CHAPTER 2097: CHAPTER 2095: THE DANGEROUS STONE CHAMBER

Fen Jizhi showed a look of appreciation, "It’s fortunate you thought of that. Let me try; my lightness skill is decent, and in case of danger, I can dodge. You all stand to the side first."

"Okay, be careful," Bai Ruozhu nodded and said.

Bai Ruozhu and the others stepped aside, and Fen Jizhi began to test slowly. His movements were not fast, but each step was very steady, demonstrating his steady personality. Bai Ruozhu secretly nodded, as Fen Jizhi’s heart nature was rare among people his age.

After a little more than a quarter of an hour, Fen Jizhi stepped on all the footprints but did not trigger any mechanisms. The four of them thoroughly checked the surroundings again, including the grass where footprints were hard to see, but found nothing else.

"How can this be?" Fen Jizhi frowned, "Could it be that I didn’t use enough force when stepping?"

Bai Ruozhu thought for a moment and shook her head, "I’m afraid several consecutive steps must be on the right spots to trigger the mechanism. Since they had many people stepping chaotically, they might have triggered it by coincidence. It’s not easy for us to have such luck this time."

"What do we do now?" Fen Jizhi scratched his head in frustration, messing up his topknot and letting a few strands of hair fall.

"Perhaps I should scout around first?" Jianqi asked.

Bai Ruozhu quickly shook her head, "This place is certainly very dangerous; otherwise, it wouldn’t have been closed for so many years. It’s better if we don’t split up."

Jianqi said no more and sat cross-legged to restore his inner strength, while Bai Ruozhu began to ponder.

Just as the four were at a loss, they suddenly heard some faint sounds. Bai Ruozhu suddenly turned her head and saw right in front of them, not far underground!

"They’re below!" she said excitedly.

Soon came the sound of a mechanism, and the ground suddenly cracked open, revealing a downward staircase with two young men standing on it.

"Ye He!" Fen Jizhi rushed over joyfully; they were his friends Ye He and Cao Yuqi.

"Where are the others?" Bai Ruozhu’s heart sank when she didn’t see her family.

Ye He was somewhat injured, with a wound still bleeding on the side of his neck, while Cao Yuqi was almost limping as he walked out. Fen Jizhi wanted to help him, but he quickly raised his hand and said, "I’m fine, you guys quickly go help the others. We were in charge of scouting, and we sent the signal when this path opened up. They should be on their way."

Ye He panted heavily, saying with some difficulty, "We triggered the mechanism here, and someone suggested coming in to hide, but we fell into danger once inside. The walls kept closing in on us, almost squeezing us to death. Fortunately, some experts from Wei Hall were here using an array to resist, and now that the exit is found, we’re finally okay."

Bai Ruozhu didn’t have time to hear more and threw a bottle of medicine to Nanny Zhang, "Nanny, you’re in charge of bandaging them. We’re going in to help."

She rushed in first, discovering dark arrows and traps along the way. There was even fresh blood on a spike, likely Cao Yuqi’s injury source.

She continued forward and finally saw a slowly closing stone gate, with only about a meter height left, and it was still descending. Though slowly, it would soon become impassable.

Bai Ruozhu felt puzzled; Ye He said they sent a signal, so why wasn’t anyone coming out?

She didn’t have time for more thoughts and bent down to squeeze through, with Fen Jizhi and Jianqi following.

Some people were startled to see a few people suddenly squeeze in, but they became excited upon recognizing Bai Ruozhu and Fen Jizhi.

"Ruozhu, why did you come in? Why didn’t you stay outside where it’s safe?" The third elder spoke with a tone of reproach, but his eyes hid affection. Bai Ruozhu knew he wanted her to hide, so that even if something happened to the family, a bloodline would remain.

But no! She absolutely couldn’t stand by while her family was in danger!

Bai Ruozhu finally took a moment to examine the stone chamber. She was startled, seeing long and sharp spikes protruding from the walls, made from an unknown material that looked incredibly hard. She noticed sword marks on some spikes, but they were only shallow.

Everyone here had inner strength, so who would lightly slash with a sword in such a critical moment? They must have used all their inner strength but still could only make shallow marks.

Moreover, there were not just one but four stone gates falling; no wonder they let Ye He and the rest scout ahead.

Surely other gates were also sent people to scout, and whichever team found an exit would escape through that gate.

In the short time she was inside, she felt the walls moving inward, and several Wei Hall members stood in the corners, forming seals with their hands to push back.

Among them was her second brother, whose face was slightly pale, with beads of sweat seeping on his forehead.

They were struggling to hold back the enclosing walls, but it was extremely strenuous.

Lin Ping’er hurried over, "Ruozhu, it’s dangerous here, quickly take your little brother and leave. Don’t worry about us!"

"Mother, once we find the exit, everyone will be fine," Bai Ruozhu quickly said, "Didn’t you receive the signal from Ye He and the others?"

The tenth elder said, "It must have been isolated by the array of the secret chamber. Thank goodness, we’re saved."

"Everyone, get in line and head out. Those uninjured assist the injured, the men help the women and children. Watch your step for hidden spikes on the way," Bai Ruozhu quickly instructed.

Elder Su nodded appreciatively at her and then organized the group to line up and pass through the stone gate.

Bai Ruozhu helped her grandmother and mother, saying, "Father, you take Grandmother and the others out first, with Nanny Zhang outside waiting."

"What about Dengdeng? Are they okay?" Bai Yihong asked anxiously.

Bai Ruozhu’s nose tingled, "Don’t worry, Father, I’ve hidden them where no one knows."

"Then we must find a way out quickly; they’re so young. What if there’s no one to care for them?" Bai Yihong said as he walked out.

Bai Ruozhu saw Si Yihuan still standing, quickly grabbing her, "Second sister-in-law, you go out first."

"I won’t go; I want to wait for Zepei," Si Yihuan stubbornly said.

Bai Ruozhu deliberately put on a stern face, "Time is tight; staying here only burdens Second Brother more. Wait for him outside the gate."

Si Yihuan was still unwilling, and Bai Ruozhu had no choice but to pull her out forcibly.

A large group exited the stone gate, heading out along the passage, and thanks to Bai Ruozhu’s reminder, no one got hurt. Bai Ruozhu told her aunt to take the family out first, while she stayed to assist Second Brother, with Si Yihuan this time refusing to leave first no matter what.

The stone gate was getting lower, so Jianqi helped lift it with inner strength. Fortunately, everyone in the stone chamber had left, except Bai Ruozhu and the four Wei Hall members.

"Little Sister, you go first," Bai Zepei said with great effort.