“I understand what you mean, it feels the same to me. Previous incidents were like a tangled ball of yarn; I might not see the texture or the knots, nor could I see the end of the thread, but I could always find the beginning. Now, it feels like I’m facing a ping pong ball, smooth with nowhere to even start,” Liang Yingwu replied.
“Exactly, that’s the feeling. So, the problem must lie within the tunnel, especially at those two bends; there must be something odd there.” Every situation has a key point, and once you find it, while the problem might not be solved instantly, at least you know where to apply your efforts. Now, both Liang Yingwu and I believed that the crucial point was definitely inside the tunnel.
The saying goes, “Long illness makes one a good doctor.” After dealing with so many strange events, Liang Yingwu and I both trusted our instincts. We decided to walk through the tunnel again, carefully, believing we could uncover some clues to solve the problem. After instructing the students to be cautious of their surroundings, Liang Yingwu and I entered the tunnel once more. I could feel, without even looking, the twelve pairs of hopeful eyes behind us, all expecting that I, supposedly an experienced journalist, could help them through this crisis.
Soon, I realized I was too confident. There are too many inexplicable things in this world. I was at my most alert, examining every change around us with the flashlight beam, even feeling the subtle shifts in the air, every tiny sound or scent. At every corner, I left no stone unturned, walking back and forth several times, ensuring each step was firm and deliberate. The cave was much cooler than outside, but I was soon drenched in sweat. I believed Liang Yingwu was doing the same, using all his effort to find a flaw in this tunnel. However, we eventually walked out of the tunnel, greeted by the beams of two flashlights, the twelve pairs of eyes that had waited for half an hour, and the bones scattered around. We were back, having found nothing. It was as if we had unknowingly passed through a portal, completely unaware.
