It had been a while.
This wasn't normal. Underground waterways were constantly battered by running water, so things like mud usually didn't accumulate. Along the way here,
aside from the smooth stone walls, the ground
had been covered only with stones rounded smooth by the current. But here, there was mud?
I frowned. Where had the mud come from?
I looked around. There was only one path, and it was obvious that most of the mud was concentrated in this spot.
Could it be...
I suddenly froze and instinctively looked up. When we'd first entered, I hadn't paid much attention, but
now, the moment my flashlight pointed upward,
my eyes narrowed!
"Big Sister?"
Six Thieves' voice came from behind me, then abruptly fell silent.
The others seemed curious about what was going on, and one by one, they followed the beam of the flashlight and looked up.
The whole group fell into deathly silence. After a long moment... Si Zhuang looked at the obvious man-made structure illuminated by the light and asked in disbelief:
"Is that... a well?"
That's right, this was a well. The opening was above us, about three meters up. We'd have to climb that high to reach its lower edge.
"We finally found an exit..."
Eight Axe stared up at the well opening, his voice muffled. He hesitated, then glanced at Fatty Two, looking as if he wanted to say something but wasn't sure whether he should. Without thinking, I turned to look at Fatty Two, too.
The others also instinctively turned to look at Fatty Two. I didn't know if he sensed something, but he glanced around at everyone. Then, as if he'd remembered something, he abruptly lowered his head and looked at the ring of his belly. His hands trembling, he pinched the fat