Pain, cold, and the lingering chaotic echoes in my mind, like tarsal maggots, tormented Chen Mo's nerves. Fragments of the ancient mirror are attached to the ankle wound, and the cold and greasy shadow erosion is being pulled away a little bit, but the tingling and tingling caused by the process are mixed with the restlessness of the fragments themselves after absorbing the painful logic of the experimental field, which makes him almost groan. He bit the cuff and suppressed the sound in his throat.
Outside the uncompleted residential flats, the sound of rain gradually subsided, and only the wind whimpered through broken walls. The footsteps of pursuers and the flashlight beam seem to be far away, but the cold sense of locking watched by shadows has not completely disappeared. They are still wandering around, like patient hounds, waiting for their prey to show their flaws.
Chen Mo didn't dare to relax. He curled up in a small bunker composed of cement bags and broken templates, while maintaining the purification of ancient mirror fragments, while narrowing the perception of earrings to a minimum, only alerting the movement within ten meters around him. Over-opening perception will only aggravate his headache and risk of losing control. What he needs now is concealment and recovery.
Time passes slowly in extreme tension and pain. The ankle wound finally returned to normal flesh and blood color (although the wound was still the same), and the light of the ancient mirror fragments faded, so he carefully took back the lead box. He tried to move his ankle, and there was a terrible pain, but at least he didn't have that cold erosion feeling. It should be a sprain and a flesh wound. The bone is fine, but the action will be greatly affected in a short time.
He must leave here as soon as possible. Although this unfinished building area can be temporarily hidden, it is not a place to stay for a long time. Zhou Wenyuan's people are probably mobilizing more people, or using other means to search. Once it is dawn, his hiding place will be exposed.
The question now is: where to go?
Back to Lin Wenyuan's safe house? No way. Although it is hidden there, Lin Wenyuan and Zhou Wenyuan may be inextricably linked (at least through the "invisible eye" transaction), which may not be safe. Moreover, the safe house lacks medicine and food reserves, and it can't handle his current injury and possible continuous pursuit.
Looking for an old cat The risk is equally great. The old cat's container stronghold is not absolutely safe, and it may implicate him.
Contact Su yat sen villa? He tried to send an extremely short encrypted signal with an old communicator (only containing the location code and the message "Found, Injured"), but he was not sure when she would receive it, let alone whether she had the ability or resources to respond immediately.
Once again, he seems to be isolated.
No, there's another way. Chen Mo's mind suddenly flashed a name-coach Wu.
The combat instructor of the field team of the seventh division of the association, the middle-aged man who is taciturn and ruthless. During the short training, although coach Wu was strict, he taught real life-saving skills, and seemed to be not interested in some twists and turns within the association, more like a pure soldier. The most important thing is that Su Yat-sen has inadvertently mentioned that coach Wu has a private small courtyard for retreat and training in the suburban fringe, and even few people in the association know it.
Will coach Wu help him? Chen Mo is not sure. But he remembers that once after training, coach Wu looked at his ear nail and said to him in sign language that only two people could understand (coach Wu seems to know something): "Boy, relics are tools and curses. Don't be eaten by it, and don't be eaten by those who want to use it. When it is really desperate, there is a loose brick on the back wall of No.79 Liushu Lane in the west of the city. "
At that time, Chen Mo was only a subtle reminder or test, and he didn't think deeply. But in retrospect, it was probably an extremely hidden and unofficial channel for help or asylum. People like coach Wu may have their own views and bottom lines about the filth within the association and the plight of contractors.
Take a gamble!
Chen Mo made a decision. Willow Lane, west of the city, is far away from his present position, spanning almost half the city, and his ankle is injured, making it inconvenient to move. But this seems to be the only hope of getting substantial help at present.
He checked his equipment: the light energy can probably be used once or twice; Fragments of ancient mirrors are unstable; Cufflink camera recorded the picture of the experimental field (very important); The terminal has been destroyed; The old communicator is in a hurry; And some scattered cash and coins. The only weapons are the rubber baton (of little significance) and the light dagger.
He tore off the cloth strip of the lining and tightly bound the injured ankle to reduce the pain during activities. Then, he took a deep breath, endured the pain, held the wall and stood up with difficulty.
We must leave this unfinished building before the night fades away.
He chose a route opposite to the pier and leading to the periphery of the main road of the city. The terrain of the unfinished building area is complex, so he tries to choose the cover of shadows and wastes and moves slowly and firmly. At every step, there was a sharp pain of protest from the ankle and a fine cold sweat oozing from the forehead.
The perception of earrings is like an unstable radar, sometimes capturing the vibration of distant vehicles passing by, and sometimes "listening" to subtle sounds (possibly auditory hallucinations) mixed with the wind. He must concentrate all his energy and distinguish between real threats and products of his own disorder.
More than an hour passed, the sky was slightly blue, and dawn was coming. Chen Mo finally struggled to move out of the uncompleted residential flats and came to the edge of a relatively secluded side road. You can already see the sparse lights and the early sanitation workers in the distance.
He dare not take the main road, nor dare he take any means of transportation that requires identity. He can only continue to move towards the west of the city along the path, green belt and the edge of the shanty town to be demolished. The speed is hopelessly slow.
To make matters worse, as the sky grew brighter, his tooling (though covered with mud) and faltering pace began to attract the attention of some early passers-by. He must find shelter as soon as possible, or change his clothes.
Behind an abandoned newsstand, Chen Mo finally gave in, sat down against the wall and gasped violently. The ankle is swollen, and the pain is coming. Hunger, thirst, blood loss and excessive mental consumption made his eyes black.
