Every few minutes, Old Jin would quietly move to the wall, listening intently for a while, before returning to his seat at the desk. In these extraordinary times, Old Jin was exceedingly cautious, and this caution wasn't without reason. Reality often proved more thrilling and cruel than spy dramas. In Old Jin's understanding, once suspicion arose, it couldn't be dispelled with the kind of foolish arguments that often saved protagonists in movies or shows.
Human hearts were ever-changing and profoundly enigmatic. Those restless secrets remained buried deep within. Even if a person with hidden motives stood right before you, not a hint would be discernible.
Just like this sudden turn of events, although you might observe that something was amiss with careful scrutiny, you couldn't predict precisely when your opponent would strike. Acting preemptively when everyone believed conditions weren't ripe posed an equal threat to both oneself and the adversary.
Liu Xing's actions this time caught Old Jin off guard, perhaps even bewildered him. Leaving aside people's differing worldviews, it was difficult for Liu Xing to sway the masses. Those who followed him were at best followers of the wind, typically only doing trivial tasks. So why were they suddenly involved in such a grand undertaking under his leadership?
For over ten days, Old Jin and his daughter were confined indoors, unable to venture outside. He could only speculate about the circumstances of others. How many guards would be needed to keep everyone locked in? What about the scouts who came and went each month? Had anything gone awry? The base's defense force was composed of military personnel; Liu Xing couldn't possibly control them. Even if he managed to manipulate the captain and other officers, what about the soldiers? These educated and high-quality soldiers couldn't possibly turn their weapons on their fellow citizens. So, relying on a few sycophants, how could Liu Xing possibly control the situation? What was really going on?
Jun Ya, responsible for base construction, had long ago installed special passages and mechanisms within certain buildings. This wasn't conspiracy theory; it was for the sake of escape and shelter. From the very beginning, people had been on edge due to the presence of various wild animals and poisonous insects. During construction, Jun Ya had thought about how to hide and protect lives in case of emergencies like insect invasions, until safety was ensured.
Back then, the construction was urgent, with no blueprints available. Some passages and interstices were improvised based on the actual conditions of the walls. Essentially, Jun Ya directed the workers on the spot, and by the time the construction was complete, she hadn't found time to draw blueprints before this incident occurred.
But even if blueprints were drawn, it wasn't an easy task. They had to incorporate the parts built manually and explore the natural tunnels within the mountains, discovering where the hollow crevices led. Since construction was ongoing, until now, the task of drawing blueprints hadn't started. Very few people would recall this matter, and no one paid deliberate attention to it. Both Liu Xing and his cronies in the office, who sat there, were likely unaware of the existence of these tunnels. In a way, Liu Xing assigning them to this room indicated he hadn't managed to win over the technical personnel participating in the construction; he was unaware of these secrets.
Thus, after being forcibly relocated to their current residence, Jun Ya swiftly discerned the structure's existence of passageways. She began her gradual exploration, seeking opportunities to escape or gather useful information.
Neither Old Jin nor Jun Ya had considered escaping from the base, as compared to the outside world, the base was the safest place. What they aimed to understand was the truth behind Liu Xing's sudden rise to power. Furthermore, they pondered the fate of the people within the base. Could it be that the entire base had fallen under some strange influence? Were they allowing themselves to be manipulated by Liu Xing and his handful of sycophants, despite the fact that there were tens of thousands of people?
The house was constructed against the cliffside, just as the entire base relied upon the cliffs. Old Jin and his daughter were placed in a room toward the interior, devoid of an external balcony. They couldn't see the surroundings outside, nor could they hear any external sounds.
In these past few days, Jun Ya had been quite active. Old Jin provided her with cover, allowing her to secretly navigate the passages and move through the tunnels. Initially, Jun Ya had been quite ill, but her condition improved gradually a few days after moving. Once she was capable of moving on her own, she discussed their current situation with her father.
They avoided discussing Xiao Guang's topic, as in truth, they could only acquire more information by going outside. They deliberated over their current predicament, analyzed various possibilities, and sought to understand why Liu Xing had suddenly initiated this coup. To call it a coup wasn't an exaggeration; this situation was almost akin to forcing a palace coup through military might. Their greatest concern lay not with themselves, but with the situation beyond their confines—those numerous scientists, innocent civilians, and the remaining righteous soldiers.
Looking at these people, be it in terms of intelligence or capability, not a single one could be considered ignorant or blindly obedient. Hence, there was no way they would unquestionably follow Liu Xing. There were only two possibilities: either they were no longer alive, or they were being deceived by illusions and lies. Both scenarios were perilous, and it was certain that Liu Xing had utilized some exceptional and unforeseen methods, exploiting a handful of radicals and yes-men to tightly control the situation.
For these past few days, Jun Ya ventured out at night and returned during the day to sleep, effectively masking her feigned illness with genuine sleep. When someone had just recovered from a serious ailment and consistently stayed up late, it was unlikely they could maintain alertness during the day. Thus, the doctor arranged by Liu Xing seemingly couldn't find any problems. Meanwhile, Jun Ya simply snored heavily in sleep, and Old Jin only needed to appear concerned.
Two days prior, during her exploration, Jun Ya discovered that the tunnel had been augmented by human hands, with natural crevices formed as well. It wasn't that Jun Ya had a bad memory; over the past year, she had overseen the construction of many houses. Numerous additions had been improvised on the spot, as she had to prioritize durability, comfort, and dryness during construction. This was much more challenging than following blueprints and performing construction, requiring her extensive knowledge and solid professional foundation. It wasn't something that could be mass-produced like degrees from the academic factories built upon skimming through a few books and writing papers.
The passageway led to numerous rooms. Jun Ya would tread softly, her senses attuned, at each junction, sometimes waiting a long time to catch even the slightest sound. These passages were the sole chance for Jun Ya and her father. She wouldn't rashly enter any room, even if she heard something. She wouldn't recklessly act without caution, since within those rooms, there could be individuals alone or speaking very little. Over these past few days, Jun Ya's work had become an exercise in extreme patience and concentration. The notion of stumbling upon secrets at every turn, knocking on doors only to discover hidden truths, belonged to the realm of cinematic myths; reality wasn't so coincidental.
When Old Jin once again moved to the wall, he concentrated on listening. After a short while, he finally caught the faint rhythm of tapping sounds. That was Jun Ya signaling her return. As a precaution, after coming back, she too patiently listened to the movements within the room, tapping lightly against the wall every so often. If one didn't quiet down and get close to the wall, the sounds within the wall would be nearly inaudible.
Old Jin responded to Jun Ya's prearranged rhythm and simultaneously opened the secret door.
"Dad, I've heard some news," Jun Ya hurriedly whispered to Old Jin before he could even steady her.
"Speak inside," they swiftly stepped into the concealed passage, obscuring the door behind them.
Jun Ya quickly lay down on the sickbed. For the sake of expediency, each time she ventured out, Jun Ya wore her pajamas. Upon her return, all she needed to do was lie down.
"How is it?" Once Jun Ya was comfortably settled, Old Jin handed her some water. She took a hurried sip and immediately began to speak.