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墨書 Inktalez
The beam of bright searchlights flickered in the eyes of the crowd for just a moment before it silently extinguished, merging once again with the surrounding darkness.
A few people hidden behind the barricade were momentarily stunned, exchanging glances filled with confusion. The light was unmistakably from a vehicle; however, only one side was illuminated, making it seem as if someone was running with a high-powered searchlight. But that wasn't the main concern; the real question was where this vehicle had come from.
After escaping from the tunnel, they had been moving forward at a brisk pace. Wu Wentao led the way, while the others maintained a relatively safe distance, keeping pace while also observing their surroundings. Like most national highways, leaving the city meant plunging into the wilderness, with barren mountains or ravines flanking the road. There were no ramps or forks in the road. At least from the tunnel exit to where they had stopped, it was certain that there was only one clear path—no alternative routes existed.
So, this raised a question.
The two-kilometer-long tunnel was severely congested, making it difficult to escape on foot; how could a vehicle have passed through? If it hadn't come from the tunnel, where had it emerged from?
Even someone as seasoned as Wu Wentao found himself momentarily dumbfounded, his brow furrowing in confusion as he stared in the direction where the lights had vanished.
"That was definitely a vehicle's headlights, right?" said a young lookout, rubbing his eyes in disbelief. "Why did it disappear?"
"Yes," Song Yao affirmed with certainty, raising an eyebrow and glancing at the silent Song Jiu.
Song Jiu rubbed his nose and urged everyone to remain calm. He whispered, "Keep an eye out and stop it."
In truth, there was no need for him to say anything; everyone was already itching for action. It felt like a stroke of luck had fallen into their laps—an opportunity they couldn't afford to miss.
Two minutes passed.
Five minutes passed.
The eager Cutthroat Bandits watched in disappointment as their hopes crumbled. They stared intently at the uphill stretch of road ahead, their eyes straining without any sign of a four-wheeled vehicle arriving.
"Damn it, this is ridiculous," Jin Bo muttered, clicking his tongue as he looked around. The expressions on everyone's faces mirrored his own—various shades of frustration and disbelief.
The beam of light was not far from here. Even if they maintained a speed of forty yards, they should have crawled over by now. Did the other party discover the bandits lying in ambush here? It shouldn't be possible for them to slip away halfway; this hollow was a blind spot. If it weren't for Lookout Youth being high above, they might not have noticed the approaching vehicle.
Huddled at the back, Pockmarked Girl couldn't help but shiver, murmuring softly, "This is so strange. Could it be that the ghosts of those who died in the tunnel are out for a joyride?" The others were momentarily stunned by her words, and then various gazes shot toward Pockmarked Girl—some in agreement, some in resignation. Pockmarked Girl's face turned bright red as she hurriedly retreated to the side.
"Not necessarily. Have you heard of the ghost soldiers borrowing a path?" Woman A said seriously, nudging Pockmarked Girl. She whispered, "I think what you said makes sense. A friend of mine encountered something like that before."
"Yeah, yeah! A classmate of mine has a distant relative whose grandmother is a local medium. She often calls spirits and such," Woman B chimed in enthusiastically, as if she had found her tribe. She whispered, "In desolate mountains and wilderness, the yin energy is too strong; they must have seen something they shouldn't have."
"Who knows what day it is today? Maybe it's just the right time for the gates of hell to open," Young Man A said, feeling a bit superstitious. Hearing the women speak so confidently made cold sweat trickle down his back. He wasn't afraid of zombies, but he was wary of ghosts and strange creatures.
"It's hard to say. What's your birth date? I've heard some people lack certain elements in their five elements; they attract ghosts from birth and must marry a ghost wife or husband," Woman A said seriously, as if she had already concluded that the beam of white light came from the ghostly realm.
"We might be caught up in a grand conspiracy that has lasted for thousands of years," Woman B said, her face turning pale as she was frightened by her own speculation.
"Shut the hell up!"
Song Jiu, Wu Wentao, and Jin Bo turned around in unison, angrily scolding them to stop.
The few who were immersed in ghost stories shivered and shrank back into the rear of the group. However, their conversation did not end; they continued to whisper among themselves, looking as if they had already grasped some cosmic truth and might pull out talismans or start calculating astrological signs at any moment.
Pockmarked Girl felt embarrassed; she had only said it casually and didn't expect to attract a few superstitious believers. It was somewhat awkward since it all started with her.
"I'll go take a look," Wu Wentao said, raising an eyebrow. He grabbed his gun and jumped over the barrier, turning back to the few who were about to follow him. "You all keep your distance; there might be a trap."
"Be careful," Song Jiu nodded in agreement. Although he still hadn't figured out where the vehicle came from, its sudden appearance and strange disappearance made him feel pricked by thorns if he didn't investigate further. Rationally speaking, they should set off immediately, but if the other party had a vehicle and truly intended to tail them, they wouldn't be able to shake them off on foot.
Song Yao and Chef Jian calmed the restless group while Song Jiu and Jin Bo held their weapons ready, keeping about a hundred meters behind Wu Wentao, their eyes fixed on his surroundings.
The three of them retraced their steps along the road, while the others remained on guard. A few young men spread out, keeping watch over the mountain peaks and the dense thickets on either side of the road, with their rifles at the ready, prepared to fire at any moment.
"Are we being too sensitive?" Luci, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up, muttering, "If someone is chasing us, why would they turn on their headlights? It's like giving away their position."
Song Yao couldn't quite understand either. It was better to avoid unnecessary trouble. She had felt a moment of joy, wondering if Ming Junwei had rushed over, but then dismissed it as unrealistic; the mountain tunnel was a barrier that vehicles couldn't cross.
