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墨書 Inktalez
As Lin Feng walked along the rendezvous route, his heart raced like a drumbeat, pounding violently in his chest. The buildings lining the streets were dull and gray, as if the oppressive shadow of war had suffocated their original colors. Passersby hurried along, heads bowed, their footsteps frantic and urgent, fearful that lingering even for a moment would invite disaster.
Suddenly, a commotion erupted ahead, and the crowd parted like a startled herd of sheep. The Japanese Puppet Army had set up a checkpoint, a grotesque scar stretching across the road. Lin Feng's heart sank; he instinctively halted his steps but quickly regained his composure. Retreating now would only raise greater suspicion. Gritting his teeth, he pushed through the throng, slowly edging closer.
The soldiers of the Japanese Puppet Army stood there like wolves, their eyes gleaming with greed and malice as they ransacked every passerby. The leader, a Puppet Military Lieutenant, had sharp eyes that quickly spotted Lin Feng. Though his clothes were tattered, they were clean and neat, and his upright posture stood in stark contrast to the cowering citizens around him. This immediately put the Puppet Military Lieutenant on high alert.
"Stop!" the lieutenant barked, stepping in front of Lin Feng with a gun aimed squarely at his chest. "You there! You don't look like an ordinary citizen. What are you doing?" The air around them seemed to freeze as onlookers glanced over in terror, their feet unwilling to pause as they hurried to escape this dangerous scene.
Lin Feng's mind raced. In this critical moment, images from historical records flashed through his mind like slides on a projector. He quickly hunched his shoulders, filling his eyes with humility and fear while trembling slightly like a leaf shivering in the cold wind. He stammered out in broken dialect-infused Japanese, "Um... sir, I'm just a laborer delivering vegetables for the Imperial Army. I have an elderly parent at home and young children to feed; I rely on this job for my meals. Please, sir, have mercy." As he spoke, he nervously fished out a dirty cloth pouch from his pocket containing crumpled bills stained with sweat and extended it toward the lieutenant with an exaggeratedly humble demeanor.
The Puppet Military Lieutenant scrutinized him suspiciously but did not lower his weapon. With one hand, he snatched the pouch away and counted the money roughly, revealing a glimmer of greedy satisfaction on his face while doubt still lingered in his eyes. He circled Lin Feng once before suddenly grabbing him by the collar and sniffing him vigorously. "Hmph! Delivering vegetables? You smell off; no laborer is this clean."
Lin Feng's heart raced at this unexpected scrutiny, but he feigned even more fear as beads of sweat rolled down his forehead. He stammered frantically, "Sir! I... I haven't even had time to deliver today! I woke up early to tidy myself up so I wouldn't embarrass the Imperial Army! Who knew I'd run into you? Please have mercy; if I'm late delivering to the Imperial Army, my whole family will suffer!"
As he spoke, he stole glances at the nearby vegetable cart where an old countryman anxiously watched them with worry and helplessness in his eyes.
In a flash of inspiration, Lin Feng pointed at the old man and the cart and shouted loudly, "Sir! Look over there! That's our delivery cart! We deliver fresh vegetables to the Imperial Army every day without fail; we never dare slack off! If you don't believe me, just ask him!" The old countryman was quick-witted too; he hurried over and bowed deeply while supporting Lin Feng's claim: "Sir! We're just honest laborers hoping to serve the Imperial Army well; he's one of us—rest assured!"
The Puppet Military Lieutenant frowned as he scrutinized both men for a long moment while muttering under his breath: "Hmph! I doubt you would dare pull any tricks." Finally, he released Lin Feng's collar and waved his gun dismissively. "Get out of here quickly! If I find anything amiss later, watch your lives!"
Lin Feng felt as if a great weight had been lifted off his shoulders; he hurriedly bowed in thanks and pushed the cart alongside the old countryman as they made their way past the checkpoint with feigned calmness. Each step felt like carrying a thousand pounds until they were far enough away to be sure that the Japanese Puppet Army had not followed them. Only then did he let out a long breath; his legs felt weak beneath him as if they might give way.
However, with the mission pressing upon him urgently, he could not afford to rest. He straightened his clothes and resolutely continued toward his destination. His eyes shone with determination; having just brushed against death's edge moments ago, one thought filled his mind: he must complete this mission and not let down those suffering people on this land who longed for liberation.
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