stunned.

Mom nodded, pointing into the darkness ahead.

“Not just came. They *lived* here.”

“What—?”

Before I could press further, Wei and Wu halted abruptly. We froze.

I assumed it was a rest break—we’d been running and walking for ages. Everyone must be exhausted.

But then—a dissonant sound slithered from behind.

With all five of us motionless, I still heard it: something writhing. They heard it too. Second Brother shot Wei Qiuying a look. In one motion, she ignited a red cold flare and hurled it backward.

Crimson light flooded the tunnel. Before my eyes adjusted, Mom seized my hand and sprinted forward—*fast*. I was the school’s annual girls’ track champion… and I was struggling to keep up.

Why were we running? I panted, legs burning. Beneath our footsteps and ragged breaths, a low, dog-like growl echoed.

*Wild dogs down here?* I risked a glance back—and snapped my head forward.

Two enormous red eyes, each as big as a watermelon, swayed in the dim flare-light. *Close*. Emitting guttural barks.

Too dark to see the creature. But judging by those eyes… if it had a mouth, swallowing me whole would be effortless.

We finally understood Mom’s sprint. My lungs burned. I glanced back—the eyes were *closer*.

Ahead, the flashlight beam caught an opening.

Suddenly, Mom released my hand and yelled:

“JUMP!”

“Huh—?!”

Before I processed it, my foot met empty air. I tumbled, slammed hard against a slanted rock wall, then crashed onto the ground below. My head rang.

I’d fallen from height—but the angled wall cushioned the fall. Otherwise… crippled. Or worse.

Groaning, I pushed myself up. Every muscle ached. The flashlight was dead. Pitch black.

No red eyes nearby. No sound from above.

Darkness. Silence. Terror coiled tight in my chest.

I fumbled in my waterproof sling bag—Mom had given me gauze earlier. I wrapped my scraped joints by feel.

I didn’t dare call out. If Mom could, she’d have shouted my name a thousand times already. And noise might summon *it*.

I replayed her words: *“Jump!”* So… a broken bridge?

I hadn’t reacted in time. Fell. Lucky it wasn’t fatal. Since I was alone down here… the others made it across. The red-eyed thing must be chasing them.

A fragile relief washed over me. I sat cross-legged, catching my breath.

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