Yellow Springs Breaks Its Flow (4)
"Those things from outside?"
The weathered wooden door, the dim glow on the stone walls, and the white bones studded with spikes made for a scene that was undeniably creepy.
But Lisha's first feeling was relief that the silence of this place had finally been broken. She looked at Fu Qian and asked quietly, "You mean those things?"
"Yes. The report from the Spirit Ashes people wasn't making things up. Those things really do wander in here."
Fu Qian gave his assessment without hesitation.
"Then should we strike first and kill it?"
"Based on what we've seen so far, they're all extremely aggressive. Even if we wanted to get along peacefully, it might not agree."
With that concern out of the way, Professor Lisha grew noticeably more eager, ready to take action.
"Fair point. But could it be that it hasn't noticed us and just happens to be climbing out?"
Fu Qian nodded but didn't move.
"Huh?"
His opinion was clearly unexpected, but Lisha dutifully took another look.
By then, a dense mass of slender limbs was already waving in the air, floating as they slowly drew the rest of its body out.
It really was one of those things from outside.
As it emerged, she confirmed her initial impression.
Connected to those slender limbs was an elongated body, encircled by ribs.
Through the tiny gaps, she could clearly see a faint green glow within.
Just like the others outside, it was a combination of spirit and bone.
Its structure even seemed to confirm Fu Qian's assessment: it had no head or eyes at all.
Now almost completely out, it looked like a headless, skeletal centipede.
Once it was outside, it paid them no attention, drifting off in another direction instead.
But that wasn't