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Chapter 114
Dongfang Jenqyih
Jenqyih and Yihshyong were standing right at the spot the kidnappers had determined as the place for the ransom to be handed over. Nervous and restless, Jenqyih repeatedly checked his watch. It was already ten minutes past the meeting time the kidnappers had set.
"Shyongge, do you think they will delay the delivery of these ransom items again?" Jenqyih said in a very low voice.
"I don't think so." Yihshyong shook his head with a gesture that looked so sure. "I have a feeling they are serious this time. They may have just decided to be extra careful."
"More careful, in what context?"
"There's no guarantee that we wouldn't tell the police about this. I guess, only after they're sure that things are really safe, then those crooks will show up to meet us."
"I don't see the police at all." Jenqyih looked right and left. "Where are they?"
"Please, don't act like that." Yihshyong whispered in a worried tone of voice. "I'm worried those crooks will get suspicious."
"Sorry!" Jenqyih patted Yihshyong on the back. "Maybe I am not being careful."
"Let's just wait. It is also possible that they are testing our patience."
"Does Shyongge believe they will release Shinnshiow as soon as we hand over these items?"
"I'm not one hundred percent sure. But we have to do this. You were the one who said that Shinnshiow sounded fine. So the kidnappers didn't mean to harm him."
"Yes, that time he didn't sound like someone who was suffering. So maybe it's true that the kidnappers were being nice to him. But what if soon after that, the kidnappers realized Shinnshiow had left the room and even managed to call us? Is it not possible for the kidnappers to be angry and torturing Shinnshiow?"
Yihshyong laughed. "You better not think about it like that. Apart from telling us about the pen, Shinnshiow hadn't provided any other useful information to the police. So even if the kidnappers knew Shinnshiow called us, they wouldn't be too worried either. The worst possible situation was that they immediately moved Shinnshiow to another place. Somewhere else they thought was much safer."
Jenqyih also laughed. "Maybe Shyongge is right."
The situation then became quiet. Jenqyih was busy with his own thoughts. He was sure that Yihshyong had done the same.
"What if the circumstances here were related to the conditions there?" After being silent for about half a minute, suddenly Yihshyong grabbed Jenqyih's arm.
"What's wrong? Did Shyongge see anything?" Jenqyih did not understand what Yihshyong was talking about.
Yihshyong exhaled quickly. His face turned slightly tense. "Before this, those people were always on time."
Jenqyih smiled. "I was feeling a little uneasy just now, but the last few minutes I've calmed down a bit. I don't know why. I can't explain it." "
What are you talking about?" Yihshyong turned his head. He looked at Jenqyih with a strange look. "What does that have to do with what I just brought up?"
"What I mean is, we can't say they're not on time yet. Shyongge, you can see for yourself that it's only fifteen minutes past three." Jenqyih showed his watch. "I think a slight delay like this is still considered a natural thing."
Yihshyong shook his head in such a strong motion. "That's not what I meant. I am just wondering if maybe Iren and Tsaehorng haven't met the kidnappers yet? We can't communicate with them, so we don't know how they are there."
Yihshyong turned to Jenqyih. Even though it was dark, Jenqyih could still see that Yihshyong was squinting. He seemed to be straining his eyes.
Exactly, what is Shyongge thinking? His way of thinking is too complicated. I can't keep up with his footsteps. Chioujen should have been here. A super intelligent person like him must have no trouble communicating with Shyongge.
Jenqyih raised his guard. Yihshyong turned out to be serious. Something important came to his mind.
Yihshyong whispered, "alright! I'll try to explain as best I can."
Jenqyih listened carefully. He suspected Yihshyong would explain his conjecture in whispers.
"If it turns out that the kidnappers or people ordered by them have not yet appeared there, then there is a possibility that they are trying to make the handover of the ransom take place at exactly the same time in both places. So, if there are obstacles or problems in one place , here or there, which results in a delay in that place, then in the other place they will also delay it."
Jenqyih's guess was wrong. Yihshyong did not whisper as he brought this up. Even though he didn't say those words out loud, either. However, Yihshyong's brief explanation did not immediately make Jenqyih aware of what Yihshyong meant.
Is tonight, for some reason, my brain can't work properly? Or am I basically an idiot?
"Eh? You still don't understand what I mean?" Yihshyong patted himself on the forehead.
Jenqyih shook his head. "Why should they put it off? Wouldn't it be better for them if one thing gets done first? So they can focus on the other thing?"
Yihshyong took a deep breath. "Because maybe they have prepared a surprise in almost the same way. If they have shown this surprise in one place, then the police will already be able to suspect that the kidnappers will also do the same thing in another place. If the police can already find out their method of escape from one place, then the police will prepare ways to anticipate it in another place."
"You mean they don't want us to see how they escape the police?"
"That's right! If they managed to escape there with one trick, then they wouldn't be able to use that trick here if the police over there had already seen through the trick. The police stationed there, and the ones guarded here, must have some way of communicating."
