I've been in Myanmar for two or three months now. Apart from the time I escaped with Sister Chunyan from the Guokan district and experienced a heavy rain in the rainforest, I haven't seen any rain.
When it rains here, the rivers flood, which causes issues with the security lines. The patrols become less diligent. If we can find the right moment, we have more than a fifty percent chance of escaping.
The most important thing is that the camp has sent some guards to search for Yang Lianting and the driver. This means the supervision over us has relaxed.
Moreover, with the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, the camps are busy preparing for various extravagant events. This distraction, along with the increased traffic, provides us with an opportunity to escape.
Ace, the cunning old fox, called earlier and told Liu Shiyi that he would take me away on the morning of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Where he plans to take me for a fight remains a secret for now.
Mr. Ning plans to arrange an ambush on the way. He will use a decoy with a similar build to me to fake my death in a staged explosion, creating a scene of revenge.
After they take me out of Myawaddy, they plan to change my name and put me in his private armed forces as a trainer.
But I don't want to fall into anyone's hands. I want freedom!
Wrench looked out the window, frowning, "The crocodile pool is too risky because there are soldiers patrolling the back hill. However, we have a chance in the bamboo grove's burial area. If we can cut the electric fence, we can escape."
"The electricity needs to be off first, otherwise, we'll be roasted pigs. By the way, what's beyond the bamboo grove?"
"Once we cross the bamboo grove, we'll enter the rainforest of Myawaddy. After leaving Karen State, we can hide in the fourth district and then seek help from the embassy to safely return to China."
Wrench's excitement made us feel hopeful, as if the ticket home was waving at us. It was a much-needed morale boost.
The outer guards switch shifts every 15 minutes and patrol every 20 minutes, giving us a five-minute window to cross the bamboo grove. We all have some martial arts training and good physical condition, so five minutes should be enough to get out of the patrol area. If it rains heavily and we use the bad weather as cover, we should be able to escape.
As we were discussing our escape plan, Li Jianguo stumbled back to the dormitory, eager to join us in escaping. He wanted revenge on Yang Lianting.
"Have you ever thought that Liu Shiyi might be lying to you?" I doubted that Yang Lianting was the real culprit; it could be Liu Shiyi.
Li Jianguo was just a tool for killing, much like I was a money-making tool for Ace. No matter what, we couldn't escape these devils' control.
Li Jianguo was determined, "I don't care, I'm going to kill him. I'll deal with Liu Shiyi later."
If he was willing to escape with us, it was better than stubbornly staying in the camp. However, we couldn't tell him the plan just yet. What if he went mad again?
Experience had taught us to only inform him when it was time to act. The same applied to Sister Yu. We could rely only on ourselves; she was just trying to use the information to curry favor with me for an escape.
I sighed, "Brother Li, it's not that I don't trust you, but your mood is too unstable. We'll tell you when the time is right."
"I understand. Whatever you decide, I won't blame you. I just want to get out and take revenge. Yang Lianting's USB drive must have records of Liu Shiyi's crimes. If we find him, we'll know the truth."
Li Jianguo's determination matched mine. If we could find Yang Lianting and get the secrets he took out, it could ensure our safety during the escape or trial after returning home.
Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate. There was thunder, but no rain! We watched the sky all night, but no downpour came. I was listless at work the next day.
To make matters worse, the next few days were sunny, and there was no word from Yanzi. This situation was pushing me to the brink of collapse.
Trying to cut the camp's electric fence or escape on our own was just a pipe dream. Moreover, there were several generators in the camp. It was almost impossible to sneak tools to the bamboo grove and quickly cut the wires and damage the generators.
Sitting in the stifling office, looking at the blazing sun and the festive camp, I was overwhelmed with sorrow.
The Mid-Autumn Festival was in a couple of days, and I didn't have much time left. If Ace took me out of the camp, doom awaited me.
Chen Weiqiang and the others were also making their last struggles. On that day, they might choose to go down fighting.
Dying together was not the outcome I wanted. I wanted to live, to survive with them, and to return to China safely and reunite with my family.
But given the current situation, going home seemed like a dream. I didn't even know if I could survive three more days.
"小瓶子, how are your preparations? The Mid-Autumn Festival is in a few days, and Professor Ace will surely take you away," Sister Yu came to my dorm after work.
Although the single dorm I previously lived in was vacant after Elu was executed, I preferred to squeeze in with Screwdriver and the others. Being around people was less lonely, and chatting occasionally gave us solace.
"I know. But the weather isn't cooperating. There's nothing I can do. I'm not the Monkey King with 72 transformations!"
I smiled wryly, "Don't pin all your hopes on me. I'm barely hanging on myself."
"I believe in you…" Sister Yu paused, seemingly waiting for me to invite her in. Eighty-One and Screwdriver were out for a walk, and Li Jianguo was busy with his work, so I was alone.
"Do you have something to say?" I thought she wouldn't harm me, so I opened the door and let her in.
"Wow, your dorm is quite clean for a guys' place!" Sister Yu remarked, checking the cleanliness of our room.
Screwdriver, who had served in the military, insisted on making his bed neatly. Under his influence, Eighty-One and I also learned to fold our blankets neatly.
I closed the door and said impatiently, "Spit it out. I'm not in the mood for games."
Sister Yu smiled mysteriously, "I have evidence of Lulu's crimes!"