Translator: Exodus Tales Editor: Exodus Tales
Edited by Aelryinth
It had been two days since Zhang Che settled down at Zheng Huawei’s secret apartment. All he did was eat and sleep. However, he discovered nothing unusual during these two days.
“Damn it. Something seems off…”
He had originally thought that since this was Zheng Huawei’s secret apartment, he might use this place to contact some of the higher-ups from the Xinjing branch evil cult.
During these two days, the Freemason members in hiding should have found out from the military’s arrest warrants that Zheng Huawei had escaped. Since he had gotten away, he would definitely look for a place to hide. So, the Freemasons should find their way to him, right?
Even so, Zhang Che didn’t see anyone suspicious in this complicated residential district during the past two days, nor did anyone secretly come to contact him.
“Strange. Could it be that there are some things Zheng Huawei didn’t tell me, and that the Freemasons have other meeting places?” Zhang Che furrowed his brow, not understanding the situation.
Zheng Huawei had said everything Zhang Che wanted to know and whatever he could answer. He shouldn’t have left anything out, logically speaking.
-Then, maybe the Freemasons have completely given up on their original areas of activity after father-in-law’s men raided them everywhere, and have found new places?
-If that’s true, then they will obviously not come to Zheng Huawei’s hiding spot.-
“Looks like waiting idly won’t bring any results. What should I do next?”
Zhang Che felt his head aching. After all, he could only learn some information from Zheng Huawei’s mouth. He couldn’t read others’ memories like characters did in Xianxia novels and learn everything in detail.
Zhang Che shook his head violently, then started thinking back on the information he’d gotten before to see how he should move next.
“Right, in the namelist father-in-law provided, there seemed to be another person whose status is about the same as Zheng Huawei among the evil cult beastmasters who ‘escaped’. In that case, wouldn’t it be fine if I just went to find him?”
Zhang Che’s eyes finally lit up after thinking for a long time, and he came up with a feasible solution.
That evil cult beastmaster from the Freemasons was called Fang Ruqing, a Tier Four beastmaster somewhat older than Zheng Huawei. That person was well-acquainted with Zheng Huawei, and Zhang Che learned some information about this person through Zheng Huawei’s mouth, including one of Fang Ruqing’s secret hiding places.
“Hopefully this Fang Ruqing is hiding there and didn’t go contact the Freemasons.”
Xinjing City’s military was doing their best to search for the escapees during the last few days. Fang Ruqing shouldn’t be so daring as to immediately go find the Freemasons; he was probably in hiding and observing the situation.
——
After making his decision, Zhang Che found a windbreaker with a hood and put it on, covering his head. He left the apartment and walked quickly to the northern sector of Xinjing City with his head lowered.
Nobody knew that Zheng Huawei had been killed. The search for him was still ongoing. Zhang Che didn’t dare to be careless, and chose to walk in places with less traffic.
All his plans would be for naught if the military’s search teams recognized him, and there’d be quite a bit of trouble going forward.
On his way, Zhang Che saw several teams of soldiers from afar checking on others at various intersections.
Fortunately, his senses were much sharper than ordinary people, and he always managed to avoid them in advance. In the end, he finally arrived at a small district in northern Xinjing City after many scares, but no actual danger.
People were coming and going, but the checks here weren’t very strict.
Of course, the so-called ‘not very strict’ was only Zhang Che’s own judgment. It would be very difficult for others to slip past them.
This time, Zhang Che used the advantages of his sharp senses and easily slipped past the security checkpoint, entering the small district.
Zhang Che was very impressed with Fang Ruqing’s courage, choosing this lively district as his hiding spot. It was impossible for anyone else, or for that matter, nobody else would dare to hide themselves here!
The darkest spot was right under the lamp. Perhaps it was that principle he was acting on?
—
Dok dok dok…
Zhang Che knocked on the door lightly after arriving at Fang Ruqing’s hiding spot.
There was no reaction from inside the apartment.
Zhang Che was hesitating slightly. -Could it be that Fang Ruqing isn’t hiding here? Hmm, he should be a rather cautious person. He shouldn’t be so stupid as to come check things so easily.-
Just as he was thinking that, Zhang Che’s sharp ears caught the sound of some light footsteps. The person inside the apartment was slowly approaching the door, stopping every step of the way.
