“Brother Xiang, did you find it yet?”

I called out to Brother Xiang beside me. The two of us were scouring this cave for Zhao Yuehua’s lost wallet. Don’t laugh at us—neither of us is some rich, handsome guy. For us broke dudes, ten grand is a fortune.

“Got it!” Suddenly, Brother Xiang’s laughter echoed. I turned and saw him holding a black wallet. I nodded and said, “Let’s get out of here. This cave is creepy; we’d better head up.”

Brother Xiang agreed with a nod, but suddenly, we heard laughter behind us—like the tinkling of a child’s giggles. It sent shivers down our spines.

We weren’t about to act like the clueless protagonists in TV dramas, running toward the spooky sound to investigate. Without daring to look back, we scrambled upwards. This mountain had already driven me half-mad. It wasn’t called “Mountain Mei” (Enchanted Mountain) for nothing; weird stuff just kept happening. Whatever was laughing back there, we didn’t think it was anything good.

“Big brothers, don’t leave! Come back!”

Out of nowhere, a little girl’s voice whispered in my ear, so close it felt like she was right next to me. My heart sank, and I cursed silently. I was about to turn back and use a Fire Talisman when Brother Xiang stopped me. “Don’t you dare look back! Ghosts only strike when you look at them. If she could’ve done something, she wouldn’t have waited until we were climbing.”

I thought he had a point and relaxed a little. This ghost probably wasn’t as powerful as Yao Hong. If she were, she’d have forced us to turn around by now.

But just then, the situation took a sudden turn. At the cave entrance, countless snakes appeared, slithering in a writhing mass. These snakes were brightly colored, and I instinctively knew they weren’t real—more likely the ghost’s doing. Still, I had a deep-seated fear of snakes. It didn’t matter if they were fake or real; they freaked me out all the same.

“Screw this, I’m fighting her!” I gritted my teeth, staring at the snakes. Despite my terror, I decided I couldn’t hold back. Those slithering tongues were too much. Whatever the ghost had up her sleeve, I had my face talisman to counter her if needed.

“Hey, don’t act rashly!” Brother Xiang yelled, but I had already jumped down. Left with no choice, he followed after me. My heart warmed a little—though Brother Xiang seemed unreliable and timid most of the time, when things got real, he didn’t hesitate to stick by my side.

I was touched, but now wasn’t the time for emotions. I pulled out a Fire Talisman and cautiously surveyed the pitch-black surroundings. We hadn’t really examined this area earlier while dragging Zhao Yuehua’s body.

“Who dares disturb this place? I am a Yin-Yang Master of Jin Guang Cave on Qianlong Mountain! Get lost, or suffer my wrath!” Brother Xiang yelled boldly, though there was no response from the darkness.

Frustrated, I realized the dim surroundings weren’t helping. Our cheap 300-yuan phones weren’t much good as flashlights.

When nothing responded, Brother Xiang asked nervously, “What now? In novels, caves like this usually hold some sealed demon king or something.”

“Maybe there’s even the Jiu Yin Zhen Jing here,” I joked, curling my lip. There weren’t that many lucky encounters in the world—this wasn’t a movie. Still, it was true that caves often housed ghosts seeking revenge. Unable to move on, they waited for opportunities in places brimming with yin energy.

Suddenly, Brother Xiang seemed to have an idea. “You know, the ghost that stopped us might not mean us harm. Ghosts are all about justice—‘a debt has its debtor,’ right? Like they say, people don’t provoke ghosts, and ghosts won’t provoke people. Maybe she just wants us to help her get revenge. Why don’t we move forward and see? If we meet her, we can ask. Worst case, you’ve got that vengeful ghost on your side, right?”

He made a good point, so I nodded. I pulled out my knockoff phone, its weak light barely cutting through the darkness, but it was better than nothing. As we carefully looked around, we realized this was no ordinary cave. It was at least five meters wide, and the walls weren’t rough stone—they were lined with finely crafted green stone tiles. Intricate ancient runes were etched into the floor tiles, and colorful murals adorned the walls.

The lighting here was slightly better, enough for us to see our immediate surroundings. But it was clear this wasn’t just a cave; it looked more like a tomb or some hidden corridor.

“Hui, I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” Brother Xiang muttered with a frown. I nodded. I felt it too—a keen sense of danger, like an assassin’s instinct for killing intent. Though not quite that intense, I’d learned to trust my gut.

After walking for another thirty seconds, we reached a massive door. It stood five meters tall, made of bronze, with a pair of candelabras on either side. The door was engraved with an image of a three-eyed monkey, bound in chains. It looked exactly like the Mei Hou we’d seen in the temple before.

“Open the bronze door… Please, help me.”

Suddenly, a middle-aged man’s voice echoed faintly in our ears. Brother Xiang and I froze. Was the thing inside talking to us?

“Just a gentle push will open it. I’m begging you, help me!”

My frown deepened. Whatever this was, it could speak like a human. Brother Xiang grabbed my hand and replied firmly, “Senior, we don’t know why you’re trapped here, but karma always takes its course. When the time comes, you’ll be freed naturally. My friend and I aren’t part of your fate. Sorry.” With that, he dragged me away.

“Come back! Please come back! I’ve been trapped here for 1,800 years. I’ve learned my lesson from the mistakes of Master Wolong’s time! If I get out, I promise to behave and not cause trouble. Please let me go!”

Brother Xiang only quickened his pace, not daring to linger. The Mei Hou tried again: “Think about it! Free me, and I’ll grant you both one wish—anything you desire! If you change your mind, you can always come back.”

By then, we were back at the base of the original cave, climbing out as fast as we could.

“Hui, this place is no joke. Make sure you don’t mention it to anyone, got it?” At the cave entrance, Brother Xiang spoke with rare seriousness. I nodded, understanding. A creature sealed for 1,800 years? Who knew what it was capable of? Better to leave it alone.