An excerpt from the journal of Shuye Skullcrusher, Guardian of the Ancient Hill Forest:


    The manpower problem was solved when we reached a level that contained a subterranean spring with immensely valuable qi water as well as historically significant paintings and markings on the wall in some unknown language. These discoveries ignited a fire in the hearts of the clan merchants, and we were inundated with volunteers. The elders set up a guard on the surface to inspect and collect taxes on any artifacts found while hundreds of treasure hunters descended to join us. Ostensibly, everyone was here to find the missing human, but where altruism had failed, greed succeeded in building a rescue team of the proper size.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    I sent word to my wife that I might actually make it back home before winter''s end.


    Some scholars also joined us to study why this underground maze had been built. When they realized that, beyond a certain depth, none of us suffered any side effects from being away from our territory for too long, half a dozen of them made plans to set up a field station on the level where we had found the cave paintings.


    According to the archaeologists, the unknown artist had used paint made from rare pigments and resin from a now-extinct tree. That was what made them look as though they had been painted yesterday.


    I had a feeling that the pictographs and rock art were much newer than they thought, but I kept my mouth shut since I didn’t have any proof.