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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 136: A Journey Alone
With a loud crash, the tightly shut wooden door was kicked open by Jiang He, the old lock and part of the door frame flying far away from the impact.
Jiang He frowned, waving away the dust that had risen in the air, squinting as he surveyed the dilapidated house. The room was small, typical of many low houses found in economically impoverished areas. The owners of these homes were mostly farmers whose ancestors had settled in one place, unable to accumulate any wealth over generations. As a result, several generations lived together in one room, leading a simple yet frugal life.
The house was about forty to fifty square meters in size. Behind the old wooden door was what could be called a living room; to the left was a small bedroom. "Living room" was a generous term, as such houses did not really have distinct living rooms or bedrooms. In reality, the so-called living room could accommodate a bed, a dining table, and bookshelves; everything except for a toilet could be moved in without issue.
Jiang He was unsure of where he was; this was his first stop after parting ways with Shaoshan. Now alone and without any reliable companions by his side, he faced an uncertain future and had to proceed with utmost caution. He had traveled along the main road for quite some time, contemplating many things along the way, only to realize helplessly that all he had were troubles and no clear direction.
What he could confirm was that he had lost contact with his companions. The Daliugou Underground Bunker had been slaughtered, and Song Yao and the others were nowhere to be found, leaving him with no information. Although he had mentioned the Launch Base to Shaoshan casually, he could not be sure if Song Yao and her group had gone there. Moreover, based on Shaoshan's reaction and words, it was clear that the Launch Base was not a good place to visit; regardless of whether there were planes as An Zheng had mentioned, it surely contained other strange things.
Jiang He felt despondent as he sat in his vehicle, having smoked all his cigarettes but still feeling lost and tangled in confusion. If he were to go to the Launch Base, at the very least he would need a map; besides that, food and water were essential. The unknown ahead served as Jiang He's driving force; he had to do his best to stock up on supplies during this initial leg of his journey. Shaoshan had been generous enough to leave him two guns and a knife—equipment sufficient for him to survive for a while. Even if things became dire, they could still serve as tools for ending his own life.
Thinking of this made Jiang He feel somewhat melancholic. Despite having firmly rejected Shaoshan at that time, internally he had struggled greatly with his decision. The most obvious point was that traveling with Shaoshan would certainly increase his chances of survival compared to going solo. Although Jiang He was not entirely useless now, when compared to Shaoshan, he felt like he still fell short of being competent. However, he had no choice but to refuse; after all, they were not on the same path. Unlike Bai Yudong, who had completely lost contact with their superiors while living a pastoral life deep in the mountains under the guise of an observation station, Shaoshan's situation was different. His military rank matched Old Bai's but his mission and unit affiliation were distinct; while He Wei Guo had perished due to negligence, there were still people above him who knew how to maintain contact.
If Jiang He returned with Shaoshan, his life might be temporarily secure; however, how things would unfold afterward would be out of his control. On another note, the flickering intensity beneath Shaoshan's cold gaze made Jiang He uneasy. Although Shaoshan had saved his life several times, changing one's sexual orientation out of gratitude for saving one's life... Jiang He found it hard to accept.
Regardless of everything else, since he chose to embark on this solitary journey, he had no choice but to press on resolutely. In the past, surrounded by companions meant there was always someone looking out for him; now it was different—an empty highway and wilderness stretched before him. Surviving became Jiang He's top priority.
One particular trait defined Jiang He: while it sometimes seemed inappropriate in certain situations, at other times it proved to be a valuable quality. Indeed, Jiang He maintained a relatively optimistic mindset most of the time—even if it occasionally bordered on blind optimism. Just like now; he viewed reaching the Launch Base as his ultimate goal. Before achieving this goal, however, there were many tasks awaiting him—such as securing food and water.
When Shaoshan parted ways with him, they each distributed their weapons; as part of a disadvantaged group, Jiang He even received a truck from Shaoshan. However, aside from bullets, neither of them possessed much else—they were practically broke. As Jiang He estimated that he had driven about twenty or thirty kilometers when his stomach began growling loudly in protest. Not only him—the Yellow Dog beside him looked at him expectantly throughout their journey. Jiang He thought that if he didn't find something to eat soon, the Yellow Dog might just get desperate enough to chew on Luci's Tabby Cat.
the wall, he cautiously made his way deeper into the house. The air was thick with dust, and each step stirred up particles that danced in the shafts of sunlight streaming through the windows.
The living room was sparsely furnished, with a worn-out couch that sagged in the middle and a coffee table cluttered with old magazines. A faint smell of mildew lingered in the air, hinting at years of neglect. As he moved further inside, he noticed a small kitchen off to the side, its cabinets hanging slightly ajar as if they were reluctant to reveal their secrets.
Jiang He's heart raced as he scanned the surroundings. The eerie silence was unsettling, amplifying every creak of the floorboards beneath his feet. He approached the kitchen, peering inside. The sink was dry, and the countertops were covered in a fine layer of dust. It seemed no one had cooked here in ages.
Suddenly, a noise echoed from somewhere deeper within the house—a soft thud followed by a rustling sound. Jiang He's instincts kicked in; he tightened his grip on his rifle and moved toward the source of the sound.
“Hello?” he called out again, this time more firmly. His voice bounced off the walls, but there was no response.
He reached the doorway leading to a hallway that seemed to stretch endlessly into darkness. Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward, each footfall echoing ominously. The walls were lined with faded photographs—smiling faces frozen in time, unaware of the desolation that would follow.
As he ventured further down the hall, another sound caught his attention—a soft whimpering coming from one of the rooms at the end. Jiang He's heart raced as he approached cautiously, ready for anything that might await him behind that door.
With a swift motion, he pushed the door open and stepped inside, ready to confront whatever lay ahead.
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