Severing ties with family to marry the young marshal, his whole family chases me to the crematorium.

Chapter 118 It’s dawn

Even Long Jiaojiao said with absolute certainty that this was definitely not an illusion, and Shen Qingyao's last trace of doubt was completely dispelled.

However, the scene before them became increasingly perplexing—why was it getting brighter and brighter? This anomaly was simply too bizarre!

As time slowly passed, the group, who had initially not noticed anything amiss, gradually realized that something was wrong.

At this moment, the surrounding environment was just like the slightly white sky at dawn. Even without the illumination of flashlights, everyone could still see everything around them clearly.

"What on earth is happening? Why is it getting brighter and brighter here?" someone couldn't help but exclaim.

"Could it be that we've successfully left this ancient tomb?" another person guessed expectantly.

“Absolutely impossible! The main burial chamber’s door is still standing right here; we haven’t even left the tomb.” Someone immediately retorted.

"So, what exactly caused this?" someone asked, puzzled.

"This is so bizarre! Everything is strange and abnormal!" someone exclaimed in fear.

Immediately, everyone started talking at once, and their faces showed undisguised fear and confusion.

Faced with such bizarre and unpredictable changes, everyone present felt deeply uneasy.

Si Jingnian, who had been holding Shen Qingyao's small hand tightly, found his palms sweating profusely, clearly indicating that he was also filled with anxiety and fear.

Shen Qingyao keenly noticed a slight dampness coming from Si Jingnian's palm, which aroused a surge of curiosity in her heart.

Unable to resist, she turned her head and looked at Si Jingnian's slightly nervous face.

"Si Jingnian, are you scared?"

Shen Qingyao's lips curled up slightly, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes.

This was the first time she had ever seen Si Jingnian show such an expression. The man who was usually calm, composed, and unflappable was now displaying such a demeanor.

Si Jingnian was caught off guard by Shen Qingyao's sudden question. He quickly turned around and met Shen Qingyao's gaze.

When he realized the other person was looking at him with a strange, slightly mocking gaze, a wave of embarrassment washed over him. In that instant, he felt utterly ashamed.

“Ah Yao…”

Si Jingnian called softly, taking a deep breath as if he had made up his mind, and slowly said:

"As long as I can be by your side, even if there are mountains of knives and seas of fire ahead, or the sinister gates of hell, for me, that will be the place my heart longs for."

Si Jingnian's heartfelt words flowed gently into Shen Qingyao's heart like a warm current.

A faint blush instantly spread across her cheeks, making her as beautiful and charming as a peach blossom in spring.

The blush gradually spread, making her entire face feel hot.

Originally, she only wanted to tease Si Jingnian's Shen Qingyao, but she never expected that he would take this opportunity to confess his feelings to her.

Si Jingnian did not lower his voice intentionally, so Ruan Hongshuang and the others standing not far away could hear what he said clearly.

Upon hearing Si Jingnian's heartfelt confession, Ruan Hongshuang's eyes widened immediately, and she looked at Shen Qingyao with a gossipy expression, seemingly eager to glean more interesting information from her.

"Ugh! This is so sickeningly sweet! If you two want to show off your love, go somewhere else! What kind of place is this? This is going too far!"

Ruan Hongshuang's words struck Shen Qingyao and Si Jingnian like a thunderbolt, instantly turning their faces as red as the sunset. The two were stunned, unable to utter a single word of rebuttal.

In that brief silence, the previously dim light around us suddenly brightened at an astonishing speed, as if an invisible hand had gently parted the thick fog, making the surroundings as bright and clear as daytime outside.

Just then, the stone door, which had been tightly closed and looked incredibly heavy, suddenly emitted a piercing creak. The sound echoed endlessly in the silent space, sending chills down one's spine.

Then, the stone door began to open slowly, as if a long-sleeping giant was slowly waking up.

Upon seeing this, everyone was as frightened as startled birds, their eyes fixed warily on the gradually opening tomb door, their hearts pounding as if they were about to leap out of their throats.

However, when the tomb door was fully opened, the scene that appeared before everyone's eyes was far beyond everyone's expectations.

They had expected endless darkness and eeriness behind the door, but in reality, it was not pitch black inside. Instead, it was brightly lit, with a brightness no less than where they were now.

What's even more astonishing is that the environment inside the tomb is nothing like what people imagine a tomb to be like.

Instead of the usual coffins and burial objects, this place resembles an ancient town, with houses arranged in a neat and orderly fashion.

And their location happened to be right at the town gate.

"I think I understand now. It's dawn, so the city gates are open."

Shen Qingyao's lips parted slightly as she murmured softly, her eyes flickering as she stared intently at the bizarre and chilling scene before her.

Those scenes seemed to come from the deepest hell, sending chills down one's spine.

Those who were originally excited and eager to enter the main tomb chamber to explore all stopped in their tracks as if they had been frozen in place.

Although the main tomb chamber was brightly lit, their legs felt as if they were weighed down by lead, and they could not move even a small step.

Even Secretary Chen, who had always forged ahead without showing the slightest fear, was now as pale as paper, his eyes darting around in fear, and his body unconsciously shrinking behind Shen Qingyao and Ruan Hongshuang.

His usual dignity and composure had vanished without a trace.

While Shen Qingyao and the others were still hesitating about whether to risk entering, Long Jiaojiao, like an innocent child, staggered straight into the main tomb chamber.

She turned around, waved her little hand happily at Shen Qingyao, and called out in a sweet voice:

"Mother, come quickly! Let's go inside and take a look!"

However, faced with Long Jiaojiao's enthusiastic invitation, Shen Qingyao looked troubled, her heart filled with entanglement and hesitation.

Si Jingnian and Ruan Hongshuang, standing to the side, also looked solemn. After exchanging a glance, they tacitly chose to remain still.

After all, anyone who sees such an unusual scene would be wary.

The situation here is completely different from the illusion and formation they encountered when they first entered.

Neither the experienced Shen Qingyao nor the skilled Ruan Hongshuang could detect the slightest trace of the formation or fluctuations of Yin energy.

This completely clueless situation made Shen Qingyao's heart start to waver.