The deeper they went, the less the structure resembled anything built by human hands.
At first, it had only been subtle.
Stone that pulsed faintly. Walls that felt too thin. A hum that did not belong.
Now—
It was undeniable.
The corridor narrowed into a passage that curved unnaturally, bending in ways that defied the mountain's shape. The black veins were no longer hidden within the stone. They surfaced fully, crawling across the walls like exposed arteries, faintly luminous and rhythmically contracting.
Breathing.
The entire place was breathing.
Rue Yim adjusted her hold on Ye Jing-e as they moved. His weight leaned heavily against her, but he remained conscious, his steps dragging yet determined.
"You're getting slower," Wang Si said quietly, glancing back.
"I'm not the problem," Ye Jing-e muttered.
"Then don't collapse before we get there."
"That depends on how fast you plan to get us killed."
Wang Si almost smirked.
Almost.
The tension between them was not hostile.
