Chapter 117 - Narrow Passage

Their cheers broke the depression out from them. They were more determined this time, trusting the general's plans. Inside the mines, you could hear the ghosts wails and mourns. They guarded the entrance, waiting for these living humans to go in and end their lives.

Standing in front were General Lofey and Ming. Nianshi and Xinyi was next. Ming, Sir Balin and Sir Gib were the last. They left Tyriece outside since his power was useless. He also had a secret task. In case they die inside, he would blow the mines or bring the whole mountain down to close the mines for good. 

It was a do or die now for General Lofey, but he hoped that they would get in and out alive with the object or Mafan or both, if possible.

In front of the entrance, "little brother, are you ready?"

"Ready," Ming said.

General Lofey waved his hand and a wide blue fire struck the entrance. Just a second after, Ming followed a piercing wind to send the fire deeper inside before it would die down. Their tandem struck multiple ghouls wailing before they dispersed. Unknown to them, Ming winced when he used his power.

However, Nianshi saw it and thought he might have a wound or badly hurt somewhere in his body during the fight. He looked at Xinyi and wondered if the wife knew of this.

When they saw there were no ghouls at the entrance, "Let's go," Lofey commanded. The 'Chiangda' team marched in. Every time they see a spirit, they hit them with no mercy. 

When they reached the area where the dead bodies lay, they stopped and the wind Chiangdas made a whirlwind enough to carry the dead bodies outside, including the skeletons. Tyriece and the soldiers placed them in one area to burn them later. 

They mourned looking at them. The sons cried, hugging their fathers. The brothers and cousins wept for their relatives. It was a sad sight for a time. Then they got up and prepared to walk in when the general shout his commands.

Then saw the inside showed blue, red, green lights with cries from the ghouls resounding. They also heard the group shoutings such as 'look out, behind you, watch out.' 

Then a man's voice growled, "Damn you, stupid spirits. Don't run and let me send you to hell." Winds with fire came out the entrance, almost hitting those standing nearer. Good thing Tyriece moved fast by raising a huge flat rock in front of them. This told them the fight was so intense.

"Please, hold your temper, general," murmured Tyriece with a shake of his head, sinking the rock back in the ground. 

Later, silence prevailed. The team had progressed deeper where those outside couldn't see or hear them anymore. 

Inside, the team continued running and sending fires or winds until they saw a wider cavern. And the ghouls stopped following them, snarling while staring at the humans. 

The team breathed deep looking at the ghouls. Then a huge one appeared, the first one Mafan saw. His eyes were red with a deadpan face, staring straight at Xinyi. This gave her creeps. It raised its hand up and the ghosts instantly vanished.

After the spirits left, the place turned black. Lofey and Sir Balin made balls of fire on their hands to illuminate the room. They looked around, trying to understand what was in there that stopped the ghouls. But dismayed to see there was nothing particular. Most of all, it was a deadend.  

"I wish I could ask those things to tell me why they stop," said Lofey as he walked near the door and with a loud voice hollered, "Hey! Vile beings, come out and tell me why you stop." His voice echoing in the cavern. 

He waited and nothing showed up. He shouted again, three times. Suddenly, the big ghost with red eyes abruptly showed staring back two feet apart from him. 

The sudden appearance made his body jolt, frightening the life out of him. He swiftly sent a fire at it but the thing sunk in the ground in a split second. Sir Gib and Sir Balin smirked at the general.

"You asked him to come for a chat, yet you hit him with your fire," Sir Balin said and giggled. He said so, trying to cover up the thought the abrupt arrival made him jump in fright as well. It was not only him, actually. Everyone were closely watching Lofey shouting at the door and jolted when it came out in an instant.

"Don't tease the general or he will shower you with his blessings of fire," teased Sir Gib. 

"The heck. I believe it also gave you a good fright." The general shrugged and didn't shout again but went around to examine the place once again with hands on waist.

The other three onlookers only watched them but followed the general's actions. Unknowingly, Nianshi and Xinyi sensed something different in the room. The former walked to the wall near him and scr.a.p.ed the dirt from it. They watched the part he scr.a.p.ed and later saw a greenish thing protruding.

"Allow me," Sir Gib said and made a swirling wind to dig the sides but the wind scattered every time it touched the stone. The wind Chiangda wondered what it was

"Let me," Ming said as he pulled his Verth sword out and made a slicing move at the sides of the stone. It scratched a good amount of dirt falling at his feet, but this was not the result he wanted. "What the…? This is a very sharp sword but why... ?"

"It might be because it has magic," Nianshi said.

"You mean that stone is same as your sword?" Ming asked.

"I think so." And looked at the rest. "Did anyone of you have an ordinary knife or anything we can use to dig this one out?" Nianshi could use his talons but didn't.

Sir Balin bent down, opened the edge of his pants, and pulled out a knife from a belt. He silently dug the stone out. It was as big as his fist.

"Can I?" Lofey asked with an open palm. Sir Balin gave it. The general tried to make fire from the hand holding it. A bit of fire blew out but put off right away.

"This is it." He beamed, clasping the stone tightly. "Is there more?"

"No idea," Nianshi asked with a frown.

"Then how did you know it was there?" Lofey asked.

Nianshi couldn't say he was a lion dragon and could sense some magic in the area. So, he just said, "I just saw a faint green on the wall."

The general was excited hearing it. "Let's check the walls." They tried scraping the wall's outer area and fortunately, saw a lot. This excited them.

Then Xinyi called, "Everyone, there's a narrow way over here."