Zhang Che smiled faintly, knocking on the door a few more times.
“Who is it?” a rather hoarse voice came from behind the door, carrying a hint of caution.
Zhang Che opened his mouth, and Zheng Huawei’s voice rang out, “It’s me, Old Fang. Open the door!”
Zhang Che suppressed his voice to a very low volume, but the man in the apartment was able to hear him clearly.
Immediately afterwards, the man inside checked things out through the peephole and quickly opened the door. An arm reached out and quickly pulled Zhang Che in, then shut the door swiftly.
“Old Zheng, you also managed to escape?”
Fang Ruqing was a middle-aged man in his forties. He had a medium build, his figure slightly plump. His cheeks were meaty, and his eyes were the type where you could see the whites under his pupils. One look and you could tell this man wasn’t a kind soul.
“Right! There seems to be quite a few that managed to get away. I got lucky, and managed to hide from the search teams after more than a day of effort. I don’t even dare to return to my place, and was thinking of hiding at Old Fang’s, your place, for some time.” Zhang Che replied, nodding and his face filled with lingering fear.
Fang Ruqing’s lips drew back a little, and he said, “Hiding at my place for some time? Don’t joke around! This district has many eyes looking around, and we’ll be discovered if we’re even slightly careless. I don’t have much food in reserve either, and won’t last many days. I’m thinking of going to the organization as soon as I can!”
Fang Ruqing was a little surprised at Zheng Huawei. -Was your brain damaged after you got caught? You have a place to hide, but you choose not to stay there. What are you doing coming to me?-
“Hmm? Right, why don’t you go contact the organization?”
-Since you don’t dare to remain in hiding, why doesn’t Zheng Huawei go look for the other members in hiding?-
Zhang Che’s heart thumped. He knew Fang Ruqing might be suspicious of him. As such, he showed a bitter and hateful expression and said, “Don’t talk about it. There are security checks outside everywhere. I wouldn’t dare go find them! Moreover, I assumed the organization must have changed their gathering places. It won’t be easy to find them.”
Fang Ruqing nodded and said in agreement, “That’s true. Alright, then. You stay at my place first. We’ll go find the organization after dark and look around at some places where members used to meet up. Even if we can’t find them, I’m sure they will come find us after they hear the news of us escaping. That way we might be able to bump into them.”
Zhang Che kept nodding and echoed, “Right, right. Let’s go find the organization after dark when the checks aren’t as strict. We will be able to meet up with others once we bump into them. Aiya, why didn’t I think of this earlier?”
Fang Ruqing frowned again after hearing what Zhang Che said. He stared at him for a moment, then suddenly said, “Hmm? Old Zheng, weren’t you very familiar with Team Leader Hu Shangguang from the organization’s liaison office? You didn’t go look for him during these two days after escaping?”
Zhang Che’s heart sank a little. -This guy is really feeling a little suspicious of me. After all, I only learned a little from Zheng Huawei and wasn’t able to fully grasp all the information he has. Anyone who is slightly familiar with him might be able to tell the difference.
-But, that fellow didn’t mention he’s very familiar with Fang Ruqing when I interrogated him..? And since when did the Xinjing branch have a liaison office?-
-There was indeed a person called Hu Shangguang, but he was only a small figurehead who is even lower than the two of them… Hmm, this fellow is trying to trick me!-
Zhang Che hesitated for a while, then suddenly asked doubtfully, “Old Fang, since when did Hu Shangguang that old fellow become the liaison office’s team leader? And I don’t seem to recall there being a liaison office in the organization?
“Right, you must have suffered a lot while you were held captive. Freaking hell, those military people aren’t human at all! They used all kinds of methods, my brain is about to crumble! I guess you were messed up badly inside and your brain isn’t working well now either…”
Zhang Che felt like since he was already suspicious, he mustn’t let Fang Ruqing continue thinking in this direction. He decided to push all the blame onto the military’s prison. A mid-level member must have endured extremely strict interrogation and suffered quite a bit.
