Chioujen looked straight at the person lying down. He couldn't hide his anxiety about that fact. He didn't know the man's condition, but he was sure that everyone in his position would agree that the man lying down needed immediate help. That dark underground room was by no means the right place to treat a sick or injured person.
"What happened to him?"
The person who called himself Maachaang Shentay did not immediately answer Chioujen's question. He turned to the person lying on the bed. He got up and walked over to the bed. As he walked, he kept the flashlight he was carrying. Some parts of the blanket covering the person had been exposed. Maachaang Shentay rearranged the position of the blanket so that it covered the person's body well. After sitting back down in front of Chioujen, only then did he start talking.
"Actually, I'm a bit confused about where to start to describe the sequence of events that we experienced. I'm not an excellent storyteller. But one thing is certain is the fact that we are running away from something bad. Two days ago, the five of us escaped from a group of people. We managed to escape with the help of one of the criminals, who somehow sympathized with us. My friend and I managed to get into this building. I don't know what happened to the other three people who were with us. It's very likely that they've been caught again."
Right away, Chioujen remembered the story of the young girl who appeared together with Shannchyuan.
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"Is one of the three a young woman?" Chioujen couldn't help but ask that.
"That's right! Just like that old man, who is lying on the bed. That young woman is also my coworker."
"Why didn't you report to the police? Why did you choose to continue hiding in this place?"
"I'm afraid they're still hanging around outside this building. So as soon as we get out, they'll catch us right away. Besides, my coworker is currently injured. It's impossible for him to move quickly. So I'll have to wait until his condition starts to improve."
"Yes, but without proper treatment, your coworker's condition might even get worse."
"I know, Sir! But as of now, we have no other choice."
"You said earlier that you were held captive. Where were you held?"
"In a place not far from here. That place is in the border area between this city and the city next door, Sir. So technically, it's actually a part of the neighboring city."
"You mean the forest that lies between this town and the town next door?"
"Yes, Sir."
Chioujen nodded. As Chioujen recalled, Dafeisy Tower was only about ten kilometers from the city border if he drew a straight line. Chioujen had heard that Shannchyuan referred to the place, a particular ground of the city border, as "zero point." Beyond that boundary was the territory of another city. However, the border of the neighboring city, which in its truest sense, namely the area inhabited by a large number of people, was about twenty-five kilometers from the "zero point." Along these twenty-five kilometers, on the right and left sides of the road, lies a forest which, in some parts, could be described as dense forest.
"So the thugs brought you there?"
"No, Sir! We were indeed exploring the place. At that time, they caught us and held us."
Chioujen remembered his friends' stories about Songfei holding games in the forest. For an instant, he had guessed that Maachaang and his friends might also have the same interests as Songfei. But soon, he ruled out the possibility.
"How did you find this secret place? I, who had been in and out of this building for a year, didn't even know that there was still a floor under the basement floor, which was actually not used anymore."
The person did not answer straight away. After about half a minute of silence, he continued his story.
"The person who helped us not only helped us escape from the captivity of these people. He also smuggled us in the truck he was carrying. The truck he was carrying was full of drums that we didn't know what was in it. I think he's in charge of bringing the drums to their base."
"Wait a minute! You mean he smuggled you out of there by putting all of you in those drums?"
"That's right, Sir! After unloading, the drums were empty. That's when he put us in those things."
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"Then, after that, why didn't he immediately take you to the police station or to the hospital?" Chioujen raised his eyebrows. According to Chioujen, it was one of the few things that made less sense.
"He said he didn't have much time. That person had to go elsewhere in the city right away to return the truck he was driving. He also didn't dare to go to the police station. After stopping the truck around here, he told that there was a building we could use as a hiding place, at least temporarily. He also told us where the keys were hidden in one toilet on the ground floor of this building. When we checked the toilets in this building, we found several keys. That person also explained the function of each key. One key to go down to the B1 floor, namely the key to open the lock from the iron bars installed to prevent people from going down to the B1 floor. One more key to enter one room on the floor. B3. And then the key to this room."
"So, this is the B5 floor?" asked Chioujen.
"I think so, Sir!"
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"Are there other rooms outside this room?"
"There are many other rooms outside, Sir! They are very similar to the rooms on the floor above this floor."
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"The one who gave you the keys. How did he get the keys to the rooms in this building?"
"I don't know, Sir! But he probably knows one tenant of the unit in this building."
"How did you know he knows one tenant here?"
"I'm not sure about that either. Maybe he knows someone, maybe he doesn't know. The fact that he knew about the whereabouts of the keys proved he had something to do with this building. But there are other things that show that he didn't really understand the location and intricacies of this building. The proof is that he didn't drop us off right in front of this building, but in front of another building about a kilometer and a half from here."
"What was his expression, then?"
"When he gave us an explanation, shortly after stopping the truck, he looked as if he was remembering instructions given by someone else. He also seemed to be just guessing where the building he was talking about was. So we concluded that someone else ordered him to. And the person who ordered it was probably one tenant in this building. Or maybe part of the people who run this building."
"So after he dropped you off around here, he just left."
"That's right, Sir! He just drove his truck away from where he dropped us off."
"So you guys walked here?"
"That's right, Sir!"
"How did you two get separated?"
"There are several buildings around here. We didn't know which building that person was referring to, so we split up to look for the right place. Our consideration was that by splitting up, we reduce the risk. Had they managed to track us down, they were less likely to catch us all at once. I think the tactic was quite successful. The proof is that my coworkers and I are still here."
"I still don't understand why you chose to hide in this building? You've escaped. Why not ask the people in the buildings or other places for help? In fact, this place is very close to the underground station. Isn't it much better? I think it makes a lot more sense if you guys just run over there and ask for help."