Liu Dashao knew they couldn’t hold out much longer, so he called for Jia Zhuangyuan. Each of them held a climbing rope, its front end fitted with a steel hawk claw capable of tightly gripping protruding ice spikes. If they could throw the ropes across the chasm, they could swing across safely by holding onto the ropes.
Liu Dashao selected a sturdy ice spike, then swung the climbing rope in his right hand, creating a whooshing sound like a cowboy.
“Go!” he shouted, hurling the rope forward with all his might. Ten meters was nothing for Liu Dashao. The rope flew across the gap, pulled by the hawk claw, which latched onto an ice spike on the opposite icy wall with a crisp metallic “ding.”
To ensure safety, Liu Dashao tugged hard on the rope, feeling confident it was securely fastened.
On the other side, Jia Zhuangyuan also selected a sturdy ice spike, successfully hooking it with his hawk claw. He waved at Liu Dashao and shouted, “Got it!”
Liu Dashao immediately called Yang Weidong over. “Old Yang, you go first!”
Yang Weidong looked at him and asked, “What about you two?”
“Don’t worry, we’ll follow right after. Once you get across, quickly retrieve the rope and throw it back to us, understood?” As he spoke, Liu Dashao helped him fasten the safety harness. “Alright, go!”
Yang Weidong nodded and leapt. Swinging like a pendulum, he soared over the seemingly bottomless abyss. Liu Dashao’s heart pounded in sync with Yang Weidong’s swinging motion. As Yang neared the opposite wall, he stretched out his legs, gently pushing off the icy surface to avoid crashing and to slow his momentum.
After three such kicks, he stabilized himself and began climbing up the uneven icy wall.
As a former soldier, Yang Weidong quickly scaled the wall and waved excitedly back at them. Then, following Liu Dashao’s instructions, he quickly retrieved the rope.
Yang Weidong wrapped the rope around the hawk claw, took a few steps back, then sprinted forward and hurled the rope back across. The hawk claw was surprisingly light and nimble, and Yang Weidong effortlessly threw it back the ten meters.
Jia Zhuangyuan, quick on his feet, caught the rope and hurled it again. The hawk claw zipped through the air and latched onto the ice spike with a sharp “ding.”
Liu Dashao picked up the rope, swung it around a few times, and with a “swish,” sent the hawk claw flying. It pierced through the icy mist and latched onto the same ice spike with a “ding.” He turned to Cai Qingchong and Fan Debiao. “Go!”
Dodging attacks from the giant salamander, Cai and Fan rushed toward them. After the fierce battle, both were battered and bruised, their clothes torn from the ice shards.
The giant salamander turned and gave chase, followed closely by an entire army of salamanders climbing up from below the icy ledge. Unimpeded, the horde surged forward, blanketing the icy ground like a white carpet.
The danger was imminent. If they continued crossing two at a time, two of them would surely be devoured. Liu Dashao had no time to consider whether the ice spike could bear the weight of two people—he had to take the risk. He couldn’t possibly leave Cai and Fan behind.
“Liu Dashao shouted at Jia Zhuangyuan, “Fasten your harness—we’ll each carry one person and go together!”
Jia nodded and quickly fastened his harness. Liu Dashao hurriedly secured his own, and just as he finished, Cai and Fan came running.
“Don’t look back—grab the rope and go!” Liu Dashao shouted anxiously.
The salamander army surged forward like a tidal wave, right on their heels. Cai and Fan ran for their lives, racing against death.
“Hurry! Hold on tight!” Liu Dashao urged.
With a whoosh, Fan Debiao leapt and grabbed Liu Dashao from behind. Liu Dashao kicked off the icy ledge and launched himself into the air, Fan clinging to his back. At the same time, Cai Qingchong leapt and grabbed Jia Zhuangyuan’s rope, and they both soared across.
At the exact moment they left the ledge, the salamanders reached the edge. The front line tried to stop, but the ones behind pushed forward relentlessly, sending hundreds, even thousands, tumbling into the abyss.
They soared through the mist and cold air, a sensation like flying. Fan Debiao clung tightly to Liu Dashao’s neck, whooping like Tarzan, nearly causing Liu Dashao to forget to extend his legs, which could have led to a painful collision with the wall.
Liu Dashao exhaled in relief. Fortunately, the ice spike was strong enough to support both of them. If it had snapped mid-flight, they would have been doomed.
