The noise grew closer, crashing like a surging tide, and the deafening clamor made Xuan Yang curse under his breath, "Damn it, why won't they just go away? These guys are like sticky plaster you can't shake off!"
With that, he swiftly darted behind a massive stone tablet, moving like a ghost.
Once hidden, Xuan Yang held his breath tightly, not daring to make a sound, fearing that even the slightest noise might reveal his position.
At that moment, his heart raced wildly, pounding like a war drum being struck relentlessly, each beat threatening to burst from his chest.
Yet, despite the overwhelming fear within him, Xuan Yang fought to control his rapid breathing with sheer willpower, striving to remain utterly silent so as not to alert the enemy.
Just then, the light outside the dilapidated temple grew dimmer, and through the shadows, he could see several figures moving restlessly.
This eerie scene instantly thickened the already tense atmosphere, sending chills down his spine.
Suddenly, a shout rang out; it was Qu Si Yang leading several villagers rushing into the temple. "Xuan Yang! Where are you? Answer me!" Qu Si Yang's voice carried an unmistakable urgency, revealing her genuine concern for Xuan Yang's safety.
The villagers who accompanied Qu Si Yang held torches aloft, and as they raised them high, the flickering light began to cast erratic shadows throughout the crumbling temple.
The wavering flames illuminated Qu Si Yang's face, which appeared slightly pale from worry, making her look even more delicate and endearing.
Xuan Yang hesitated for a moment—should he reveal himself?
There could still be dangers lurking in this temple. Why did Si Yang catch up so quickly? This could ruin everything!
He had originally planned to study that mysterious stone tablet thoroughly; now it seemed that plan was in ruins.
"Xuan Yang, I know you're here!"
Qu Si Yang's voice rang out again, this time with a note of determination as if she had already figured out where he was hiding.
Xuan Yang clenched his teeth tightly; though reluctant, he decided it was time to stop hiding.
Taking a deep breath, he slowly stepped out from behind the massive stone tablet. He forced a stiff smile onto his face and called out ahead, "I'm here!"
The air inside the dilapidated temple was thick with dust and mingled with a nauseating dampness that lingered in the atmosphere.
The mixed scents infiltrated people's nostrils, creating an overwhelming sense of discomfort.
When Xuan Yang appeared before her unscathed, Qu Si Yang finally let out a long sigh of relief, having been on edge for so long.
She hurriedly quickened her pace to reach Xuan Yang, her beautiful eyes carefully scanning him up and down, filled with unmasked concern.
In response to Qu Si Yang's evident anxiety, Xuan Yang merely shrugged nonchalantly and said with feigned ease, "Oh, what could possibly happen to me? It's just a dilapidated temple; can it really swallow me whole?"
However, despite his casual words, deep down he had already heightened his vigilance. At that moment, his gaze discreetly swept over the villagers following Qu Si Yang, observing their every move while secretly speculating about their true intentions for coming here.
Hearing Xuan Yang's dismissive remarks, Qu Si Yang couldn't help but furrow her brows slightly, her expression turning serious.
She lowered her voice and said, "You mustn't act tough. This broken temple is filled with oddities; the malevolent energy here is quite intense!" As she spoke, she began to scan the surroundings warily, her once gentle eyes now sharp as if they could easily see through the secrets hidden behind every brick in the dilapidated temple.
Xuan Yang was taken aback; Si Yang could sense the power of the Shadow Puppet? It seemed she was not as simple as she appeared. He began to reassess Si Yang.
"Let's go outside first," Qu Si Yang said, turning to leave. Her silhouette appeared particularly resolute against the flickering firelight.
Xuan Yang followed behind, filled with confusion.
Suddenly, the ground began to tremble. Boom! The walls of the dilapidated temple started to collapse. Dust flew everywhere as debris scattered; it felt as if the entire structure was about to topple over.
What the hell is happening? Xuan Yang cursed inwardly as a sense of foreboding washed over him.
"Run!"
Xuan Yang grabbed Qu Si Yang's hand and dashed toward the exit. Her hand was soft and warm, a stark contrast to the coldness of the crumbling temple.
The exit was blocked by fallen stones. Damn it, this is bad! A massive boulder lay across the entrance, completely sealing off their escape route.
Xuan Yang and Qu Si Yang were trapped inside the dilapidated temple. The walls continued to crumble around them, and tiles fell from above; the situation was dire.