Jenqyih nodded lightly. "Your words make sense."
"That's possible, right?"
Jenqyih patted Yihshyong on the shoulder. "Right now, have the police also thought of such a possibility?"
Yihshyong looked up at the sky. He then turned to Jenqyih. "I don't know. But I believe the police aren't stupid. If I can think that way, then it's very likely that the police have thought that, too."
"If, somehow, the police manage to figure out the trick, then the police will be able to catch them."
"That's also something I'm worried about. The point of giving these ransom items is so that they, namely the kidnappers, are willing to release Shinnshiow as soon as possible. If they are caught before they can release our friend, then all our efforts will be in vain. So, sorry, I'd prefer if the kidnappers manage to escape. At least, until Shinnshiow makes it back home safely."
Jenqyih heard Yihshyong's words clearly. They all also wanted Shinnshiow to return safely as soon as possible. But they also didn't want the kidnappers to get away with it. It was a dilemma.
Apart from that, there were other things that they also need to know. The things that might be behind all the series of events. And the most important thing was that they, as soon as possible, must get accurate information about the whereabouts of Shannchyuan, Yinqyueh, and Songfei. Jenqyih understood Yihshyong's concern that the police might not have the same priorities as them.
For a few minutes later, the two men just stood there in silence. Finally, at twenty-three minutes past three, Jenqyih broke the silence.
"Let's take a look again at the letter the kidnappers sent us. There may be certain words we didn't pay attention to before."
Yihshyong took a deep breath. "Okay. Now let's try to double-check what things the kidnapper wrote in the letter. Maybe there really are things that were missed."
He reached into his pocket. Yihshyong took out two pieces of paper, which were the copies of the original letter.
"Here I brought a flashlight from home." Jenqyih held out a flashlight to Yihshyong, who took it immediately.
Quickly, Yihshyong moved towards a long bench near where they were standing. Arriving there, Yihshyong instantly sat down and began to read the two sheets of paper.
A few minutes later, Yihshyong sighed. "I still have found nothing that might be a secret tip from the kidnappers. How about you try analyzing these letters as well?"
Jenqyih walked over to the bench. He sat down and took the two sheets of paper from Yihshyong's hand. Without much thought, Jenqyih read the two pages of the letter. For about ten minutes, he read the writing on the two sheets of paper over and over again.
"I didn't find anything either." Finally, Jenqyih ended his efforts. He looked up at the sky above him. He didn't know what to do.
"Let's just wait for them. There is always the possibility that they are testing us," said Yihshyong.
At three thirty-five minutes, they saw someone walking staggering. That person was holding a bottle in his right hand. Jenqyih could smell the strong liquor.
That must be some amazing liquor!
Right away, the man sat down on the long bench. He sat right next to Jenqyih. He started singing out loud.
Jenqyih watched the person. It looked like the man was really drunk. After he finished singing, he spat out incoherent words. After listening for a minute, Jenqyih realized the person was reciting ancient poems.
Ah! This person must be well educated. It was rare for an ordinary person to be able to recite such poems so fluently!
The person put the bottle he was holding on the surface of the bench. After staring at the bottle for a few seconds, he moved the bottle to ground level. The person then tries to lie down on the bench. Luckily, the bench was very long, so there was still enough space for the person to lie down.
Yihshyong poked Jenqyih. Just like Jenqyih, he seemed to be suspicious of the person who just came. But so far, the drunk-looking person had done nothing to solidify their suspicions.
The person suddenly screamed loudly. Jenqyih almost fell down in shock when he heard that voice. The loud voice sounded much louder in the silence of the night like that. After shouting loudly, the person got up and tried to sit up. He then bowed. His hands dangled straight down to touch his shoes.
"Before going to bed, shoes must be removed!" That person was talking to himself in a voice that was still so loud.
Jenqyih saw the man take off his shoes. After that, the drunken man threw the two shoes one by one into the bushes behind them.
"Shoes should be kept in the closet!" The person was still screaming. His voice sounded hoarse. After that, he returned to lie down on the long bench.
How annoying! If this drunk is sleeping here, it might make the kidnappers suspicious. They may even be reluctant to show up to see us!
Luckily, all that did not last long. At a quarter to four, Jenqyih heard the sound of a motorbike approaching them. The sound was actually not too loud, but because the atmosphere was so quiet, it sounded as if it was very loud. Less than two minutes later, a motorbike stopped right in front of the bench where they were sitting.
"Don't sleep here, Uncle." The motorcyclist screamed. He did not take off the helmet he was wearing. His voice was so heavy.
"Sorry, Sir, my uncle is a bother."
Yihshyong grinned. "That's fine. We weren't bothered at all."
"Can you help me put my uncle on the motorbike?"
