Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
"Old sly fox," I cursed inwardly.
I had a feeling he would play dumb on the crucial issues. The moment he uttered the words "I don't know," I found myself at a loss. I couldn't force him to reveal what he didn't know, even if he was pretending.
However, I gradually realized that although I was the one asking questions, he always managed to steer the conversation. For instance, when I wanted to know how to deal with Heimanluo, he quickly shifted the topic to Heimanluo's attributes and then dismissed me with another "I don't know."
My mood was more frustrating than being robbed; it felt like having a Dragon-Slaying Sword snatched away right after I had obtained it.
I wasn't even in the mood to look at Wu Bo. Instead, I shot a displeased glance at Fatty, hoping he could pry some information from Wu Bo. To my surprise, Fatty merely nodded silently, looking as if he was waiting for my lead. I couldn't understand what he was thinking; this wasn't his style. At a time like this, he should have jumped up and shouted, "What do you know? Don't brush us off with 'I don't know'!"
Suddenly, it struck me that Fatty had come to this Village and managed to open the entrance to the underground while sending a Guide to assist him in finding us. There must have been some sort of deal involved. From my interactions with Wu Bo so far, it was clear that he wasn't someone who could be easily manipulated. My interest piqued at the thought of whatever deal had compelled Wu Bo to compromise. It seemed we needed to leave here quickly and find a safe place to exchange information with Fatty.
I shifted my gaze from Fatty's face back to Wu Bo. "In that case, I have no problem asking again."
"Alright then. I hope my answers will satisfy you. Once you've finished your questions, I have something on my end to discuss," Wu Bo interjected as soon as I finished speaking. "Actually, the reason I've called you here is to deliver some bad news. Recently, heavy rains destroyed a section of the Zip Line leading in and out of the Village. The craftsmen in the Village are currently working on repairs. For now, you won't be able to leave the Village via the Zip Line."
Fatty suddenly slammed his hand on the table and leaned toward Wu Bo. "What do you mean? Do you want to leave us here?"
My expression darkened as well. There was no way we could wade through the water to leave the Valley, especially with two injured people in tow. Even if we didn't have any injured, the chances of surviving the swamp were slim.
Currently, there were two severely injured individuals, and with Xiao Ting, this girl, if we entered the swamp, it would mean certain doom for us.
The door swung open with a loud bang, and the leading Hakka Men along with two other Hakka People rushed in. I stood up coldly, one hand slipping into my waist. There was a semi-automatic pistol tucked there. Although I didn’t draw my weapon, my action had already made my stance clear.
Fatty kicked over a chair behind him, glaring at the three Hakka People who had barged in. He wouldn’t lay hands on an elder, but Wu Bo’s words had filled him with frustration, and these three Hakka People were simply targets for him to vent his anger on.
The three Hakka People paused at the sight of me and Fatty, their momentum halted as they stood at the doorway. I wasn’t sure if they were more afraid of my hand moving toward my waist or of Fatty. The Hakka People knew we had firearms; they should have realized what I had at my side. However, I noticed their gaze lingered longer on Fatty. It seemed he had left a deeper impression on them.
"Get out! Who let you in here?" Wu Bo suddenly said sternly.
"I heard them... I thought..." the leading Hakka Person stammered.
"They are guests. You’ve already caused a misunderstanding; do you want to deepen it further? Get out! No one is allowed to enter."
The three Hakka People slinked out of the room. Fatty stood there fuming, not bothering to pick up the chair that had fallen over, his eyes fixed on the door as if he still intended to rush out and brawl.
I steadied my emotions and sat down, asking Wu Bo, "When will the Zip Line be repaired? We have injured people here who need timely medical attention. We promised you we wouldn’t disclose anything about this place; we can keep that promise. But if you take such extreme measures to keep us here, then we won’t be able to fulfill our previous commitments. I hope neither of us has to push this matter to an extreme."
"You really misunderstood. I can have the Child from the Village take you to see it. It's true that the Zip Line is damaged; you can see for yourself. Of course, we will hurry to fix it. The mountain goods from the Village also need to be sent out quickly to exchange for food and daily supplies. The children have to use the Zip Line to get to school; how can we not be anxious?
However, I have a way to help your injured. There is a Hakka Doctor in the Village, and Hakka Medicine is particularly good at treating external injuries, especially those from the Underground Cavern. The hospitals outside can't compare to our Hakka Doctor's experience.
Of course, if you really don't trust us, I can still have someone guide you. The Zip Line can only take you part of the way; the rest of the journey will require wading through the swamp. Our people from the Village won't take you into the swamp, as most areas there are off-limits for us. But we can point you in the right direction, and if you're lucky, you might find your way out and locate another Zip Line leading across the Beipan River."
Wu Bo's words left me in a dilemma. I found his statements hard to believe, yet they had no flaws; this situation was indeed complicated. I understood his reluctance to reveal the secrets of this place; he probably found it hard to trust our promises as well. If any of us were to betray our word, this Hakka Village would undoubtedly become a target for all sides, and their peaceful life would be lost forever.
Yet, I also found it hard to believe he would plan to eliminate us all here; that would be utterly ruthless. But thinking about this Village and its secrets, hidden from outsiders for centuries, made me shiver with unease.
"We need to go back and discuss this matter; it doesn't just concern the two of us. I want to hear my companions' opinions."
I said this with a stern face and signaled Fatty: we need to talk when we return.
"It's good that you want to discuss it further. I've already sent for the Hakka Doctor in the Village to check on your injured; you should run into him when you return. I suggest you listen to his advice; his medical skills are quite unique."
Hearing this made my expression even darker. One important reason I was eager to return was my concern about Xiao Ting's situation. Our group was currently split up; although Xiao Ting had a 16 automatic rifle in hand, her experience and courage weren't enough for dealing with complex and dangerous situations. Bringing Fatty along with me was indeed a major mistake.
I didn't say anything more and hurriedly pushed the door open.
There was no one outside, which did nothing to ease my anxiety; instead, it only heightened my tension. I felt as if all the Hakka people were closing in on Xiao Ting at the Bamboo House, even rushing in to tear her and them apart.
I couldn't suppress my nervousness as I dashed downstairs.
Comment 0 Comment Count