Chapter 053
Duanmuh Shannchyuan
Shannchyuan was already wearing a fairly thick leather jacket, sunglasses, a hat, and a mask covering his mouth.
Why is Jenqyih looking at me with such a strange look? Is there something wrong with my appearance?
"I think Dahge should not wear accessories that are too weird and excessive. If Dahge's costumes and make-up are too flashy, people will get suspicious." Jenqyih leaned his head forward as he observed Shannchyuan's appearance.
"Is my appearance too much?" Shannchyuan looked at his friends one by one.
As I recall, there are a lot of people who look like this out there! Even people who are much older than me wear weirder clothes sometimes.
"I think Dahge's appearance is still considered normal. Not at all excessive," said Yihshyong. "But I don't know what the others think."
"Right, I think this is still reasonable!" Iren said.
Hearing the words that came out of the lips of his two friends, Jenqyih just nodded without showing a disappointed face or anything like that. He said nothing more about it.
"In that case, I'll just wear these clothes and accessories." Shannchyuan nodded happily.
"Dahge won't go there alone, will he?" Jenqyih changed the subject.
Once again, Shannchyuan looked at the three friends one by one. "Which one of you would want to take me there?"
"I do!" Iren raised his hand and raised his index finger. "These past few days, I haven't experienced anything as exciting as all of you!"
Jenqyih laughed. "Haven't had an exciting experience yet. Aren't you even luckier? Life is even more serene."
"If I just want to live in peace, why should I join you to live in this city? Wouldn't it be better if I just stayed in my hometown?"
"Right!" Yihshyong nodded vigorously. "One of our goals for migrating here is to live a more colorful and turbulent life. Now, it is the time to experience these things."
"Okay! Iren, you come with me. Now change your clothes. But don't take too long. We don't have much time!" Even though Shannchyuan smiled, he spoke those words in a firm tone.
"Don't worry. I can finish changing clothes quickly," said Iren.
"Who's the other person who wants to come down into the underground passage?" Yihshyong looked at his friends. "There has to be someone standing guard next to the chandleholder on the wall before the entrance to the room with the dressing table, right?"
"What if you are the one who go there?" Shannchyuan looked at Yihshyong with a smile.
"Okay." Yihshyong nodded without arguing in the slightest.
It turns out Yihshyong really wants to come along.
"Now, please get Songfei's bag." Shannchyuan patted Jenqyih on the shoulder. He then looked to his right side. "Yihshyong, you take the rope we usually use when we go down the hole. Ah! Don't forget to prepare a flashlight and a plastic bag."
Jenqyih went into his room to get Songfei's bag. Shannchyuan did keep Songfei's bag in the wardrobe in the room Jenqyih was in. Yihshyong immediately walked towards the shed, where they kept a lot of the things they didn't use.
In less than two minutes, Jenqyih was in front of Shannchyuan, carrying Songfei's blue bag. Yihshyong thrust a black plastic bag into Shannchyuan's hand. Promptly, Shannchyuan opened the blue bag and took out the things he wanted to bring. He put the objects into the black plastic bag in his hand.
"Now, you put this bag back in the cupboard," said Shannchyuan.
Jenqyih nodded.
"I'm ready!" Iren came out of the room just as Jenqyih lifted the bag.
"So fast!" shouted Yihshyong. "Could it be that you have actually prepared the costume earlier?"
Iren just laughed at Yihshyong's words. He didn't say that's not true.
"Let's go now!" Shannchyuan moved his right hand.
"Wait a minute," Jenqyih shouted. "There's something important that we forgot."
"What is it?" Iren looked surprised.
"Tsaehorng said that he would be back here before ten o'clock. What if he comes before we all get back here?"
It was so quiet. Everyone looked at each other.
Ah! How could I not take that into account?
"If that happens, I ask you to try to keep Tsaehorng from entering the house." Shannchyuan patted Jenqyih on the shoulder.
"So I have to keep Tsaehorng out of the house?" Jenqyih asked.
Shannchyuan nodded.
Jenqyih's face changed slightly. "Such behavior is completely unnatural."
"I'm sure you can do it."
"What should I do in the front yard?"
"You just need to talk to him. It's up to you what you want to talk about."
"Is that even possible? He will find it such a strange thing. After all, the people watching our house, if they were still watching, will also be suspicious."
"Try as best you can. Hopefully, we'll all be back here before Tsaehorng comes."
"But shouldn't I be on guard at the edge of the pit?"
What should I answer?
"You do have to keep watch at the edge of the pit, but if Tsaehorng comes, you leave the backyard, do as I said."
