Early morning sunlight streamed through the glass window, casting its gentle glow on the disheveled cotton quilts on the bed. A faint dust particle floated in the air, dancing like an insect in the beautiful rays, seemingly endless in its vitality. Despite the warmth of the season and the playful dance of dust, the young occupant nestled in the quilt refused to let go of the happiness of slumber. Like an ostrich burying its head in the sand, he continued to embrace the solace of deep sleep. After what seemed like an eternity, he reluctantly opened his eyes, stretching his limbs on the bed and gazing at the lifeless white ceiling in silence.
In that split second of awakening, the events of the previous day flooded Xu Le's mind like a relentless tide for more than ten hours. He remained still, trying to comprehend that he had indeed entered the room left behind by his deceased boss, rather than waking up in his familiar bed. Everything from yesterday was real, not just a nightmare. He had assumed a new identity with the replacement of the chip in his neck, and his boss... his uncle... had truly passed away.
Xu Le sat up, continuing to stare at the bedside for a while, rubbing his slightly feverish face with his hand, which helped him regain some clarity. However, upon lifting his gaze and observing the unfamiliar room, he couldn't shake off his bewilderment. There was a saying in the federation that even a cunning rabbit has at least three burrows, but Xu Le had never imagined that his boss would leave so many rear guards in the first prefectural city of Hexi Province just to avoid a federal arrest warrant. This realization filled Xu Le's heart with an indescribable unease, as if something was amiss.
This single apartment, situated near the avenue, had a modest interior with simple decorations. Aside from the bed near the window, there was only a refrigerator, a crystal-screen television, and a set of furniture. Xu Le took a hot bath in the washroom and retrieved an abundance of food from the refrigerator. Without bothering to heat it, he wolfed down the meal, leaving traces of spilled milk on the table. A sense of satisfaction gradually washed away the hunger and exhaustion he had carried since yesterday.
However, it was unusual for someone with his physique to feel so famished after not eating for just over ten hours. Xu Le found this phenomenon quite perplexing. Had his hollow stomach and fatigued body been a result of trembling during his escape from the military camp? He didn't want to dwell on this question any longer, as there was no one who could provide an answer.
Despite planning to leave Hexi Province in the evening, never to return to this room again, Xu Le instinctively tidied up and organized the room, much like he had done during the years spent eating in mine tunnels. After completing these tasks, he realized he had nothing else to do. The sound of police sirens echoed through the streets outside, reminding him of the aftermath of yesterday's explosion that was still reverberating. Naturally, he couldn't venture out into the streets to expose himself.
So, once again, he found himself sitting on the bed, lost in thought. After a while, he turned on the television and caught a glimpse of a young female student, her face filled with joy as she blew out the candles on her purple birthday cake. It suddenly struck him that today was Jian Shui'er's 16th birthday, a day his uncle had always cherished. Xu Le realized he had turned 18 years old, while his uncle would forever remain the same age, frozen in time. This thought tugged at his heart, uncontrollably evoking tears as he watched thousands of people crowded around Jian Shui'er, shedding their own tears.
Xu Le lowered his head, wiping the tears from his face, oblivious to Jian Shui'er's joyful display on the screen, showcasing a beautiful bracelet on her wrist to the delighted onlookers.
...
Throughout the day, Xu Le remained in the room, using the crystal screen on his bracelet to recall everything he needed to remember about his escape from Eastwood. Despite the risks involved, his boss had taught him valuable skills and knowledge, allowing him to covertly infiltrate the intranet of Eastwood's second station house. He attempted to gather information on Li Weihe and the other orphans, and eventually accessed restricted data from the fourth hall of the Civil Administration. Luck was on his side, as he successfully located a suitable target. Once he completed these tasks, he meticulously cleaned the entire room, discreetly wiping away any fingerprints he may have left. He changed into fresh clothes from the closet and placed his boss's backpack on his shoulders. Finally, he walked out the door, leaving the apartment building and blending into the crowd.
Dressed in a light blue sports jacket, with a hat pulled low over his face and a blue-black backpack slung over his shoulder, Xu Le appeared like any other young person in the federation, unlikely to draw any attention. He deliberately chose to leave at 3:00 PM when people were more likely to be occupied, but even so, he cautiously circled several blocks and scaled two courtyard walls before reaching the fourth hall.
Following the map provided by his boss, Xu Le quietly entered the area behind the Jingxingting automatic crematory, searching for the coffin bearing his target's nameplate. He avoided looking at the young deceased's face inside the coffin, instead focusing on the wrist of the left hand, where the familiar burnt smell lingered. Last night, he successfully implanted the discarded chip into the remains.
He tossed the shield meter emitting its blue light into the coffin and hesitated for a moment before discarding the fine electric shock stick. He had only made two of them, which had brought utter destruction to himself and his boss. It was something he didn't want to repeat. Though the electric shock stick could protect him, it also carried an ominous feeling.
Standing in the shadowed corridor of Jingxingting, Xu Le watched as the conveyor belt silently carried the coffins into the high-temperature crematory, witnessing his shield meter, electric shock stick, and the ashes of his chip and boss's remains consumed by the raging fire. With the ashes and remnants, Xu Le's heart felt empty, as if he had left behind everything in that coffin. The Xu Le that existed before had been completely burned away.
Leaving yesterday behind, never to return.
...
As night fell, Xu Le purchased a ticket to Jizhou, the land of good fortune. Every night, a Grayhound coach bus operated by the people of Eastwood departed from the capital of Hexi Province, embarking on an overnight journey to Dafu Jizhou, where it would arrive the next morning. Though arduous, the bus trip was cheaper compared to flying. Xu Le chose Grayhound because the government's scrutiny of civilian transportation vehicles was relatively lax.
The worn-out ears on the illuminated sign of the Grayhound bus flickered under the bright lamp. Xu Le observed the entrance guarded by fully armed soldiers wearing bulletproof vests, and a sense of melancholy washed over him. He hadn't anticipated that the government's inspections would remain so strict.
If he didn't have the courage to face such a checkpoint head-on, how could he hope to survive under this camouflage in the federation? Xu Le touched the back of his neck, revealing a toothy, confident smile. His narrowed eyes shone with determination as he calmly walked toward the entrance.