Yihshyong and Jenqyih stood up straight away. The three of them then lifted up the drunken person. Yihshyong and Jenqyih tried to seat the drunk man on the motorbike. The motorbike driver held out a rope made of plastic to Yihshyong and Jenqyih. The two men then tied the drunk man to the motorbike he was riding. After that, they also tied the person to the body of the driver who was already sitting on the motorbike.
"Thank you, Sir!" The driver's deep voice sounded a little hoarse.
"You're welcome," Yihshyong said.
The motorbike driver then started the motorbike. Jenqyih stood still, staring at the motorbike until the vehicle disappeared from sight.
"Don't you think that person is strange?"
Yihshyong, who had returned to sit on the bench, only snorted after hearing Jenqyih's question.
Jenqyih sat down again. He turned to Yihshyong. "Don't you think that person looks strange?" He repeated the sentence again.
Yihshyong was still silent. He didn't even open his mouth. His face looked a little tense. Maybe there are things that were so weighing on his mind.
Jenqyih stood up again. He couldn't hide his anxiety. He stepped forward about a meter from the long bench. After looking left and right, he turned around. This time, he faced Yihshyong directly.
"Didn't you hear what I said?"
Yihshyong, who was still in a seated state, looked up. "Of course he's very odd. He didn't take off his helmet at all."
"Not only that," Jenqyih said, "the shoes were different."
Instantly, Yihshyong stood up. He approached Jenqyih. "What do you mean by saying that the shoes were different?"
"Have you not noticed? The shoes he was wearing are not the same. They were somewhat similar, but the two shoes were not the same. The right shoe was bigger than the left. The style was also different."
"Why didn't you say so earlier?"
"I think you already know. It's possible that he was in a rush when he left to find his uncle and put on the wrong shoes. But it's also possible that he's just an eccentric person."
The two of them then sat back down on the bench. Just like before, the two of them spent their time sitting in silence. Jenqyih refrained from saying something. He didn't want to say something wrong that would arouse Yihshyong's emotions. He understood that Yihshyong, as the interim head of their group, must be carrying a heavy burden.
Yihshyong, after taking a deep breath, took out the paper that he had pocketed earlier. He began to read the letters again.
Jenqyih just watched. He really hoped that this time Yihshyong would find something.
"Why didn't this occur to me before?" Yihshyong shouted loudly.
"What is it?" A glimmer of hope burst into Jenqyih's heart. What Yihshyong discovered could be a tremendous breakthrough.
"Here. Try reading it." Yihshyong pointed to a paragraph on the first sheet of paper.
In that paragraph, the kidnapper said that they bought Shinnshiow a pair of shoes. The shoes Shinnshiow previously wore fell apart during the kidnapping.
"It seems the kidnappers want to lead us to something to do with shoes." Jenqyih exclaimed happily.
Yihshyong stood up in a flash. "The drunk man threw his shoe into the bushes behind us!"
"Come on, let's find it quickly!" Jenqyih immediately jumped into the bushes without waiting for Jenqyih's answer.
Jenqyih froze for a moment before following what Yihshyong was doing. The two of them then examined the thickly growing bushes.
"I found the right shoe!" Yihshyong screamed loudly.
"You just check the shoe first. I'm still looking for the other shoe."
A few minutes later, Jenqyih managed to find the left one. Straightway, he returned to the long bench to check the shoes.
"I found nothing in this right shoe," said Yihshyong. "Let's examine carefully the shoes you found."
Jenqyih put his hand inside the shoe. He felt something on the toe of the shoe. He pulled the thing out. It turned out to be a lump of paper. Besides that, he still felt that there was something else at the end of the shoe. Jenqyih quickly took it out.
"It looks like a letter." Jenqyih gave the wad of paper to Yihshyong. "And here is a key." Jenqyih looked at a key in his grip.
"Where's the flashlight you brought from home earlier?" Yihshyong cast his gaze around them.
Jenqyih looked around for a while. Turned out the flashlight was lying under the bench. Maybe it had been kicked by the drunk. "Here's the flashlight."
When he started reading the letter, Yihshyong's expression slightly changed.
"What's in it?"
"They want us to go to a place called 'The Red Soil River.' Over there, we must give these ransom items."
"Is there enough time? That place is a bit far, isn't it?"
"Eh? Do you know where that place is? Have you been there?"
"I've been there once. But I just stopped by. So, I was only there for a short time. Of course, didn't have time to look around thoroughly."
"From here, roughly, how long will it take us to get there?"
Jenqyih shook his head with a sigh. "I can't be sure. It's actually a bit far from here. At that time, I visited several places in one day. After all, I didn't leave from here. So the situation wasn't the same."
"You go there during the day, right?"
Jenqyih nodded. "That's right. The traffic sure was heavy. We hope that after midnight, like this, maybe there's less traffic, so we can get there a lot quicker."
"On this paper, they don't say what time we should be there. They only wrote that these things that we carry must have passed into their hands before dawn."
"Let's not waste time. We have to get back to the car right now." Jenqyih was a bit panicked. He felt his heart beat much faster.
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