Lin Xue’er just left like that, and it really wasn’t a good thing.
If possible, Xia Mengxi would rather the other party lose control and rush at them in a fit of madness.
A powerful enemy isn’t scary; what’s scary is an enemy who’s both powerful and rational.
But since things had already reached this stage, the previous matters would have to wait for another time to be sorted out. What was more important now was deciding what to do next.
“If Lin Xue’er leaves, what are we supposed to do?”
“Well, let’s get some food first, then head to the Qinmi Passage you mentioned.”
Actually, there were two possible options. Besides the method she just mentioned, the other was to rush to the Underground Prison No. 1 Entrance before Lin Xue’er could do anything, open the door first, and try to come up with a plan.
However, as things were now, they were both worn out and battered, in no condition to compete physically with the now even more unhinged Lin Xue’er. So, left with no better options, they could only choose what seemed to be a rather desperate plan.
Ugh… This really does feel familiar!
As she gathered food and water, Xia Mengxi couldn’t help but recall that before her rebirth, she had also faced a similar predicament. But back then, she couldn’t figure out Lin Xue’er’s thoughts at all, so in the end, she had simply killed her.
But this time, absolutely… cough! She shouldn’t act on impulse.
“Mengxi, why don’t we just take her out directly? She’s already threatened our lives—if we strike first, it’s just self-defense.”
To be honest, if she believed Li Kaiqi could face Lin Xue’er head-on, she might try it. But Lin Xue’er was not someone easy to deal with, and if they confronted her directly, it might be just what she wanted.
Xia Mengxi knew Li Siqi didn’t understand Lin Xue’er, so she used the example of Li Kaiqi being tricked to explain.
“Do you think Lin Xue’er is the kind of person who would fight you head-on? If she was, she wouldn’t have lured you to the back mountain and used a hostage against you, right?”
“That’s true… Forget it, I won’t overthink it. Anyway, Mengxi, you seem to have a good handle on things, so I’ll just follow your lead.”
She sure knows how to flatter!
Xia Mengxi smiled bashfully, then, at an angle where Li Siqi couldn’t see, looked at her with a bit of grateful respect.
Strictly speaking, Li Siqi had no reason to help her, and she ought to focus all her energy on escaping. But for various reasons, she couldn’t take down Lin Xue’er, nor could she go after Lin Xuechuan.
Sorry, Li Kaiqi. If I get the chance, I’ll try to make it up to you.
As Xia Mengxi was thinking this, Li Kaiqi, who had already finished packing up, looked over. After thinking for a moment, she said with a teasing smile, “Mengxi, you used to treat me so coldly, but when we ran into trouble, you still helped me out. So, how are you planning to make it up to me?”
“Ah? This…”
Xia Mengxi froze, then, realizing Li Siqi was just teasing, responded with a playful smile to lighten the mood.
“How about this—when we get out, I’ll go on a date with you. What do you say?”
“Deal!”
Li Siqi agreed without hesitation, and seeing her so straightforward made Xia Mengxi happy as well.
It seemed this second capture target had a very approachable vibe, and she felt especially safe with her. If possible, she’d really like to get to know her better.
“Alright, let’s go, Mengxi.”
“Wait! There’s one more place we need to stop by first.”
“Hmm? Where to?”
“The Storage Room.”
The reason for going to the Storage Room was simple—to grab some useful tools and see if they could clear a path through the passage that Li Siqi said had been blocked by rocks.
If possible, that would be best. After all, since they couldn’t be sure whether there was any information about an escape route in the Qinmi Passage, nor whether the main exit was viable, this second passage became especially important.
So after grabbing some tools for clearing away debris, the two of them finally set off toward the secret passage.
After a long walk, when Li Siqi called for a stop, Xia Mengxi looked at her with a hint of doubt.
“Is it here?”
“Yeah, look at the ground—those are my footprints.”
Following the direction Li Siqi pointed, Xia Mengxi saw the ground wasn’t just covered in mud and sand—there were also footprints heading in one direction.
Seeing this, Xia Mengxi started sweeping away traces with a broom as she asked Li Siqi, “Do you know how to trigger the Junction Door’s mechanism? If not, let me look for it. I need to tidy up here, or if Lin Xue’er discovers us, we’ll be like fish in a barrel.”
“Okay, I’ll look for it.”
One of them dealt with the traces while the other searched along the wall for the switch. The two worked efficiently, and soon both were done with their tasks.
“So this is the Qinmi Passage…”
Looking at the now-open Junction Door and the revealed passage ahead, Xia Mengxi couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
No wonder, last time she was trapped, she never found this second exit—it was well hidden!
But she couldn’t blame herself for missing it; after all, she had always been under Lin Xue’er’s control, with no clue about this part of the secret.
In a way, Lin Xue’er was truly terrifying.
“What’s this… an electric pole?”
“Yeah, but it’s not working—no electricity.”
By the light of the Oil Lamp, Xia Mengxi took in the general structure of the Qinmi Passage.
Speaking of which, since Li Siqi’s Mobile Phone Flashlight had barely any power left, the two of them had found an Oil Lamp in the Storage Room as a substitute. Now, with what few matches they had, Xia Mengxi managed to light it.
“Close the door, let’s move.”
Once they finished with the Stone Domain, the two finally started heading up the Cave Spiral Stone Steps ahead.
Soon, they reached the second floor.
“Can you open this lock?”
To see more clearly, Xia Mengxi used Li Siqi’s Mobile Phone Flashlight to illuminate the keyhole of the Iron Lock connecting both ends of the chain. She had Li Siqi hold the phone steady while she tried to pick the lock with two small Iron Bars.
However, after several minutes, Xia Mengxi began to get frustrated, because in her experience, you had to hear a distinct click inside the lock to have a chance of opening it. Right now, she couldn’t hear or feel anything at all.
“This isn’t good, I really can’t open this type of lock…”
“Move aside!”
After witnessing what had happened earlier, Li Siqi had assumed Xia Mengxi was some kind of lock-picking master. But seeing her now, sweating in frustration, Li Siqi handed her the phone, turned around, and raised the crowbar. Then, with all her strength, she brought it down on the lock.