Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
"Stay inside and don't run around. If I make it back alive, I'll definitely take you home. But I can't guarantee that. If I don't come back, find another place to hang out. Remember, look for a decent family and be smart about it." Ming Junwei squatted in front of Cats and Dogs, smiling as he said goodbye to the Mascots. The Yellow Dog looked confused, sniffing Ming Junwei's hand with its nose before extending its bright red tongue to lick up some drool.
With a twinkle in his eye, Ming Junwei ruffled the Yellow Dog's head, like a father lecturing his son, poking the dog's forehead. "Especially you, learn to guard the house. Don't just laze around all day; otherwise, people might get tired of you and stew you."
The Big Yellow Dog yawned, looking impatient as it dodged Ming Junwei's poking fingers and let out a couple of howls.
Hou Xiong sat by the window, feeling a mix of emotions. On one hand, he was saying goodbye to Cats and Dogs; on the other hand, he was preparing to poison a Living Person. The two tasks were happening simultaneously within the same person, yet it didn't feel out of place or awkward.
"Let's go." Ming Junwei took a deep breath, secured the door latch, and turned off the lights inside.
The distance from the windowsill on the first floor to the second floor was about two meters high, with no protective railing outside. Sneaking in wasn't difficult at all. Ming Junwei climbed out of the window, using his shoulder to support Hou Xiong's weight. He took a deep breath and pushed up with his legs; Hou Xiong jumped up accordingly, grabbing the edge of the windowsill with both hands and pulling himself up.
Inside the window was pitch black; there was no one around and it wasn't locked. The few rooms with lights on were conveniently located nearby for their plans.
Hou Xiong opened the window and signaled for Ming Junwei to help him. Ming Junwei dragged his shoes up while Hou Xiong used both hands and feet to climb in, holding his breath as he made his way inside quickly to lock the door behind him. He then lowered the bedsheet tied around his waist down along the windowsill to pull Ming Junwei up.
"A room must accommodate several people," Hou Xiong suddenly thought of something, focusing on how to deal with the dark hands but neglecting the fact that there were many people on the other side.
"Let's check it out first." Ming Junwei had already considered this issue; having more people wasn't a problem as they could adapt as needed. There would always be an opportunity to catch someone alone.
The two stayed in the room for a moment before stealthily opening the door and peeking into the corridor. The outer circle of the second floor was surrounded by waist-high railings, and there were lights shining near the staircase. If they rushed out carelessly, patrolling guards would spot them immediately. To avoid being seen, they needed to slip into a room at just the right moment when a Patrolman’s gaze shifted away.
"There are three rooms on the left and seven on the right," Hou Xiong counted the lights and muttered, "At least ten people in each room—how do we handle that?"
"There are cameras over there," Ming Junwei squinted and pointed at a roof corner diagonally across from them, cursing under his breath. "Tight security; we can't go through the front."
"How about we find a way to cut off their power?" Hou Xiong looked up at the eaves where rubber-wrapped wires extended all the way to the end of the floor.
"No, before you even touch the wires, the surveillance cameras will have already spotted you," Ming Junwei shook his head, dismissing the suggestion. It seemed he was still thinking too simplistically. Although the courtyard appeared to have weak defenses, in reality, every aspect was intricately linked, leaving little room for loopholes.
"How about we just sneak away?" Hou Xiong suddenly found it somewhat amusing. After all the effort to climb up from below, he realized there was no room to maneuver.
The two scheming individuals were deep in discussion when Ming Junwei suddenly lowered his voice and gestured for silence, his gaze drifting toward the Main Square. Near the entrance, the night shift personnel were gathered, chatting about something. One of the security staff stood up and hurriedly left the group, rushing toward the stairs.
Hou Xiong panicked for a moment, thinking they had been discovered. Just as he was about to speak, he saw the person slip through a small door next to the stairwell.
Ming Junwei's eyes lit up with excitement. "Quick, that's our chance!"
Hou Xiong understood immediately. The internal staff had mentioned earlier that the restroom was by the stairwell and they could use it freely.
The plan to attack the dormitory was temporarily shelved as the two hurriedly climbed out of the window, using bed sheets to jump back down to the first floor. The Yellow Dog, who had been dozing off, was startled and jumped off its bed, showing no awareness of its duty to guard.
