Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
I packed everything I could prepare into the Qiankun Bag and arrived early at the opposite side of Binh Jiang Road as soon as it turned dark.
I found a spot by the window on the ninth floor of a teahouse, observing the situation at No. 4 Binh Jiang Road. It was a rundown building, its concrete frame standing out starkly among the surrounding skyscrapers, like a beggar crashing a gala for the elite.
While placing my order, I casually asked the waiter, "Hey, what's going on with that building over there?"
The waiter glanced in the direction I was pointing and smirked, "Sir, you must be new to H City! The developer of No. 4 Binh Jiang Road was quite a famous figure here. But apparently, he got into trouble and fled abroad with his mistress after embezzling millions. So now, the building is half-finished and just abandoned!"
He smacked his lips afterward, not sure if he felt pity or something else.
I nodded with a smile, "Wherever you go, there are always people like that; you just get used to it!"
The waiter sighed, "What can we do if we don’t like it? We’re just poor workers!" He then realized he might have said too much in front of a customer and awkwardly smiled at me before leaving.
I sat there from afternoon until evening, nibbling on some food while keeping an eye on things. I only got up to leave when the teahouse was about to close.
After observing all afternoon, I hadn’t noticed anything unusual. It was already past ten when I left the teahouse. I decided to head straight to the rundown building since our agreed time was approaching.
I figured I might as well scout the area and check out my escape route. Peering through the gap in the iron gate, I could see debris and yellow sand scattered everywhere inside.
The rundown building was enclosed by a wall. I climbed over it and made my way toward the building under the dim light of the street lamps.
The massive black opening loomed like a beast’s mouth, and I felt like prey caught in its jaws.
Inside was all framework; construction waste piled high on the ground. I didn’t dare turn on my flashlight for fear of becoming an obvious target.
The smell on the first floor was unbearable—a mix of bird droppings and urine. It seemed some homeless person had crawled in here and made it their home!
I reached the fourth floor without noticing anything unusual. As I stepped onto the landing, I peeked out, and with a click, the switch was flipped on, flooding the area with a blinding beam of light. It felt as if I were being targeted by a gun; the harsh brightness made it nearly impossible to open my eyes. When the light shifted slightly, my vision blurred for a moment, and it took a while for me to regain clarity.
Liu Er was bound in the center, sitting in a chair with her mouth gagged. She could only shake her head at me, trying to convey a message: Ling Feng, hurry up and get out of here!
Instinctively, I rushed to Liu Er's side, only to freeze in shock. She was strapped with explosives, and the eerie blue screen displayed rapidly changing numbers. Each fluctuation felt like a direct blow to my heart.
I loathed my helplessness. I had no understanding of bombs; even my knowledge of firearms came from a few lessons with the Special Investigation Bureau after the border war. Otherwise, I wouldn't have even known that you had to disengage the safety before firing.
I shouted into the darkness, "Come out! I know you're here! I've come for you!"
I removed the gag from Liu Er's mouth, and immediately she began to cry, " Ling Feng, I'm sorry! I..."
I interrupted her, "Liu Er, it's not your fault. It’s Ling Feng who failed you in the past and still can't save you now... and has put you in this situation..."
Liu Er's face was bruised and battered; it was clear she had been beaten. I felt an overwhelming urge to find Mo Cang and make him pay for what he had done. How could he harm such a lovely girl?
I reached out and gently touched Liu Er's hair. After a long pause, she spoke up, "When Mo Cang arrived at Pig Farm, he discovered our secret. He played along until I left a mark before capturing me afterward. He hid it too well; I..."
I was puzzled. "Was his goal to make us discover Underground City?"
Liu Er shook her head. "I’m not sure of his exact intentions; it seems he wanted to trap you all inside. He never expected you would escape."
I sat down beside Liu Er and said firmly, "Liu Er, if we can’t get out of here today, don’t be afraid. Ling Feng will stay with you!"
Tears filled Liu Er's eyes as she bit her lip to suppress her sobs. After what felt like an eternity, she finally said, " Ling Feng, just go! Don’t worry about me! What about Dad? If you die, what will he do?"
I lowered my head, speechless, when suddenly a round of applause echoed through the empty floor, sounding particularly jarring.
When I looked up, I saw Mo Cang approaching me with a smile at the corner of his mouth. I shouted and jumped up, throwing a punch straight at Mo Cang's face.
Mo Cang didn’t dodge; his lips curled into a mocking smile as he slowly raised a remote control, his thumb pressing down on a switch.
My fist stopped just inches away from Mo Cang. I reached out to snatch the remote, and to my surprise, Mo Cang didn’t move, allowing me to grab it.
Before I could feel happy about it, Mo Cang pulled out another identical remote and said, “Want to see which one is real and which one is fake?”
I gritted my teeth and asked, “What will it take for you to let Liu Er go?”
Mo Cang seemed intrigued. “Trade yourself for her. It all depends on whether you’re willing or not. Or were those words you just said mere formalities?”
Without thinking, I replied, “Fine!”
Liu Er cried out, “ Ling Feng, don’t worry about me! Just go!”
I stepped closer to Liu Er and whispered in her ear, “Don’t worry. You’re tough; you won’t die easily. Just remember to take good care of Dad!”
Then I turned to Mo Cang and said, “Let Liu Er go. I’ll stay!”
Mo Cang was surprisingly agreeable and immediately ordered Liu Er to be released. As soon as she was free from her restraints, she went wild, attacking those around her. The girl had some serious skills; several thugs were no match for her.
Watching his fallen subordinates on the ground, Mo Cang chuckled and said, “There’s enough explosives buried here to blow us all to bits—do you want to give it a try?”
Liu Er stood still beside me. Taking advantage of her momentary distraction, I struck her on the back of the head with a swift palm and then caught her as she began to fall.
"Call the police and report that you've found someone unconscious by the roadside. I'll make sure Liu Er gets home safely and stay behind," I proposed.
Mo Cang did not refuse; he immediately followed my instructions. I was somewhat surprised by his compliance. Why was he willing to keep me around? He held all the cards, so he had no reason to heed my words.
"What about Xuan?" I asked next.
Mo Cang replied, "I left him with Wen Liuer. I’m not interested in dealing with a ghost."
Before long, the police car arrived and took Liu Er away from the roadside. I watched from above as the sirens wailed and the vehicle drove off, finally feeling a sense of relief settle in my heart.
Comment 0 Comment Count