"So I have to stand guard at the edge of the hole but also have to be carefully waiting for Tsaehorng to come?"
Shannchyuan nodded. "Don't close the kitchen door so you can hear someone knocking on the front door. It's late, so you can probably hear knocking on the front door from the backyard."
Jenqyih still looked doubtful.
"Can't you do it?" Shannchyuan wanted to make sure his friend was up to the task.
"Oh! It's a tough task." Jenqyih complained. "But please don't worry. I'll do my best."
"All right! Now let's all go to the backyard!"
They all then headed for the hole in the back corner of their backyard. Together, they slid a large pot over the lid of the manhole. Jenqyih jogged after them after keeping Songfei's bag in the closet.
"Now Iren and I are going down. After we get to the bottom, Yihshyong, you can only start coming down to catch up. Remember, before we get to the bottom, you have to stay here."
Yihshyong nodded.
The few times they descended into that dungeon had made them much more proficient. In a relatively short time, Shannchyuan, Iren, and Yihshyong were already at the bottom of the hole. Because yesterday, Iren and Shinnshiow didn't cover the east door in the basement with those cupboard-like things, so right now, they didn't have to bother to enter the hallway.
The three of them walked at high speed. A moment later, they were in front of a candleholder that tilted to open the door to a room with a dressing table.
"You wait here." Shannchyuan nodded as he glanced at Yihshyong.
Shannchyuan and Iren continued their journey. It wasn't long before they reached the bottom floor of the Jongharng subway station. For the umpteenth time, Shannchyuan passed the Shindongchaang gate on the bottom floor. The two of them paused for a moment in front of the gate.
"Passed by this place a few times, but didn't even have a chance to stop by." Shannchyuan narrowed his eyes as he looked at the arch. He took a deep breath.
"That's right, Dahge! Sometimes things like that happen. We don't have time to visit a place, even though we often pass by that place," said Iren.
They didn't stand there long. Less than a minute later, they left the place. With quick steps, they went up to the floor where there was a document copying kiosk. Shannchyuan didn't want to be there for long. They would only print a few documents.
"This photo will not look good if it's just photocopied." The shopkeeper who served the document pawnshop at the shop commented when he heard Shannchyuan's request.
"We know. But please just photocopy it. It doesn't matter if the result is a bit terrible." Shannchyuan smiled.
We don't need the perfect result.
"You see, Sir, our shop also provides services for re-photographing old photos that no longer have film cliches." The shopkeeper offered another product.
Ah! Were they instructed to offer products in this way?
"So, the result will be a photogravure?" Iren seemed quite interested.
"Photogravure and photo sheets printed on photo paper, Sir!" The shopkeeper's voice sounded so excited.
Iren looked at Shannchyuan.
Do we really need this?
"The re-photo process will take a long time or not?" Shannchyuan leaned forward.
"The re-photo process didn't take long at all. It only took a few minutes. But the photo printing process might take a little time," said the shopkeeper.
Okay! If I refuse, maybe this shopkeeper will continue to persuade us! It could take a long time!
"In that case, first this photo will be photocopied, just like the other documents. After that, then this photo will be re-photographed."
It was true that the process of taking a photograph did not take long. After the process was complete, Shannchyuan and Iren chose not to wait until the photo was finished printing. The photocopies were already in their hands. Undeniably, that was the most important thing. The printed reproduction photo could be taken at a later time.
After that, Shannchyuan looked for a pay phone. He called Hannrong at his home. As he had promised Yinqyueh, Shannchyuan told Hannrong not to tell anyone about Yinqyueh's presence at Dahfeisy Tower. From their previous conversation, Shannchyuan already knew that Hannrong would definitely be relieved to hear Shannchyuan's decision like that. His assumption was not wrong. Hannrong promised to keep Yinqyueh's presence in the building a secret.
They then prepared to return. The thick clothes and unusual make-up made Shannchyuan feel a little uncomfortable. He paused for a moment to fix the position of the hat he was wearing. Iren, who apparently didn't realize it, kept walking at a fast pace. While changing the position of his hat, Shannchyuan saw something. With half running, he approached Iren.
"You go back first. I have some business to attend to." Shannchyuan's hand held Iren's arm.
Iren stopped walking. He turned. "Dahge, where are you going?" His brow furrowed slightly.
"I'm going to stop by the drugstore first. I have something to buy."
"I'll take you there. After that, we'll go home together."
"No need. If the medicine I'm looking for isn't there, I'll look at another shop later. I'm afraid it will take a while. So you can go back first."
Shannchyuan handed Iren the photos and notes they had photocopied.