Ming Junwei turned on the light and quickly stripped off his shirt, muttering, "Give me the nail."
"Why don't you go yourself?" Hou Xiong paused for a moment.
"Of course! Who goes to the restroom together at this hour?" Ming Junwei chuckled in disbelief.
"I'll go then. What if the nail gets blood on it and becomes useless?" Hou Xiong steadied himself and pulled on his hood before heading to the door.
Ming Junwei hesitated for a moment and cautioned, "He’s still armed. Be careful. If you don’t get a chance to act, just let it go."
"I know. Ten minutes," Hou Xiong nodded, gripping the concrete nail tightly as he strode out of the room.
The field duty personnel only glanced at him from a distance without paying much attention. Hou Xiong took several deep breaths as he walked to the restroom door and deliberately coughed. The restroom was small, resembling a typical pit latrine with a concrete floor; one side had urinals while the other was separated by a concrete barrier for squat toilets. The security guard was squatting in a corner position, smoking a cigarette. He merely lifted his eyelids when he saw Hou Xiong enter but said nothing.
Hou Xiong felt a bit nervous as he approached the urinal, pretending to adjust his belt while secretly contemplating how to make his move. The Security guard, with a gun slung over his shoulder, would likely be caught off guard if Hou suddenly attacked. However, he only had a long nail and couldn't guarantee a quick kill. If the Security guard shouted, the Patrolman outside would rush in within moments.
Struggling to relieve himself was quite a test of his kidney function; he managed to squeeze out a few drops but could no longer keep up the act. He took a deep breath, steadied himself, and reached into his pocket to grip the nail tightly. Turning around, he forced an awkward smile and said, "Um, could I borrow a light?"
The squatting Security guard paused for a moment before nodding and pulling out a lighter from his pocket to hand it over.
Hou Xiong swallowed hard and maintained his composure as he moved closer to the Security guard. He took the lighter from his hand, and they were now less than half a meter apart. The Security guard was squatting, making it an ideal moment to strike.
Yet, Hou Xiong hesitated, keeping his hand with the long nail still tucked away.
The Toilet Security guard looked puzzled, glancing up at him standing there in a daze. He raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "No smoke, no fire?"
"Uh, yeah," Hou Xiong replied awkwardly with a sheepish grin. "I had everything taken away and forgot."
"Here." The Toilet Security guard was still in good spirits as he shifted his body and pulled out an unwrapped pack of cigarettes to offer him. He coughed lightly and added, "Don't worry; once you pass the health check, you'll be one of us in the city. You won't miss out on anything."
"Thanks." Hou Xiong took a cigarette and lit it before returning the pack. He felt rooted to the spot, unable to move forward or back.
The Toilet Security guard extinguished the cigarette butt with a smile and said, "Hey man, do you mind stepping back a bit? It's hard for me to go with you staring at me like that."
"Oh, sorry about that!" Hou Xiong quickly stepped back a few paces, his mind racing as he tried to figure out what to do next.
The Toilet Security guard didn't seem bothered by him; instead, he frowned and scrutinized Hou's appearance. "You look pretty hurt; what happened?"
"Burned," Hou Xiong replied with a tight-lipped smile. "There was a fire at the camp; I didn't make it out in time."
"Surviving such a disaster often brings good fortune afterward," the Toilet Security guard nodded sympathetically. Noticing Hou's pale complexion, he continued, "We have hospitals in the city. Once they assign you a labor position, save up some money for surgery. A buddy of mine was also burned; the hospital can do reconstructive surgery. It might not be as good as before, but it's definitely better than right after the injury."
"Ah," Hou Xiong was taken aback, not expecting that the Security would engage him in conversation.
"Our city has everything, don't worry. The costs aren't high either. Just work hard to earn some money, and when you're done, I'll have my buddy introduce you to a doctor." Toilet Security grinned, a series of loud farts escaping him as he opened the toilet paper and bent down to wipe himself.
