I watched Fan Le Lao approach us, cold perspiration trickling down my back.
When did he…?
Then again, he was seconds away from the chamber. I thought we still had some time to run, but evidently I was wrong. Damn it, we shouldn't have dallied…
No. I was misunderstanding something. This whole castle was Fan Le Lao's territory. In other words, we had been running around in the palm of his hand from the very start. No matter how much sooner we ran, he would have caught us instantly.
He must have made use of his knowledge or power over his own base to avoid the Federation soldiers and the medic who were tending to Nan Gong Ji Yan. Either that or that group had already left, probably bringing Ji Yan to the surface after sedating her.
Whatever the case, Fan Le Lao was now here, right in front of us. A few dozen meters away from our position, but it felt as if he was standing right in front of me.
