Shen Jingqi and Lin Yue took the opportunity to run toward the cave's exit, their footsteps swift as if pursued by thousands of soldiers. Shen Jingqi gripped the burning branch tightly, scanning the surroundings warily, fearing another attack from the monster. Lin Yue closely followed behind him, clutching his clothes as if they were her only support.

"Don't let go, stay close to me!" Shen Jingqi shouted, his voice firm and steady. Beads of sweat covered his forehead, slipping down his cheeks, but he couldn't afford to wipe them away. His eyes remained fixed ahead, searching for the direction of the cave's exit.

Lin Yue nodded, although she said nothing, her eyes were filled with trust. Her heart still raced, but seeing Shen Jingqi's determined back, a sense of security slowly emerged in her heart.

The monster was hot on their heels, its roars echoing in the cave like wailing spirits. The sound made the cave walls tremble slightly, stones constantly falling from above. Shen Jingqi and Lin Yue darted left and right in the narrow cave passage, avoiding falling stones and the monster's occasional attacks.

"Watch out above!" Lin Yue suddenly screamed. A massive stone fell from the cave ceiling, hurtling toward them. Shen Jingqi reacted quickly, pulling Lin Yue to his side, and they swiftly dodged to the side. The stone grazed their bodies, crashing heavily to the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust.

"That was close!" Lin Yue said with lingering fear, her body still trembling slightly.

Shen Jingqi didn't speak; he merely held tight to Lin Yue's hand, leading her forward. He knew they couldn't afford to pause even for a moment, or the monster would catch them.

During their run, Shen Jingqi suddenly noticed some strange symbols appearing on the cave walls. Those symbols glowed faintly, as if telling some mysterious secret. His heart stirred, and a thought flashed through his mind: could these symbols be related to the monster in the cave? Were they clues to unraveling the mystery of this cave?

But the situation was dire, and he didn't have time to ponder; he buried these questions in his heart for the time being. They continued to run toward the cave exit, each step filled with tension and excitement.

Finally, they saw a faint light shining in from ahead. It was the cave's exit, a beacon of hope for survival. Shen Jingqi and Lin Yue felt a surge of joy, quickening their pace. They rushed toward that light with all their might.

When they finally reached the cave's exit, sunlight poured over them. The warm daylight embraced them like an angel's arms, as if they had escaped from Hell. They greedily inhaled the fresh air, basking in the sunlight, as if reborn.

They turned back to look at the cave, their hearts filled with lingering fear. The cave was still shrouded in a faint mist, as if hiding countless secrets and dangers. The mysterious monster continued to roar from deep within the cave, its voice gradually fading but still chilling.

"We finally escaped," Lin Yue said softly, her voice tinged with a quiver of relief. Her body still trembled slightly from the harrowing experience, her eyes showing a hint of fear.

Shen Jingqi nodded, his eyes filled with complex emotions. There was relief from surviving the ordeal, and curiosity about the cave's secrets. He didn't know how many more secrets and dangers lay hidden in the cave, nor whether this harrowing experience was just the beginning.

"We need to leave here as soon as possible," Shen Jingqi said, aware that the mysterious cave was filled with unknown dangers, and they couldn't stay there long.

They supported each other as they walked into the distance. Every step seemed to take them further away from the terrifying cave. However, they couldn't calm their hearts. The cave was like a massive enigma, constantly surfacing in their minds.

"What do you think the monster really is? And what do those symbols in the cave mean?" Lin Yue couldn't help but ask, her eyes filled with confusion.

Shen Jingqi furrowed his brow and, after pondering for a moment, said, "I'm not sure either. But I can feel that this cave is not simple. Those symbols might conceal important information, perhaps related to the monster's origin."

They discussed as they walked, their doubts deepening. Suddenly, Lin Yue stopped, a hint of terror flashing in her eyes.

"Look!" Lin Yue pointed ahead.

Shen Jingqi followed her finger and saw strange footprints appearing on the ground ahead. Those footprints were huge and deep, as if left by some enormous creature. Moreover, the footprints led in the direction they had just come from.

"Could it be... the monster followed us out?" Lin Yue said in horror, her voice trembling slightly.

Shen Jingqi's expression turned grave, clutching the branch tightly, his eyes cautiously scanning the surroundings. He felt like invisible eyes were watching them from the darkness, ready to attack at any moment.

"Don't panic, let's find a place to hide and assess the situation," Shen Jingqi said. His voice was calm, but his heart was tense.

They carefully hid in a nearby bush, their bodies pressed close to the ground, not daring to make a sound. Their eyes were fixed on the front, waiting for the monster to appear.

Time ticked by, but there was no movement around. Yet, the feeling of being watched grew stronger, as if eyes were peeping at their every move from the darkness.

"Maybe we're just too tense and imagined it?" Lin Yue whispered, her voice hinting at hopeful denial.

Shen Jingqi shook his head, saying, "Impossible, those footprints are so obvious, there's definitely something wrong. Let's wait a bit longer and see."

At that moment, faint footsteps reached their ears. The sound was soft but felt like a heavy hammer striking their hearts. Their heartbeats involuntarily quickened, breaths growing rapid.

The footsteps drew nearer, and a massive silhouette emerged in their vision. It was the monster from the cave, its body shrouded in a layer of black mist, leaving only a pair of eyes that gleamed with red light. Its gaze was filled with rage and murderous intent, as if to devour them alive.

Shen Jingqi and Lin Yue were engulfed in fear, but they knew they couldn't just sit and wait for death. Shen Jingqi gripped the branch tightly, ready to attack at any moment. Lin Yue looked for an opportunity, hoping to find the monster's weakness.

The monster advanced step by step toward them, its body exuding a nauseating odor. Shen Jingqi took a deep breath and suddenly charged out from the bushes, brandishing the branch toward the monster. Flames danced on the branch, crackling and snapping. The monster seemed wary of the fire, retreating repeatedly but not giving up its attack.

Lin Yue seized the moment to pick up a stone from the ground and throw it at the monster. The stone struck the monster's body, causing little harm but capturing its attention. The monster turned and lunged at Lin Yue, and Shen Jingqi took the opportunity to move behind it, stabbing the branch fiercely into its leg. The monster cried out in pain, letting out a furious roar, its body swaying a few times.

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