The phone rang for quite a while before someone finally answered.
Just as I was about to speak, a middle-aged man's voice came from the other end:
"Hello..."
The number had to be right. Though he was speaking Japanese, he was most likely the contact.
"Hello! I came from China."
The other party hesitated slightly upon hearing that.
"What are you talking about?"
I was completely confused. Why wasn't he speaking Chinese? Could I have called the wrong number?
I paused and glanced at my phone screen.
The number was definitely correct. What was going on?
Could he be doubting my identity?
With that thought, I immediately said:
"My Taoist name is Du'e!"
The moment my words fell, the voice on the other end spoke again:
"You escaped the blockade?"
This time, it was Chinese.
So I understood clearly. The reason he had kept speaking Japanese earlier was apparently because he truly doubted my identity.
Only after I gave my Taoist name did he preliminarily confirm who I was.
"I'm alone right now. I've already escaped Mount Takao and am hitching a ride in a cargo truck heading northeast."
"Where are the others?"
"We split up and fled separately. They should be able to get out soon enough!"
"Good. Confirm your location first so I can arrange a rendezvous point."
"Alright, hold on..."
After saying that, I checked my location on my phone.
"I'm currently on an expressway, heading northeast. Up ahead should be a place called Akiruno City."
"Akiruno? Alright. Once you reach Akiruno, send me an exact address. I'll arrange for someone to meet you."
"Alright. May I ask how I should address you?"
I asked another question.
But the other party merely chuckled over the phone.
"You don't need to know. But two years ago, I provided