The Contact

"Let's go."

Seeing that everyone was ready, Lu Huaming called out and headed for the door.

He pushed open the stone chamber's door. Beyond it lay a dark passage with no branches, stretching straight ahead.

The others did not hesitate. They quickly followed him in.

The deeper they went, the narrower the passage became. At first, two people could walk side by side; by the end, only one could squeeze through, and even then only by bending low.

Fortunately, the passage was not too long. After twenty or thirty zhang, a round opening appeared ahead.

Lu Huaming reached the opening and stuck his head out. Only then did he discover that it had been cut into the side of a vertical well. Far below, he could see water shimmering.

He sprang out first. Before he could fall, a surge of water rose with a splash, caught his feet, and carried him up to the mouth of the well.

Lu Huaming rose slowly and poked his head above the rim, looking for all the world like a Water Ghost emerging from the depths.

With half his body outside the well, he turned to look around. He found himself in an old residence long since abandoned, surrounded by collapsed stone tables and stools and wild plants growing everywhere.

After a quick inspection revealed no danger, he leaped out and sent a voice transmission to the others below.

Soon, Shen Luo and the rest rose out of the well too.

Ge Tianqing looked around. Seeing no one else nearby, he frowned. "Where's our contact on the inside?"

"Don't worry, Fellow Daoist Ge. I'll contact him now," Lu Huaming said.

With a turn of his wrist, he took three long sticks of green incense and a small dark-green bowl from his storage ring.

"Brother