At that moment, Toilet Security had completely turned his back to Hou Xiong, not even glancing in his direction. If Hou Xiong took a step forward and drove the blood-stained nail into the back of his neck, the mission would be considered a success. Hou Xiong instinctively lifted his foot, but the nail remained clenched in his palm, unable to be pulled out. If his hesitation just moments ago was due to doubt and nervousness, then his current inaction stemmed from unwillingness.
Hou Xiong felt an unusual sensation; those brief exchanges had inexplicably evoked a sense of goodwill in him—a long-lost kindness. He couldn't understand why he felt this way. In a sudden moment, he wanted to cry, recalling the girl who had died at the Roundabout. Once upon a time, he had been like this Toilet Security—able to get along with everyone in both the Gao Yang Team and Riverside Camp. Back then, no one disliked him; he could joke and chat with Xiaofei and Guli, living a simple life with everyone around him. Everything felt so natural.
When did he change?
Hou Xiong lost himself in thought, remembering that sunny afternoon when a cold and defiant young man burst into the warehouse and killed the boyfriend of the girl he liked. Since then, everything had changed. His former companions distanced themselves from him; the girl he liked refused to speak to him. Friends who had once shared their days with him now rushed to serve that young man who brought misfortune, looking down on him with disdain.
He had reflected on it all but couldn't pinpoint where he went wrong. Did everyone expect him to be revered? Did they all have to unconditionally like him and submit to him?
Betrayal, abandonment, failure, and pain wrapped around Hou Xiong like a shroud of negativity. Heaven spared his life, yet he didn't know what purpose this lingering breath served. Later on, when he was barely hanging on, he met the Blonde Woman. His resentment and unwillingness made him easily manipulated; he participated in the plan to destroy the Roundabout and pressed the detonation button at the train station when it exploded. However, the Blonde Woman did not fulfill her promise; like trash, he was discarded once more. Clinging to his last shred of hope, he went to the Roundabout to catch one last glimpse of that girl before ending his life.
His final wish remained unfulfilled; the girl he longed for had been dead for ages while he remained oblivious. In that moment, Hou Xiong felt as if his soul had been completely shattered. Following Chef Jia's last message before leaving, he went to Cien Cemetery and found Xiaofei's gravestone. He sat there for a long time as if suddenly understanding why heaven spared his life—was it so that he could guard her from now on?
"Not like this."
Two days later, Ming Junwei appeared at the cemetery. After listening to Hou Xiong's story, he calmly uttered those four words.
Ming Junwei said that since they were alive, they must do something; otherwise, it would be better off dead. He also mentioned that he needed a helper for a trip and asked if Hou Xiong would join him on this journey.
Hou Xiong couldn't fathom why he agreed; perhaps it was simply because Ming Junwei said he needed him or maybe because Ming Junwei shared a story about a girl as well. Regardless of the reason, he agreed and followed Ming Junwei onto an uncertain path.
In that fleeting moment just now, Hou Xiong wavered—was it really necessary for him to risk his life to help Ming Junwei kill someone who had shown him kindness?
Then suddenly it struck him: he realized that he had never killed anyone before. Despite countless fantasies about ending Song Jiu's life with his own hands, in reality, he had never taken another person's life himself.
"Hey," Toilet Security said, pulling up his pants and waving his hand in front of him with a smile. "What are you thinking about?"
Hou Xiong's wandering thoughts were suddenly pulled back, his expression shifting slightly as he stammered, "Nothing, nothing."
"You’re quite the character, pondering life in the restroom," Toilet Security chuckled, adjusting his belt as he walked out. Then he turned back and asked, "Hey buddy, can you sell me one of your Kittens?"
"Ah," Hou Xiong replied blankly, turning his head. Suddenly feeling a sharp pain in his palm, he realized the long nail he had been gripping had cut into his skin.
"Kittens," Toilet Security repeated, walking back over and blinking. "I saw them this afternoon. You have a dog and several cats. I've loved cats since I was little; there aren't many in the city. Can you sell me one? Any of them will do."
"Sure, sure," Hou Xiong said, taking a deep breath to calm the boiling emotions inside him and forcing a smile. "I'll give you one."
Toilet Security beamed, affectionately slinging an arm around Hou Xiong's shoulders as they walked out of the restroom together. "Don't worry, buddy; I won't take advantage of you. You head back first; I'll just let the boss know."
