Chapter 345: Come, I'll take you to see

"Huo La, are you sure there's a sound......" Xiao Zhao's voice trembled, her fingers tightly gripping Huo La's sleeve, her body involuntarily leaning closer to him, her eyes full of nervousness.

The pitch‑black Temple made even the sound of breathing unusually clear.

The Snow Peak Temple at night was indeed dreadfully gloomy, darkness all around, only a few scattered oil lamps hanging on the walls flickering weak orange‑yellow light, barely illuminating the stone steps beneath their feet, casting the three of their twisted shadows onto the cold stone wall, adding a touch of eeriness.

Shan Kui had lost her daytime cheerfulness; one hand clutched Huo La's other sleeve, the other unconsciously gripping the hem, yet she spoke still defiantly: "If I'd known you'd be wandering the Temple at night, we should've called more people along. It's so dark—what if we run into something?"

Huo La, tugged on his sleeves from both sides, found his steps constrained, turned helplessly toward Shan Kui and raised an eyebrow: "Shanbei Owner, I recall you said the Snow Peak Temple can't be entered casually, outsiders must undergo a trial? Why are you now saying we can bring more people?"

"Hmph, the trial is for outsiders like you!" Shan Kui stuck out her neck, mouth hard, voice resolute, "We're insiders of the Temple, we don't need any trial. Come if you want; inviting a few more people makes no difference!"

Huo La gave her a casual glance, then looked at the timid Xiao Zhao beside him, tone teasing: "What about Xiao Zhao? When we entered this morning I wanted to ask—she's also an outsider, why didn't she have to pass a trial to get in so smoothly?"

Shan Kui's cheeks flushed slightly, her tone softened instantly, and when she looked at Xiao Zhao her eyes were full of tenderness: "Xiao Zhao... that's different. She's a sister I recognize; I permitted her entry, so no trial is needed."

Huo La tugged at his wrinkled sleeve, sighed helplessly: "So that means I'm the only one you don't recognize."

"Not exactly!" Shan Kui retorted immediately, tone a bit provocative, "If you can beat me, you'll become someone I recognize too!"

Huo La: "......"

He opened his mouth, seemed about to speak, but ultimately closed it silently.

Fine, I don't want to talk. Absorbing Interdimensional Energy has drained all his strength; now he doesn't even have the energy to argue with Shan Kui—he's truly exhausted!

Xiao Zhao watched Huo La's helpless, weary expression, gently tugged his sleeve, and whispered: "Huo La, stop arguing with Sister Shan Kui. Let's hurry to find the sound you mentioned; once we locate it, we should leave immediately."

Huo La was about to reply when a deep, heavy roar suddenly echoed from the depths of the Temple.

A "dong—" rang out, making the whole Temple tremble faintly; stone chips fell rustling from the overhead beams, the oil lamp's flame flickered violently as if about to go out, the ground quivered slightly, exuding an oppressive sense of imminent collapse.

The fatigue on Huo La's face vanished instantly, replaced by a solemn expression; his brows knit tightly as his gaze fixed on the Temple's depths.

Xiao Zhao and Shan Kui were even more terrified, their bodies stiffening; the hand gripping Huo La's arm tightened, knuckles whitening, their bodies unable to stop trembling.

"What... what is that sound..." Xiao Zhao's voice trembled uncontrollably, pressed close to Huo La, eyes filled with fear, "Could it be the sound you heard before, Huo La...? It's... it's so terrifying..."

At that moment, a voice of Dai Ouqixi Si rang in Huo La's mind, sounding oddly strange yet unmistakably uncanny: "He's letting you go down..."

Huo La felt a jolt inside and silently asked himself, "Go down? Where to? You mean, it's going to take us down?"

The voice of Dai Ouqixi Si sounded again, weighty: "You can't go down. This area has been sealed with its energy. It says you are the one chosen by Arceus, so you should be able to find the key that opens the Temple's lower level."

"Key..." Huo La froze suddenly, his face full of bewilderment, his eyes vacant.

Seeing Huo La standing motionless, silent, his complexion shifting, Shan Kui couldn't help pulling his sleeve, her voice tinged with panic and urgency: "Huo La, what are you thinking? The Temple's shaking, it's too dangerous. Let's leave early, and stop searching for any sound!"

Huo La finally came to his senses, slowly turned his head toward Shan Kui, the bewilderment in his eyes gradually fading.

After a moment of silence, he raised his hand, produced a Pokeball, and gently tossed it: "Fireburst Beast, come out!"

A red flash streaked, the Fireburst Beast landed steadily before them, flames blazing around it; the warm firelight instantly illuminated the area around the three, dispelling the surrounding darkness and chill, and steadied the trembling oil lamp.

Huo La stared into the Temple's depths, his tone firm as he said to Shan Kui: "Shanbei Owner, I want to go down and take a look."

"Huh?" Shan Kui's face was full of astonishment, looking at Huo La in disbelief, "Are you crazy? That sound is so terrifying, the Temple's still shaking—going down is a death sentence! And we have no idea what's below!"

Huo La shook his head lightly, his gaze steady: "That roar just now wasn't hostile; Regigigas is inviting me down."

He paused, then added, "It's just... it hasn't opened a door; it wants me to find the key that opens the Temple's lower level myself before I can go down."

Hearing the name Regigigas, Shan Kui's panic instantly turned to shock; her eyes widened, lips slightly parting, unable to utter a word for a long moment.

This shock lingered for a while; Shan Kui finally regained her composure, first glancing at the flaming Fireburst Beast before her, the firelight reflecting on her face and dispelling some of her fear;

Then she lifted her gaze toward the still‑dark passage deep within the Temple, a hint of hesitation flashing in her eyes before she seemed to steel herself, clenched her teeth, and said firmly, "Come, I'll take you to see!"