Is it going to fall here? Was discovered by Zhou Wenyuan's people, or died in some unmanned corner because of injury and erosion out of control?
No! He bit the tip of his tongue hard, and the sharp pain brought a little clarity. He remembered that Chen Yu was still waiting for him, that Su Yat sen villa might be trying to meet him, and that the crazy experimental field must be exposed ...
He struggled, dug out the last half bottle of water from his backpack, took a sip, took out an energy bar, and chewed and swallowed it hard. Then, he tore off a clean cloth again, dipped it in water, and cleaned up the stains on his face and hands to make himself look less like a fugitive.
Rest for more than ten minutes, feeling a little strength, Chen Mo got up again. He noticed that a morning market not far away began to set up stalls, and the voices gradually became noisy. He felt the change in his pocket and limped past.
In an inconspicuous corner of the morning market, he used most of his change to buy a semi-old dark sportswear and a cap from a vendor selling used clothes and changed them on the spot. Roll up the muddy tooling and stuff it into the depths of a garbage dump.
Changed the costume, although the foot injury is still the same, but at least it is not so eye-catching. He lowered the brim of his hat, mingled with the increasing crowd and continued westward.
The next journey is even more difficult. In the city during the day, there are more monitoring and people flow. He must avoid major intersections and camera-intensive areas, and always be alert to possible pursuers. Ankle pain is like a blunt knife cutting meat, and every step is like walking on the tip of a knife.
He almost fainted several times, but he was forced to hold on by missing his sister and being angry with Zhou Wenyuan. Under the constant consumption and pressure, the burning sensation and chaotic echo of the earrings in his left ear intensified again, and he had to separate a part of his mind to establish that fragile balance with the fragments of the ancient mirror in his arms and barely maintain his reason.
At noon, the hot sun is in the sky. Chen Mo hid in the shadow of a bridge opening, his lips were chapped and his face was as white as paper. He felt that he had reached the limit. Willow Lane, it's still far away ...
Just when his consciousness began to blur, a very weak but unusually clear vibration came from his arms-it was the old com!
He refreshed and took out his com with trembling hands. There is a new encrypted message on the screen, from Su Yat Sen Qing:
"Wu has been informed. Hold on. Jamming is scheduled. At the corner of Willow Lane, Lao Wang's car repair shop asked Master Wang and said,' Lao Wu asked me to pick things up'. He will help you. "
Coach Wu knows! Su yat sen villa contacted him! And arranged to meet!
The hope of rescue is like a tonic injected into Chen Mo's almost exhausted body. He took a deep breath, supported the pier and stood up again.
The goal is clear: Liushu Lane, "Laowang Car Repair Shop".
In the last few kilometers, Chen Mo moved almost by willpower. When he finally saw the narrow and old "Willow Lane" street sign, his eyes could not help but get a little hot.
The alley is deep, with low bungalows on both sides and potholes on the road. According to the information, he found a "Lao Wang repair shop" in the middle of the alley with a skewed signboard and a door full of used tires and parts.
A thin old man wearing greasy overalls and disassembling motorcycle tires looked up and glanced at him. His eyes were cloudy, but his fingers were extremely flexible.
Chen Mo stepped forward and said in a dry and hoarse voice (he could hardly hear himself), "Master Wang, Lao Wu asked me to get something."
Master Wang's hand movements paused, and he didn't answer immediately. Instead, he looked Chen Mo up and down, focused on his injured ankle, pale face and stop for a minute in his left ear, and then nodded and motioned for him to follow up in the shop.
Behind the shop is a backyard full of sundries, and a shabby van is parked in the corner. Master Wang went to the back of the van, opened a toolbox covered with canvas, took out a small bag from the bottom and handed it to Chen Mo.
"There are medicine, food, drink, clean clothes, a little money and this." Master Wang's voice is hoarse and deep. He pointed to an inconspicuous thing like a car key chain in a mezzanine on the side of the bag. "In case of emergency, click it. Lao Wu or his designated person will arrive nearby in half an hour. But it can only be used once, not in do or die. "
Chen Mo took the parcel, heavy, and felt a warm current and gratitude. He nodded solemnly at Master Wang and gestured in sign language: "Thank you."
Master Wang waved his hand and pointed to an inconspicuous small iron gate at the other end of the backyard: "Going out from there is another alley. After going out, turn right and go to the end. There is a red brick room with the sign of "chess room", the innermost room on the second floor, and the key is on the door frame. Lao Wu prepared it. It's safe. Be careful. "
Chen Mo thanks again, carrying a small bag, pushed open the small iron gate and disappeared in the back alley.
According to Master Wang's instructions, he quickly found the innermost room on the second floor of the "chess room". The key was on the door frame. He used all his last strength to open the door, locked it, and then sat down slowly with his back against the door.
Finally ... It's safe for the time being.
He opened the small bag, which contained first-aid medicine (including anti-inflammatory painkillers and bandages), compressed biscuits and bottled water, a clean suit of clothes and a small pile of cash. The emergency pager, he carefully put it away close to his body.
He first treated the ankle injury, sprayed the pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory spray, and fixed it with a bandage again. Then I ate something and drank water. Fatigue came like a landslide and tsunami, but he didn't dare to sleep at once.
He took out his cufflinks and imported the pictures of the experimental field recorded inside into an old but safe encrypted U disk attached to the small bag. This is important evidence.
After all this, he dragged his tired and hurt body to the simple single bed in the room and lay down with his clothes.
Before falling into a deep sleep, there was only one thought in his mind:
Zhou Wenyuan ... "Ghost Eye" proving ground ... Wait ...