Chapter 036
Nangong Iren
As usual, Shinnshiow's egg wrap fried rice was delicious. But then, something was a little different. Iren could not explain clearly which part was not the same. It wasn't that the dish wasn't good enough. It's just that there was an additional taste that usually didn't exist.
"Shiowdi, did you try a new recipe?"
Iren turned to the questioner. In fact, he wasn't the only one who felt the difference. While chewing, Yihshyong asked the question.
"Hahaha...!" Shinnshiow laughed. "Not that I have a new recipe, but I have a brilliant assistant."
Jenqyih turned to Yinqyueh. "So you're good at cooking, huh! What a coincidence, so we can have more choices now."
A blush flashed across Yinqyueh's cheeks. "That's not true. I was just helping Shiowge fry the spices. Shiowge has prepared all the spices and prepared them well. So I have done little."
"It's not just frying spices. This young lamb was also fried by this sweet Miss Liuchiou," said Shinnshiow.
Yinqyueh's cheeks turned even redder at Shinnshiow's words. "So, how was the trip down there?" Yinqyueh asked. Her tone was like that of someone wanting an answer right away. Iren got the impression that Yingyue hoped the conversation would soon move on to something else.
Since returning from the dungeon, Shannchyuan, Jenqyih, and Yihshyong really have said nothing. The three of them were so mysterious. They just said that they would soon tell what they saw. Shannchyuan added they would expose it when they all had breakfast at the dinner table.
The three people hadn't showered yet. They only had time to wash their hands and faces before sitting in the dining room, where their dining table was located. Shannchyuan just smiled in response to the conversation. Meanwhile, Jenqyih, like Yihshyong, was already busy devouring the food that was served.
"Now we're all at the table. We've even started eating. I think it's about time you guys said something," said Shinnshiow.
"But we still eat," Yihshyong said.
"So what if you guys are still eating?" Shinnshiow widened his eyes. "Right now, we're talking, also while eating, right?"
"Okay!" Yihshyong said. "But I think it's best if Dahge does the talking."
"Right," said Jenqyih. "Besides, I don't see everything down there."
"You don't see everything when you're there?" Yinqyueh looked at Jenqyih with a questioning look.
"There are times where I have to wait somewhere down there." Jenqyih's voice was a bit unclear because his mouth was full of food. "Back then, I had no idea what Dahge and Shyongge were doing." He turned to Shannchyuan. "Dahge, you start talking now!"
Shannchyuan nodded. He looked around him before starting to open his mouth. With a slow tempo, he told the things they saw in the underground passage. The story was detailed enough that it seemed a bit long-winded. He even repeated the conversation that took place between the three of them sentence by sentence. Iren, of course, didn't know how accurate those sentences were, but from the reactions on Yihshyong and Jenqyih's faces, Shannchyuan had indeed reconstructed the conversation between them.
"So there's a big, heavy stone bench in the hall? Like the stone table in the basement behind?" Shinnshiow's eyebrows were slightly raised.
"Maybe it's a resting place for people walking through the alleys." Jenqyih made his guess.
Shannchyuan continued his story. Like Iren, Shinnshiow and Yinqyueh listened to the story in amazement. Iren was sure that all of those present had heard stories about underground passages. But that was the first time they were that close to the things they were talking about.
"Then where does the underground passage end?" Iren was very curious when Shannchyuan's story reached the part where Shannchyuan and Yihshyong saw a bright light at the end of the hallway.
"Guess what? Where does the underground passage lead to?" Yihshyong smiled as he raised his eyebrows. His facial expression was so funny.
"Although I don't know the answer to that question, I think each of us already has an idea about it." Jenqyih nodded with a smile.
"Eh? Uncle Jenqyih doesn't know either?" Yinqyueh looked surprised to hear Jenqyih's words.
"I didn't go through the dog door. Besides, the two of them said nothing when they got back into the passage," Jenqyih said.
"I think I figured it out!" Shinnshiow laughed. He put the rice into his mouth.
"Eh, Shiowge already knows?" Yinqyueh turned to Shinnshiow. Her face was so cute.
"Yes. But that's just an estimate." Shinnshiow chewed the rice in his mouth.
"So, where's the exit?" Yinqyueh's face looked so curious.
"They're still underground, but they can already see a bright light. What kind of place around here is like that?" Shinnshiow's voice was utterly indistinct.
"You swallow the food in your mouth first, then talk." Shannchyuan smiled. "But your guess is not wrong. I think Jenqyih actually guessed it, too. Isn't that right?" Shannchyuan pointed his index finger at Jenqyih.
Jenqyih just smiled. He neither denied nor confirmed.
"Oh!" Iren exclaimed. So we don't have to worry about traveling anymore. We can go anywhere without worrying about someone following us when we leave the house."
"Eh! I still don't know where the passage ends!" Yinqyueh shouted. Her expression looked even funnier.
"Jongharng subway station!" The five middle-aged men said in unison. They all laugh.
"Ow!" Yinqyueh let out a short exclamation. "Yeah, I think that's good news."
"So we can move things to the Shindongchaang warehouse via the underground passage," said Shinnshiow.
"Maybe it's not that easy," Yihshyong said. "There are passages that are so narrow."
"Ah, Shyongge mean, the dog door?" asked Shinnshiow.
Yihshyong nodded.
"Regarding that, I think we should be cautious," said Shannchyuan. "There's something else we should be aware of."
"That's right," said Yihshyong, "there are other people who know about the underground passage as well. So indeed, there are people who may have regularly used the passage before."
"You guys locked the door in our basement, didn't you?" Iren asked.
"Yes. We have even covered it with the cupboard." Jenqyih's face was so serious when he said those words. "So it's the same as before we touched it last night."
