Chapter 195: Chapter 195: The Sinister Place!
"I'm sure! If possible, I'd like to come along; if we encounter any danger, I can lend a hand!"
Hearing this, and considering Song Yun's skills, Ouyang Jie decisively nodded his head. In this place, probably no one could be more formidable than Song Yun!
"I'll discuss it with Professor Yan, after all, he's the backbone of the entire team."
Ouyang Jie found Professor Yan, who was arranging equipment, and began, "The friend I brought wants to enter the underground ruins with us, I hope you..."
Before he could finish, Professor Yan decisively made a stopping gesture.
"Ouyang Jie, this underground ruin is of great significance to me, to the entire team, and even to the whole of Hua Country! I cannot possibly let a spoiled young master inside!"
"Professor Yan, I can tell you clearly, the underground ruins are complex and, after scanning, have countless hidden passages! You should understand the dangers inside better than I do! And my friend is extremely skilled, even I dare not say I could best him. His presence would provide significant protection for this excavation!"
"Moreover, my friend's status is very prominent; unlike me, this event won't be just a feather in his cap, so you have absolutely no need to worry!"
As a veteran scholar of the archaeology department at Magic Capital University, Professor Yan traveled around the world to participate in excavation work, so he wasn't concerned about Song Yun's identity—or rather, what kind of person Song Yun was, or what did it have to do with him?
It must be said that Professor Yan was a pure man.
But even saints have weaknesses, and Professor Yan's weakness lay in his students.
Those disciples, some already middle-aged and others still in their youth, had plenty of time to dedicate their energy to the archaeology of the motherland. If, because of his action today, someone were to sacrifice themselves in the underground ruins, he would feel guilty for a lifetime!
"Ouyang Jie, is your friend really that skilled?"
"I can vouch for him with the reputation of the Ouyang Family!"
"There's no need for that, I trust your grandfather's character. Let's do this, call your friend over, I want to test his character."
Ouyang Jie broke into a wide grin; the old man wasn't as difficult to talk to as the rumors suggested!
He waved at Song Yun, who approached, and after Professor Yan took a good look at the young man, he slowly asked, "Ouyang Jie says your identity is extraordinary, may I know what it is?"
Song Yun was taken aback, then smiled lightly and said, "My name is Song Yun, I'm the richest man in Magic Capital..."
"Wait a minute! You said who? The richest man in Magic Capital, Song Yun?"
Professor Yan suddenly grabbed Song Yun's hand, excitedly saying, "If I remember correctly, you also hold the position of Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Magic Capital University, right?" Find your next read at m_v l|e'm-p| y r
"Yes..."
"Mr. Song Yun, thank you for your continuous investments in the research institutions affiliated with Magic Capital University. It's precisely because of your funding that our archaeology department has the extra energy to devote ourselves entirely to academia; thank you for your contributions!"
With that, Professor Yan bowed deeply to Song Yun.
"Ouyang Jie, you should have said earlier that your friend was Mr. Song! This is like running into a family member away from home!"
Professor Yan gave Ouyang Jie a reproachful look, then turned back to Song Yun with a changed expression. As a scholar, he couldn't just wish for rice to cook with! To use a phrase from the young people nowadays, Song Yun was the entire archaeology department's sugar daddy!
"Mr. Song, you are a person of high standing, do you really wish to go with us?"
Song Yun nodded affirmatively, he had come for this very purpose today!
"Alright, I'll find someone to get you a set of equipment right away!"
...
Equipped and ready, a total of seven people set off on the first exploration.
Aside from the team leader, Professor Yan, there were his three disciples, along with Song Yun, Ouyang Jie, and Hou Guangliang, who drove them there in the morning.
The searchlights were turned on, and beams of light explored the pitch-black depths of the cave.
The chilling energy mixed with the cold wind battered against the seven who had just entered the cave, and even though they were already wearing protective suits, they could still feel the piercing discomfort.
Professor Yan struggled conspicuously among the crowd. The elderly fear the damp and chilly conditions the most, and this place had it all.
"Look! What's that up ahead!"
After going more than ten meters inside, Hou Guangliang spotted an object ahead and issued a timely warning.
Song Yun and another member raised their weapons and switched posts with Hou Guangliang, who was scouting ahead. They took over the lead in exploring the path while Hou Guangliang covered the rear.
"This lamp isn't giving us very good lighting, huh! Come on, Ouyang Jie, you can't possibly skimp on equipment even if you're broke!"
Song Yun and Ouyang Jie could only vaguely see something up ahead, but after another ten meters or so, they still hadn't reached it. It was as if their group was always stepping in place.
"Bullshit, this is the most cutting-edge equipment in Hua Country!"
Ouyang Jie, usually courageous on the surface, also felt a bit uneasy. Damn it, they hadn't run into an invisible wall, had they? Why haven't they arrived yet!
"Stop a moment."
Song Yun raised his arm and said, "Continuing forward isn't the solution; this might be a maze that uses vision tricks, for all we know we might have been looped onto the path without realizing!"
"Weren't we walking in a straight line?"
Ouyang Jie asked with a puzzled look on his face.
"In this environment, do you really think all your senses are giving you the truth?"
Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent, and the atmosphere became still. The friction of air currents in the space now sounded like the wailing of ghastly apparitions.
"Then shall we backtrack for now to regroup?"
A disciple of Professor Yan asked timidly. He had been on many excavations with his teacher over the years—no less than eighty if not a hundred—but he had never encountered such a sinister place!
"That's the safest option!"
Song Yun said earnestly, "Even if our initial exploration makes no progress, we can't afford to lose anyone!"
Professor Yan nodded reluctantly, but as the group turned around to head back the way they came, the path was cut off!
A wall in front of them completely crushed their hopes.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"It seems we're being forced to move forward!"
Song Yun's mind was exceptionally clear at this point, and seeing the faces of the others losing confidence, he spoke encouragingly, "Don't worry, as long as we don't send back any messages, they'll send a rescue team from above. I refuse to believe that with excavators involved, this place will still be so eerie!"
"Right, right, right!"
Ouyang Jie quickly agreed. In this faintly lit place, you could hear the sound of every breath, and continued exposure would drive a person's sanity to the brink!
"Let's keep moving forward and see what strangeness lies ahead!"
The entire company thus proceeded, stooping through the silent corridor, and after an unknown amount of time, an oil lamp suddenly lit up ahead.
The sight before them soured everyone's mood even further!