CHAPTER 255: ESCAPE THROUGH THE TUNNELS

It was wide enough for three people to walk side by side. At the end of the passage, the stairs led downward. Two men whose apparently allies of Koios were visible near the steps.

"Catch him! Don’t let him escape!"

Koios’s angry shout rang out from behind. The two men turned toward the sound. More men emerged from other passages, stairways, and side doors.

They were of different ages, but all of them were big muscular men charging forward together.

This place is so hot. The air was thick and sweat began to seep through Shiao Yi’s clothes.

Koios was approaching from behind. Ahead of him are the mass of men formed a wall with their arms reaching out to grab him.

Shiao Yi jumped, aiming a kick at the face of the man at the front.

Completely caught off guard, the man fell backward with his nose bleeding from the full impact.

At the same time, Shiao Yi spun and kicking the side of the next man’s face like a roundhouse and using the collapsing man’s shoulder as a step to land his foot high on the wall.

He pushed off, braced his hands against the ceiling, spun, and dropped toward the floor, bouncing off the momentum.

He slipped between the long legs of the men still looking upward, bypassing the human wall.

Being small gave him the advantage.

Glancing back while running, Shiao Yi saw the men he had struck crash into the men behind them, sending several tumbling and delaying Koios’s pursuit.

"Heh, serves you right," Shiao Yi muttered, grinning at the clumsy, shouting men.

But mocking others comes with consequences.

"Kyaaa!"

A scream pierced the chaos, followed by a loud crash, the sound of things breaking and tumbling.

A woman carrying a large tray had collided with Shiao Yi, scattering its contents. It looked like food. Its looks delicious, but it’s turned wasted now.

"Oh, I’m sorry!"

Struggling to regain balance, Shiao Yi’s foot caught on some of the spilled soup ingredients on the floor.

Shiao Yi slipped with a shout and landing hard on his backside, but the men piled up in a heap and Koios’s furious charge pressed forward with terrifying intensity. Panicking, he scrambled to his feet and sprinted down the stairs that were right in front of him.

The stairs were carved and packed from the earth and at the bottom, a narrow passage stretched sideways.

It seemed they were using the tunnel itself as living space.

With each step downward, the air grew warmer and he could feel the heat radiated from the floor and walls.

He guessed this place must be located in the volcanic area and they using the geothermal energy to cope with the harsh northern environment.

Which way should he go? While he hesitated, Koios and the others shouted from behind, closing in fast.

A door along the corridor swung open, revealing another resident.

Shiao Yi wanted to go upward, but he continued down the stairs.

As he ran downward and sideways, the number of pursuers kept growing.

Koios’s booming command to catch him caused everyone to follow unconditionally.

What is this?

Is this a chasing game or something?

He didn’t have a ball, but it felt like he was being relentlessly pursued in a rugby match.

He dodged tackles from the sides, kicked away those coming at an angle, and slipped past those in front.

"Wait! You bastard!"

Koios shouted, but if he got caught, wouldn’t he just become Koios’s bride? No way he was stopping!

A girl carrying a basket screamed and ran past him.

I’m sorry, little girl, for scattering your laundry!

Grandma, you fell, but I hope you didn’t break any bones!

Kids, get out of the way!

Eventually, he burst into a wider area, which felt far more crowded.

It must be a communal space, there was water, steam rising from holes like stoves, worktables for cooking.

Life in full swing, suddenly overwhelming.

The people of all ages scrambled to get out of his path.

Some children even cried in fright.

Of course, the real shock was probably seeing a pack of bloodshot, furious men chasing this otherwise harmless, quiet adult.

A single calm man being hunted by such a large group? It was absurd. The cruelty lay with the pursuers.

And as for the bruises, broken noses, and limping men? Who cared! They probably fell themselves.

Shiao Yi had only acted in self-defense.

Still... it was hot. The sweat ran down his body.

With the lingering headache and poor physical condition, the heat was almost unbearable. Fatigue made his head spin and dizziness prick at the edges of his vision.

But there was no turning back the way he had come.

Koios and the others were blocking it.

Shiao Yi decided to run straight toward what seemed to be an exit at the far end of the communal area.

Before he could reach it, a massive man who is bear-like in size planted himself in front of him while gripping a huge axe. Clearly, the chaos had marked Shiao Yi as an enemy.

"A little kid, huh!"

The man swung the axe straight at him as Shiao Yi ran forward. If it hit, it would cut him clean in half.

"Stop! That’s my bride!"

Koios screamed, but faster than his cry, the axe whistled through the air coming down.

Shiao Yi twisted his body as he ran, grabbed the arm swinging the axe and used the momentum to throw the bear-man over.

The man flew beautifully through the air and landing perfectly in a shoulder throw.

"Gotcha."

He started to dash forward again, but a strong grip caught his arm. Looking sideways, Koios was there, he was panting but he grinning widely.

"Amazing! Just as I thought, my bride! I love you all over again!"

"Let go! I’m not your bride!"

When had Koios even gotten this close?

Shiao Yi realized he could not underestimate him.

"I’m the next clan chief. Marry me, and you’ll live in luxury for life!"