Indeed, after hearing what Zhang Che said, Fang Ruqing’s train of thought was diverted. A hateful look showed in his eyes. He grit his teeth and said, “Freaking hell, that’s exactly it! I really suffered over the past few days. Those people’s interrogation methods were simply trying to drive me crazy! On a few occasions I really thought I wouldn’t last and was prepared to kill myself! Why, Old Zheng, they also tortured you like that?”
Zhang Che nodded slightly, showing some hatred and said, “What do you think? I haven’t recovered even now. It feels like my brain isn’t functioning properly. Those people really have all kinds of methods, bombarding me with noise non-stop. I didn’t get to sleep for two days and two nights; I was almost dead!”
——
The two of them cursed the military division’s interrogators for some time. Fang Ruqing no longer felt there was anything suspicious with Zhang Che.
Afterwards, the two of them had a simple meal from Fang Ruqing’s food reserves. After the sky turned dark, the two packed up their belongings and used some simple props to disguise themselves before leaving the apartment and walking out of the district.
Fortunately, their journey was a smooth one. They didn’t encounter any search team members and walked out of the district very easily.
“Old Zheng, where do you think we should go first?” Fang Ruqing suddenly asked as they walked into a remote alley.
Zhang Che stopped in place, showing deep thought. Afterwards, he shook his head fiercely, seemingly in pain, and looked at Fang Ruqing, saying, “You decide. After being tortured for a few days in prison, and hiding around for two days with insufficient rest, I feel like my brain is about to explode.
“The next decision is a very important one. Whether we can find the organization is secondary. The main thing is to not get found by the military, or we won’t be able to get out again!”
Fang Ruqing nodded deliberately, then said, “Okay, we’ll go to Xishan first. There are fewer people there, and the area is complicated. Even if there are people going around searching, we’ll be able to avoid them if we’re careful. Hopefully there are still people from the organization there. That way we’ll be spared a long search.”
“As you say. Let’s go.” Zhang Che didn’t object to his suggestion, and headed west of Xinjing City with Fang Ruqing.
——
The so-called Xishan was only a small hilly area located in western Xinjing City, close to the suburbs. The city there was complicated, with houses built by commoners everywhere. It was very messy.
The two made their way west slowly and carefully, and avoided a few patrol teams thanks to Zhang Che’s sharp senses, finally arriving at the dimly-lit Xishan district.
Although this place wasn’t the Freemasons’ liaison location, there were usually quite a number of the Freemason members moving around here, taking advantage of all the cover.
The two made their way through the alleys between houses for a long time, and finally arrived at the foot of a small hill. This was the so-called Xishan. The vegetation was thick, but there were two paths up the hill created from frequent use.
The two exchanged glances, then surveyed their surroundings before walking up one of the paths.
After making several turns, when they were at the waist of the hill, Zhang Che suddenly whispered, “Stop, Old Fang. I can sense people in the thickets ahead. Be careful, it might be the military’s ambush.”
Before the two could do anything, a human figure quickly emerged from the thicket. A strong light shone on their faces, forcing them to close their eyes instinctively.
Fang Ruqing’s face paled in fright, thinking they were really ambushed.
The person suddenly stopped in front of them and sized the duo up, then suddenly said something which made no sense. “I once had a foolish friend like you.”
However, Zhang Che and Fang Ruqing’s faces glowed simultaneously when they heard that. They answered almost at the same time, “A meter of weed at his grave last year!”
The strong light from the torchlight was extinguished. The figure ahead said, “Old Zheng, Old Fang, I didn’t think your luck would be this good, actually escaping together! Quickly come with me; this place isn’t very safe anymore. The military might search here at any time.”
Done speaking, the person turned around and walked towards the other path.
Zhang Che and Fang Ruqing hurriedly followed along.
-Haha, I’m about to find my way into the enemies’ quarters so easily?- Zhang Che was secretly happy inside. His luck was unexpectedly decent today, running into the Freemason members so soon. Going forward, he’d be officially entering enemy territory!
After he infiltrated their quarters, it should become much easier to investigate the matters regarding the Freemasons’ headquarters.
The two followed that person ahead and quickly descended the hill. Afterwards, they made a few turns between the clustered buildings under the hill and finally arrived at an ordinary little courtyard.