"What should I do with these things?"
"After arriving in the hallway where there is the candleholder, you hand over these things to Yihshyong. Let him go straight home. I don't want Jenqyih to be home alone if it turns out that Tsaehorng arrives early. You replace Yihshyong to guard that place. You wait there until I come!"
Iren looked deeply at Shannchyuan. Apparently, his eyes showed disapproval. But he nodded. In a flash, he went downstairs to the bottom floor to enter a secret passage leading to their backyard.
Shannchyuan stared at Iren's back until the figure of his best friend disappeared from his sight. He then walked in circles for about five minutes. After that, he stepped into a certain part of the shopping center in the underground station. He looked into every stall in that section. After doing that a few times, Shannchyuan smiled.
He saw a figure standing in front of a simple inn in the mall. Shannchyuan quickly followed the figure. Shannchyuan wore shoes that had rubber soles so that the footsteps he made were not heard. Even if they were heard, the sound of his footsteps would not attract attention because the atmosphere was quite crowded there.
When he had caught up with the figure, Shannchyuan poked the person's shoulder straight away.
"What are you doing here?" Shannchyuan's voice was quite loud. He was sure that the person must have instantly realized who it was who poked his shoulder.
The figure who was taller than Shannchyuan stopped walking. Instantly, he turned around. This time, he faced Shannchyuan. They both stood facing each other.
"Beaushu!" the figure exclaimed in a low voice when he saw Shannchyuan.
"Good evening." Shannchyuan smiled.
"Why is Beaushu wearing this kind of clothes and make-up?" The man frowned.
"I have certain reasons. However, there are other things that are more important."
"Let's not talk here." That person invited Shannchyuan to keep going.
Less than two minutes, they were at their destination. Shannchyuan looked around him. They were already in the reception room of a simple inn within the subway station complex. The clerk manning the reception desk looked at him. But he said nothing.
"Chioujen! You said you'd be home at ten. Why are you here now?"
For a moment, the person's face looked confused. But he quickly regained his composure. "Good evening, Beaushu!"
Shannchyuan smiled. "You should be carrying a backpack or purse by now. But I can see that you didn't have anything with you. So it's very likely that your bag or backpack is already in one room at this inn. You didn't come here to check in. You came in here to pick up your things before you checked out and headed home."
"Beaushu is right! Right now, I have something to talk to you about," said the person.
"What a coincidence! I also have things I want to say. This is very important," said Shannchyuan.
"Let's talk in my room. It's not comfortable standing here. This place is too open. Too easy for people to spy on. After all, Beaushu must have intended to do everything clandestinely. From the costumes and make-up that Beaushu is wearing now, Beaushu must be hoping that people won't be able to recognize Beaushu easily."
Shannchyuan chuckled. The two of them then walked into the inn's corridor leading to the rooms. That person, who turned out to be Chioujen, the friend they were waiting for to return home, guided Shannchyuan to the room where he was staying.
"When did you arrive in this town?"
"Two days ago," Chioujen said.
"I believe you have good reason not to tell us about this."
"Songfei asked me to come pick up his belongings at Dahfeisy Tower. I was supposed to keep it for a while. He also said not to tell anyone about this. He seems to be very careful. I respect his request not to tell anyone. The original plan was that I would only return home after this matter regarding Songfei's belongings was settled." Chioujen sighed. "But, it turns out that a lot of things, that I didn't expect, have happened."
"You have the key to the unit that Songfei rented at Dahfeisy Tower?" Shannchyuan asked.
"Songfei sent me the key."
"Then did you manage to retrieve and keep Songfei's things?"
"No! Because Beaushu took it first."
"That blue bag?"
"Right! That blue bag."
"Why did he tell us to take the same thing?"
"When did he ask Beaushu for help?"
"He called two days ago. He asked if I had received the package he sent. So I think he sent it two days before he called me."
"Nine days ago, Songfei's package arrived at my office in Yuehjao. However, because I was on duty in another city, it was only four days ago that I actually received the package. Maybe Songfei asked Beaushu for help because he realized I didn't come to Dahfeisy Tower to pick up the goods," Chioujen said.
Shannchyuan nodded. "Look! I don't have much time right now. As soon as I tell you the important news, I have to go back home. I'll tell you more when you get home."
"Why the rush? We can all go home together at ten o'clock. Wasn't that what Beaushu had originally planned? Beaushu can tell friends at home that Beaushu happened to meet me, who was stopping at this mall under Jongharng subway station before returning home," Chioujen said.
"I can't! Something big has happened."
"What happened?"
"Shinnshiow has been kidnapped!"
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