Since Fan Debiao was clinging from behind, Liu Dashao had to carry him while climbing up. Yang Weidong helped pull them up, easing Liu Dashao’s burden.
As they neared the top, Fan Debiao whispered in Liu Dashao’s ear, “Dashao, you’re so brave—I love you so much!”
Liu Dashao instinctively shuddered, his head slamming into the wall, leaving him dizzy and bleeding from his forehead. He winced in pain and cursed, “You’re disgusting!”
Finally reaching the top, Liu Dashao collapsed, panting heavily while Yang Weidong bandaged his wound.
Fan Debiao stood up and taunted the salamanders below, “Ugly bastards, come bite me if you dare! I’m right here—come on, bite me!” He even stuck out his butt mockingly, making Liu Dashao want to kick him into the abyss.
Just when they thought they were safe, disaster struck again. With a loud “crack,” the ice spike snapped. Liu Dashao’s heart sank. He turned to see Cai and Jia sliding downward.
They were nearly at the top when the ice spike broke. Jia and Cai began to fall.
“Master Jia! Cai!” Liu Dashao screamed in horror.
In a panic, they instinctively reached for the icy wall. Cai managed to grab two ice spikes, halting his fall. Jia grabbed the rope, quickly looping it around a sharp ice spike, and dangled precariously like a lantern swaying in the wind.
The broken ice plummeted into the abyss, swallowed by the mist.
Cai clung to the wall like a gecko, veins bulging, shouting, “Dashao, hurry! I can’t hold on much longer!”
“Master Jia! Cai! Hold on!” the others shouted from above, terrified they might give up. At that moment, survival depended on sheer willpower. If they held on, they might live. If they gave up, they would fall into the abyss.
Liu Dashao ignored his bleeding forehead, quickly unfastened his harness, and rushed to the edge. The icy wind stung his eyes.
There was nothing to tie the rope to, so he reattached his harness and had Fan Debiao hold him from behind, with Yang Weidong holding Fan. They would pull them up like in a tug-of-war.
“Save Cai first—he can’t hold on much longer. I’m fine for now!” Jia shouted.
Liu Dashao nodded and tossed the hawk claw toward Cai. “Grab it—don’t let go!”
The steel claw dangled half a meter from Cai. He tried to move his hand but hesitated.
“Come on, Cai!” Liu Dashao urged.
Cai struggled, “I can’t—I’m too weak!”
“You can do it! Just half a meter!” Liu Dashao shouted.
Time passed. Cai tried three times but failed each time, paralyzed by fear. To him, that half meter felt like a mile. His body was exhausted, and the abyss below terrified him.
Fan Debiao suddenly shouted, “I thought you were a man! But look at you—you’re worse than a woman! So what if you die? Big deal! Don’t make me lose respect for you!”
Provoked, Cai roared, “You dare insult me? I’ll kill you when I get up there!” With a yell, he lunged and grabbed the rope with both hands.
“Got it! Hold on!” Liu Dashao shouted.
With combined effort, they pulled Cai up like a turtle.
Panting, they collapsed.
Fan Debiao complained, “You’re heavier than a pig!”
“You’re the pig! You and your whole family!” Cai retorted.
“Hey, Jia’s still down there!” Yang Weidong reminded them.
Liu Dashao quickly lowered the rope to Jia. Jia, agile and graceful, performed a stunning mid-air maneuver and grabbed the rope effortlessly.
“Pull him up!” Fan Debiao shouted.
With ease, they pulled Jia up.
Finally safe, they laughed, exhausted but relieved. The chasm below was terrifying to look at now.
On the other side, the salamander army retreated. The giant salamander leader, clearly frustrated, disappeared into the ice, leaving behind only corpses and shattered ice.
They looked at each other, disheveled and ragged, especially Fan Debiao, whose pants had a mysterious hole in the back—likely caused by his own flatulence.
After resting, they continued their journey, weary but determined. Time lost meaning underground. They walked mechanically, numb and exhausted, barely aware of their surroundings.
After about forty-five minutes, Jia Zhuangyuan broke the silence. “Do you hear that?”
They listened and heard a distant sound of flowing water.
“It’s water!” Liu Dashao exclaimed.
“An underground river!” Jia confirmed. “It must lead outside!”
Excited, they followed the sound until they found a ten-meter-wide underground river. Surprisingly, the water was warm.
Liu Dashao turned to the group. “Rest up—we’re going in!”
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