A harsh scraping sound came from behind them, as if some enormous body were squeezing into the tunnel inch by inch. Its rough skin scraped against the rock walls, crushing the clay figures on either side.
Li Bai's eyes flew open. She knew Zhusheng Niangniang had caught up with them.
The next moment, Zhang Yuanchao's voice changed. Fury filled it, and Li Bai could easily imagine the old but burly man standing there, imposing and fearless. "Come on! I've been looking for you for a long time! Ahhh! Give me back my daughter's life!"
With a final roar, the man charged at Zhusheng Niangniang without hesitation. Li Bai, meanwhile, staggered out of the tunnel at last.
Tears filled her eyes as she heard the monster babies' piercing cries from far behind her. Countless times, she wanted to turn around and look at the man one last time. But she couldn't. If she turned back, everything they'd done would be for nothing, and Zhang Yuanchao's death would mean nothing.
She had to survive and finish what Zhang Yuanchao hadn't. She would destroy Heishui Village—destroy this hell on earth!
At that moment, this no longer felt like a mere mission. It was her responsibility, one she couldn't escape.
She ran to the rickety ladder and climbed with all her might. She could already hear the monster babies rustling through the tunnel behind her. Countless of them were chasing her.
After climbing out of the well, she leaned over the rim and looked down. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying. She wished more than anything that she could see Zhang Yuanchao again, but as more and more monster babies poured out of the tunnel, despair overtook her. She held on until they began climbing the ladder, then slammed the heavy cover