"What if the car didn't come from the tunnel?" Yuan An timidly suggested, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. "There are quite a few cars at the exit; could it be..."
"That's possible," Ying Dou Dou chimed in, intrigued by Yuan An's speculation. It did seem plausible.
No amount of guessing could compare to observing things up close. Wu Wentao, bold and skilled, strode ahead with his rifle in hand, showing no signs of caution. His body slightly hunched, the dark muzzle of his gun seemed to sweep unconsciously back and forth in front and behind him. As he descended the slope that obstructed their view, his squinted eyes suddenly narrowed.
At the midpoint of the steep descent, a shadowy figure quietly parked beside the cliffside barrier. The front windshield reflected the pale moonlight, resembling a ghostly vehicle gliding through the void—eerily strange.
Wu Wentao froze for a moment before a cold smile crept onto his lips. He signaled to the two behind him and quickened his pace toward the opposite side of the parked car. Moving swiftly and silently, he rolled to hide behind the vehicle's rear just before reaching it. He swept his gun across various shooting angles to ensure there were no ambushes nearby and cautiously reached for the back door, pulling it open.
Song Jiu and Jin Bo quickly followed him over. They leaned down to peek at the ravine side of the barrier; the night was deep and quiet, with only darkness stretching out before them—nothing seemed amiss.
"What kind of ghost car is this? Isn't this supposed to be a luxury vehicle?" Jin Bo pointed with his knife at Cabin's seemingly high-end logo and remarked, "What kind of car is this?"
Wu Wentao was observing the interior through a gap in the door when he heard Jin Bo's question. He turned to glance at the back of the car and replied with an unusual tidbit: "Shanghai Roewe."
The sedan's door was unlocked; it opened with a simple pull. Inside, they could still feel a faint chill from the air conditioning, which left the three seasoned veterans astonished. After searching around inside and out, they found some fresh bloodstains on the back seat along with several paper bags containing women's clothing and shoes.
The three exchanged bewildered glances, momentarily dumbfounded. They had seen plenty of ambushes and schemes before, but what was this situation?
"Come look," Jin Bo called out to Cabin. The two approached to see Jin Bo crouching by the left headlight, gently touching it with his hand.
"Fresh." Jin Bo rubbed his fingers together, the blood at his fingertips forming a dark purple stain. He smacked his lips and said, "The headlights are smashed; it must have hit a Zombie."
"Not one of e's people." Wu Wentao finally felt the heavy weight lift from his heart. Although there were few clues in the car, it was impossible for it to belong to the Blonde Woman's crew; after all, the owner of this vehicle was too amateurish.
"The car has been located." Song Jiu was also in high spirits as he casually slid into the driver's seat, saying leisurely, "Let's wait for someone to bring us the keys."
Wu Wentao and Jin Bo exchanged smiles. Although the car was a bit small, it was better than nothing. Besides, they were short on fuel, and cars were everywhere; finding one that could run wouldn't be a problem. Just as they were about to open the car door and get in, Wu Wentao's expression suddenly changed. His hawk-like gaze shot into the dark ravine beyond the barrier, which was shrouded in shadows. Without hesitation, the Rifle in his hand flared to life.
His companions reacted quickly, but there were pros and cons to that. The good thing was they could issue timely warnings; the bad thing was that if teammates couldn't keep up with the pace, it could easily lead to mistakes. Even though Song Jiu and Jin Bo had decent reflexes, Wu Wentao's sudden attack still caught them off guard. The two young men, accustomed to wielding blades, were startled but didn't slow down much. They rolled out of the car one after another and hurled their knives toward Wu Wentao's firing position.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The Steel Saw Blades sliced through the air and spiraled downwards. At that moment, Wu Wentao's gunfire briefly ceased. The three of them formed a triangular formation behind the car, using its body as cover while keeping their eyes fixed on the darkness beyond the barrier. As soon as anyone dared to show their face, they would give them a warm welcome.
However, there was no fierce counterattack from the darkness. After the gunfire stopped, a particularly clear rustling sound came from that direction, interspersed with labored grunts that completely contradicted their expectations of an ambush set by enemies. Just as Wu Wentao was about to fire another round to greet them, a response came from below.
"Don't shoot! Don't shoot! I surrender!"
It was a thin male voice.
Song Jiu's expression turned somewhat strange as he raised an eyebrow and muttered, "Surrender?"
"Come out with your hands up and drop your weapons," Wu Wentao said, still squinting his eyes and not relaxing his guard.
"I can't do that," came the reply from the male voice.
Hearing this response, all three of them froze for a moment.
"Forget the weapon, I really can't raise my hands. For the sake of the party and the country, please help a brother out." The man's voice was urgent, sounding more like someone about to drown seeking help than a threat.
The three of them were puzzled, their heads filled with question marks. If this was a trap, it was far too foolish.
Wu Wentao shook his head at the two and moved forward a few steps without revealing his intentions. He asked, "Is the car yours?"
"No, no, no, it's yours!" The man's voice grew frantic, and they could faintly hear something cracking behind him.
"Throw the car keys over here." Wu Wentao remained calm, gesturing for Jin Bo to get into the car first.
The man seemed to mumble a few words before shouting again. Then, from behind the barrier, he tossed a set of keys over.
Wu Wentao did not rush to catch them; he let the keys fall to the ground while keeping his gun trained on the man. With his foot, he nudged the keys backward. Song Jiu bent down to pick up the keys and handed them to Jin Bo, who started the car. Upon seeing the fuel gauge needle jump, he let out a cheer and released the handbrake, speeding away.
As soon as the car left, the man's voice became frantic again. He shouted angrily, "Hey! Don't go! You promised to help! What happened to trust between people? Damn it! Come back! Lao Cao! Old Dai! Help!"
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