Waiting for the Prey

He kept feeling that something was off about what Li Tie had just said.

It was as though he had heard someone use a certain word just now.

"Not even a minute."

Then they turned off at the highway exit.

"Try to get there half an hour before the time they agreed on."

But not close enough to touch the car.

He handed it over.

Then he began gulping it down frantically.

It got stuck in his throat. At the same time, he patted the boy on the back.

He slowly let out a breath. Only then did he recover.

Sigh.

He must have gone a very long time without eating.

They could even count on three meals a day.

His determination to protect the base grew even stronger.

The car drove onto the highway entrance ramp.

They were left behind in an instant.

Roars rang out.

They hurried back along the side road to the gas station they had just passed.

Li Yu and the others got out of the car.

They got out as well.

Then he cleared out half the food in his backpack and gave it to the brother and sister.

But what he did genuinely helped them.

Yet he seemed unable to speak.

"Find somewhere safe to stay."

He said no more.

"Be careful."

It probably was not the direction of the county town.

As though trying to memorize their faces.

None of them were in a good mood. There seemed to be a little more approval, though.

Then they lay in wait inside the empty convenience store.

Sure enough, less than half an hour later.

His voice was filled with exasperation.

He cautiously edged toward the convenience store entrance.

The group was about to reach the car.

He felt a little reassured.

He gestured with his fingers for them to charge.

He used the gun straight away.

A dagger was strapped to his leg.

"Then he hurriedly ran back.

The shot struck the village party secretary's son squarely in the calf.

"The ground was covered in gravel and dust.

He pressed his right hand over the wound where the bullet had passed through.

He did not dare run away. Somehow, the whole sequence of movements looked practiced.

That was exactly what he wanted.

He began the interrogation.

The questions were essentially the same as those he had asked the bald man earlier.

The location they gave for their headquarters was also the Lotus Building.

This once again confirmed the truth of what the boy had just said.

He admitted to it. He did not know what they were talking about.

He looked utterly unconvinced.

He wanted to see how they would react.

He could not get out any of the words he had wanted to say next.

The atmosphere seemed to grow somewhat oppressive.

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