Chapter 289
Book 25 Chapter 12 - At The Brink Of Death
By the time the fortress gates are breached, half of Xiang Shaolong’s followers have yet to enter the tunnel. Exasperated, Xiang Shaolong ordered them to squeeze themselves into the newly constructed mausoleum as a form of concealment. At the same time, he sealed the extra-thick steel double doors of the mausoleum, hoping to buy as much time as possible.
It would be ideal if Xiao Pan was misled into thinking that they had left and gave up the search.
But at the back of their minds, everyone knew that this is just their wistful thinking.
When the occupants of a huge fortress have suddenly vanished, there must be a secret pa.s.sageway that will lead them out of the fortress.
If Wei Liao fails to uncover the pa.s.sageway, he would not be able to account himself to the newly coronated King of Qin.
Within the mausoleum, everyone is eyeing one another with anxiety. Watching the warriors enter the secret tunnel one by one, they could faintly pick up chaotic noises of war cries and hoof beats. Despite feeling restless and agitated, as if their hearts are on fire, they could only put their trust in the Will of Heaven.
Sounds of ‘LONG! LONG!’ resounded continuously. Apparently, the invaders are breaking down doors and conducting a search.
PONG!
Right before their eyes, the steel door is finally being hammered. The evil clutches of the enemy has ultimately found its way to this place.
After a round of pointless bas.h.i.+ng, silence enveloped the mausoleum.
The hearts of Xiang Shaolong’s followers are now stuck at their throats and they are having difficulty breathing.
They could easily predict the next move of the enemy. By tying a large log to a cart, the enemies can fas.h.i.+on a battering ram and use it to break the door down.
The next fifteen minutes felt like a century.
Putting themselves at the back of the queue, Xiang Shaolong, Ji Yanran, Teng Yi, Jing Jun, Tu Xian and ten odd Wu Family Special Forces members are armed with their crossbows, ready to defend the mausoleum with their lives. By holding back the enemies, more of their compatriots can make it to safety.
No one is in the mood to talk.
At this juncture, besides them, there are about thirty followers who had yet to enter the secret pa.s.sageway.
Fortunately, during the early days of construction, special attention was being paid to the tunnel ventilation. Otherwise, with so many people crammed in the tunnel, they would suffocate to death before reaching the exit.
Xiang Shaolong unconsciously glanced upwards at the center of the tall wors.h.i.+ping altar. Gazing at the ancestral tablet of Xiao Pan’s birth mother Lady Ni, he resentfully smiled to himself. He thought: Ni’er, did this ever cross your mind; that one day, I, Xiang Shaolong, will be personally killed in cold blood by your beloved son.
HONG!
The entire mausoleum shook once but the steel doors remained intact.
HONG!
The three steel door fasteners that are securing the steel doors started to bend inwards and there is now a gap between the double doors. Through the gap, the light from fire torches can be seen and the battle cries are even more realistic than before. Like waves..h.i.tting the sh.o.r.e, the enemy soldiers are shouting incessantly into the mausoleum.
Luckily, by this time, Xiang Shaolong and his companions are the only ones who are left in the mausoleum. The rest of them have entered the tunnels.
Xiang Shaolong bellowed: "Get in! Quick!"
Of course n.o.body dare to be sluggish. Like bees returning to their nests, everybody scrambled for the tunnels.
Before they could replace the steel cover for the secret tunnel, a giant HONG! sound rang out. Both the enormous steel doors collapsed onto the