Back in his room, Hou Xiong felt dazed as he looked at Ming Junwei sitting on the edge of the bed and gently shook his head.
Ming Junwei stared at him for a while before silently nodding and murmuring, "It's fine; let's think of other ways."
The atmosphere in the room was somewhat awkward as they sat side by side on the bed in silence, each lost in their own thoughts while Cats and Dogs slept soundly nearby, their rhythmic purring filling the air.
"Do we really have to kill someone?" Hou Xiong asked hoarsely, feeling a dryness in his mouth.
"Yeah," Ming Junwei replied, still contemplating their escape plan. He paused at Hou Xiong's question and asked in surprise, "What?"
"Nothing, nothing," Hou Xiong sighed, turning to gaze at Ming Junwei's profile. He asked, "If you hadn't taken her away back then, would she still be alive?"
"Ah," Ming Junwei's thoughts were interrupted again as he sensed something strange. He frowned and asked, "Who?"
“Summer Rain, the girl who saved you,” Hou Xiong said with a strange expression, raising an eyebrow.
Ming Junwei remained silent, his gaze becoming complex as their eyes met, the unusual atmosphere in the air growing heavier.
Before either could speak again, there was a knock on the door, and a face peeked in.
“Hey, you’re not asleep, are you?” Toilet Security beamed as he sidled in, arms full of goodies—beer, snacks, and cigarettes.
Ming Junwei’s expression changed dramatically as he glanced at the dazed Hou Xiong. He forced himself to regain composure, his expression returning to normal as he exclaimed, “What’s this?”
“Come on in!” Toilet Security shut the door behind him and tossed the food onto the table. He grinned at Hou Xiong: “You guys didn’t eat lunch this afternoon, right? Don’t be shy. Where’s Kittens? Let me see.”
Ming Junwei didn’t move, silently directing a questioning look at Hou Xiong.
Hou Xiong smiled and stood up to make space. Toilet Security spotted the sleeping Cats and Dogs family and his eyes lit up like a child’s. He leaned over the bed, gazing adoringly at the slumbering kittens, his face breaking into a loving smile as he reached out to scratch Kittens’ warm belly. Kittens stirred slightly, batting away his fingers with tiny paws while nuzzling deeper into sleep.
“Hehehe.” Toilet Security was overjoyed, gently stroking Kittens’ soft fur. “I’d pay any price for this one if you’d let me.”
Ming Junwei’s gaze fell on the Rifle behind him and then glanced at Hou Xiong, who wore a complicated expression, hesitating to speak.
“You want to buy a cat?” Ming Junwei raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah, didn’t this guy tell you?” Toilet Security maintained his enthusiasm as he stood up and shook Ming Junwei’s hand vigorously. “Come on! I just want one. I’ll pay for it; I promise you won’t lose out.”
Ming Junwei felt a bit dazed. He looked at the oddly expressive Hou Xiong, vaguely guessing what was going on. He smiled and nodded, walking over to the table to open a can of beer and take a swig. “No problem.” He shot a glance at Hou Xiong, spreading his hands invitingly.
Hou Xiong hesitated, his grip on the long nail growing sweaty.
Ming Junwei, with a strange glimmer in his eyes, closed them for a moment and suddenly reached into his pocket, unceremoniously snatching the long nail away.
Hou Xiong wanted to speak, but Ming Junwei's gaze filled him with fear. This Cyclops dragon, who had been drunkenly carefree throughout their journey, seemed to have transformed into a completely different person.
Toilet Security, having received permission, was overjoyed. Squatting by the bed, he played with the Kittens, meowing nonsensically and lost in delight, completely forgetting about the two people behind him.
"Interesting, huh? Queen Cat is living with Dog and has cubs. Haha! If they have a Puppy in the future, I’ll have to buy one."
Suddenly, a gust of wind rushed from behind. Toilet Security's joyful words were abruptly cut off as a tremendous force gripped his throat, causing the air in his lungs to escape rapidly. His mind went blank; he had no idea what was happening. The Cats and Dogs before him appeared peaceful but quickly became blurred. A slight pain pricked at his throat, followed by a chill as blood gushed out, splattering all over the Kittens.
Comment 0 Comment Count