Chapter 73: Separated.

The thump came again.

Chen Yichen's smile faded. He looked toward the darkness, trying to make out what had caused the sound.

Then something growled.

It was low and rough, almost like the rumble of a beast deep in its throat, but there was something wrong with it.

The sound dragged through the passage, rising and falling unevenly, as though whatever made it was struggling to breathe.

Chen Yuexin's hand went straight to her sword.

"Did you hear that?"

"Of course we heard it, yeah... There's something very bad with us down here... " Yichen whispered, though his voice lacked its usual ease.

Chen Minghao stepped forward, putting himself between the others and the dark passages. "Stay close. Don't move unless I tell you to."

Their light techniques flickered against the stone, illuminating the claw marks and the knife scratches they had made earlier.