Translator: 549690339
In the following time, they finished the remaining stretch of their path, then turned into the branching path, calculating the number of steps they had taken whilst scavenging for supplies.
Chang Weicai found a redwood walking stick from a shop.
He was not yet old enough to need a cane, but witnessing Tan Xiao’s attack had unsettled him. Having something in his hand that would serve as a weapon gave him solace.
Tan Xiao, on the other hand, was forgetful. Seeing a tap on the side of the road, he immediately – and thoughtlessly – took a cold shower.
His bathing process was less cumbersome than Bai Youwei’s. He just stood directly underneath the tap, rubbed his T-shirt, and washed his clothes in the process.
“Look at this,” Chang Weicai pointed at a poster on the wall with his walking stick, “We’ve been seeing these posters and flyers all over since we entered here…”
Using his walking stick to lift a corner of a poster, a polished mirror was revealed. As soon as he saw it, he dropped the poster.
Shen MO said, “These must have been put up by people from before.”
Everyone glanced at the road ahead, noticing more posters messily affixed to the walls. Some mirrors weren’t covered, instead smeared with streaks of paint, looking quite ghastly.
The fact that the people previously trapped in the maze also feared mirrors indicated their danger.
They became increasingly wary of mirrors.
They continued onward.
Gradually, they found traces of human activity, such as discarded meal boxes, leftover drinks, and beds that had once served as temporary rest spots. However, there were no signs of people.
As the light dimmed, dusk came.
They decided to return to the starting point of the maze.
Because they had been counting their steps all along, they could easily calculate their way back.
Halfway through their return, there was a hissing sound of electric current in the air. Then, the entire maze lit up remarkably!
– -It was brightly lit.
The darkened houses illuminated their windows, and the high-profile neon lights kept flickering. The maze, imbued with light, resembled a noisy and bustling market from the old days, making people feel as if nothing had changed in a trance.
Bai Youwei had never felt that the night view was so beautiful.
Although it had only been three or four days since the power outage, she felt as though a century had passed, and was so moved by the sight of the lights. It was ironic.
However, beauty always concealed danger. When the brilliant lights reflected on the mirrors, the constant reflection and refraction was enough to disorient people.
“Let’s go,” said Shen MO, pushing the wheelchair forward. “Chang Weicai should stick to the middle, and Tan Xiao will keep an eye on the rear.” The two of them nodded in acknowledgment.
When they returned to the center of the maze, Tu Dan and the others were having dinner.
The things Shen MO and his group brought from the Korean barbecue restaurant were still there. Chang Weicai volunteered to cook dinner. Having had barbecue for lunch, they decided to have something light for dinner. Bai Youwei was picky and didn’t want to have noodles. In the end, she put several bags of frozen dumplings into the pot, and also made a large pot of seaweed egg soup.
Chang Weicai was not particularly skillful at cooking porridge, but his soup was superb. The egg flowers were evenly distributed, bright yellow in color, and silky in texture. Some bits of shrimp skin and scallions were added last, making even the simplest dish tempting and fragrant, carrying a warm sense of home.
The neighboring students were having a simple meal of instant noodles and sausages, and at the sight of both dumplings and soup on their side, jealousy flared up in their eyes.
At this point, they saw Tu Dan and Zhang Tianyang heading their way. The students continued to tease, “Tianyang! Bring back some dumplings!”
Zhang Tianyang retorted with a smile, “Can’t you cook it yourself if you want some!”
He wasn’t heading there to get dumplings.
Zhang Tianyang glanced at the solemn expression on Teacher Tu and felt a heavy weight in his heart.
With two groups having entered the maze at the same time, they were either friends or foes. He hoped that he could convince the others to team up with
Teacher Tu this time and reach a cooperation agreement….