C12 Chapter 12

Tang Yao sprinted to the old F13 passage she and Huangtian had picked out earlier. “Everyone, move! Get out through this opening—now! Hurry!”

She’d found this hollowed-out route, steering the soldiers around the trap array. And since General Lang seemed to give her a surprising amount of respect, the moment they heard her shout, the troops surged toward the passage in a rush.

Tang Yao led from the front, running and calling back, “Their eyes are the weak spot! Take out their eyes, and they’ll drop for good!”

A few soldiers shouted that they’d heard her. “Yes, ma’am! Go for the eyes!”

“Go for the eyes!”

...About an hour later.

Tang Yao brought the soldiers to another hollow chamber. It was smaller than the last one, but the air here wasn’t nearly as heavy or foul.

They were close to the outer exit now—the edge of the whole underground complex.

They’d still lost dozens of soldiers during the escape, but making it this far felt like a miracle.

At that moment, Deputy Commander Chen stepped up beside Tang Yao. “Miss, my general...”

Tang Yao studied him. He looked steady and sincere, nothing sharp or shady in his eyes—far more reliable than Deputy Commander Zhang from earlier. She gave him a small nod, signaling him to follow.

The two of them slipped into one of the side passages. Tang Yao pressed a hidden mechanism, and a door opened in the stone wall.

“Through this door is a cave. It looks creepy, but it’s actually safe. If you keep going for about half an hour, the unit will reach daylight.”

“You mean—”

“Deputy Commander Chen, take the soldiers out first. I’m going to find your general.”

“Should I send a few men to protect you?” Chen asked.

“No.” Tang Yao refused.

Then, without warning, she turned into another passageway.

By the time Deputy Commander Chen realized what she was doing, all he could see was a pitch-black corridor stretching into nowhere, like it was hiding something waiting to strike—and the young woman was already gone.

Deputy Commander Chen thought it over and decided to follow the young woman’s lead. First things first: get everyone out. He ordered the soldiers through the doorway into the cavern and toward the exit.

Deputy Commander Zhang, however, chose to go look for General Lang.

Since Chen and Zhang were the same rank, Chen couldn’t rein him in. All he could do was let him go—though he kept behind two squads he trusted, with the same assignment: find General Lang and keep him safe.

So, including Tang Yao, three small groups quickly headed back into the depths of the tomb.

Tang Yao wasn’t going back for General Lang.

Those monsters were dangerous, sure, but with General Lang’s skill and instincts, he’d be fine. He’d also be able to follow the trail the soldiers left behind as they fled and find the right way out, so there was nothing to worry about.

She went back for something else.

Something that had gotten her killed.

As one of the top mercenaries in an elite international outfit in the 21st century, she wasn’t just a formidable fighter—she also had a set of esoteric techniques her grandfather had taught her, which made her stand out from the rest. Because of that, she often drew the highest-paying, most difficult jobs.

Her last assignment had been a tomb-raiding expedition with the Dragon Clan. The main objective was to protect their people and help them recover an artifact known as the Grand Profound Yin Yang Jade.