When the three-person team emerged from the mine tunnel in pursuit, the morning star shone against the deep blue sky.
A faint pearly white glow had appeared along the horizon.
A glance at a watch showed it was 5:45 a.m.
In the dim light, they could make out a vast expanse of abandoned miners' shacks ahead.
Countless half-collapsed shacks built from sheet metal or wooden planks stretched as far as the eye could see.
Most had caved-in roofs and cracked walls, with weeds growing rampant.
The air carried the chill of late autumn.
A cold wind swept past, making all three shiver.
Their clothes were still soaking wet.
Looking back, they saw that the tunnel exit was extremely well concealed. It had probably been abandoned before the earthquake.
Normal mine entrances were used to haul out ore, with stockpiles and loading yards outside. They would not have been this close to the shantytown.
Xiong Gang said, "This abandoned exit wasn't marked on the plans. Looks like Zhang Ming and the others guarding the perimeter didn't post anyone here!"
Han Xiao, meanwhile, frowned at the shantytown ahead.
There were at least several hundred shacks here, with alleys crisscrossing between them. If the ringleader was hiding among them, finding him would be... like searching for a needle in a haystack.
He glanced back at Song Ning. "How are you holding up? Are you cold? Can you keep going?"
"I'm fine! Let's find them!" Song Ning withdrew her gaze, her voice calm.
Xiong Gang and Han Xiao entered the nearest alley first.
After examining the ground for a moment, they turned and waved Song Ning over.
Song Ning placed her hard hat at the mouth of the alley they had entered, leaving a marker for those following behind.
Once inside the alley, however,