"What do we do?" Qu Si Yang asked in panic, gripping Xuan Yang's hand tightly, her eyes filled with fear.
Xuan Yang forced himself to remain calm. "Don't be afraid, I will definitely get you out of here." Despite his words, he felt uncertain inside. The sudden turn of events left him feeling a sense of helplessness.
Suddenly, a massive shadow appeared before them. It loomed like a specter, tall and imposing, exuding a terrifying aura. It moved slowly, as if it were a messenger from hell.
"What is that thing?" Qu Si Yang asked in terror, her voice trembling as she pressed tightly against Xuan Yang.
Xuan Yang's heart sank; this was the Puppet Master of the Shadows! He immediately realized they were in serious trouble.
The shadow let out a deafening roar, akin to a beast's growl, and lunged at them. Xuan Yang quickly summoned his Shadow Puppet to engage in a fierce battle with the dark figure.
The Shadow Puppet danced like a phantom in the darkness, nimbly evading the shadow's attacks. Its form flickered unpredictably, moving with the swiftness of the wind, each strike precise and lethal. Meanwhile, Xuan Yang searched for the shadow's weakness, his gaze sharp as an eagle's, scanning every part of the dark figure.
Suddenly, he noticed a red mark on the shadow's chest. This mark was as bright as blood and stood out starkly against the darkness. It seemed to be the shadow's weak point, emanating an eerie aura.
Xuan Yang directed his Shadow Puppet to concentrate its attacks on the shadow's chest. Bang! A muffled sound echoed as the shadow let out a wretched scream and collapsed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Xuan Yang sighed in relief; he had finally dealt with it. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and felt somewhat reassured.
However, just then, the ground trembled again. The rumbling intensified, shaking as if the entire earth were quaking.
A massive crack appeared beneath their feet. The fissure was bottomless and dark, resembling a gateway to hell. Xuan Yang and Qu Si Yang fell into it.
They tumbled into a dark cave where visibility was nonexistent; it was cold and damp, filled with a decaying odor that permeated the air.
"Xuan Yang, where are you?" Qu Si Yang's voice echoed with a hint of tremor in the darkness.
"I'm here. Are you okay?" Xuan Yang quickly responded as he struggled to get up and reach for Qu Si Yang.
"I'm fine. What is this place?" Qu Si Yang's voice came again, laced with fear and unease.
"I don't know. It seems we've run into trouble again." Xuan Yang sighed heavily, feeling utterly exhausted by the series of events.
Suddenly, an eerie Shadow Puppet appeared before them. This Shadow Puppet floated like a ghost, its translucent body barely visible in the darkness, exuding an ominous presence. It drifted silently, as if it were a spirit from another world.
"Be careful!" Xuan Yang warned, his tone urgent and filled with alertness.
The Shadow Puppet let out a piercing shriek, an ear-splitting sound akin to the wails of a vengeful spirit, lunging towards them.
Qu Si Yang quickly unleashed a fiery shield, the intense flames instantly enveloping them and driving the Shadow Puppet back. The fire blazed brightly, illuminating the entire cave and casting light on Qu Si Yang's resolute face.
"What is that?" Xuan Yang exclaimed, staring at Qu Si Yang in disbelief. He had never seen such a powerful fiery shield before; its strength was astonishing.
"My ability," Qu Si Yang replied calmly, as if it were merely an inconsequential matter.
Xuan Yang felt a stir within him. Qu Si Yang's ability was indeed formidable. It seemed he needed to be more cautious; he could no longer afford to provoke her anger.
At that moment, a strange sound echoed from the depths of the cave. It resembled ghostly howls, chilling and eerie, sending shivers down their spines. The sound was intermittent, now distant, now close, as if it came from the depths of hell.
"What is that sound?" Qu Si Yang asked, a hint of fear in her voice as she clutched Xuan Yang's arm tightly.
Xuan Yang shook his head. "I don't know. We need to be careful." He clenched his fists, watching the depths of the cave warily, anxiety gnawing at him.
He tightened his grip, determination flashing in his eyes. No matter what dangers lay ahead, he would protect Qu Si Yang! It was an instinctive impulse driven by a sense of responsibility.
Suddenly, a loud crash resonated from deep within the cave. Following that, a massive figure appeared before them…
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