"Aren't we going to use the underground hallway?" Yinqyueh asked.
"We will definitely use it. We just have to be very careful," Shannchyuan replied.
"We haven't had time to open the other door yet," Yinqyueh said.
That is true! There is still one door in the dungeon that we haven't even opened.
"I'd love to explore that other door. But I don't think we have time," said Iren.
"Do we have the key?" Jenqyih asked.
"We don't have one. But I think the key is hidden in the same way as the lock on the door we opened," Yihshyong said.
"You're right. Maybe the key is under one of the stone benches over there," Shannchyuan said. "I think that if we have a little time later, we should try to find the key."
"Then? How about next? I think, after that, we still don't have much time. Soon we will have to leave this place." Jenqyih sighed.
Shannchyuan nodded. "I know. After finding the key, we most likely won't have time to go in and explore the passage behind that door. But at least we have to try. Maybe, later, for some reason, we can still stay here a little longer. ."
Does Dahge have other plans that he hasn't told us about?
"Regarding this key matter." Yihshyong opened his mouth. "If we find it, what are we going to do?"
"Of course, we have to return it to the owner of this house," said Shannchyuan.
"I don't feel comfortable with the owner of this house," Yihshyong said.
"It's not a matter of whether we like or dislike that person." Shannchyuan's voice was firm. "Those things don't belong to us. We can't keep them."
"How about we just return it to where we found it?" Shinnshiow proposed. "I think that's better."
That's a brilliant idea. We don't need to lie, let alone take things that don't belong to us.
Shannchyuan looked at his friends. "We'll talk about that later. We have much more pressing matters at the moment."
"Okay. Now let's discuss today's plans. What should we do today?" Shinnshiow leaned forward.
"You and Jenqyih went to the station where you left the duffel bags you brought yesterday. Take those things, and then move them to the Shindongchaang warehouse at Jongharng station."
After that, Shannchyuan turned toward Yinqyueh. "I asked for your relative's address in Yuehming. Don't worry, you will still be here. I'm just going to see how things are at their place. I will not tell them anything yet."
Yinqyueh looked a little hesitant, but then she nodded.
"I'm going there with Yihshyong. As we agreed yesterday, Iren is keeping watch at home."
"Where are we going?" Yihshyong looked confused.
Dahge hasn't explained his plan to Shyongge yet?
"This morning, we will go to see Miss Liuchiou's relative's house," said Shannchyuan.
"Oh!" Yihshyong just nodded. No further comment.
Shannchyuan turned towards Iren. "You don't have a problem with this arrangement, do you?"
Iren smiled. "Don't worry. Yesterday, we decided I would stay at home."
"Shall we leave this house through the front door or secret underground passage?" Shinnshiow asked.
"Don't let the people who watch the house notice that there are very few people in the house. So I think Yihshyong and I would go out by the underground passage, while Shinnshiow and Jenqyih would go out the front door."
"Okay." Shinnshiow nodded.
Shannchyuan hadn't finished speaking yet. "But first, I want Shinnshiow and Jenqyih to take Yihshyong and me through the underground passage."
Jenqyih straightened her back. "Dahge wants us to accompany you to the room with the dressing table?"
"I'll explain first. We have to be very careful when exploring those underground passages. There are things that other people have to do, apart from the two of us. At the very least, there should be two people guarding down there. One person stands guard by the door of the hallway where there is a candleholder, and another person stands guard. Remember, there are other people who know about the passage, too. That person may not necessarily appear. But if he does, we must all be ready."
"We don't know their number. What if there are several?" Shinnshiow's voice sounded a little worried.
"I can't explain it, but I have a hunch that there aren't many of them. It's probably two or three at most." The look on Shannchyuan's face was so sure.
Two or three people is definitely not a simple matter. Especially if they are all well-built and mastering martial arts.
"So far, we've had a passion for doing extraordinary things. Things we weren't sure we could do before. This time, it won't be much different. I'm sure we'll all be able to overcome this."
Silence for a moment. Iren knew that everyone there wanted to believe that they could do anything. But sometimes, doubts still always arose in their hearts. Iren looked at Jenqyih. Among them, Jenqyih's body was the largest. But that didn't mean that Jenqyih's stamina was the best. At that time, Jenqyih looked tired.
"What if I go down to accompany Shiowdi?" Iren proposed. "It's better if Yihge stays here to accompany Miss Liuchiou."
Shannchyuan looked at Jenqyih.
"I don't mind." Jenqyih's face radiated a sense of relief. "We all have to take turns exploring the place. So this time, I think Iren is better off accompanying you."
"Okay! Now let's get ready." Shannchyuan ended their discussion. By then, they had all finished their breakfast.
Earlier, a few minutes before Shannchyuan, Jenqyih, and Yihshyong went up, Iren had already taken a shower while Shinnshiow was still in the bathroom. So after finishing breakfast, it was Shannchyuan, Jenqyih, and Yihshyong's turn to clean up.
The three of them showered alternately in a flash. In just fifteen minutes, they were all tidy. Everything was ready for the adventure again. Even though they looked tired, their faces radiated a fiery spirit.
Shannchyuan stood opposite Yinqyueh. The girl handed him a piece of paper with an address and a plan to go to a relative's house in Yueming. Shannchyuan looked at the address and the floor plan. He smiled. He seemed to have figured out where it was. Yuehming was indeed not a foreign land to them.
They all then walked to the backyard. In accordance with what they had discussed, Jenqyih stood guard above while Shannchyuan, Yihshyong, Shinnshiow, and Iren descended to enter the secret passage underground. Because they have been up and down several times, they are used to it. So, the time they needed to get to the bottom of the hole was very short.
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